I want to stop vaccinating my 4yr old

[lotavi10]

My 4yr old needs her last dose of MMR,DPT,POLIO before kindergarten, however I don't want to vaccinate her anymore. After reading and finding out that vaccines are not all safe and are made of nasty toxins, I regret and feel horrible for vaccinating then. I should have asked questions and informed my self before allowing these toxins in my babie's small body, uhh... now all I can do is not to allow anymore of these toxins in her.

My question: Will school accept my DD without the last shots? Btw I live in California

Also, during my dd 4yr wellexam the nurse refused to fill in the school health registration form saying that I first needed to vaccinate my DD, that she would not be allow to attend to school. I told her that I was not going to vaccinate and walked out.

Any information will help. THANKS

[Lovemy3girls]

Hi lotavi10, welcome!

"My question: Will school accept my DD without the last shots?" Yes. You probably don't even need to show any previous vaccination records since you've decided you'll be filling out an exemption form for kindergarten.

I'm in CA and I did the same thing for for one of my children a few years ago. (Good for you by the way!) Hopefully your daughter didn't suffer any serious adverse vaccine reactions like mine did though.

Here in CA it's supposed to be pretty easy to fill out an exemption form. Schools receive money for every vaccinated child and if the school is in a lower income area they depend more on funding and may give a parent more of a hard time about the exemption, which is what happened to me. We've since moved to a better area and now they never say anything when I sign the exemption form. You should be able to fill one out without harrassment, and if you get any "what for" just be firm in your convictions. You don't need to make a big stink or anything, just do what you did at the doctor's!

I understand about feeling terrible and the whole guilt trip thing. You were doing the best you could at the time with the knowledge you had, and you're still a good mother. Please don't beat yourself up over it.

Edited by Lovemy3girls - 3/21/11 at 7:13am

[Marnica]

You can file either a religious or a philisphical exemption. You should have no problems.

[lotavi10]

Thank you so much for the information and your kind words. Sorry to hear your DD had a bad reaction to the vaccines mine didn't have a severe one but she did get high fever.

I went back to the doctors and dropped off the health information form for school entry so they fill out the form and included all the vaccines my DD had gotten before and wrote a note saying "mom refused kindergarten vaccines"

What form did you used that didn't included the doctor to list the vaccines?
I read that in CA you can exempt some or all vaccines, but I'm afraid that the school will not make it easy for me since doc marked the other vaccines she already had.

Thanks

[lotavi10]

Thank you Manica for the info, I will be filing for philosophical exemption.

[ma2two]

In California, you can either get a medical exemption or "personal beliefs" exemption. The personal beliefs exemption covers both philosophical and religious beliefs, so you don't need to decide which one to use.  You will just need to sign the back (second page) of this form. 

http://www.cdph.ca.gov/programs/immunize/Documents/pm286b.pdf It's nicknamed the "Blue Card." The official forms from the health department are on light blue card stock. If the school does not readily provide you with one to sign, you can print one out yourself, double sided.

According to California law, it does not matter one bit for the exemption if your daughter has already gotten vaccines. And if she's already gotten two chickenpox vaccines, that's good to have on the record anyway, so she's not sent home during a school outbreak.

If you don't want her injected with PPD for the tuberculosis test, sign the TB waiver as well, which is on the same form. You don't need to find out if you're in a jurisdiction that requires the test. Just sign the waiver.

I do not think it's true that schools receive funding based on a student's vaccination status. Their only responsibility is to make sure the student is fully vaccinated with the required vaccines for school, or has one of the valid exemptions. Some school staff members may be uncooperative based on their own personal biases, or ignorance of the law. Staff at lower income schools probably see fewer exemption forms, if any, so they are not used to it.

Just for fun, you can see the number and percentage of kindergardeners at your school who had a personal beliefs exemption this current school year.

http://www.cdph.ca.gov/programs/immunize/Documents/2010IZRateTable.pdf

Look in the "PBE" column.

Edited by ma2two - 3/22/11 at 12:22am

[lotavi10]

Thanks ma2two, these two website were alot help, I printed out the "blue card" since it was not included in the school registry packet. Also, thanks for the TB info I'm planning to sign that as well.

[Lovemy3girls]

I knew I forgot something important!  (Kid distractions again - sorry about that.) Yes, philosophical or religious - short and simple (thanks Marnica!) 

Don't worry about already having done some vaxes. Just ask for the blue form. You will need to sign a new one each year too. Ma2two seems to be an expert on CA exemption law and has all the links for you.

As far as funding goes, there is a link between attendance and state funding, with an emphasis on student vaccination status in connection to this - about $30/day per student, although I imagine it varies from district to district.

And yes, staff at schools in lower socioeconomic areas can treat exemptions with suspicion. In my experience, the school nurse felt it was her mission to embark on a personal crusade against the ignorant heathen in need of salvation. This woman did not even talk TO me, she talked AT me, despite my telling her my reason for signing an exemption was because my child almost DIED from vaccines. She didn't skip a beat, just completely ignored what I told her as if I was dumb or had never said anything at all and continued her speech about how wonderful vaccines are and how you can pick up Hepatitis B from desktop surfaces, and you really should get your daughter those boosters, etc, etc. I'm sure she didn't mean to be so insensitive and felt she was only doing her job, but talk about a complete disconnect mentality! Incredible.

Anyway, my experience is probably outside the norm, although I have heard many stories of people dealing with this with doctors. I'm sure it will go smoothly for you, since you are armed with information and resolute in your decision, so nothing to fear! Sorry this turned into a long post, just sharing (and maybe venting a little lol).

Good luck and I hope your daughter enjoys kindergarten.

[ma2two]

The blue card does not need to be signed every year. Sign it once for kindergarten, and you're all set.

An exception to that is kids going into 7th-12th grade this year, who need to sign a different form or write a separate letter to be exempted from the new Tdap requirement.

I forgot to say you can check boxes A and E on the front of the blue card, so school staff know will know what's going on if they don't see the signature on the back. They are supposed to be the ones to fill out the vaccines and dates on the front, from the record the doctor provided.

[Lovemy3girls]

Originally Posted by ma2two 

The blue card does not need to be signed every year. Sign it once for kindergarten, and you're all set.

Yes, that is right, sign it and you're good. Sorry, there I go getting distracted again.  

 

[lotavi10]

Good morning, I want to thank you ladies for all the wonderful and helpful information. I know I come to the right place; the feedback was thoughtful and supportive, I'm thankful to have found this site. I turned in the registry forms and signed the " blue card" with no problem.
Again, thank you!

[Lovemy3girls]

I'm glad it went well for you!

Sorry if I sounded a little ditzy or confusing in my posts - I guess I've been having one of those weeks. 

I had an afterthought that I should clarify for you: when my daughter transferred schools, the exemption form got lost in the shuffle and I had to sign a second one at her new school. Funny how all the other paperwork was there though, except for the blue form. (I still wonder if that wonderful nurse I told you about "lost" it.) The form is supposed to follow your child in their file all through school, but schools have been known to lose documents. Just something to keep in the back of your mind if there's ever a move or transfer in your future.

We've been filling out registrations for sports activities the kids do every year and I got mixed up and told you to fill out the form every year. So silly.

Thanks for sharing the good news.

[lotavi10]

No, don't worry your posts were not confusing at all. I trully appreciate all the great info you posted. Thank you.