Daycare vax requirement--question

[gardenmom]

Friends of mine are both working parents whose nearly 1yo daughter is in daycare. To date, they have vaccinated on a somewhat delayed schedule, but basically, she is up to date.

They have been notified in writing by the daycare center that they need to get their daughter the MMR 'on schedule' at 1yo. Due to the rocky history of the MMR and it's complications, at a minimum, they intend to delay giving the MMR to their daughter until she is older. The daycare center knows she is vaxed so far, so doing the 'religious exemption' thing is out of the question unless they move her to a new daycare center and claim the exemption, right? (btw--this is not an option for them)

I know that the guidelines (doses/dates) given for immunizing are only that--guidelines, and that this wouldn't even come up if they had done the exemption from the start or were able to keep their child home until school age, but it's too late for that.

Can anyone give me advice to pass on to them in this situation?
Can the daycare force the MMR on them at a specific date or kick her out if they don't do it?

Any help is appreciated--thanks in advance.

[amnesiac]

Well just because they didn't file a religious exemption before doesn't necessarily mean they can't file one now. But I don't live in NY so I have no personal experience with that.

Yes, she can be asked to leave her child care program. Child care facilities are regulated by the state. State law mandates what vaccines must be received at what ages for children to attend child care programs without an exemption. It isn't up to the child care program -- if they aren't in compliance, they can be cited by child care licensing. It goes on their record & jeopardized their licensure.

http://www.ocfs.state.ny.us/main/becs/daycare_regs.asp

[Deborah]

I would recommend a sudden attack of religion. People's religious beliefs do change. I hope they can sort it out.

Nana

[gardenmom]

Thanks so much for the link--I've already passed it on to my friends. They may have a really hard time because the NY state school system actually owns/runs the daycare their dd is in. Here's the specific text I found from the Child Day Care info (for anyone else who reads this, these are NY rules), which may give them some options:

"(e)Other than children who are enrolled in kindergarten or a higher grade, no child may be accepted for care in a child day care center unless the provider has been furnished with a written statement signed by a health care provider stating that the child is able to participate in child day care, currently appears to be free from contagious or communicable diseases and is receiving health care, including appropriate health examinations in accordance with the American Academy of Pediatrics schedule of such care and examinations. Such documentation must state that the child has received age-appropriate immunizations in accordance with New York State Public Health Law.

(1)Any child not yet immunized may be admitted provided the child’s immunizations are in process, in accordance with the requirements of the New York State Department of Health, and the parent gives the provider specific appointment dates for subsequent immunizations.

(2)Any child who is not immunized because of the parent’s genuine and sincere religious beliefs may be admitted if the parent furnishes the child day care center with a written statement to this effect.

(3)Any child who is missing one or more of the required immunizations may be admitted if a physician licensed to practice medicine in New York State furnishes the child day care center with a written statement that such immunizations may be detrimental to the child’s health.

(4)With the exception of children meeting the criteria of paragraphs (2) or (3) of this subdivision, children enrolled in the child day care center must remain current with their immunizations in accordance with the current schedule for immunizations established by the New York State Department of Hea1th."

If anybody has any more info or ideas or have been in a similar situation, please let me know.

[Sasha_girl]

The MMR is propogated in aborted fetal tissue, so even if they are not religious this would be a good reason to use.

[annettemarie]

Originally Posted by Deborah

I would recommend a sudden attack of religion.

Nana

This just tickled me for some reason...
Annette

[gardenmom]

Originally Posted by annettemarie

This just tickled me for some reason...
Annette

I agree, that's exactly what I was thinking about getting a quick 'case' of religious objection--it is funny, but sad too. Because once they do that, they basically can't get any other vaxes for their dd, even if they want to choose to do some (unless they lie about it).

Why can't we just be allowed to weigh the evidence and make our own decisions? How dare our government tell us that we have to take certain medications when the risk for some of these shots is clearly more dangerous than the disease...it just stinks! The more I think about it, the more it angers me.

I'm actually thinking about writing letters to my government officials, but I don't know where to start...

[annettemarie]

I completely agree! Instead, it almost feels as if we have to sneak around, just so we can fit into the boxes "they" have built for crazy people like us who actually research and make our own decisions!
Annette