Medical Group Backs Amish in Vaccine Exemption Case
The Association of American Physicians and Surgeons filed an amicus brief supporting Amish plaintiffs seeking restoration of a religious exemption from school vaccine mandates.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Homeschooling
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The Association of American Physicians and Surgeons filed an amicus brief Monday in Miller v. McDonald (No. 26-438) supporting Amish plaintiffs before the Supreme Court. The Amish are seeking restoration of the religious exemption from school vaccine mandates.
Why it matters
The case tests whether states may eliminate religious exemptions from school vaccine requirements, a question that has drawn nearly two dozen amicus briefs. The outcome could affect how far states can go in repealing such exemptions nationwide.
Amish elementary schools in New York have been fined more than $100,000 for failing to prove vaccination of schoolchildren. A coalition of 17 states and the Arizona legislature have filed briefs supporting the Amish, while the Supreme Court has not yet ruled.
The players
Association of American Physicians and Surgeons
A physicians' organization representing doctors in all specialties, founded in 1943, that filed the amicus brief supporting the Amish.
The details
New York repealed its religious exemption from school vaccine mandates in 2019 under N.Y. Pub. Health Law § 2164, and California has also repealed its exemption. Most states still allow the exemption, and the Amish argue their schools are central to their faith.
Timeline
2019: New York legislature repealed the religious vaccine exemption.
November 2, 2026: The Association of American Physicians and Surgeons filed its amicus brief.
Legal Context
New York's 2019 repeal of its religious vaccine exemption under N.Y. Pub. Health Law § 2164 set a precedent that California followed. The Supreme Court's review in Miller v. McDonald will determine whether that trend can continue nationwide.
Families whose children attend schools with vaccination requirements should monitor the Supreme Court's ruling in Miller v. McDonald, since it could change whether a religious exemption remains available. Parents weighing their options may want to review their state's current school vaccine rules.
The takeaway
The case could determine whether religious exemptions from school vaccine mandates survive in most states, making its outcome relevant to any family facing these requirements.
Further reading
For related context on alternative schooling options, see Homeschooling.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Manila times.
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