New rule regarding children visiting hospitals and immunizations

[BRmama]

Yesterday we went to visit my newborn nephew and they made us wait outside of the foyer with my nine mo. I asked what if we have our immunizations (we don't vax) and the nurse said no still. She said it's good to have it even though they're not 100% effective. I was thinking to myself this is one of the reasons why we don't vax. Anyway it got my husband thinking and asking questions which is a good thing, since he was so pro vax before.

[seashells]

Originally Posted by BRmama

Then people wonder why we don't vax, well this is why.

I honestly don't follow. There's lots of reasons not to vax but I don't see how your post is one of them. (Nor is it a reason TO vax... I don't see what it is either way). Vaxes not being 100% effective is not a reason not to vax.

[emma1325]

Originally Posted by BRmama

Okay so yesterday my dh and nine mo and I went to visit my sil who just had a newborn in the hospital. My inlaws were also coming. We were in the foyer when the nurse stopped us to tell us the new rules. According to the CDC one of the rules now for swine flu is that no kids under fourteen were allowed in the hospital, my dh said fine we'll wait in the foyer. then she said that we couldn't even wait in the foyer. So we had to wait in the little place where the doors open and close and there's no heat. I asked her (playing along since we don't vax) what if we got our swine flu shot and she said no because vaccines are not 100% effective but it's still good to get it. In the end my inlaws stayed with my nine month old who is totally unvaxed but my dh and I could not believe it. Then people wonder why we don't vax, well this is why.

My mom is in the hospital (ovarian cysts) and we'd planned to visit her tomorrow. I wonder if we'll encounter the same policy.

[BRmama]

Sorry for the double post

Originally Posted by seashells

I honestly don't follow. There's lots of reasons not to vax but I don't see how your post is one of them. (Nor is it a reason TO vax... I don't see what it is either way). Vaxes not being 100% effective is not a reason not to vax.

Well it's one of my reasons. Also I've done a lot of research to make this decision. I just think it's weird how you (general) immunize kids for protection but then you run into something like this, and you think "I thought my kids (general) were protected."

My mom is in the hospital (ovarian cysts) and we'd planned to visit her tomorrow. I wonder if we'll encounter the same policy.

I asked if it was a national rule and she didn't know so I'd call before going just to be sure. In fact I should've called as well, I had no idea about this new rule.

[Jenelle]

I know that this is a rule at at least one hospital here -- 14.

[EENS]

At the Cleveland Clinic as of two weeks ago, no children under 18 were allowed. We were allowed in the general hospital and the surgical waiting center, just not allowed to visit patients.

[BRmama]

I guess I should change the title to better acommodate this thread. It's a good rule, it got my husband asking about vaccines, something I had tried to tell him but he'd never listen, so it's a start.

[tanyalynn]

Originally Posted by emma1325

My mom is in the hospital (ovarian cysts) and we'd planned to visit her tomorrow. I wonder if we'll encounter the same policy.

With more flu than usual going around this year, some hospitals are changing visitation rules, you may want to call first. At least one local hospital isn't allowing any kids in (at least to some places like oncology, not sure if it's everywhere).

[Wildwomyn]

How is it a new rule regarding immunizations? Did there used to be a rule that only vaccinated children could visit?

[luv-my-boys]

It been on the national news a lot lately that many medical centers are "banning" vistitors or the amt of visitors to hospitals as a way of hopefully controling the flu this season.

[stiss]

I'm still not clear on what that rule has to do with vaccinations. Are you suggesting that the medical community thinks that vaccines are 100% effective, or that parents who vaccinate their kids do? If so, that would be a misconception. Again, though, I'm unsure what this has to do with your particular circumstance. For the record, I think that rule is crappy overall, because it would suck to be in the hospital and not have my kids come and visit me.

ETA: not having 100% protection is not a good reason to forgo something. If that that were the case, wearing bicycle helmets, or seatbelts, or having your appendix out when it bursts would also be on your list of things that you don't do because you don't have 100% protection. Don't get me wrong - there are many legitimate reasons to make the decision not to vaccinate a child, but this 100% rule is not one of them. My child is selectively vaccinated, but I'm fully aware that it's not 100% effective or 100% safe. I still sleep okay at night. I can handle something less than 100%, mostly because such a promise doesn't exist anywhere, for anything that we do.

[BRmama]

Originally Posted by stiss

I'm still not clear on what that rule has to do with vaccinations. Are you suggesting that the medical community thinks that vaccines are 100% effective, or that parents who vaccinate their kids do? If so, that would be a misconception. Again, though, I'm unsure what this has to do with your particular circumstance. For the record, I think that rule is crappy overall, because it would suck to be in the hospital and not have my kids come and visit me.

ETA: not having 100% protection is not a good reason to forgo something. If that that were the case, wearing bicycle helmets, or seatbelts, or having your appendix out when it bursts would also be on your list of things that you don't do because you don't have 100% protection. Don't get me wrong - there are many legitimate reasons to make the decision not to vaccinate a child, but this 100% rule is not one of them. My child is selectively vaccinated, but I'm fully aware that it's not 100% effective or 100% safe. I still sleep okay at night. I can handle something less than 100%, mostly because such a promise doesn't exist anywhere, for anything that we do.

