http://www.msdh.state.ms.us/msdhsite...c/14,0,71.html
I'm taking my daughter in on Friday to get her titers checked, because although MS does not have non-medical exemptions, the state does accept titers in place of shots, except for Dtap. Your child can be completely immune to it, and the state still makes you get the shot.
The shot list is on the site, but I heard that chicken pox shots will not be required next year because of a shortage of the vaccine. If that's true, I'm not going to test her immunity to chicken pox yet. And I'm not getting her titers checked for anything that isn't required for school.
So on the page, among all the pro-vaccine propaganda, there is a number to call for more information on immunizations.
I called it.
Here's a rundown...the genius woman who answered the phone is bolded:
"Mississippi Department of Health, how may I help you?"
"Yes, I'd like some information on obtaining an exemption for my daughter through titer testing."
"I'm sorry, what testing?"
"Titer testing. It's a test to check immunity levels for the diseases."
"Huh?"
"The state accepts titers in place of vaccines for school entry...I want to find out how to go about doing that. Can someone there explain the process to me please?"
"Hold one moment, let me transfer you."
(2-3 minutes of holding; the phone rings back to the same woman)
"I'm sorry, she's not answering."
"Well, maybe you can answer this question for me. I'm looking at your webpage right now and it shows the shot schedule. Are all of these shots required for school?"
"Oh, I have no idea. Let me transfer you to someone else."
(2-3 minutes of holding; I'm getting pretty pissed; the phone rings back to the same woman.)
"I'm sorry, she didn't answer either."
"It's ok, maybe you can tell me this: Who runs your website?"
"I'm sorry, I don't know."
"...Because I called the number that's listed on the immunizations page which claims I can get more information and I'm not getting any information."
"I'm sorry, I could take a message..."
"...and it would be very helpful if there were any information at all about vaccine exemptions and how to apply for them. The state has a medical exemption available to parents and accepts titers in place of shots, but there is NO mention of this at all on the site."
"Can I take a message?"
"Sigh. Yes."
I got no call back.
Big flippin surprise.
I'm taking my daughter in on Friday to get her titers checked, because although MS does not have non-medical exemptions, the state does accept titers in place of shots, except for Dtap. Your child can be completely immune to it, and the state still makes you get the shot.
The shot list is on the site, but I heard that chicken pox shots will not be required next year because of a shortage of the vaccine. If that's true, I'm not going to test her immunity to chicken pox yet. And I'm not getting her titers checked for anything that isn't required for school.
So on the page, among all the pro-vaccine propaganda, there is a number to call for more information on immunizations.
I called it.
Here's a rundown...the genius woman who answered the phone is bolded:
"Mississippi Department of Health, how may I help you?"
"Yes, I'd like some information on obtaining an exemption for my daughter through titer testing."
"I'm sorry, what testing?"
"Titer testing. It's a test to check immunity levels for the diseases."
"Huh?"
"The state accepts titers in place of vaccines for school entry...I want to find out how to go about doing that. Can someone there explain the process to me please?"
"Hold one moment, let me transfer you."
(2-3 minutes of holding; the phone rings back to the same woman)
"I'm sorry, she's not answering."
"Well, maybe you can answer this question for me. I'm looking at your webpage right now and it shows the shot schedule. Are all of these shots required for school?"
"Oh, I have no idea. Let me transfer you to someone else."
(2-3 minutes of holding; I'm getting pretty pissed; the phone rings back to the same woman.)
"I'm sorry, she didn't answer either."
"It's ok, maybe you can tell me this: Who runs your website?"
"I'm sorry, I don't know."
"...Because I called the number that's listed on the immunizations page which claims I can get more information and I'm not getting any information."
"I'm sorry, I could take a message..."
"...and it would be very helpful if there were any information at all about vaccine exemptions and how to apply for them. The state has a medical exemption available to parents and accepts titers in place of shots, but there is NO mention of this at all on the site."
"Can I take a message?"
"Sigh. Yes."
I got no call back.
Big flippin surprise.
