The New Mexico Department of Health announced today it has compiled vaccine exemption data for each public school district in the state. The data is for the 2014 – 2015 school year. The Department of Health is making a commitment to update vaccine exemption data by school district each year.
New Mexico law requires children be vaccinated to attend school, but it allows exemptions for medical and religious reasons. Schools are required to maintain records of the child’s immunization records or their exemption forms.
The Santa Fe Public School District and the Albuquerque Public School District announced that school children would have to be up to date on their immunizations or have a vaccine exemption form in order to continue attending school.
Secretary of Health Retta Ward is encouraging other schools leaders to follow their lead. In a letter to superintendents and charter school directors a couple weeks ago, she reminded school leaders of their responsibilities to ensure school children are in compliance with the law. The letter to school leaders is attached.
You can find school district vaccine exemption data by clicking here. A breakdown of exemptions by county can be found here.
Information from NM DOH