Expulsion Letters?

[evilgenius]

I just got this cheerful email from the directress of my daughter's preschool:

"Has your child had any shots lately??? Our annual immunization report for the State is due after the first of the year. If your child has had shots, or is in need of shots, now is the time to get your form updated. The hardcopy on file in the office must be updated and signed by you, so please stop by and visit with any changes. There is a newly required shot, so check with your child’s doctor to be sure s/he is up to date! Avoid those nasty expulsion letters from the State and get up to date now!"

The part I'm most concerned about is the last line about "nasty expulsion letters from the State."

Has anyone actually received one of these letters?

[Emmeline II]

In your state a student or a child in a "children's facility" has to submit a vax record OR an exemption letter.

http://www.nvic.org/state-site/Oregon.htm

[tayndrewsmama]

Expulsion letter from the state? What the heck is that supposed to mean? I have never heard of a state expelling a child.

[Marnica]

The state can'r expel a child. That is nonsense and obviously the directress of the preschool is clueless!

[tayndrewsmama]

Originally Posted by Marnica

The state can'r expel a child. That is nonsense and obviously the directress of the preschool is clueless!

Or maybe she's just hoping that the parents reading the letter are clueless.

[spero]

I'd call anonymously and ask the director, "I'm curious, what exactly IS a 'nasty expulsion letter from the State'? I've never heard of such a thing!"

[evilgenius]

wrote a letter

Are there any reasons why I shouldn't send them the following letter in response to their need for updated records? It's kind of a mish mash of letters from anti-vax sites and books and I added some of my own stuff too.

"To Whom It May Concern:

We, _____________, hereby state that we have chosen not to vaccinate our child, ____________ because we are religiously and philosophically opposed to the concept of vaccines and we do not consent to the immunization of our child. We certify that we have received information about immunizations provided by the department of health services. We understand the risks and benefits of immunizations and the risks and benefits of non-immunization.

Oregon State law makes provisions for non-vaccination of children whose parents object to vaccines for religious or philosophical reasons. We accept full responsibility for the health of our child, and because of our religious and philosophical conviction, do not wish our child vaccinated. In the event of any infectious condition, our child would of course remain at home. We further understand that during the course of an outbreak of any so called “vaccine preventable disease” would occur at the facility, our child is subject to exclusion from the facility for the duration of the outbreak."

______________________________ ____________
Date
______________________________ ____________
Date

[Marnica]

Originally Posted by evilgenius

Are there any reasons why I shouldn't send them the following letter in response to their need for updated records? It's kind of a mish mash of letters from anti-vax sites and books and I added some of my own stuff too.

"To Whom It May Concern:

We, _____________, hereby state that we have chosen not to vaccinate our child, ____________ because we are religiously and philosophically opposed to the concept of vaccines and we do not consent to the immunization of our child. We certify that we have received information about immunizations provided by the department of health services. We understand the risks and benefits of immunizations and the risks and benefits of non-immunization.

Oregon State law makes provisions for non-vaccination of children whose parents object to vaccines for religious or philosophical reasons. We accept full responsibility for the health of our child, and because of our religious and philosophical conviction, do not wish our child vaccinated. In the event of any infectious condition, our child would of course remain at home. We further understand that during the course of an outbreak of any so called “vaccine preventable disease” would occur at the facility, our child is subject to exclusion from the facility for the duration of the outbreak."

______________________________ ____________
Date
______________________________ ____________
Date

Looks good to me..Id pick 1 reason though...philisophical or religious but not both.... You need to be clear about why you object. Id go with religious. It seems more "airtight" to me.

[alegna]

Yeah, don't go with a mishmash. Find out your state's law and follow it to the letter. Nothing more.

-Angela

[RomanCarmelMom]

"We certify that we have received information about immunizations provided by the department of health services. We understand the risks and benefits of immunizations and the risks and benefits of non-immunization."



I would omit that part.

[Emmeline II]

Originally Posted by evilgenius

Are there any reasons why I shouldn't send them the following letter in response to their need for updated records?

Yes. Two reasons. First, Oregon does not have philosophical exemptions http://www.nvic.org/state-site/Oregon.htm. Second, you are putting too much information in there that can invite problems AND you have several philosophical reasons in there that would invalidate your religious exemption. Even if a philo exemption was an option: KISS.

ORS § 433.267 (2005)
433.267. Immunization of school children; rules; exceptions; effect of failure to comply.

(c) A statement signed by the parent that the child has not been immunized as described in paragraph (a) of this subsection because the child is being reared as an adherent to a religion the teachings of which are opposed to such immunization.

Sample Religious Exemption Letter

Quote:
To whom it may concern;



(We / I) {First and Last name(s)}, as the {(parent (s) / guardian(s)} of ______________________(name of newborn child) are exercising (our/my) rights under the US Constitution, PUBLIC HEALTH LAW, ARTICLE 21. CONTROL OF ACUTE COMMUNICABLE DISEASES,TITLE VI. POLIOMYELITIS AND OTHER DISEASES, NY CLS Pub Health § 2164 (2002), to receive Religious Exemption from Vaccination, ALL injections, prophylaxis, & testing due to our genuine and sincere religious beliefs which are contrary to the practices herein required.

The U.S. Supreme Court held in Frazee V. Illinois Dept. of Security, 489 U.S. 829, that a religious belief is subject to protection even though no religious group espouses such beliefs or the fact that the religious group to which the individual professes to belong may not advocate or require such belief. This ruling is also reflected in Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 as amended Nov. 1, 1980; Part 1605.1-Guidelines on Discrimination Because of Religion.


Sincerely,

Your signature.
Date

[Emmeline II]

Originally Posted by Marnica

The state can'r expel a child. That is nonsense and obviously the directress of the preschool is clueless!

The law is that a child must have an utd vax record or an exemption. If the child has neither, then after a specified amount of time given for the parent/child to comply, the child will be excluded from school/daycare (depending on the state) until they are in accordance with the law. Since the law is a State law, yes, the State can exclude a child from school (though the law does not say expel.).

[evilgenius]

Thank you. I had to submit the original letter that I posted by a specific deadline. Should I submit the ammended letter and ask that the previous one be destroyed?

[Emmeline II]

Originally Posted by evilgenius

Thank you. I had to submit the original letter that I posted by a specific deadline. Should I submit the ammended letter and ask that the previous one be destroyed?

I'd ask for the first letter back and give them the new one in return.