I'm sorry I guess I should clarify. This rule has to do with immunizations because my husband was asking me about it afterwards. See he's very pro vax and when the nurse came and explained the rule that the CDC came out with (although the age of children not being allowed in the hospital vary by state), I asked what about if you're vaxed, and she said still no. Then she said it's good you got your vax but they're not 100% effective. Since then my husband who believed in herd immunity and all that was surprised. It's true nothing is 100% and a lot of it like you mentioned is for our benefit. I just think that when it comes to vaccines, building up my son's immune system with good nutrition and vitamins are more effective than the vaccines themselves even though those things are also not 100% jmho, in the end we're all just trying to do what we think is best for our children. I too don't like this rule as well but I can see how it's good in the maternity hospital that we were in.

[KimberlyD0]

I don't know anyone who believes vaccines are 100% effective (though I am sure they are out there) and thats where the herd immunity has come from. As in, if so many are vaccinated and DO have the immunity then its less likly for those who can't be vaccinated, or who don't develop an immunity from the vaccine can also have the same protection, since the risk is lowered.

Thats the idea behind it anyway. Its not the best reason not to vaccinate.

[AJP]

The thing about no kids visiting in hospitals isn't new to me, and seems to be randomly enforced in my area. My grandmother was in and out of several different hospitals a few years ago, in one they didn't even blink at me walking in to see her with my then-5-year-old in tow, and in a different one a nurse flipped out on us (my cousin was also there with her son) after we had already been there and were on our way out, it wasn't in an area where we had to check with a nurse's station to get to the room, but she freaked out like we were the most inconsiderate and irresponsible people ever for bringing children into a hospital (btw, same HMO runs both hospitals). I remember being barred from visiting my grandfather in the hospital when I was a kid (in the 70s). We went to visit a friend after she gave birth in a hospital and they wouldn't let us in with our baby, another area hospital around the same time had no objection when we went to visit a different friend after giving birth.

[BRmama]

Originally Posted by KimberlyD0

I don't know anyone who believes vaccines are 100% effective (though I am sure they are out there) and thats where the herd immunity has come from. As in, if so many are vaccinated and DO have the immunity then its less likly for those who can't be vaccinated, or who don't develop an immunity from the vaccine can also have the same protection, since the risk is lowered.

Thats the idea behind it anyway. Its not the best reason not to vaccinate.

I never said it was. I can post all my reasons for not wanting to vaccinate but it'd be a long post. I don't believe in herd immunity and imo it doesn't work. If someone else feels different about it good for them but frankly I get sick of the comments like "well good thing we vaccinate to protect you," and believe me I have gotten a lot of those.

[LowFlyingAnimals]

I don't understand how you can not believe in "herd immunity?" I'm curious what you mean. Herd immunity just means that enough of a population is immune to a disease either through vaccination or natural acquisition of disease that a disease cannot become widespread. There need to be a certain percentage of people who have not had a disease beforenit will become epidemic. That doesn't seem to be something you can or cannot believe regardless of your views on vaccination.

[noobmom]

Getting back to the OP...

My hospital has a similar rule about no children under 18. As far as I know it has nothing to do with vax status or not, just age. I'm upset because it means that my 3 yo son won't be able to visit me after I have the baby. I will be trying to leave the hospital ASAP after the birth.

[felix23]

My hospital has a no visitors under the age of 18 policy this year. I'm really glad they didn't have it last year because I can't imagine not getting to see dd1 for several days when I had dd2. It doesn't have anything to do with immunizations, though, it goes for everyone. It is well known that vaccinations, especially the flu one, isn't 100%. So that is why it goes for everyone, not just non-vaxed people.

[grahamsmom98]

Personally, I am glad to see hospitals screening visitors. It's to protect people (patients and visitors, alike), not to annoy anyone!

When my Mom had emergency surgery several years ago, she ended up sharing a room, post-op, for 10 days. The gal in the other bed had family visiting multiple times a day, the whole time. Several of them had colds, but just HAD to see her (she had had elective surgery), bringing in their younger kids. The kids, too, were sneezing & coughing. It was awful.

I asked the nurses if there was anyway for Mom to be moved to another room, but the hospital was full. Sigh, Mom ended up getting a cold (duh) and not being released as scheduled because of it (she should have been released after 4 days, but they kept her longer because of the cold she contracted from the other patient).

Our small town hospital is not allowing any visitors other than immediate family (spouse, parents), and no children under age 16 (no exceptions, unless the patient is dying and, then, masks must be worn). ALL visitors to ICU and to any maternity patients must wear masks and shoe covers and all visiting hours have been cut back dramatically. They are considering making the mask rule to cover visitors to all patients.

The assisted living residence where my Mom lives asks all visitors to use hand sanitizer upon entering and leaving the building. If you feel "off" or are actually sick, you must wear a mask during your visit. I haven't heard a single grumble.

When I was a child, I wasn't allowed to visit my Mom when she had surgery (this was in 1963). The rule was, no child visitors under age 18. I waved at her from the front lawn while she waved from her room window. No big deal.

[WC_hapamama]

Originally Posted by noobmom

Getting back to the OP...

My hospital has a similar rule about no children under 18. As far as I know it has nothing to do with vax status or not, just age. I'm upset because it means that my 3 yo son won't be able to visit me after I have the baby. I will be trying to leave the hospital ASAP after the birth.

I'm in the same boat, although at our hospital, it's no children under 16.