WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office for Civil Rights has issued a nationwide letter reminding states that participation in the federal Vaccines for Children Program (VCP) requires compliance with state religious and conscience exemptions to vaccine mandates.
The VCP, which provides publicly purchased vaccines at reduced cost for eligible children, is implemented through 61 state, local, and territorial immunization programs. As a condition of receiving operational funding, participating programs and registered providers must adhere to state laws, including those that recognize religious or moral exemptions from compulsory vaccination.
“The letter makes clear that providers must respect state laws protecting religious and conscience-based exemptions to vaccine mandates,” said HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. “States have the authority to balance public health goals with individual freedom, and honoring those decisions builds trust. Protecting both public health and personal liberty is how we restore faith in our institutions and Make America Healthy Again.”
The letter, issued Thursday, emphasizes that exemptions may extend beyond outright refusal of vaccines. Paula M. Stannard, Director of the Office for Civil Rights, noted that some parents object to specific vaccines based on how they were developed or manufactured. “Some individuals with religious or moral objections don’t oppose vaccination itself,” Stannard said. “They may have specific concerns that focus on the development or manufacturing of particular vaccines. For example, parents may object to immunizing their children with vaccines historically derived from aborted fetal cell lines, based on their sincere and deeply held beliefs about the sanctity of life.”
OCR also stated that it will provide technical assistance to states and providers making good-faith efforts to comply with these requirements. The agency is responsible for ensuring that VCP providers follow federal conditions, which include adherence to state exemption laws.
This announcement is part of a broader HHS effort to reinforce protections for religious exercise and conscience rights. It follows a similar communication to West Virginia health officials reminding them that state laws safeguarding religious freedom must be recognized as a condition of administering the VCP.
By reiterating these requirements, HHS is signaling a renewed focus on ensuring both public health objectives and protections for individual liberties remain central in the administration of federally funded vaccine programs.
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