Vaccines and adoption

[RasJane]

The paperwork is in for a domestic private agency adoption.
I worry about the vax issue though.
I have a bio child who I believe in vaccine injured although I cannot prove it.
I now don't believe in vaccinating a child under the age of 2--and even then I am very limited in what I would consider--depends on the situation we're in at that time.
So unless b mom is positive for hepB, I want to refuse all vax.
I am in OR and state law only specifically requires vaccines for kids in daycare or school.
Tell me your experiences moms and dads. Am I going to be walking into a land mine here? Does bmom have the right to vax her child even if I state I don't want that?

Thanks
Sarah

[Laurel]

The birthmother can do whatever she wants before she leaves the hospital and relinquishes the baby--you have no legal rights to the child at that point. Dallin's bmother refused hep B, but she did have him circ'd. You can always talk with her about your preferences and she may go with them, though.

Whether or not vaccines are required depends a lot on the agency you are working with. Our agency required us to fill out a medical form before the adoption could be finalized. One of the questions was "Are the child's immunizations current?" The doctor was required to initial the answer to this question and requested to include a photocopy of the state vaccine record. How the question would be answered would depend on the physician and their stance about vaxes. Our doctor was fairly liberal and signed off even though we had refused a couple (like Prevnar). You must remember that until finalization, the agency actually has legal custody of the child, not you. I had a friend working with the same agency who did not have her baby vaxed, and when the agency found out, they told her they could not finalize until the vaxes were done. So, not only did her child have to be vaxed, but it had to be done in an accelerated manner so they could get the adoption finalized without waiting eons.

I tell you all of this because I think you are working with the same agency we did, aren't you? My advice is to find a doctor who is friendly to delaying vaxes and hope that they will sign the form for you.

[Nemmer]

I second Laurel's advice. Our caseworker also told us to just go ahead and vax when we asked about it, to avoid complications with finalization. He said some people have tried to fight the vaccinations, but it is a huge hassle. Next time, I plan to take the baby to ped my DH's cousin takes his kids to, that doesn't believe in vaxing before age 2 either. Hopefully, he'll be willing to sign off that they are current, under the premise that they are current according to OUR schedule, not the CDC's. So, I'd focus on finding a doctor that will work with you on the vaccine schedule.

[Clarity]

our friends adopted the baby I fostered and I did not vax him while he was with us, so he was 2 months old and had had nothing yet...so in the adoption process the doc signed as note saying they were doing a delayed vax schedule. Though they were having more vaxs, and earlier, than I would have liked...they were worried. The social workers usually know nothing about it - to them not vaxing = medical neglect. If your ped is willing to back you up, it should be fine. Do you have a relationship with your homestudy social worker or agency where you could discuss it with them? Is it an open adoption? Perhaps bmom would support you?

[HotMama]

I'm also in Oregon and we are not vaxing. We discussed this with dd's birthmom and our ped (at the time) ahead of time and our agency never asked. I know a few other adoptive parents who have also chosen to not vax who also adopted through OA&FS.

I am looking for a ped to work with on our next adoption, since we were unhappy with our other ped's office. We usually go to our ND, so the ped is really just for interfacing with the hospital, if we are even nearby home for our next adoption...so much is variable in adoption. We may not have such a smooth time of it next time.

[OnTheFence]

I talked to our son's birthmother before his birth about vacs and circ. She gave us power of attorney when he was 23 hours old. They did not do circ in that hospital anyway, its done at the pediatricians office.
Anyway, we had to sign something that said we would give him all "necessary" vaccinations. I felt like I could sign it, since ummm, I didnt think they were necessary at the time. Now we did eventually vaccinate but they were really delayed. I was really nervous the judge was going to ask us at our finalization hearing, because I heard of that happening.
I will be honest in saying though, that had it come down to us having to vaccinate to get to finalization we would have done it. Adoptions through the state they actually check.
I know that with several agencies we looked at, vac'ing was required and part of your agreement.

[grisandole]

Here in AZ, I'm going through the state, and it isn't required that our kids (the ones we already have) be vaxed. Yes, I have to have forms filled out by a doc (general physical) that includes vaxes, but if you don't vax you just cross out that part and attach a brief statement that you choose not to vax. No big deal. The same for foster parenting (we are getting approved for both).

It's more a grey area if the child to be adopted must be vaxed; by law, they don't *have* to be; it's up to the birth parents, and if parental rights have been terminated, then it's up to the foster parents, if they are in foster care.

Wouldn't the decision to vax be up to whoever is leagally responsible for the child?

And do they really need to be vaxed to adopt in OR, or is that just what they are telling you, because that's what most people do?

Kristi

[Laurel]

Originally posted by grisandole [
Wouldn't the decision to vax be up to whoever is leagally responsible for the child?

Yes, but it's the agency who is legally responsible for the child. Adoptive parents have physical custody, but the agency has legal custody. So it's up to the agency whether or not they require vaxes for the adoption to proceed to finalization.

[grisandole]

Laurel,

Thanks, I get it now. So the rules vary then from agency to agency......what a pain.


Kristi

[KellyGreenT]

Hello

I am new to this community but wanted to share my experience.
We didn't work with an agency, we did an independent private adoption and with the help of a facilitator. We have a very open adoption and while we adore Travis' birthparents we have different views about about child rearing. I wasn't fond of vaccinations and would have preferred that he was was not cir'd.

I was present for his birth ad for his entire hospital stay. I was able to bond with him right away BUT I absolutely no say-so in the happenings surrounding his birth. Until his birthparents signed the TPR, I had no rights at all. They chose to have him cir'd and he received his first vaccination in the hospital despite my preferences and concerns.

In an agency adoption, the agency is the child's legal guardian until your adoption is finalized which can take 6 months or longer. In a private adoption you become your child't legal guardian as soon as the TPRs are signed. Most agencies will require that your child receives regular medical care and vaccinations HOWEVER you may be able to dance around the issue if you can find a Dr. who will back you up.

Good luck!

[steph]

Comming in late here, but just wanted to add, we're in OR too. Our agency didn't require anything regarding vax. We don't have any other children, so the question never came up about previous children, but my understanding of their position, is that it's not an issue for them. If you feel comfortable about talking w/the bmom, then go ahead and do it - maybe put in terms of delaying vaxing w/reasoning behind it, if you think she might have an issue with it. Best wishes!!

[RasJane]

Thanks so much for your replies. I checked the actual Oregon State law regarding vax. It only requires them for entry to a licensed child care facility or school. Since neither applies to us, I hope to use that for some leverage. I'll also talk to my naturopath.
Since I don't know where the bmom will be or where baby will be born--or even if we'll actually get a newborn!--I will also talk to the bmom.