Parents, who had been cautioned that they might be penalized or sent to jail unless they had their children vaccinated, took their children to a court for the inoculations.

The tough rule in Prince George's County was one of the hardest attempts made by any U.S. school organization to make sure its children get their compulsory immunizations.

The school functionaries and prosecuting officers said that the parents have had lots of monitions within the last twelve months. They emphasized that this decision is aimed exclusively at defending children, and not locking up their parents.

Representing the local school system, John White said, “How can you in good conscience allow your child to miss school and their education for no particular reason?”

A provisional health center is being established beside the court, where the children can get their injections. Parents will also have a chance to put their case before a judge if they want exemptions for their children and the exemptions can be approved only for spiritual or medicinal reasons.

Fines and jail conditions could be announced for those who do not fulfill and did not submit the judge a suitable reason. Fines may amount to up to fifty dollars each day. The parents would be impeached under truancy laws.

A few parents have opposed this warning. One week back, there were 2,300 children scheduled as not having received their shots and the number now decreases to 1,100.