Being Harassed by Phila Dept. Of Health!

[radishes]

Hi, I just need some opinions and support on this. I have 2 girls, 7 years and 11 months, neither are vaccinated at all. Recently, I was contacted by letter, then by phone, by an outreach program that coordinates with the Philadelphia Department of Health because my youngest child was shown on their Kid's Immunization Registry as being "immunization delayed." I went on their website and it stated that doctors in Philadelphia are required by city regulation to report every child's vaccination status. Well, we go to a family doctor outside Philadelphia so I didn't think the Department of Health could force them to release my child's records. I finally called the outreach program back after they dais they were going to come to my house! I gave her the name of the practice just to get the woman off my back because I didn't think they would be able to get the records. Then I called the practice and they said they wouldn't be able to get the records unless they came with a signed release by me. The outreach program then called back the next day because well, they couldn't FIND my doctor's practice. By then I decided I wasn't going to give them any more info and I told them that and hung up. Now my doctor's office just left a message about the department of health and I'll call them back tomorrow but I'm wondering if they are being compelled to release the records. I've felt like all of this is total harassment, I don't want to be on any registry saying we don't vaccinate, ESPECIALLY because the outreach worker told me, and I quote, "We started this registry after 9-11 and need it to be updated so that when an outbreak occurs we KNOW WHICH DOCTORS AND PARENTS ARE RESPONSIBLE." What!? This whole thing has me so freaked out I can barely think straight. Has anyone else has such a harassing experience over their city's registry?Any input would be helpful, thanks so much.

[LizD]

I think you should contact a lawyer; these situations have a way of -poof!- disappearing once your response, when people call, is, "I will not discuss this with you; you may not call or visit again; are you ready to take my lawyer's information?"

[PlayaMama]

that's scary mama!! what did they say when you told them you didn't want to discuss this futher?

[chaoticzenmom]

Tell them that they can come and knock on your door, but they won't be allowed in without a warrant and you won't be talking with them. You are within your rights as a parent here and they won't be bullying you.

Which exemptions do you have in your state? Do you plan to homeschool?

[radishes]

Well, what was weird was when they called the 2nd time, and found out our Doctor was outside Philly limits, she started asking me why I went there, don't I want to go somewhere closer, and asked me if I would give her our vaccination records over the phone. That's when I said I wasn't going to speak with her anymore, she just kept talking so I finally said goodbye, and hung up.

I do plan on homeschooling and as far as I know, we have religious, medical and a personal philosophy exemption in our state. Unfortunately, Philly is not home school friendly, and now it appear like they are going to harass people who chose not to vaccinate. Aargh.

[Sileree]

Originally Posted by radishes

"We started this registry after 9-11 and need it to be updated so that when an outbreak occurs we KNOW WHICH DOCTORS AND PARENTS ARE RESPONSIBLE."

Wow. I have a feeling though that this particular person calling thinks this but it's not the department's true agenda.

[miriam]

If you are in Pennsylvania, there are plenty of unvaccinated Amish in Lancaster County who are not up to date on their vaccines also.

Use your religious exemption and tell her to leave you alone. You are within your rights, and she is violating them

[Evergreen]

I'd make sure you speak with your doc. and let them know that you do not want your records released to these people and that you feel they are harassing you and that you've been in contact with an attorney. They could tell your doc. that you've requested they get the info.

[Marnica]

Yuck...you can't opt out of the registry in PA either.

Just don't talk to them and make sure that your doc knows not to release your records.

[radishes]

Update

UPDATE! Well, let this be a warning to those of you in Philly. If they contact you and you give them the name of your doctor, they can and will, by the law, compel your doctor to release your child's immunization information to update their registry. My doctor's office called back this morning and she said they received a notice and they have to release the the records. This is EVEN if your provider is OUTSIDE Philly. If you don't want to be on the registry, I guess you have to simply ignore them or refuse to give the doctor's name. Sigh. Oh, and I absolutely called my doctor and told them I did not want anything released, they have to, apparently.Now I feel like I should look for a new anti-vax doctor so it won't be on paper each month that my kid's aren't vaccinated. Anyone know a good one?

[ZoeyZoo]

I know what you went through. My state harassed me like that over the PKU test. They were calling daily.

I had it done by a private lab out of state so that the state wouldn't be able to get hold of my baby's DNA (mym state banks it). Luckily they just confirmed with my MW that the test was done. Unfortunately in my state we only have a religious exemption on the PKU and it reads like the AAP bad mommy form for vaxes.

[cadejaxellamom]

How do you find out if you can opt out of the state registry (I'm in NC)? My middle son has not and will not recieve any more vaxes (since he was 2) My youngest, 21 months, is unvaxed. I don't want either one on that registry. I think I might have screwed myself though by signing a form at her last appt this past week saying that my doc thinks I should give her the vaxes but that I refuse

[serenbat]

I understand you are up set, and I am also in PA, but so what? They have their info (sadly) and they really can't do anything with it.

You can file your exemption and their hands are tired. You have the right to an exemption and if you receive any more contact from them, state your rights. They can be up set all they want but you can not be forced to vac. in PA.

For other's in PA, you need to mention the word HEPA, you have the right to NOT give out your medical info. DO NOT say who your Dr. is, DO NOT give info. state your rights to an exemption and the right to medical privacy and if they don't know who you are deal with they can't go after the Dr. You have the right to see a Dr. outside of PA (and many in Philly do go to NJ for Dr.s)- don't give info!!

[Marnica]

Originally Posted by serenbat

I understand you are up set, and I am also in PA, but so what? They have their info (sadly) and they really can't do anything with it.

You can file your exemption and their hands are tired. You have the right to an exemption and if you receive any more contact from them, state your rights. They can be up set all they want but you can not be forced to vac. in PA.

For other's in PA, you need to mention the word HEPA, you have the right to NOT give out your medical info. DO NOT say who your Dr. is, DO NOT give info. state your rights to an exemption and the right to medical privacy and if they don't know who you are deal with they can't go after the Dr. You have the right to see a Dr. outside of PA (and many in Philly do go to NJ for Dr.s)- don't give info!!

just a correction to the above...It's HIPPA stands for Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (1996) and this is actually not true...HIPPA has it's limits and most likely does not apply to vax registries (if there is no opt out option in said state) . It does however apply to medical providers.there is more info here:



http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa...ing/index.html

[laohaire]

HIPAA, actually. But everyone seems to write HIPPA for some reason.

[Evergreen]

Originally Posted by cadejaxellamom

How do you find out if you can opt out of the state registry (I'm in NC)? My middle son has not and will not recieve any more vaxes (since he was 2) My youngest, 21 months, is unvaxed. I don't want either one on that registry. I think I might have screwed myself though by signing a form at her last appt this past week saying that my doc thinks I should give her the vaxes but that I refuse

I'm in NC too and you can't opt out here. I contacted the person in charge and he confirmed it to me. If they are unvaxed though you are already not on the registry. If your older children are already vaxed and won't be getting any more since the registry is pretty new they probably are not on it either. They say it is mainly so that if paper records get lost no one will have to be revaccinated.

[serenbat]

In PA it is up to the Dr. to do the vac registry or not, mine does not.

I personally would not give any info over the phone to any one.

And as the poster found out the Dr.'s office apparently was served some type of notice, they CAN NOT give the info to anyone that calls (over the phone) regardless who they are without proper paperwork.