My Experience with my child's school re: vax - Page 2

[Mavournin]

PENNSYLVANIA

The PA health code states that for a religious exemption the parent only needs to provide a written objection on religious grounds (signed and dated). I provided that to my daycare, and they are currently pushing back asking for a religious letter and a letter from my doctor (which in PA is only required for medical exemptions). I'll keep you updated.

I do work though for a private school in PA that accepts vaccine exemptions with no problems (using even less paperwork than I provided my daycare.).

[Miss Juice]

OHIO

My daughter started preshool in January. When we received the registration forms of course there was the standard "no child shall be admitted without proof of current immunization status" line. My daughter has had no vax at all, and she turned three in January. I was a little worried because the language on the form seemed really direct, and like there was not much wiggle room.

I asked about exemptions and the woman said without even blinking, "Oh yes, well you'll need the exemption form...here you go." It was a simple sheet listing the vaxes, asking which we had declined and for what reason. I put "ALL VAXES DECLINED" and as my reason:

VACCINATION IS INCONSISTENT WITH MY UNDERSTANDING OF HEALTH.

That may not be a direct quote but it was something pretty close to that. I didn't even have to have my dr. sign the form

In Ohio we have philosophical exemptions, and each school has their own form. It's sooooooo much easier than I thought.

[Katana]

Originally posted by PuppyFluffer
I have an acquaintance whose son is in need of speech therapy (my opinion) but he is not vaxed. I wonder if she would be opening a huge can of worms seeking any assistance thru the early intervention services provided by the state. We have no religious or philosophical exemption in WV. My thousht is that yes, she would be and would be better persuing it through other avenues. Thoughts?

I do think it would be better pursuing it through private venues, especially if she has insurance. With no exemption to fall back on, she might have to go up against a lot, as not vaxing is seen as a reason for not speaking well by some.

My guess is, they couldn't refuse her, but they could put her through a lot of hell and make her feel like a bad mother, if she didn't have a spine of steel.

We're in IL, and dd was evaluated for speech through EI (in coordination with our school district) at age 3. The subject of vaxes never came up, everything was dependent on whether or not she passed a hearing test. Which she did.

I haven't had a problem, with ds being in K and speech and dd being in speech at the public school. But we have a religious exemption.

Even with that, though, I know they talk about us a lot. :

[JamesMama]

any experiences in Iowa? we'll probably homeschool, but better to be prepaired just in case, thanks!

[Tracy]

bump.

[mom2jolakeil]

California

We have philisophocal exemptions here, TG (imagine that, despite our high smog levels we're anti-smoking and give parents choices about their child's health ). Anyway, the only problem I had with "school" was taking my oldest to the Health Dept for her 5y/K appt. I refused the CP vax and all he77 broke lose (I was accused of not loving my kids and wanting her to die, all in front of my dd ). But the schools have been pretty accepting. The girls go to a Christian private school. I wasn't sure what to expect, since private schools have the right to deny anyone, but they've been cool with it. I had to educate them and tell them what paper I need, but they don't even bat an eye. The older two went to a different preschool and the administrator there was fully supportive and told me to just sign off on all the vaxes (my older two have everything except the CP for my oldest and the MMR/CP for my second). She said that it's easier for her to keep track if I just sign off on everything (and it's easier when parents don't vax at all, because she doesn't have to prove it if she gets audited ).

[slingma]

question for Tracy

Tracy: What do your posts that say "bump" mean? Thanks!

[Tracy]

Tracy: What do your posts that say "bump" mean? Thanks!

bump means when someone is bumping up a thread to get more eyeballs on it. It is way to keep a thread active.

