Does signed exemption form apply if vaccines are just delayed?

[BOD4]

Ok, here is my situation. I decided to delay some vaccines when my daughter was born and especially after her reaction to her first few shots. We are working through them kind of on a serial basis. We have finished a couple of series and are up to date (DTaP), in middle of the process with some but 'behind schedule' (polio for example), and haven't started the series of others (chickenpox, MMR, Hep A for example).

So now I am enrolling my daughter in a little parent participation preschool - 2 hours one day a week. When I turned in the immunization info, I also included a signed copy of the California exemption. I figured that this would cover us to the delayed schedule we are on. So of course the school is way confused. A call to the health dept ended up with misinformation given to the health clerk. I am fairly certain that the exemption will cover us.

Does anybody else have this situation or can advise me? We are kind of in limbo now. Of course her school is started tomorrow and I heard about this less than 24 hours before attending.

[Plummeting]

As long as you're catching her up, she can go to school without an exemption.

However, FTR, if anyone intends to enroll their kids in school/daycare while following a selective/delayed schedule, do NOT tell the school what you're doing. You don't need to turn in the immunization records, as the exemption will suffice. If you wish to turn in the immunization records, you can obviously do so, but you should not inform anyone at the school that you are planning on selectively vaccinating. They need to believe that you have decided to stop all vaccines for the time being. If you inform the school that you are selectively vaccinating, in many states you risk losing your exemption. Many states do not allow you to pick and choose which vaccines you want to give, so you simply have to file an exemption and not discuss the issue with anyone else. They don't need to know your child's medical history anyway.

[CookieMonsterMommy]

Do you mean Hep B (instead of Hep A?)

Most states, (as the PP mentioned) will NOT let you pick and choose with an exemption. You're either against vaccines or you're not (esp. if it's a religious exemption) in their eyes.

If this is just a pre-k, she might not "need" all her vaxes. Is it private or something the public school is handling?

-Kelly

BTW-welcome to MDC!

[kaja]

I just turn that blue form they give you around, and sign it where it says something like: it is contrary to our belief or something similar- I can't remember exactly. One time got an affidavit which we both signed in presence of a notary- so the preschool din't feel guilty. The elementary school never said anything when I turned in the blue form signed on the back.

[Mommy To Baby Roni]

Cookie, California requires Hep A now.

As long as you're catching her up, she can go to school without an exemption.

I wanted to expand on this. Most states require that the "catching up" be completed within a specified period of time. I think it's 30-60 days for most states. So, it's not like you can to measles this year, rubella the next and mumps the following because that is YOUR decided schedule when MMR is required by the first day of school. Instead, you must do like above and just submit the exemption, meanwhile vaccinating how you choose to w/out the school's knowledge.

[BOD4]

Thanks for all of your replies.

Well, I totally screwed up then because I turned in a copy of her immunization card with the exemption form. I am not sure where to go from here because she can't get three polio shots in the next 60 days.

It is a parent participation nursery school. My daughter is in a one day program, which means she goes 2 hours every week. The health clerk is one of the parents. She is doing this job for the first time, so she doesn't know as well.

Does this mean that I can't enroll her for another year until I finish the series on all of the rest of the shots? I wish I inquired about this from you last week. We were told last Tuesday that a spot on the waiting list opened up and I had until last Friday (basically three days) to get all of this together.

I'll call the clerk and tell her that I am not going to do more vaccines and to take that out of the record.

[BOD4]

I just wanted to let you know that I worked it out with the parent health clerk. She will file the exemption form, return the vax card and forget the rest.

Fortunately, this was a lesson learned without negative outcome. Now I know what to do in the future.

Thank you again for your responses.

[kaja]

Do you think the school will count the days? It is hard to imagine for me, I would think they have better things to do. Why don't you just try going and if they are unconfortable, find something else for 2 hours a week. It sounds like that should not be so hard. You can go to Gymboree for that time, and they don't ask about shots. Next time sign that blue form in the back. It is much easier and follow your shot schedule however you want. I understood you are in California, I think that is the easiest way to go. The less you talk with peopl abt. it the easier...Good luck!

[Mommy To Baby Roni]

I'm so glad to hear it all worked out.

Do you think the school will count the days? It is hard to imagine for me, I would think they have better things to do.

Yes, unfortunately, because if they don't, they are not in compliance with the law and can get reamed by their health department. It's not so much about making sure everyone's vaxed, but about complying with the law. Some states fine schools for not providing records/exemptions for all children and having them current, according to the law.

[Plummeting]

Originally Posted by BOD4

Well, I totally screwed up then because I turned in a copy of her immunization card with the exemption form. I am not sure where to go from here because she can't get three polio shots in the next 60 days.

You didn't screw up. It's okay to turn in the immunization card. You just have to tell them that you don't plan on continuing with immunizations. You're allowed to change your mind at any point, even if you've already given some vaccines. The idea is that in most states you can't pick and choose what vaccines you want to give, so they won't allow you to turn in an exemption, then update the shot record when you do X more vaccines, while still refusing to do X others.

[janellesmommy]

Your were right, the preschool health clerk and the health department were wrong.

The wording on the California School Immunization Record personal beliefs affidavit is "All or some immunizations are contrary to my beliefs."

The ones that you haven't gotten yet are contrary to your beliefs.

How it was resolved won't matter unless there is an "outbreak" of any of the diseases, then your child may be temporarily excluded from school, because the vaccines she's had won't be on record.