IF you don't have a philosophical exemption how do you selectively vax? - Page 2

[Jugs]

^^That only works if the state has a voluntary immunization registry; many states opt your child into their registry without needing consent, and several do not allow you to opt your child out. In such states, doctors are required to enter a child's relieved vaccinations into the registry, which the school may access.

[Carma]

What is exactly the issue with the registry? Is it that the school can find out that you are actually vaxing, is there some sort of penalty? We selectively fax and are in NJ, I have no idea about this registry. I am pretty sure we didn't sign anything, should they (Ped?) have given us the option to opt out? Wouldn't a school actually be happy that an exempted child is actually partially vaxed?
We have a religious exemption that the school happily accepted.
I guess if they (school) find out I would say that the Ped talked us into it, that it is still against our believes.

Carma

[Otto]

Originally Posted by Carma

What is exactly the issue with the registry? Is it that the school can find out that you are actually vaxing, is there some sort of penalty?

One concern is that the validity of a religious exemption may come under scrutiny. This worry is perhaps not unwarranted, depending on the wording of state law. I understand that language from cases such as Seeger, Welsh, and Frazee is often bandied about, but it doesn't have blanket applicability--no claim of religiosity is going to get you off the hook for having a bushel of peyote buttons in the attic, unless you're really, really a member of the Native American Church, for example.

[ETA.--Although nominally about North Carolina, I think this (PDF file) is a pretty good overview.]

[Jugs]

Originally Posted by Carma

What is exactly the issue with the registry? Is it that the school can find out that you are actually vaxing, is there some sort of penalty?

Religious exemptions are all or nothing; you must reject the practice of vaccination, not selected vaccinations or their ingredients. Through the registry, the school has the ability to check to see if your child has been getting vaccines, which can call your religious exemption into question. If the school chooses, they can reject your exemption if you aren't able to explain why you chose to violate your own beliefs.

Originally Posted by Carma

We selectively fax and are in NJ, I have no idea about this registry. I am pretty sure we didn't sign anything, should they (Ped?) have given us the option to opt out?

Each state is different. Most require that you be notified that your child is in the registry, some require your consent, while a few do not require you to be notified at all. In NJ, your pedi is supposed to inform you when your child is entered into the registry, and NJ also allows you to opt your child out of the registry.

Originally Posted by Carma

Wouldn't a school actually be happy that an exempted child is actually partially vaxed?

Perhaps, but it does call into doubt the sincerity of one's religious beliefs regarding vaccination. Again, a religious exemption means that you are opposed to the practice of vaccination.

[Carma]

Originally Posted by Otto

One concern is that the validity of a religious exemption may come under scrutiny. This worry is perhaps not unwarranted, depending on the wording of state law. I understand that language from cases such as Seeger, Welsh, and Frazee is often bandied about, but it doesn't have blanket applicability--no claim of religiosity is going to get you off the hook for having a bushel of peyote buttons in the attic, unless you're really, really a member of the Native American Church, for example.

[ETA.--Although nominally about North Carolina, I think this (PDF file) is a pretty good overview.]

Thanks for the document, that is interesting.
So I guess, the main penalty for the school finding out is that they might reject the exemption?
We vaxed our oldest before we applied for exemption, I worded it in the exemption as that we changed our believes, the school had no issues with that.
Don't think our current school will have issues (it is private we will soon pay for 3 kids). I am more worried about the public school next year.

Carma

[Katherine4]

I'm feeling very confused about this issue. (I just posted a separate thread about this, then did a search and found this thread)

We live in CT. My 21 month old unvaxed daughter is supposed to be starting preschool in less than 3 weeks. I had planned on a) submitting a religious exemption form, and b) selectively vaccinating after my daughter's 2nd birthday. But I just realized that this could cause a major problem for the 2011/12 school year. The school requires that an annual medical form with vaccination information be signed by a doctor and submitted annually. So if I've selectively vaccinated, then how can I claim an exemption from the rest?
My doctor is not the type who would fudge the form for me. In fact, I can't imagine finding any dr who would.

So what am I to do?? Homeschooling is not on my agenda, yet I'm not going to be forced into administering shots to my child that I feel uncomfortable about. We do plan on moving to another state in a couple of years, but won't that state require that I produce medical records from my CT doctor's office?

Help!! Thanks!!

[LisaSedai]

So if I've selectively vaccinated, then how can I claim an exemption from the rest?

Only way I can see is if you vax before you claim the exemption. After you claim it you are stuck.

You could find a state nearby that has the option of opting out of the vaccine registry database and get her vax done there, oh and you'd better pay cash so the insurance company doesn't know about it. Her regular ped dr could then truthfully say he didn't give her any vaccinations. If a VPD breaks out though you will have to keep your daughter at home.