declined chicken pox vac. but...

[pinkcheeks]

the dr & nurse hit me with all the beef that it is NOW REQUIRED in ILLINOIS that all public school children must have not one, but TWO c. pox vax!!

so where to go from here on this? help please!! my ds is only 12 months.

[wonderwahine]

They lied, here are the IL reqirements http://www.idph.state.il.us/about/k12sir.htm

[LongIsland]

Originally Posted by pinkcheeks

the dr & nurse hit me with all the beef that it is NOW REQUIRED in ILLINOIS that all public school children must have not one, but TWO c. pox vax!!

The second dose varicella recommendation is just that -- a recommendation and it was just made at the June ACIP meeting.

Keep in mind however that the second dose varicella will ultimately mandated in Illinois, so you're going to be faced with a second dose mandate sooner or later, along with other additional mandates.

Here is the current IL statute as it related to varicella:

Children entering kindergarten for the first time on or after July 1, 2002, must show proof of having received at least one dose of varicella vaccine on or after the first birthday, proof of prior varicella disease as described in Section 665.250(g), or laboratory evidence of varicella immunity.

For students attending school programs where grade levels are not assigned, proof of having received at least one dose of varicella vaccine on or after the first birthday or other proof of immunity as described in subsection (h)(2) of this Section shall be submitted prior to the school year in which the child reaches the age of 5.

[wonderwahine]

thanks LI, i couldnt find a preschool/kindergarten one, but I knew there was one.

[pinkcheeks]

Originally Posted by romans_mum

They lied, here are the IL reqirements http://www.idph.state.il.us/about/k12sir.htm

oh shoot... it IS there... it is under amendments (GRR!!)

[LongIsland]

Here is a link to the most current regulations: http://www.idph.state.il.us/rulesregs/77-665adopted.pdf

[wonderwahine]

But your dc is still only 12mths old, and when it comes time for school or daycare etc, you can file an exemption if you want.

also, the regulations only state, that you need at least one dose on or after the 1st birthday (and before 2yrs of age if you are going into daycare) or proof of immunity.....so you could find a CP party and get them exposed, or delay the vax until you are ready to give it.

[wonderwahine]

Originally Posted by LongIsland

Here is a link to the most current regulations: http://www.idph.state.il.us/rulesregs/77-665adopted.pdf

thanks LI......although I'm sure it will have changed again by the time I have to deal with things.

[LongIsland]

Originally Posted by romans_mum

thanks LI......although I'm sure it will have changed again by the time I have to deal with things.

Oh, you can count on that.

[HeatherKae]

Originally Posted by romans_mum

But your dc is still only 12mths old, and when it comes time for school or daycare etc, you can file an exemption if you want.

I don't know about IL, but in Hawaii, because my daughter had had vax just not the varicella, I HAD to give her the varicella. There was NO exemption. I took it all the way up to the top and had it explained to me VERY clearly that if I had chosen NO vax, then I could get her exempted. But since she was vaxed (and living throughout Asia, my kids have had vax that some of you probably have never even heard of), I could NOT file for an exemption.

Unfortunately, she got the varicella.

[LongIsland]

Originally Posted by HeatherKae

But since she was vaxed (and living throughout Asia, my kids have had vax that some of you probably have never even heard of), I could NOT file for an exemption.

Are you speaking of Japanese Encephalitis? This vaccine incidentally contains 37.5 micrograms of thimerosal in each dose.

Originally Posted by HeatherKae

I don't know about IL, but in Hawaii, because my daughter had had vax just not the varicella, I HAD to give her the varicella. There was NO exemption.

There most certainly is an exemption in Hawaii for daycare, preschool and schools, regardless of prior vax status. Since there is no philosophical exemption, parents are forced to use the religious exemption. You could have used it and continued with vaccination privately without the daycare/preschool/school's knowledge.

Also, in the event of an outbreak, your child would not have been excluded if she received the legally required number doses in Hawaii for that particular disease.

