More Wyoming parents are choosing to seek exemptions for their children for vaccinations, according to health officials.

About 225 Wyoming students didn't receive the required vaccinations in 2007 because of religious exemptions and 38 didn't because of medical exemptions, according to Wyoming Department of Health data.

As of July 3, 81 religious exemptions and eight medical exemptions had been submitted for this year. The numbers were expected to increase as children began school.

Students in Wyoming are required by law to have certain vaccines before they reach certain ages.

However, parents can apply for a religious or medical exemption and their children don't have to be vaccinated.

In 2001, the Wyoming Supreme Court decided the health department, which oversees the exemptions, couldn't look into parents' religious beliefs and had to grant the religious exemption no matter what.

"You just fill out the form, get it notarized and have it signed by a public health official," said Dr. Brent Sherard, director of the Wyoming Department of Health. "It's a done deal. That's it."

Before 2001, the number of exemptions was much less. In 2000, there were only 82 religious exemptions. The number has increased almost every year, except one, since 2001.

Suzey Delger, head school nurse for Natrona County School District, said some parents seek exemptions because they fear vaccines can harm their children. She said vaccines are safe.

Delger said exemptions for personal reasons hurt other children in the school system who can't be immunized for legitimate medical reasons.

"If they could get shots, these parents would get them the shots," Delger said. "The more children not being immunized for religious reasons, the higher risk you put other children at."

Contact health reporter Allison Rupp at (307) 266-0534 or allison.rupp@trib.com.