Religious ex. when you selectively vax

[SomerG]

My ds was selectively vaxed, and I'm still deciding whether to get any of the shots for my 2 mo. old daughter. However, if we want to send them to school some day or get questioned about it, what then? Can we get a religious exemption as our state (VA) requires if we're doing only some of them or would we then be required to "catch up"? How do you all handle this?

[ASusan]

You complete the form (or write a letter or whatever is required as far as the state is concerned) and turn it in, just as if you had not vaxed at all. Do not tell them of the current vax status or that you are delaying. It needs to be all or nothing for an exemption, otherwise you are not up to date and will be expected to get up to date. "Behind the scenes" you can continue with your delayed schedule.

[Fyrestorm]

Originally Posted by ASusan

"Behind the scenes" you can continue with your delayed schedule.

Unless your state has a vaccine registry that you can't opt out of. In some states schools have access to the registry and in those states that don't allow schools access..that might change.

[deeeee]

i'm in NY and was told they have a registry. my doc's office says they are not automatically entered though .and i was told ( by someone else)that only doctors can access a registry. i'm going to speak to a vax lawyer and get to what is current. anyone know

[splunky]

I am looking at similar situations here. My 2 oldest boys are fully vax'd through thier kinergaten boosters, but I will not do anymore for them, and my 6yo hasn't had anything since 2yo, my 21mo dd has had none. I want to selectively vax (dh isn't comfortable with no vax at all-we travel extensively), so I need to figure out how all that works.
We live in Singapore now, looking to move back to Upstate NY in Dec.
Anyone know what my first steps would be? Were do I get the paperwor for religious exemptions, do they need to be for all 4 children? What about if I homeschool? Know of any great Docs?
Thanks!

[eloise24]

RE: registry opt-out . . . we received a form in the mail to complete and mail in if we DID NOT want to be automatically registered for the Florida shot registry. I would imagine most states have this?

[cadejaxellamom]

Shoot!

My oldest son is 7 and is up to date on his vaccines, my middle is 4 and he hasn't had any since he was 2 and I don't plan on him having any more, my 9 month old has not had any and I don't think she will ever get any. I now remember my doc asking me some information at her 4 month appt in regards to a "new vaccine registry" that the state is doing. If I have entered her into the registry can I get her out (in case we decide to selectivley vaccinate, I don't want the school system to not accept my religious exemption) Are my other 2 children automatically in the "registry"???:

[ajh1974]

I live in NYS and as of 1/1/2008 everyone is included in the registry whether you like it or not according to PHL 2168. There is no ability to opt out. Schools and others have the ability to access the registry. See the following link for more info.

http://www.health.state.ny.us/preven...ion_system.pdf

Even vaxes given before 1/1/08 will be entered in the registry. I considered selectively vaccinating but decided against it based on the fact that the school will be able to look up the records and it would be harder to get an exemption if you've had some vaxes. I found it interesting that this registry is somehow exempt from HIPAA laws. I wish we had a philosophical exemption.

[mamabeca]

Oh that sucks. I haven't vax'ed at all, but I know people who started the regimen and stopped. Bummer bummer bummer. And yeah - why is this exempt from HIPAA???

[Ruthla]

Originally Posted by splunky

I am looking at similar situations here. My 2 oldest boys are fully vax'd through thier kinergaten boosters, but I will not do anymore for them, and my 6yo hasn't had anything since 2yo, my 21mo dd has had none. I want to selectively vax (dh isn't comfortable with no vax at all-we travel extensively), so I need to figure out how all that works.
We live in Singapore now, looking to move back to Upstate NY in Dec.
Anyone know what my first steps would be? Were do I get the paperwor for religious exemptions, do they need to be for all 4 children? What about if I homeschool? Know of any great Docs?
Thanks!

In NYS, you don't need any vax exemptions for HSing. There's a bunch of annoying paperwork but none of it involves health forms.

[spero]

Originally Posted by splunky

We live in Singapore now, looking to move back to Upstate NY in Dec.
Anyone know what my first steps would be? Were do I get the paperwor for religious exemptions, do they need to be for all 4 children? What about if I homeschool? Know of any great Docs?
Thanks!

Ugh, if I were you I'd seriously consider VT instead of NY - the cost of living, taxes, and vax stuff alone would be enough to keep me away if we weren't already settled here. Gov Paterson recently warned that NY might be headed for a recession akin to the Great Depression.

