Right to work w/o vax?

[audsma]

I figured I'd bring this question to you very knowledgeable mamas:

I went through public schools in CA unvaccinated after a very scary reaction in infancy.  I had to vax, however, to attend the UC system (my folks didn't realize there was a philo exemption, and I didn't care at that point.)  I passed out in the Dr. office following my vax cocktail.  Very groggily, I went on to take a final exam that night at my community college.  I don't want to vax again for myself or my son.  That said, I was informed at a staff meeting on Monday, that if I as a teacher do not have a booster shot, I will be sent home for 21 days if I am exposed to Pertussis.  DH does not support non-vax, so this is a hard sell in my house. 

I have seen nothing from personnel saying that they need documentation of the pertussis booster for teachers, the way they need the TB test on file, so I might be off the hook.  But, as a teacher, I cannot be out that amount of time.  What do you all know about laws dealing with workplace vax directives?  I'm sure health care providers have "mandatory vax" requirements. 

I decided to "risk it" with my son being sent home from daycare without vax if there was an outbreak, but I'm curious about what rights I have. 

According to a pp and the article in Mercury News, it looks like the pertussis outbreaks ebb and flow on a 5 year or more cycle.  So, I should be okay for an outbreak for a few years, but I'm still curious about my rights.

[Marnica]

Legally I don't think any place of employment can do that unless they have a policy (ie it is in writing and evey employee has been informed and given the policy in writing). If you are saying your school doesn't have anything offcial, than they can't just make stuff up. However there is nothing to stop the school or district creating an official policy - but it would have to be in writing and you would have to be made appropriately aware of the policy (ie not just them telling you it's a policy). All businesses and schools too I think have a policy and procedure manual. If it is an official policy, it should be in there.

ETA - also if you have had 2 severe vaccine reactions, I would think that would be enough for you to obtain a medical exemption. (unofficially since they really only pertain to school) You'd just need to find a doc that believes you and would write one or a note detailing your reactions - unless you you have medical records from back then to support your claim.

[Treece]

Also, OSHA allows vaccine exemptions. This has link to the Hep B exemption, but I am sure it could apply equally to others. http://www.vaclib.org/exemption.htm

[Marnica]

Originally Posted by Treece 

Also, OSHA allows vaccine exemptions. This has link to the Hep B exemption, but I am sure it could apply equally to others. http://www.vaclib.org/exemption.htm

 No - just the bep B vaccine. OSHA is only concerned with employees who are at risk from their job from blood borne pathogens.