Analysis: Non-Medical Exemption Policies in Colorado Child Care Centers
Immunization policies at child care centers help ensure children and the broader community, including those who can’t be vaccinated, are protected vaccine-preventable diseases. States, including Colorado, typically set immunization requirements for schools and child cares in statute, however child care facilities often have some control over how the policy is enacted at their site, including whether or not they accept non-medical exemptions (NMEs). Child care administrators often seek guidance for improving their immunization policies, but few Colorado-specific resources currently exist. To support Colorado child care administrators and policymakers in future immunization policy decision making, Immunize Colorado collected and analyzed vaccination policies from Colorado child care centers to determine policy completeness.