Can parents choose not to vaccinate their child?

Despite all the pleading and arm twisting by doctors and government health agencies, parents can choose not to vaccinate their children -- if they’re willing to risk the consequences. Some parents deviate from the vaccine schedule set by the CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics because they feel it’s better to space out the shots over a longer period of time. I don’t agree, and there is no scientific evidence to justify spacing out the shots, but ultimately it’s the parents’ decision. However, they must understand the risks to their babies of delaying immunization.

From The Smart Parent's Guide: Getting Your Kids Through Checkups, Illnesses, and Accidents by Jennifer Trachtenberg.

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Parents have the ultimate decision-making authority about their children's health unless they are putting the child at risk of harm. Most states allow parents to "opt out" of state vaccination requirements for school entry / progression on "religious" grounds. Most of us Pediatricians feel very strongly that vaccination is essential in trying to prevent many very serious and potentially life-threatening preventable illnesses. By not vaccinating your child, you place not only him or her at serious risk, but also other children in the community, some of whom may be on chemotherapy for cancer so have compromised immunity and cannot yet be (re)-vaccinated.