Vaccination concerns? - Page 2

[RedOakMomma]

In the case of South Korea, no consequences at all. In fact, we weren't even required to vax during the mandatory 6 months we had to wait before making the adoption legal (in the first 6 months, with Korea programs, you're technically foster parents to your child, not adoptive parents). All medical decisions were ours, even during that period. If something major happened medically, we had to notify the agency, but regular doctors visits were our decision.

just FYI, I'm not sure that ALL Korean adoption agencies would have a lax policy about bio kids being unvaxed...the way the Korean adoption process works, there's a lot of variation in policies and requirements in every US agency AND in the main Korean orphanages (all of which partner with various US agencies and have their own requirements). You'd have to look into it. I think it also helped, as someone else mentioned, that our homestudy agency and adoption agency were separate.

[CrunchyChristianMama]

Originally Posted by WifeMomChiro

Yes, I realize all of that. I of course realize that children from other countries will be vaccinated. My concern was if there were any issues with not continuing the vaccinations after the adoption.

I was just told this by our agency...

That is fine for you not to immunize your biological children and not a problem for the adoption. However, US immigration requires that all orphan immigrant children begin their immunizations within the first 30 days of being home. You will have to sign a disclosure that promises you will do that. So its not an agency specific thing, it's a requirement.

[SpottedFoxx]

Originally Posted by Evie's Mama

I was just told this by our agency...

That is fine for you not to immunize your biological children and not a problem for the adoption. However, US immigration requires that all orphan immigrant children begin their immunizations within the first 30 days of being home. You will have to sign a disclosure that promises you will do that. So its not an agency specific thing, it's a requirement.

[RedOakMomma]

The government may require it, but in our experience no one checks up on it.

[CrunchyChristianMama]

Here's the affidavit you have to sign. My (attorney) DH said to emphasize the fact that is says, "at the earliest time medically appropriate" in there. Soooo, if you can find a doc who says that it's not medically appropriate, you could be in the clear.

[RedOakMomma]

That was our excuse...we didn't even take dd in for ANY medical exam until she had been home for many months (and with the medical care in South Korea, we knew it wasn't really needed). She was such a scared, fragile, nervous little one when she came home--there was no way we, as her new parents, were going to take her to a strange place where a strange man and woman would cause distress, examine her, or give her shots!!! "Attachment" was our excuse for avoiding tests and vaccines, but honestly--in our case it was totally true, as well. It would have been a terrifying experience to her, and a real setback to our efforts for her to trust us and relax in our family.

[mran]

we are fost adopt parents w/ unvaxed bio children and partially/delayed foster & adoptive kids. it can be done.

[SpottedFoxx]

Originally Posted by RedOakMomma

The government may require it, but in our experience no one checks up on it.

Really? I can tell you that when we adopted our son from Guatemala - when we met with the US Embassy - that was one thing we absolutely had to show - his vaccine records. We never would have gotten out of the country without it.

I'd hate to have someone not give vaccines and then, when they are ready to bring their child home, be stopped.

[Polliwog]

I think RedOakMomma was referring to this post:

However, US immigration requires that all orphan immigrant children begin their immunizations within the first 30 days of being home. You will have to sign a disclosure that promises you will do that. So its not an agency specific thing, it's a requirement.

[RedOakMomma]

Yup.

In the case of Korea, adoptive parents are not at all involved in the medical decisions made before your child leaves the country. In fact, you don't assume guardianship (in many cases) until you're in the airport and boarding the plane. Pre-travel vaccines are the decision and policy of the orphanage and agency, not parents.