Denied entry into DoD daycare facility based on vax status.

[covertlycrunchy]

Here is the situation:
My husband & I PCS'd (permanent change of station) to the UK, we work on a US air force military base but we are both dod civilians. They offer childcare on base that is really affordable and that is what we used when we got in. We gave them our religious exemption letter, they seemed happy with it (all UK citizens at the time and since vaccination isn't mandatory here they were OK with this). I used an exemption letter I got from somebody on MDC as a template actually.

In the last year they had a new manager come in and the childcare facility got audited and they got written up for having my dd in there not fully vaccinated. The new manager sent my religious exemption in for "approval". I'm not sure to whom and they seem really reluctant to tell me. This was a year ago and I still haven't heard back from them. Now I need care for my baby in 2 months and they won't let her in since she isn't vaccinated and doesn't have an "approved" exemption. I was told that ALL military & civilian exemptions are being evaluated at the "highest level" and lawyers are getting involved. I'm just not sure what to do at this point. I need care for my baby but getting care on the economy is VERY expensive.

I really didn't want to fight this battle and I really don't understand the irrational push to mandate vaccines these days, never seemed like a big deal when I was a kid. I'm just not sure how they can rationalize denying my exemption. And if anyone knows any good UK/au pair services, please share the love

[Emmeline II]

I would contact your congressman. If he takes action on it you should hear something pretty quickly. I'd give a heads up to the member's supervisor though since the cm will probably go to the IG.

I'd demand that they tell you who is responsible for "approving" exemption; you have a right to know. You could first try having your First Shirt call the daycare and ask who is responsible for approving religious exemptions for that facility (without mentioning your name).

You could try saying that they are unlawfully discriminating against you and that if they do not accept your baby that you will use THEIR NAME (the manager) when you contact your congressman.


~~I'm trying to find the document quoted below as the doc has been moved; I believe it is DODI 6205.1 Immunization Requirements for DoD Dependants Schools, Section 6 Schools and Day Care Centers Operated by DoD, though I've also seen it referenced DOD Directive 1342.6/DoDEA Instruction 6205.1 .

DODEA

http://www.dodea.edu/foia/iod/pdf/1005_1.pdf

On page 70 (section 18.2):

"18.2.1.3 Religious — A student’s parent/sponsor may claim exemption from the DoDEA immunization requirements for religious reasons. If the parent maintains the need to continue the religious exemption during a documented outbreak of a contagious disease, the student will be excluded from school for his/her protection and the safety of the other students until the contagious period is over. Religious exemptions require a written statement from the parent/sponsor stating that he/she objects to the vaccination based upon personal beliefs. "

and...

Paragraph 3-2.b.(4) at the bottom of page 10 of this document:

http://www.vaccines.mil/documents/969r40_562.pdfIt specifically states, "(4) Department of Defense schoolteachers, daycare center workers, and children attending DOD–sponsored schools
and daycare centers or similar facilities on military installations. "

[InDaPhunk]

I don't know enough about the sitch to help re:base daycare and exemptions, but you might be able to find childcare with a military spouse on base. There is probably a base paper(?), bulletin board, internet listing, etc where you could run an ad for childcare.

I hope you get it worked out. What a headache . BTW, do you know who audited them and who exactly wrote them up? The whole thing sort of sounds like someone is just out of their and hoping that you go away. Please post updates. As a USAF spouse I always like to know how these things turn out. GL.

[Emmeline II]

I cannot find 6205.1 though the most current regulations reference it.

[nia82]

I was told during our spouses orientation that people who run private daycare on base have to use the same "standards", meaning the children have to be up to date on CDC schedule standards. : That's way more vaccines than any state makes mandatory.
I'd keep bugging them though - the government cannot make you vaccinate your children against your faith. After all, religious freedom used to be such a selling point for the US.

[Emmeline II]

Originally Posted by nia82

the government cannot make you vaccinate your children against your faith. After all, religious freedom used to be such a selling point for the US.

No, but they can deny you services:.

[nia82]

I'm so new to the military, which services have they denied (apart from childcare)? I only saw one childcare place back at the orientation at Maxwell AFB, and it was horrible. Luckily I can stay at home with our kids for now.
For the OP though, an Au Pair sounds good.

[Emmeline II]

Originally Posted by nia82

I'm so new to the military, which services have they denied (apart from childcare)? I only saw one childcare place back at the orientation at Maxwell AFB, and it was horrible. Luckily I can stay at home with our kids for now.
For the OP though, an Au Pair sounds good.

Daycare
School
Childcare for medical appointments
Parents day out
Base licensed home daycare

[nia82]

Gosh, I'm happy that there's a big La Leche League group at our new base (in town) with "crunchy" people... People who might help with that sort of stuff that we get denied.
So far though they really left us alone, but we were never interested in anything else than WBVs so far. Also, the ped mentioned lots of people don't vax on our base. Those CA people :P

[covertlycrunchy]

Originally Posted by InDaPhunk

BTW, do you know who audited them and who exactly wrote them up? The whole thing sort of sounds like someone is just out of their and hoping that you go away.

That is exactly what I'm thinking. I called the Family Services people to see who exactly was "approving" this and all she would tell me is that it somebody "higher up" and that I should call legal. I called the legal office on base, they talked to Family Services and said that I have to put in a separate request for my youngest daughter also. Family services finally got back to me just to tell me that this is going all the way up to the Pentagon. What do you say to that?? I don't think it should have gone off base. I think they are stalling.

[Emmeline II]

Originally Posted by covertlycrunchy

That is exactly what I'm thinking. I called the Family Services people to see who exactly was "approving" this and all she would tell me is that it somebody "higher up" and that I should call legal. I called the legal office on base, they talked to Family Services and said that I have to put in a separate request for my youngest daughter also. Family services finally got back to me just to tell me that this is going all the way up to the Pentagon. What do you say to that?? I don't think it should have gone off base. I think they are stalling.

Haven't you already put in a separate request?

To the Pentagon!? Really? Just you and no other non-vaxing parent using any other base childcare? That does not make any sense. If that was REALLY happening I imagine they would have had a DOD wide suspension of religious exemption memo to show you. They keep changing their story and won't tell you the obvious important details.

Everything is documented in the military. They should be following the 6205.1 quoted above; if that has been superseded by a newer version then they should be following that. If the theoretical new version said medical exemptions only then they should have shown you the reg and booted you out the door.

There was another poster here who was told her exemption was denied, denied, denied (and insulted on top of that). Finally the poster pushed hard enough for a supervisor and the supervisor said that through an oversight her exemption HAD NOT BEEN SUBMITTED, and they would submit it to "a mystery person today". They did not want to reveal the approving authority either.

Someone else worked for a CDC at one point and the workers were told to lie to the parents and say that they did not accept exemptions.

Go to the member's supervisor and the First Shirt (because it is easy to give a dependent the run around) then to your congressman if necessary.

Make a time line of when you first talked to the FSC about the baby, include the individuals you talked to and what they said.