Exemption For Only Certain Vaccines?

[banker16]

I don't want to start any heated debate regarding vaccines....

I refuse to vaccinate my 4yr old twins for chicken pox. The rest of the vaccines have been on a delayed schedule. I was finally able to split up the MMR and I will test for immunity before I do boosters next year.

I don't know if I can use the religious exemption form for only the chicken pox. From the ones I've seen, it states I don't believe in any vaccines. That's not true...only the chicken pox!

Any ideas of how to get around not giving them the CP vac?

Thanks!

[Juvysen]

you probably want to try over in the vaccinations forum... Probably the selective and delayed section.

But fwiw, I believe in NY you can not use your religious exemption to pick and choose... or if you do it has to be against a specific ingredient (like aborted fetal tissue) and not against a certain disease. I think it's really REALLY hard to get a religious exemption that's only partial. Philosophical exemptions are a different story (or so I hear - ny doesn't make that a choice)

[tanyalynn]

OP, exemptions vary by state. What state are you in? You could search the Vaccination forum for your state name and you'll likely get the info you need.

The short form is, religious exemptions are for the practice of vaccination, so all vaccines, not certain ingredients or illnesses that are riskier, flat-out everything. Some states have philosophical exemptions and some (but I don't think all) allow pick-and-choose vaccinating for those. But if that's not available, then you need to decide if you're ready to stop vaccinating altogether. If you are, then you can file a religious exemption because your religious beliefs changed--they don't need to be tied to a specific religion/denomination. But you're SOL if you want to skip only the CP vaccine and then keep going with other stuff, say, whatever 6th graders are required to get, and the 9th graders too. The rules are wacky.

[eepster]

Depends on the state. Not do-able in NJ.

The general recomendation is to simply not hand in any forms that admit that you did any vax at all. If you don't tell them, then they don't know. Then hand in the religious exemption as if you LO never any vax.

[oceanbaby]

It does depend on the state. In CA we have philosophical exemption, so check your state for that.

Depending on the situation, I would agree with just not putting any down and signing the religious exemption.

[SandraS]

The chicken pox is optional here - I'm not required to give it for public school, and don't need to sign any exemptions for it. I will never give my children that shot, and the schools have never questioned it.

[listipton]

You can also have her titers checked to see if she has already developed immunity and doesn't need the shot.

[queenjane]

Just curious...when you are giving over the vax record to enroll in school or whatever....do they really look that closely at it? I mean, enough to say "oh you didnt get this one or that one?"

My kids arent vaxed so i wasnt sure.

[MsChatsAlot]

Moving to the vaccinating forum.

[eepster]

Originally Posted by queenjane

Just curious...when you are giving over the vax record to enroll in school or whatever....do they really look that closely at it? I mean, enough to say "oh you didnt get this one or that one?"

My pediatrician recommended that, and it worked for a couple of months. Then the state decided to add a flu shot as a requirement for preschoolers, and the office suddenly took a closer look at my forms half way through the year.

[tanyalynn]

Originally Posted by queenjane

Just curious...when you are giving over the vax record to enroll in school or whatever....do they really look that closely at it? I mean, enough to say "oh you didnt get this one or that one?"

My kids arent vaxed so i wasnt sure.

If your only choice is a religious exemption, then they don't need to look closely because what you've had is fairly irrelevant. If you're in a pick-and-choose state, the nurse will actually go down a list because it's their job to make sure the school's vaccine paperwork is in compliance.