What exactly are Vaccine Exemptions

RICHMOND, Va - There are people who cannot take the vaccine for various reasons. Many people have been using vaccine exemptions for medical and religious reasons. Professionals are claiming the exemptions are not necessarily a big deal.

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After speaking with Virginia Commonwealth University Dr. Bearman and Queens University Dr. Evans, they said medical exemptions aren't exactly common.

Dr. Gonzalo Bearman works at VCU Health in the infectious disease division. He says the medical exemption is not so common.

“The individual seeking medical exemptions is really quite small. It's probably less than 1%,” Bearman said.

Dr. Gerald Evans works at Queens University in infectious disease. He says there are a few possible medical exemptions. He said that people can be given antihistamines and other sorts of anti-inflammatory compounds to help reduce allergic reactions from vaccines.

“Up most commonly is young people who can get an inflammation of the heart called myocarditis. ,” Dr. Evans said. “Even though that particular side effect is in the vast majority of people, very short-lived, it's not very serious typically. Temporary exemptions, principally lie in people who are receiving medications, which might interfere with how, what we call immunogenic, the virus, the vaccine is.”

As a public health official, Bearman says taking the vaccine is the number one way to stay safe during Covid-19.

“If you can't get vaccinated because of a medical contraindication or even a religious exemption, then the other things are critically important, which is social distancing to the fullest extent possible non-pharmacologic interventions of which, I mean the use of face mask, particularly in indoor environments and trying to avoid situations where there's a lot of crowding, particularly indoors,” Bearman said.

Bearman has hopes that there will eventually be a vaccine for those with medical exemptions. He mentions past variations of vaccines such as a pill or even a spray form. Some people have trypanophobia, a phobia of needles and need other options.

“Vaccine technology does continue to improve and delivery mechanisms also continue to improve,” Bearman said. “So, it is quite feasible that in the future we'll have newer vaccines. Components or newer vaccines for sergeants could be to subscribe to your COVID-19. That will allow those with prior allergies to be vaccinated.”

“So, lots and lots of technology is coming forward. That'll give lots and lots of options and ultimately,” Evans said. “I think we're going to be in the circumstance that we're going to have a vaccine that, you know, offers the ability of everybody to be vaccinated. Other than, of course, the people who refuse the vaccination.”

Professor Andrew Chestnut is a Religious studies Professor at VCU. He says he does not know of any religious exemptions.

“So the fact is that no major religious group, as far as I know, of the entire globe has come out against the vaccine,” Chestnut said .“So folks who are applying for religious exemptions, are kind of doing it on their own basis because their religious organizations have not told them that the vaccine violates their religious beliefs.”

Chestnut thinks some people may be taking advantage of the religious exemptions.

“Going under the cover of religious exemptions because religious exemptions are easier to get because it's very difficult for employers to determine that sincerity of their employee's religious beliefs and that puts a terrible burden on employers,” Chestnut said. “Human resource personnel are not trained to be interrogating people on their religious beliefs.”

Chestnut believes some people are getting religious exemptions for other reasons. He even mentioned Pope Francis has recently approved getting the vaccine.

“You'll hear some folks say, the Bible scripture says the body should be a temple and we shouldn't pollute the temple,” Chestnut said. “Again, no major religious organization has come out. In fact, again, I just quoted Pope Francis, the head of the largest Christian organization in the world, saying it's an act of love to be vaccinated.”

Due to his previous statement, he thinks that the religious exemptions will be lifted soon. Especially in the democratic states, where the vaccine is heavily mandated.

“I think we're going to increasingly see states cracking down on that,” Chestnut said. “Because we've seen a real spike in the number of applications for religious exemptions over the past nine months or so. So yeah, I think we're going to see increasing litigation court challenges.”

For those unable to get vaccinated, Herbalist Laura Baum and Tanya Oceana have some tips to stay safe in the meantime.

Baum is the owner of Laura’s Botanicals. Laura’s Botanicals is a holistic platform that works to build other people's holistic health platform through social media. She also has pop ups and gets involved with the community here in Richmond.

Oceana is the owner of a herbalist Facebook group with over 2000 members. The Facebook page was created so she could provide accurate questions involving western traditional herbalism and holistic health. She also gives online lessons and local herb walks in Portland.

“So, I just want to reiterate that since I'm not a medical doctor, I'm not going to meet making any type of medical claims,” Oceana said “I'm just going to be sharing my perspective as an herbalist. What I would do personally, to try to support my immune system as much as I can.”

Baum recommends following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines as well as taking care of yourself.

“Staying safe to me, for the CDC, I think would be to wear masks, clean your hands, often stay hydrated, but on a holistic extension of that, I would also add regular meal, some light meditation, because we are seeing a peak in mind-body balance deficiency, overwhelming anxiety,” Baum said. “So meditation, herbal tea, drinking, intentional breathing exercises.”

Oceana said to improve your overall health by building immunity.

“One would be certain vitamins and minerals,” Oceana said. “The other one would be the mindset aspect of it, which would include both mood and stress as well as sleep. Then the third area would be physical exercise.”

Oceana said to visit your doctor to find out about any possible vitamin deficiencies you may have.

“There's been a lot of research showing that those with vitamin D deficiency tend to have much worse outcomes,” Oceana said. “There's also some information about zinc being related to negative outcomes for people that are zinc deficient and zinc tends to have an effect on the immune system as well as has some antiviral activities.”

Baum said to make changes to your lifestyle that can improve your overall health.

“Flow, mood, regular movement, exercise, adequate hydration and a stronger, more plant-based nutrition, less animal meats, less processed foods,” Baum said. “Because again, there's lots of clinical evidence showing that those things can inhibit our overall immunity and also other things in regards to health, fatigue, low energy.”

Oceana said mindset and exercise are important to building immunity.

“I think that both mindset and exercise are also extremely important,” said Oceana. “When we're stressed out it puts an extra toll on our immune system. It also causes digestive upset and a big part of nutrient assimilation.”

Oceana said that everyone should be comfortable with their body. However, for health reasons she believes people should try to exercise to improve their immune system.

“Obesity is linked to impaired immune function,” Oceana said. “A study of COVID-19 cases suggests that risk of hospitalization, intensive care, unit admission, invasive, mechanical ventilation, and death are higher with increased body mass index. I really do think everyone should love the body that they're in and feel comfortable with themselves.”