PA school vax req. and schedule question

[AdoptChina]

IF I wanted ds to go to preschool/school and IF I wanted him to have the required vaxes but I want him to get the fewest doses necessary....what would be a good schedule?

this is the info I found:
Children ENTERING SCHOOL (at K or Grade 1) need the following vaccines:
• 4 doses of tetanus* (1 dose on or after the 4thbirthday)
• 4 doses of diphtheria* (1 dose on or after the 4thbirthday)
• 3 doses of polio
• 2 doses of measles
• 1 dose of mumps
• 1 dose of rubella (German measles)
• 3 doses of hepatitis B
• 1 dose of varicella (chickenpox) vaccine or history of disease

ETA: obviously I could wait on the CP until the start of school...but what about the 3 and 4 shot series like td, polio, hep b?

[Mommy To Baby Roni]

I think that before you come up with a schedule, you have to know what aspects are important to you in deciding that schedule. Some parents want them spaced out, but be as close to the recommended schedule (as young as) possible. At the other end of the spectrum are the parents that just want them done before school. Some of those parents space them out during toddlerhood, while others just do them as close to school starting as they can with time to complete.

So, I think before anyone can suggest a schedule, we would need to know why you are vaccinating and what is important to you in regards to vaxing. Is it all or nothing - you're not going to vax or your going to vax for all recommended? Are there certain illnesses you are more concerned with others? Are you wanting to space? What are your health or safety concerns? etc, etc.

[supercrunch]

do they accept a positive titer check in lieu of the second measles vaccine?

If you do one of each (or the MMR) you could have his blood drawn to show that he is still immune to avoid the second measles shot.

[AdoptChina]

my goal would be to do them as late as possible. My other kids are fully immunized but I delayed DS3's shots, but only by several months. With DS4 he hasn't had anything other than vit k in the hospital. Im not sure what I want to do with him yet but Im trying to have at least a plan in place (Drs office wants one anyway)...I can always decide later not to do them if I decide thats the best thing for us

[Mommy To Baby Roni]

Unless you're afraid your ped will fire you and don't want to lose him/her for not vaxing at all (if that's what you decide), then I'd simply tell them that you will let them know when've decided to start. It sounds to me as if they just want to make sure you are "with the program". It makes them feel good - that they know they got through to you.

Imo, you should start from the latest point you can vax and move backwards. Space them out doing the ones you think should be left for last as last.

I also think you should look at each of the diseases and investigate as to whether or not YOU think a vaccine is necessary for your child. There are things, such as hib, pertussis and others that older children are really not in danger of suffering from severe illness. Polio is erradicated in the Western Hemisphere. Measles, mumps and rubella are so rare that they may even be erradicated from the U.S., at least, by the time your youngest is in school. There is 0 - 1 cases of diptheria in the U.S. right now and tetanus is not contagious. I really think that as time goes by, you'll see less and less reason to vaccinate, if you aren't vaccinating now. I'd hate to see you do it just for school. Or is there another reason I didn't understand?

[JBaxter]

Originally Posted by AdoptChina

IF I wanted ds to go to preschool/school and IF I wanted him to have the required vaxes but I want him to get the fewest doses necessary....what would be a good schedule?

this is the info I found:
Children ENTERING SCHOOL (at K or Grade 1) need the following vaccines:
• 4 doses of tetanus* (1 dose on or after the 4thbirthday)
• 4 doses of diphtheria* (1 dose on or after the 4thbirthday)
• 3 doses of polio
• 2 doses of measles
• 1 dose of mumps
• 1 dose of rubella (German measles)
• 3 doses of hepatitis B
• 1 dose of varicella (chickenpox) vaccine or history of disease

ETA: obviously I could wait on the CP until the start of school...but what about the 3 and 4 shot series like td, polio, hep b?

A very good friend just sent her son to preschool in PA. She sign the religous exemption and had no problems. I think her son had 1 DPaT shot before they stopped. She is unsure if they will continue at a later date. I'd have to go back and read but I think the PA exemption says something about strong moral or ethical conviction similar to a religious belief.
I think a recommended amout of time between shots is at least a month. The Hep B series ( if I remember correctly) is 1 shot then 1 month later the 2nd an then 6 months after the 3rd.