The Association of American Physicians and Surgeons Filed an Amicus Brief in the Ninth Circuit in Support of Restoring California's Religious Exemption to Vaccination

Core Viewpoint - The Association of American Physicians and Surgeons (AAPS) is advocating for the restoration of the religious exemption to vaccination in California, arguing that the removal of this exemption is an infringement on religious liberty [1][2]. Group 1: Legal Context - California enacted SB 277 in 2016, which eliminated the religious exemption for ten vaccines and also removed the personal belief exemption [1]. - The AAPS argues that the historical context of vaccination laws, such as the 1905 Jacobson v. Massachusetts case, is not comparable to the current situation, as the previous law allowed for a small fine to avoid vaccination [3]. Group 2: Impact on Individuals - The removal of the religious exemption has resulted in Californians being denied entry to schools unless they comply with vaccine requirements, which AAPS claims disproportionately affects those with religious objections [2][4]. - The AAPS highlights that the exclusion from school can limit career opportunities for children, contrasting it with the minor penalties in historical cases [3][4]. Group 3: Religious Objections - AAPS points out that major religions, including Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism, have specific objections to certain vaccine ingredients, which justifies the need for exemptions [4]. - Specific examples include the use of porcine gelatin in vaccines, which is prohibited in Orthodox Jewish and Muslim practices, and the rejection of vaccines derived from aborted fetal tissue by many Christians [5]. Group 4: Organizational Background - The AAPS is a national organization representing physicians across all specialties since 1943 and publishes the Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons [6].