.

[padomi]

.

[Mom2Adam]

Hi Donna -

Actually in Virginia you can get a "religious" exemption. and in Virginia they cannot ask you what your religion is. So you can go to the health department and get exemptions for the vax's you are not doing.

Traci

[padomi]

.

[Sasha_girl]

Obviously everyone has their own ethics to work through, but my state also has a religious excemption. I'm not religious, although I consider my childrens' health something that is as important to me as any religion could ever be. Not only that I find the government incredibly unscrupulous when it comes to vaccines so I have no problems lying about my religion.

[PuppyFluffer]

No, not yet....but it is certainly a possibilty!

I live in the eastern panhandle of west virginia. (I'm so disgusted with this state right now that I don't have it in me to even capitalize the name of it!) We only have a medical exemption. West Virginia and Mississipi are the only two stated that have no other exemption beyond medical. And the chances of me finding an MD to actually write an exemption is non existant! We have considered moving to Virginia, Maryland or Pennsylvania. All three states are very close to me (within 30-45 minutes drive) so it wouldn't be far.

I think it is ironic that the two states with only medical exemption are in the very top of the nation for obesity, poor health, low education, high level of elderly citizens (because the youth move to more promising states), highest tobacco use, high drunk driving convictions.....are you getting the picture? Several insurance companies will no longer write policies here because of drunk driving and uninsured motorists (State Farm for example). So, why do I live here?:LOL The town I am in is a sort of microcosim. It is very tiny, historical, near DC (90 min), has a very educated population, lots of high tech and federal employees commute to the city and choose to retire here. Lots of open minds and politically active people. It is not "typical" West Virginia. But I'd put a for sale sign in front of my house in a heart beat! The vaccine issue might just push me over the edge. We plan to homeschool.

[applejuice]

I would have moved if it meant that I had to vax my children to stay there.

The time location did play a factor in vaccination decisions and exemption law was when DH and I set up our family estate and trust.

Part of all of our decisions had to do with setting up a guardianship for our children.

I had to decide which of my relatives on my side or on my DH's side would be willing and good gaurdians for my children; furthermore, I also researched the vax laws in the respective states my relatives lived in and I had to decide which state would be the easiest for my children to live in and not be vaxed and be healthy.

[mom2tig99Nroo03]

if we ever move- i plan for it to be a "crunchy-friendly" area.

[grisandole]

Well, when we moved from IL, we had three requirements for a new state:

Must have the philosophical exemption for vaxes

Must have decent homeschool laws

Must not have a motorcycle helmet law (that one is dh's)


We moved to Arizona. In my experience, though there are idiots everywhere; it's much easier to do the philosophical than the religious exemption; and it doesn't get questioned as much.


Kristi

[turquoise]

Originally posted by grisandole
Must not have a motorcycle helmet law (that one is dh's)

Sorry T just wanted to say: Way to go DH! never could understand those helmet laws.

[padomi]

THANKS EVERYONE!

Thank you all - I have spoken with a non-vaccinating advocate attorney and I feel much better about the whole thing. We have signed a religious exemption. I found out that in some states you actually have to write a paper stating your religious beliefs and why vaccinating goes against them. This to me sounds like it should be unconstitutional - requiring someone to spell out their religion. Anyway, in VA all you have to do is sign a form that has one sentence on it "Administering vaccines goes against my religious beliefs and tenets..." and have it notarized. I did so, called my ped and asked if he'd still see dd, he said yes of course - was totally cool about it. Will keep a copy in case it ever comes up in the future. Easy and DONE! Whew!

Sasha_girl - that is exactly what my dh said and I agree 100%.

Puppy Fluffer - I know what you mean - but West Virginia is so darn beautiful! I love the mountains.

I think legislators have huge egos and like to make laws to make a name for themselves. But when they undermine a mother's right to make decisions for her children....it just doesn't make sense. This country is no longer "FREE". For now we are staying in Virginia, but we will probably move to England (no vaccination laws) in the next several years.

Thanks again!

[Deborah]

ancient history

long ago, back in the late 50's, my father was transferred to a job in Patterson, NJ. Three out of 5 children in our family were school age, but they wouldn't let us in because we weren't vaccinated. So we moved to NY and my father commuted to Patterson. I guess in those days NY was easier than NJ. I don't know how it is now.

We lived in California, New York, Wisconsin, New Jersey, New York (again), Massachusetts and finally back to California between 1957 and 1962. I had attended 14 different schools by the time I finished 8th grade. The only state that gave us a hard time about vaccinations was New Jersey.

Nana

PS We are all 5 a bit weird, but I don't know if it is from moving so much or simply a hereditary tendency. Everyone I've met from my family is weird.

[padomi]

PS We are all 5 a bit weird, but I don't know if it is from moving so much or simply a hereditary tendency. Everyone I've met from my family is weird.

Well, I could say the same about my family! But "weird" is a very open term! :LOL

[Aquaduct]

hi, I'm from New Zealand "down under " and we don't have mandatory vaccination here, although you are required now to sign a certificate saying whether your child is up to date or not. Which I think is an outrageous invasion of privacy. If you refuse to sign your child is put down as unvaxed.
But I'm confused. I thought you guys have had mand. vacc. only since 1978. Is it longer than that?

[Deborah]

I'm not sure when mandatory vaccines came in. I just know that in 1958 we couldn't go to school in NJ because we weren't vaccinated. NJ is still a yucky state when it comes to vaccines and they have a very high autism rate...just a coincidence...

Nana