The form was not on the DOH website, so last year I had the Honolulu Dept. of Health mail me an exemption form so that I could use it as reference for other HI mamas. This is what the Hawaii pre-printed exemption form states:


I certify that immunization conflicts with my bona fide religious tenets and practices.

I understand that my child is susceptible to vaccine preventable diseases. If at anytime there is, in the opinion of the Department of Health, danger of an outbreak or epidemic from any communicable disease for which immunization is required, this exemption shall not be recognized. I understand that my child will be excluded from school until the threat of an epidemic is over or he or she receives the proper immunization. (Hawaii Revised Statutes Section 302A-1157)

There are lines to fill out for the following:

Pupil's name
Birthdate
School
Grade
Parent name
Parent signature
Date

[HeatherKae]

Originally Posted by LongIsland

There most certainly is an exemption in Hawaii for daycare, preschool and schools, regardless of prior vax status. Since there is no philosophical exemption, parents are forced to use the religious exemption. You could have used it and continued with vaccination privately without the daycare/preschool/school's knowledge.

Who told you that an exemption is applicable to specific vaccinations regardless of prior vaccination status? I'd love to talk to that person. Perhaps things have changed in the last year.

When I was dealing with it, I spoke to a woman at DOH (Kathleen Farkvis) with whom I went round and round regarding this exact issue. I was told neither the medical nor the religious exemption would apply to my daughter since she had other vaccinations and I was only trying to exempt the varicella. Also, since Patsy Mink died of chicken pox, the Hawaiian leadership has made a huge stink about that particular vaccination. After a few calls to politicos in the state, I was told that the current director at DOH was using discretion to restrict exemptions as a whole, both medical and religious.

§11-157-5 Exemptions.
(b) A religious exemption shall be granted to a student whose
parent, custodian, guardian, or other person in loco parentis certifies that the
person’s religious beliefs prohibit the practice of immunization. Requests
for religious exemptions based on objections to specific immunizing agents
will not be granted. Students who have reached the age of majority shall
apply on their own behalf. The certification shall be retained in the
student’s health record. Reports of such exemptions shall be submitted to
the department by each school.

As written, this would not apply to me even if I chose not to vaccinate at all. Immunizations are not against my religion. Although, lying is. Hence, all around, this exemption does me no good.

Originally Posted by LongIsland

Are you speaking of Japanese Encephalitis? This vaccine incidentally contains 37.5 micrograms of thimerosal in each dose.

Yes, among others. And while I am well aware of thimerosal being used in the dose (as well as infected mouse brains), I still chose to vaccinate both my children and myself. Incidentally, none of us had a reaction of any sort. Not so much as a lump on the thigh or an elevated temp. And I'm sensitive to thimerosal in my contact lense solution so I fully expected something.

While I'm sure you care a great deal for my children (and I do appreciate your concern), as their mother I can assure you that I love them more. I do not make these decisions lightly and have well researched each and every disease and their vaccinations. I feel just as strongly about the vaccinations I have chosen to give my children as you feel about not vaccinating yours.

[LongIsland]

Originally Posted by HeatherKae

Who told you that an exemption is applicable to specific vaccinations regardless of prior vaccination status? I'd love to talk to that person. Perhaps things have changed in the last year.

You are correct. You technically can't pick and choose in Hawaii. Again, you can vaccinate privately yet submit an exemption however. Prior vaccination status would not compromise an exemption, unless of course you tell the school that you don't want to do X vaccine for "personal" reasons and then attempt to submit a religious exemption. Speaking with someone from the DOH wouldn't have compromised an exemption if you had submitted it.

As far as submitting a religious exemption when no genuine belief is held - there are parents who do what needs to be done in order to protect their children and/or parent the way they see fit rather than whatever law their legislator enacts.

Some parents who may have concerns about lying in order to obtain an exemption also have come to a realization after much reflection that their belief against a certain vaccine or several vaccines is in fact a religious belief in that they want their child's God-given immune system to do as He intended. The line between a philosophical and religious belief is very fine.

