Is This True??

[amym72]

I quoted this from another board:

As far as required vaxes go, if your child doesn't "complete the series" you will still have sign a waiver. The schools only look to see if the boxes are filled out with dates. If every box isn't completed with a date, they will ask for a waiver. So when you said something about "then he won't need a booster" that is incorrect as far as how the school will look at it. In order to have the vaccine series completed, he will need all of the recommended sticks (5 for DTaP, 4 for Polio, 2 for MMR I believe, etc).

If this is true what do you do? Get a note from the pedi or sign a exemption form? Or can you take in aprintout of the state laws stating that if a vax is given after a certain date that the final one isn't needed?
Thanks,
Amy

[EviesMom]

They don't just look at the little boxes in my experience. They look at the little boxes based on the age of the child, and the boxes have notes on them too for what's needed.

I don't know how it works for your state, but here HiB and Prevnar are on the list for kids under 5, so there's a completely different form for preschool/daycare/pre-K (and it says on the form notes like "after 15 months, only 1 dose is needed" for the HiB). For K, it says 3 Polio, 4 DTaP, 3 HepB, 1 MMR, 1 Varicella. I think that's it. For 1st, they need 2 "measles containing" vaxes, but not 2 Mumps or Rubella.

So generally speaking, they should know, unless it's a really small school or one that never gets different vax styles (some are delayed or no-vaxers here, but many are also overseas where requirements and schedules are drastically different).

[Gitti]

My understanding is that the school/state have different requirements than is recommended by the pediatrician/pharma. Since the booklet is a guideline from pharma corporations, there are some that can be left blank.

Each state has its own requirements.

[KoalaMommy]

Your child has to be "up to date" for your state. If you delayed, you may well get by with fewer shots in some series. The MMR varies by state, most require 2 shots at some point. I don't think the broken up MMR is available anymore, so that does mean 2 MMR shots.

Our state does require Hib, but we're up to date with 1 shot because it was given after 15 months. Some states don't even require it. I would check you state requirements and the CDC catch up schedule to see what would be needed. If you don't intend to give anymore shots, then you're probably better off to sign the exemption to avoid future shots.

[EviesMom]

Originally Posted by KoalaMommy

Your child has to be "up to date" for your state. If you delayed, you may well get by with fewer shots in some series. The MMR varies by state, most require 2 shots at some point. I don't think the broken up MMR is available anymore, so that does mean 2 MMR shots.

I believe the separated is coming back (in 2010? 2011?). Some 98% of people show immunity to measles after 1 dose, but rather than do a blood test and give boosters just to those without immunity, my state says just do 2 doses for all. Some states would allow "demonstrated serologic immunity" instead of a second dose, so you could do a blood test and show immunity.

From my experience with 3 preschool apps, 1 public school pre-K, 1 public school K applications, nothing on our school forms in NYC come from pharma companies themselves or include anything that's "recommended" but not "required." They come from the Dept. of Health and are tailored by age. For example, the kindergarten form does not list HiB or Prevnar, because kids don't need those here for K-12. The preschool form does list them, because they're required at that age. The ped has a guide that lists everything, but I haven't seen a school give that out here.