Help me deal with this please...

[BRmama]

I got a really weird call today from my state's health department regarding my son's immunization. Not sure if it was a recording they left on my voicemail. It said something like he's behind his vax and that I need to bring him in to get caught up. I'm not even sure how they know that information. My son only had the hep B as a newborn, his ped knows we don't vax and he wants me to make my own schedule even though we (dh and I) just recently decided that we're not vaxing our kids. So what do I do? Do I need to call them back and let them know we don't vax so they don't call anymore, or should I just leave it alone. I'm kind of scared. They can't think this is neglect right? I mean I stand firm by my decision but can they turn and say I'm neglecting my kids by not vaxing them? TIA

[NCmama]

I would just totally ignore it. Although it is scary to think they are keeping up. I am not on schedule with all 3 kids, and I am very selective with what they do get. So someone certainly wouldn't be happy if they looked at my childrens immunization records!

[BRmama]

Thanks NCmama. Yeah that's what scares me. I'll probably just ignore it. Today was the first time and I hope the last. I wish there was a way to bypass this system, I just hope they don't turn to cps for neglect or anything like that. I guess I gotta check the law in my state here.

[MyLilPwny]

I'd probably ignore it too. How old is your son, he's not school-age yet I'm assuming? I thought that pediatrician's don't have responsibility to keep vaccines records (maybe that varies from state to state though), and its just schools that keep vaccine records? Like here in California, I don't think that kind of thing would happen because the California "Immunization Schedule" blue card form already has a pre-printed exemption statement on the back and all you have to do is sign that, so its very easy, and I know pediatricians here don't need to keep vaccine records at all because my daughter's M.D. pediatrician is 100% against all vaccines and so I've never had to sign any waivers at all, so I know there are no vaccine records. They only way I could see the state knowing is maybe if someone reported it to the state, like if the pediatrician did or if someone you knew did.

[Emmeline II]

Any medical care received (including vaccination) should be in a child's medical records, which is a legal document that a doctor is leagaly obligated to keep for a specific amount of time. I'm sure the health department is allowed to eye them for information on vaccinations.

Personally, I would ignore them. If your state has "all children in this state shall be vaccinated for..." language in the vax law (check NVIC) then I would keep an exemption handy. It is not medical neglect to knowledgeably not vaccinate.

[BRmama]

Thanks for the posts!

I'd probably ignore it too. How old is your son, he's not school-age yet I'm assuming? I thought that pediatrician's don't have responsibility to keep vaccines records (maybe that varies from state to state though), and its just schools that keep vaccine records? Like here in California, I don't think that kind of thing would happen because the California "Immunization Schedule" blue card form already has a pre-printed exemption statement on the back and all you have to do is sign that, so its very easy, and I know pediatricians here don't need to keep vaccine records at all because my daughter's M.D. pediatrician is 100% against all vaccines and so I've never had to sign any waivers at all, so I know there are no vaccine records. They only way I could see the state knowing is maybe if someone reported it to the state, like if the pediatrician did or if someone you knew did.

Thanks ThereseReich He's nine months. I hope pediatricians don't, I guess I have to check. That's great your ped is 100% against them. I'm in Utah and my ped is very pro-vax. When he asked if I would bring my son in for his nine month wbv I said yeah but never went because I don't want or plan to vax him. So when I got that call this morning I immediately thought it could be him. Not sure though

Any medical care received (including vaccination) should be in a child's medical records, which is a legal document that a doctor is leagaly obligated to keep for a specific amount of time. I'm sure the health department is allowed to eye them for information on vaccinations.

Personally, I would ignore them. If your state has "all children in this state shall be vaccinated for..." language in the vax law (check NVIC) then I would keep an exemption handy. It is not medical neglect to knowledgeably not vaccinate.

Thanks Emmeline II. I know that the exemption in my state is philosophical. I'll be checking NVIC for sure. Yeah my plan is to ignore them and find out where I can get a philosophical exemption to keep in handy jic. I suspected they know because the only vax he had was the hep B (so that's in his records) and not by choice. Thanks again, I feel more relieved.

[KorbanJ08]

I get a recorded call from my sons former DR's every time he reaches a certain age. It started at 4 mos and continued at 6 mos, 10 mos and 12 mos. He is almost 18 mos so I expect I will be getting a call soon. Just ignore it you may or may not get another call. We have never gotten a vaccine from that doctor or any doctor, they just call to "remind us". Did the call occur on or around his birth day?

[Marnica]

Was your son born in a hospital? If so unless you specifically opted out of the immunization registry for your state, then that is how the health dept has this info. Most states have an opt out option. Some do not however. what state are you in?

[BRmama]

Thanks you guys for replying

KorbanJ08, his birthday is next week on the seventh so I guess pretty close.

Marnica, I didn't know that. I'm in Utah. He was born in a hospital and they completely pressured me into signing the consent form for the hep b after I said no three times . I'm interested though to find out if my state lets me opt out.

[Turquesa]

I'm in Idaho, where you have to "opt in." I was surprised to learn that Utah isn't the same way.

Marnica nailed it on the head. They were just going through the registry to give people a "friendly" little nudge to get vaxed. But you're by no means in any sort of trouble, since Utah allows for medical, religious, and philosophical exemptions.

The people who called you probably weren't chomping at the bit to tell you this, but you have every legal right to opt out of USIIS (Utah State Immunization Information System):

http://health.utah.gov/usiis/acrobat...raw%20form.pdf

[BRmama]

Originally Posted by Turquesa

I'm in Idaho, where you have to "opt in." I was surprised to learn that Utah isn't the same way.

Marnica nailed it on the head. They were just going through the registry to give people a "friendly" little nudge to get vaxed. But you're by no means in any sort of trouble, since Utah allows for medical, religious, and philosophical exemptions.

The people who called you probably weren't chomping at the bit to tell you this, but you have every legal right to opt out of USIIS (Utah State Immunization Information System):

http://health.utah.gov/usiis/acrobat...raw%20form.pdf

Thanks Turquesa. I thought we only had the philosophical exemption here but I'm glad to know we have all three. I'm sorry you can't opt out. So by not opting out does that mean you have to be in their immunization registry? Even if you don't or selective vax? Just curious I guess.

[Turquesa]

Originally Posted by BRmama

Thanks Turquesa. I thought we only had the philosophical exemption here but I'm glad to know we have all three. I'm sorry you can't opt out. So by not opting out does that mean you have to be in their immunization registry? Even if you don't or selective vax? Just curious I guess.

I should clarify. It's not that everybody is automatically entered and you can't opt out. You actually cannot get into the registry without your written consent, so you have to "opt in." Doctors try to talk you into it, and you smile sweetly and say no thank you. It's a good thing. This is one of the best places for non and selective vaxers to live.

I'm not sure how it works in other states.

If you fill out and mail in that form that I linked you to, you'll get out of Utah's registry, and those phone calls will stop.

[BRmama]

Originally Posted by Turquesa

I should clarify. It's not that everybody is automatically entered and you can't opt out. You actually cannot get into the registry without your written consent, so you have to "opt in." Doctors try to talk you into it, and you smile sweetly and say no thank you. It's a good thing. This is one of the best places for non and selective vaxers to live.

I'm not sure how it works in other states.

If you fill out and mail in that form that I linked you to, you'll get out of Utah's registry, and those phone calls will stop.

Wow, that's great! Thanks for clarifying