preschool & vaccines

[mammabunny]

I'm applying for preschools for my 2 yr old son, for Sept. start. He was vax'd thru 6mos. School registration paper work says "all children must have current State of GA #3231 Immunization form on file in our office by the beginning of school. We are audited by the Health Dept. every fall and any child who does not have a current #3231 will not be allowed to attend." I know GA allows exemptions for religion. But since preschools are private (churches), I'm guessing they don't have to admit me. Does anyone have any experience with this? or more specifically, anyone in Atlanta?

[luvbeingamama]

I actually work at a church preschool in Ga. DS is not vaccinated and they had no problem at all. I just had to turn in a notarized religious exemption and and that was it. It was sooo much easier then I would have ever expected

[brendaziz]

Just give them the form and treat it like it is very normal. If you'd like you can print off on the state laws where it says you can have a religious exemption and bring that with you. Also- most health forms that you fill out- or at least in my state (VA)- have a whole big place for the doc to fill out all the immunization information and then there mgiht be a small box that says something about exemptions. I usually circle that on the health form and attach the exemption form to it.
I have yet to hear of a preschool that denies it. If it's good enough for public school- it's good enough for private usually.

[mammabunny]

Thank you mom's who answered!

Do you suggest, just not bringing the issue during application time, and then submitting the exemption form when the school year starts.

I am in the application process now and would hate make it through the acceptance phase, only to be told we can't be admitted in Sept.

Since the school is a private church, I'm assuming they can legally not accept a child based on their policy.

[ZoeyZoo]

I don't know about your state but some state statutes require private schools to accept exemptions and others do not.

[mammabunny]

update: I've asked each preschool if they accept children of all faiths and they say they do, so I'm thinking they would be going back on their word if they would not accept us based on a religious exemption.

[Electra375]

Before you put down registration fees, call and ask if they accept children without vaccinations according to GA law with the religious exemption.

I called several in my state that said no and a few said yes and a few had to call me back and never did.

When I call I never say who I am, I just ask the question. If they say yes, then they can know who I am and I'm interested in their preschool program.

[mags]

Just fill out the form the best that you can (our oldest son is partially vaxed) and include an exemption form. My son attends a religious preschool and when my DH gave the director the exemptoin form (we used a philosophical one), she said, "oh good, I'm glad you filled this out, otherwise I would have to find a form for you to fill out, b/c they req us to have it." I was very nervous about this issue and our ped (who is pro-vax), told me that it is my right to refuse vax and if the preschool gave me a problem to have them call him. I was impressed that he was willing to advocate for us, even though he personally prefers his pts to vax. Good luck. I was worried that our preschool had never dealt with this before, but obviously they had, b/c they didn't even bat an eye.