Anybody Else Freaking Out About H1N1 Vax & School Kids

[umsami]

OK, this past year, I homeschooled my eldest...but he'll be going back to public Kindy this year, along with his younger brother. I'm very happy with their schools--and think they'll have a great year. BUT, I am totally worried about the possibility of schools being used to vax kids with the H1N1 vax. It's actually making me think about homeschooling instead... even though that would be very difficult this year.

We do vax. We do a delayed vaccine schedule. So it's not just a "I hate vaccines" thing. I guess I just have a big problem with all of the nation's children being vaccinated with a relatively new and untried vaccine.

Am I alone in this?

I didn't know if this belong in the vaccine or school forums. My main issue is that I don't see myself having much of a choice if they happen in school, and we haven't filled a vaccine exemption form in the past.

[eclipse]

I would think they would tell parent ahead of time if they were going to do it. I mean, what if the child just got the vax at their doctor's office or something, you know?

[umsami]

Originally Posted by eclipse

I would think they would tell parent ahead of time if they were going to do it. I mean, what if the child just got the vax at their doctor's office or something, you know?

True. I'm sure there would be some sort of note home and stuff... I guess my kids could just conveniently be sick that day. Thanks for mentioning that.

I think part of this has to do with the issues I had with a previous school nurse and DS1. DS1 has eczema... it's well-documented... yet everytime he got a patch of rough skin on his hands, she'd call me... I'd have to pick him up...and he couldn't return until he had a doctor's note. It was a total pain!

[eepster]

They can't legally vaccinate you child with out your explicit consent, just read any forms you sign at the start of the school year.

BTW, the nurse sounds like a total nut job, why would she send a child home for eczema. If he's getting it on his hands when he attends school, I would make sure they aren't using hand wipes or hand sanitizer on him, and send in a bottle of Dr Bronner's soap for him to wash with.

[MCatLvrMom2A&X]

Here they vax at school for the flu and for them to do it they must get signed permission from the parents. They also tell you the day/s they will be vaxing and I keep mine home that day just to make 100% sure that they are not accidently vaxed.

For dd to get the flu vax could mean death since she has an egg allergy. So I dont take chances. The school would be crazy to vax without permission they could be sued and they will not risk that.

[The Hidden Life]

No, I'm not worried. The ps here has never coordinated vaccinations before, they barely have enough money to get a school nurse on duty two days a week. There is no way the schools could vaccinate your child without your permission and signed consent.

That being said, I think the mother of the child with egg allergy is smart to keep her child home "just in case" on vax day. If my child had that severe an allergy, I'd be super-protective too.