At Kindergarten Orientation yesterday..

[mistymama]

We went to a wonderful orientation yesterday, and I am so excited for my son to start K in August. But one thing that was said really had my head spinning ...

The school nurse got up and told everyone that their kids MUST have their 5 year old shots, or they can not start K. She even went so far as to say they are not even supposed to set foot on the grounds without them. She said even if they are not yet 5 they need to go get them early. :

This does not apply to us, I did fully vax my son. But it will apply if/when I have another child because I plan to at bare minimum to be selective on some shots and definately delay.

We are in Alabama, I'm pretty sure we have religous exemptons, right? Is it right for this nurse to get up and say what she did? This is public K, btw.

[~Charlie's~Angel~]

according to this chart http://www.909shot.com/state-site/state-exemptions.htm Your state has a medical and religious exemption for immunizations. And as far as I know, If the school is public, i.e. paid for with tax payers money, they have to except a child as long as a proper exemption is filed. I would be calling and asking the nurse anonymously. That does not seem right to me? What if there are uninformed parents in the crowd? Now they are not aware of their rights, which is a HUGE violation!

[beachmommy5]

Every state with the exception of 2, Mississippi and West Virginia have religious (you don't have to belong to and organized religion against vax's to use it btw) and medical exemptions for public school, some even have philosophical exemptions. Here's a link:

http://www.909shot.com/state-site/state-exemptions.htm

[Emmeline II]

No need to call the nurse unless you want to complain that she didn't mention exemptions.

[mistymama]

Thanks for the links.

No, I'm not planning to call the nurse. Everyone at this school was so kind and nuturing and really seem to care deeply about their jobs, and the kids. So the whole vax thing took me off guard. I'd guess 99.99% of these parents have their kids vax'd anyway .. and when I have my next I'll just make sure to know my rights and stand up for them then.

This time it does not matter, as my son is vax'd. I most certainly wont do it that way again though, for many reason.

[Emmeline II]

Originally Posted by mistymama

Thanks for the links.

This time it does not matter, as my son is vax'd. I most certainly wont do it that way again though, for many reason.

It will matter as there are boosters and new requirements coming, such as an annual flu vax.

[spero]

If I were you I would NOT turn in his vax records, I would claim exemption now. There will always be more "requirements".

[~Charlie's~Angel~]

Originally Posted by spero

If I were you I would NOT turn in his vax records, I would claim exemption now. There will always be more "requirements".

I second that!!

[CanidFL]

Originally Posted by spero

If I were you I would NOT turn in his vax records, I would claim exemption now. There will always be more "requirements".

I agree!

[brandyshea]

Where in Alabama are you? Just asking out of curiosity, I'm in Birmingham. You should check out www.alabama-moms.com!