Unfortunately, there are no federal exemption laws and parents cannot help where they live and need to work with what they have. Not all states offer personal/philosophical exemptions.

Originally Posted by HeatherKae

Yes, among others. And while I am well aware of thimerosal being used in the dose (as well as infected mouse brains), I still chose to vaccinate both my children and myself.

While I'm sure you care a great deal for my children (and I do appreciate your concern), as their mother I can assure you that I love them more. I do not make these decisions lightly and have well researched each and every disease and their vaccinations. I feel just as strongly about the vaccinations I have chosen to give my children as you feel about not vaccinating yours.

I mentioned that JE vaccine contains 37.5 micrograms of thimerosal in each dose as a "by the way" in case perhaps you or another reader were not aware . . . I wasn't making any assumptions on how much you love your child and/or your decisions regarding vaccination. When I mention DT or TT vaccines, I also mention that they contain 25 micrograms of thimerosal, so I didn't single out JE vaccine. If a vaccine is mentioned and it's thimerosal content is particularly high, then it is worthy of a mention.

[HeatherKae]

Originally Posted by LongIsland

Prior vaccination status would not compromise an exemption, unless of course you tell the school that you don't want to do X vaccine for "personal" reasons and then attempt to submit a religious exemption. Speaking with someone from the DOH wouldn't have compromised an exemption if you had submitted it.

This was precisely my problem. I was only exempting ONE vax after having already submitted her vax records. The law had recently changed and, as I said, it was made clear to me that the director at DOH was being enforcing a strict interpretation of the law.

And it wasn't the school that was fighting me. Her school was a small, military based cooperative preschool (meaning parent run -- the board of which I sat as a member) and was more than willing to accommodate my requests. It was DoD, DOH, and DOE that I was fighting. For months. Until the day that I had to just concede defeat and get her vaccinated for varicella.

Originally Posted by LongIsland

As far as submitting a religious exemption when no genuine belief is held - there are parents who do what needs to be done in order to protect their children and/or parent the way they see fit rather than whatever law their legislator enacts.

Some parents who may have concerns about lying in order to obtain an exemption also have come to a realization after much reflection that their belief against a certain vaccine or several vaccines is in fact a religious belief in that they want their child's God-given immune system to do as He intended. The line between a philosophical and religious belief is very fine. .

Each person's religious beliefs and convictions are between soul and their God. As for me and mine, I know that the religious exemption does not fall within my religion.

Originally Posted by LongIsland

If a vaccine is mentioned and it's thimerosal content is particularly high, then it is worthy of a mention.

Yes, but I didn't mention specific vaccinations so there really shouldn't have been any need for you to bring it up.

I didn't come here to justify my actions or to debate the merits or demerits of modern medicine. I came here because I do follow a modified schedule and wanted to offer my long, drawn out, and frustrating experience with trying to avoid a specific vaccine.

[LongIsland]

Originally Posted by HeatherKae

This was precisely my problem. I was only exempting ONE vax after having already submitted her vax records.

There have been several no-vax and selective vax Hawaii mama's here who submitted religious exemptions with prior vax status already known to the school. It doesn't matter if the DOH was "strictly interpreting" the law - every state does that.

If the parent submits an exemption in Hawaii, it will be accepted regardless of prior vax status as "religious beliefs" may evolve at any time. However, the parent can't tell the school or the DOH that they have no religious objection and think they're going to get anywhere with the DOH. Of course, the DOH is going to say to the parent they can't do it and the law is going to be "strictly enforced."

Selective vaxers in "all or nothing" states seeking to exempt their child from certain vaccines must NEVER indicate to anyone from the school and/or DOH that their beliefs are other than religious.

In any case, Hawaii is very very easy to exempt a child as long as you know what to do . . . and what not to do.

[LongIsland]

Originally Posted by HeatherKae

I didn't come here to justify my actions or to debate the merits or demerits of modern medicine.

. . . and I never asked you to.