Exemption forms can be downloaded from the NYS Health Dept. website. You won't need exemptions if you homeschool, though.

As far as docs go, it depends on where you'll be. The Capital District mamas here can point to a few. Family practitioners seem to be the best when it comes to non-vax.

[mamabeca]

In concert with the MOVE TO VT post by Spero, the good family practice has recently stopped taking State insurance (Empire), and lost their oldest and one of the best Dr's in the area (Reider). It's all very sad...

[splunky]

Originally Posted by spero

Ugh, if I were you I'd seriously consider VT instead of NY - the cost of living, taxes, and vax stuff alone would be enough to keep me away if we weren't already settled here. Gov Paterson recently warned that NY might be headed for a recession akin to the Great Depression.

Exemption forms can be downloaded from the NYS Health Dept. website. You won't need exemptions if you homeschool, though.

As far as docs go, it depends on where you'll be. The Capital District mamas here can point to a few. Family practitioners seem to be the best when it comes to non-vax.

Thanks for the info! Ugh, if I could move somewhere else, I probly would. Actualy, I am. We are expats so we move around. This is our first assignment of many, and I am wanting to make a "homebase" of sorts to go home to in the summer, for Christmas ect. I was brought up in CNY, so that's where all my family lives. We come "home" for 6 weeks each summer and stay with family, which is very hard to do with 4 kids. So we are moving back to eastablish a home and then go on to the enxt assignment.
I digress.
So, if I selectively vax. it will be in the registry, thus nullifying the religious exmeption? I looked up the relig. exemp. form online and there was a line for explaining if you refuse all or some of the vax's, and why. Does this allow selective vax?
Ugh, I am so torn!
What about the 3 older one who have had all vax up to 2 and 5 yo? I don't want to get boosters, how do I havndle that?
We will homeschool for a while but DH wants them in school later on.

[spero]

Originally Posted by splunky

So, if I selectively vax. it will be in the registry, thus nullifying the religious exmeption?

If the school looks at the registry info, they can deny your exemption if they see any current vaccines.

I looked up the relig. exemp. form online and there was a line for explaining if you refuse all or some of the vax's, and why. Does this allow selective vax?

NO. It's a way to trick people into thinking selective vax is allowed. If you admit to selective vaxing, they can deny your request for exemption. The law clearly states that in NY vaxing is all or nothing. Even the form states that you must be opposed to all vaccines.

What about the 3 older one who have had all vax up to 2 and 5 yo? I don't want to get boosters, how do I havndle that?

If you just stop vaxing altogether, that will do. You can say that your beliefs have changed since they rec'd those vaccines.

[deeeee]

here's a question . what happens to all the people who have secretly selectively vaxed in the past w/ a relig exemption? in past threads i've read about that. i contacted a lawyer today, he didnt even know about the registry!!!!! i called my doc and the office mgr said they don't use a registry!! noone knows whats going on out there. the Public Health law 2168 states it automatically gets entered along w/ history and SCHOOLS ,CAMPS ,DOCS. can access it to find out status . . any info would be appreciated

[ZoeyZoo]

Originally Posted by deeeee

here's a question . what happens to all the people who have secretly selectively vaxed in the past w/ a relig exemption? in past threads i've read about that. i contacted a lawyer today, he didnt even know about the registry!!!!! i called my doc and the office mgr said they don't use a registry!! noone knows whats going on out there. the Public Health law 2168 states it automatically gets entered along w/ history and SCHOOLS ,CAMPS ,DOCS. can access it to find out status . . any info would be appreciated

I don't know exactly what it is but most states have a trigger such as a birth certificate filing, school registration, etc. In my state the birth certificate is what put my dd on the radar.

[neetling]

subbing

[firsttimemama]

So how do you find out if the schools in your state have access to the registry?

[spero]

Originally Posted by firsttimemama

So how do you find out if the schools in your state have access to the registry?

Google [your state]+immunization+registry

I can't find a site that lists them all in one place.

Here's an interesting timeline article on immunization tracking from Barbara Loe Fisher.

[firsttimemama]

Originally Posted by spero

Google [your state]+immunization+registry

I can't find a site that lists them all in one place.

Here's an interesting timeline article on immunization tracking from Barbara Loe Fisher.

That was a very interesting article. Thanks for posting.

As far as I can tell, in MD where I live they do consider the vax registry to fall under HIPAA? I can't find anything saying schools have access. Anyone else know anything about this issue in MD/VA/PA/WV?