I really hope to see more people share their experiences on this thread so that it can be helpful for others. especially now as many people are preparing their children for school...some first-timers.

btw
of my 6,000+ postings.. many have simply said, "bump"

[mommyto3girls]

Jessica- Where in Ohio are you? I am near Toledo. My babysitter has given me the name of a family physician who is antivax, he is just over the border in MI if you are anywhere near here and looking for a good doc. I believe he is an DO but practices very holistically. For those who need medical exemptions for vaxes he gives them based on the fact that medically he doesn't believe in them. I like our Ped, but may switch us all to this doc.

[Tracy]

bump.

[applejuice]

[

[LizaBear]

Any Canadian experiences ?

[hcsl]

I live in a very liberal area of NC and was really caught off guard when, after submitting my son's preschool medical forms with a religious exemption statement, the director of the school called me to say that they no longer accept either religious or medical exemptions. It's a private school, so they don't have to honor the state laws. The director told me that over the last few years many private schools in our area no longer accept any exemptions. She told me that the reasoning of the school's board was that many of the parent classroom helpers are pregnant mothers, so they don't want anyone to be exposed to anything that could be harmful to them. All I could do was express my disgust with the fact that so-called responsible adults are placing the burden of their health (and that of their fetuses) on children. If they're that worried about catching something mabye THEY should make sure they're up to date on their vaxes before getting pregnant. This really sucks. It's just 2 mornings a week but my son has been soooooo excited about going to 'school' this fall.

[applejuice]

[

[applejuice]

F

[Tracy]

oh, hcsl, i'm so sorry you went through that with the preschool. do you have an alternative one in mind?

[chlobo]

Anyone in Massachusetts?

DD will be going next year and I'd love to hear about it.

[Electra375]

Virginia

Last year I registered my oldest for 1st grade. I did my research and I had a CRE-1 signed and notarized just as the Dept of Ed website stated to do. The school nurse had a hay day, running to the VP and calling the school board. I had to go to the school board and sign the exact same form in front of the school board secretary b/c they didn't like I had it notarized at our bank!!! Never again, live and learn -- I was acting with in the law, they just wanted to give me a hard time. Moral, know your stuff and stand firm. I had a copy of the state regulation (found within the VA code) attached to my paperwork as well.
Recently I've been looking into preschools for my 2nd. If the preschool accepts money from the state, then they must follow the state guidelines just like public schools -- but most preschools are private and they have the right to say they whether they will accept a Religious Exemption or not. I've had 1 say no, 1 said they would get back with me and never have, and 1 said yeah we've done that. None of the preschools had space though, so for now -- he's at home with mama.
Great thread and I hope there are mama's out there who gain insight from it. It is a bit scary and I think that is why I did just go to the school board. In addition to the statements they weren't going to let my son go to school. The school board secretary really had no idea why I had to come, I brought copies with me of what I gave the school nurse. I'm glad it turned out fine, I had already contacted a lawyer just in case.

[AnnMarie]

MA and NH

I was in MA and my children's school knew NOTHING about vaccine exemptions. I had to speak with the school nurse, whom asked me for a letter from my pastor, and I said no, and then offered her a copy of the state laws. LOL Then I had to speak to the principal who said, "Then there's this issue about vaccines," and I just replied, "There is no issue, I have a religious exemption," and it ended there. As long as you know more then they do you should be OK. I left the nurse pretty speechless. :LOL

In NH you just have to fill out a form that the school gives you and have it notarized. I've had no problems at all, not even from a private school my children attended for a short time.

[Castle]

family day care in MA

I run a home day care in MA, and the regulations for state-licensed family day care allow medical and religious exemptions. And to legally care for unrelated kids in your own house a person must be state licensed. So for my own unvaxed child, I just have a signed waiver in her file (providers have to have the same records for their own child as for any other kids they care for).

Here's the regulation for those interested:

102 CMR 8.13(3)(b) The provider may not require the parent to show evidence by a physician's statement of the child's health or immunization record if the child's physician submits documentation that such a procedure is contraindicated or if the parent objects, in writing, on the grounds that it conflicts with his/her sincerely held religious beliefs.

I'm not sure if this is different for large day care centers or preschools.