Does anyone know what PA is up to?

[ScootchsMom]

DD's school called yesterday. She goes to pre-k at a private school. They have her Vax records on file as she received all vaccines up until now, but she won't be getting anymore. Apparently, some department in PA is contacting all of the preschools and private pre-k's and having them go through the medical records on file to check for compliance with the vaccine recommendations.

I explained to the Director, who I'm friendly with, that we are filing a religious exemption for next year, so she said I can just give her a copy of that.

I'm curious to know why they are checking so early now, and what they are going to do to people that aren't up to date in preschool and pre-k. As far as I understood, you either file an exemption or you have to be up to date with the vax schedule to start Kindergarten.

[neetling]

we aren't in PA, but we did recently move and the old school hadn't forwarded our exemption. There's an exclusion day where I live in February where they would need to be up to date or have an exemption on file. Maybe that's it.

[Arduinna]

Wow, I'll be following this thread. Not in PA but..

[serenbat]

I'm curious to know why they are checking so early now, and what they are going to do to people that aren't up to date in preschool and pre-k. As far as I understood, you either file an exemption or you have to be up to date with the vax schedule to start Kindergarten.

Are you sure you are really being told the truth by the school? Maybe it's them and not the state- anyways I have always been under the impression that regardless of pre-K or K you needed to have your exemption, same way if you did a Daisy program and were not in a school.

The state of PA has a tracking system and doesn't have an opt out, your only chance is if you Dr. hasn't filed with the state (and not all do).

All they can do is keep after you, file the exemption and keep it up to date each year.

You might wish to also post in the local tribe section.

[MamaMelis]

I had to submit my childs vax record for his preschool in PA, he is 2.5. There were a few that we have skipped or delayed, and no one mentioned it to me after I submitted it along with his paperwork.

[Gladiolus]

My DD goes to a PA preschool and they didn't ask for anything - not vax records or an exemption on file (which I would do if they asked) and they aren't saying anything new now either. I'll keep my ears open regarding this issue though.

[ScootchsMom]

See, the director/owner was actually reviewing the records and called me to see if I had an updated one. Her exact words were "The state is asking that we review all of the children's immunizations to make sure they are up to date."

DD is up to date, as we fully vaxed her as a baby and the pre-K has copies of those records already. I didn't become skeptical about vaxes until pregnant with DS and we are delaying any more until later on, if at all. But, she was vax'ed in NY, not PA, so she isn't in their registry at all here. Which is fine by me. We are not continuing any vaxes for her, so I filed the exemption with the pre-K, and the same one is going with her Kindergarten registration packet.

The only thing I can think of, is the school recently became part of the Keystone Stars program from the Department of Public Welfare. I'm betting that's where this is coming from

[serenbat]

See, the director/owner was actually reviewing the records and called me to see if I had an updated one. Her exact words were "The state is asking that we review all of the children's immunizations to make sure they are up to date."

DD is up to date,

still seems very odd- IF she is up to date- why ask, wouldn't they know if? you should have been asked to turn in some paper work when you enrolled her stating vacs

you will find far more "looking into things" is you deal with any state program, public school, etc.

[dogretro]

Originally Posted by ScootchsMom

The only thing I can think of, is the school recently became part of the Keystone Stars program from the Department of Public Welfare. I'm betting that's where this is coming from

Yes, it is probably Keystone Stars related. I used to work at a center that was a 5-star. They do have rules like this, but a lot of what Stars does is great for teachers (like large retention bonuses).

PA does have an opt-out, regardless of any tracking. Here is the code: § 23.84. Exemption from immunization. [28 PA. CODE CH.23] (a) Medical exemption. Children need not be immunized if a physician or the physician's designee provides a written statement that immunization may be detrimental to the health of the child. When the physician determines that immunization is no longer detrimental to the health of the child, the child shall be immunized according to this subchapter.
(b) Religious exemption. Children need not be immunized if the parent, guardian or emancipated child objects in writing to the immunization on religious grounds or on the basis of a strong moral or ethical conviction similar to a religious belief.

You do NOT have to prove religious exemption b/c the code states, "..on the basis of a strong moral or ethical conviction similar to a religious belief." You would simply write a letter that states something like: In accordance to 28 PA. CODE CH.23, [child's name] is exempt from vaccinations due to a strong moral or ethical conviction similar to a religious belief.

That's pretty much it! Do not go into more detail than necessary & use the actual language of the law itself.

[serenbat]

PA does have an opt-out, regardless of any tracking.

Can you provide proof of this?
No where on the PA Health site does it say how to opt-out.

an exemptions is different from the state health reporting system (Pennsylvania Statewide Immunization Information System (PA-SIIS) is a statewide immunization registry that collects vaccination history information)

[dogretro]

Oh, okay, I misunderstood what you were saying. I see, you mean you can't opt out of tracking, not opt out of getting vax's. Gotcha