right to refuse vaccinations?

[babysanchez614]

I am about to take ds to his 4 month checkup and not sure if the doctor will be non-vax or delayed vax friendly. we just moved and all the crunchy friendly docs we found out about have closed practices. and unfortunately i am not yet caught up on my vaccination research.

so my question, we have the right to refuse the vaccinations right?

[Ophelia]

You most certainly do have the right. You do not have to sign any forms at the doc's office either, they cannot 'hold you hostage' and say you HAVE to sign their form. A lot of those forms are just coersion and guilt-tripping anyways. There is no actual law that says you have to sign them.

You also live in a state where you can exempt from vaccines for daycare and school.

What you can do is tell the doc you are putting off vaxes until you research more, OR you are religiously opposed to vaccines (they cannot question you further on what religion, etc. so do not go into detail). Keep firm with the doc and nurses that the subject is not up for discussion, and don't sign anything there unless you are absolutely sure about it and have read all the fine print.

[alegna]

Absolutely. Don't let them bully you. If you're in Houston there are a number of non-vax friendly drs.



-Angela

[spero]

Originally Posted by Ophelia

Keep firm with the doc and nurses that the subject is not up for discussion, and don't sign anything there unless you are absolutely sure about it and have read all the fine print.

This bears repeating. I just went through a major ordeal with a ped practice over this, and after our 18+ years with them they ended up discharging my kids b/c I refused to sign their form and/or agree to the "recommended" vaccinations. But I stood up for myself, I was a strong advocate for my children, and I'm happily looking into a family practice now.

[peainthepod]

Originally Posted by Ophelia

What you can do is tell the doc you are putting off vaxes until you research more, OR you are religiously opposed to vaccines (they cannot question you further on what religion, etc. so do not go into detail). Keep firm with the doc and nurses that the subject is not up for discussion, and don't sign anything there unless you are absolutely sure about it and have read all the fine print.

Every doctor I've interviewed so far has asked what religion we are with kind of a sneer in their voice. I've refused to answer every time but I just thought you should know that they can and might ask. You absolutely don't have to answer, however, and it might help to come up with some simple, blunt responses to shut them down.

"Your curiosity is noted but we will be seeing you for medical treatment, not salvation, and will not be discussing our religious beliefs with you today or at any other time."

"We are comfortable with our relationship with God and will not be discussing our religious beliefs with you or any of your staff."

"The matter is not open for discussion."

If they become rude or aggressive, bring out the big guns. "We're really not comfortable discussing that with you. Besides, you wouldn't discriminate against us on the basis of our religious beliefs, would you, Doctor?" *raise eyebrow* I used that one last time and he shut up VERY fast. Religious discrimination is a one-way ticket to Lawsuit City and most doctors know it.

Remember: even if you're not religious in the slightest, they are demanding information from you that they are not entitled to have. If someone asks you a personal question that invades your privacy, do you owe them an honest answer? No. So try not to feel guilty about lying to people who are demanding answers they have no right to know. You are defending yourself against future attacks, something you have every right to do.

[In Exile]

Of course you have every right to refuse a vaccine-you're the parent. No matter how much they will throw "mandatory" around or "you can't go to school or college and will have to live in the woods"- that is nonsense and by acting as if there was a mandatory vaccination law they will try to change your mind- there's none.

Don't let anyone bully you into the "explain yourself!" situation-Practice is the Provider of a service you PAY for, one way or another. You do not pay money to "owe me an explanation"- you're the adult parent with custody, you call the shots. (no pun intended!)

You just need to get your story straight from the beginning-so you need to decide before the visit wether you're opposed for relgious reasons (although you are ALWAYS "allowed" to find God at any point in your life!) or wether you're still researching-don't mix those things verbally, because that will be the invitation for probing and badgering.

Just browse, inform yourself and stick with it regardless of how someone might challenge you to "spill the beans"- I don't even bother to explain my reasons anymore because pretty much every Ped gets "schooled" on how to take a parent's explanation for "let me prove you wrong and descredit your sources as internet legend"-going to an Appointment with Sears in Hand is an open invite for ridicule.
Googel "vaccine hesitancy among parents+ CDC" and enjoy numerous Power Point Presentation designed to educate Peds on how to weed out the vax hesitant parent and how to challenge them verbally when they give an explanation. Don't go there, most likely it's useless and meant to change you mind.

Don't let anyone tell that it is "unfair" to not let the Doc walk all over you by not debating- of you're decision was to be respected none of us would have to do these things.

[SoCaliMommy]

Yes don't let them bully you.

We stopped my sons shots after his 4month shots, at his 6month well baby check they ped just wrote down that i was researching and didn't hassle me at all. We ended up stopping well checks all together and only go to the dr when sick. That way the ped can't try and be a bully about vaxs.

[Gitti]

Vaccines are NOT a law. They are only mandated for school or day care and every state has some sort of exemption.

Why bother going to wbv? They are designed only to make you feel guilty about not vaccinating or to coerce you into it. Skip it if your child is healthy.

Every one I know of who did go only felt insecure afterwards. They felt there was something wrong with their child. Either they were going to die without the vaccine, or were too small or something.

Look at your child. Does s/he seem healthy and happy. Remember that when the doctor tries to tell you otherwise. Say to yourself: My child is healthy and happy and no one is going to change my opinion.

Stick up for your child. Don't let them inject crap. It may poison the child for life. You can always vaccinated but you can never again take the vaccine back out of the child's body again.

Sending you strengthening vibes

[spero]

Originally Posted by peainthepod

Every doctor I've interviewed so far has asked what religion we are with kind of a sneer in their voice.

I'd be tempted to put on my brightest fake smile and ask sweetly, "Why do you ask, would you like to join us?"

[Emmeline II]

Originally Posted by spero

I'd be tempted to put on my brightest fake smile and ask sweetly, "Why do you ask, would you like to join us?"

:::::

Anyhoo... I go yearly "just in case"; as in "just in case we have to go to the ER I can say our Dr supports our decision and I will see his Dr for follow-up care." I fully expected to be in the ER monthly with ds but so far he's managed not to break anything on his climbing expeditions. My ped, however, is non-hostile.

[In Exile]

Originally Posted by spero

I'd be tempted to put on my brightest fake smile and ask sweetly, "Why do you ask, would you like to join us?"

"Come on in, we've got great donuts! You just have to promise not to hurt any kids anymore....

[CCChanel]

If I were you'd I'd just cancel the appointment until you found a healthcare provider that was open to not vaxing.

Or just skip WBV all together. Go in yearly (or every 6 months if they are infants) or go in only if they are sick.

Did you check "Finding your Tribe" here at MDC and ask others in your town about Dr recommendations?

Can you maybe call the drs that are "closed" to new patients and ask if they have recommendations? If you live in a big town it might be worth the drive to take them to another suburb or inner city Dr. GL!

[babysanchez614]

thanks guys! just came back from the appointment and told them we are delaying vaccinations and the doc didn't question me any further. Thank God cuz im not good at being bullied. i really didn't want to take him to the doctor and don't plan on frequent checkups.

anyhoo, thanks again, im definately going to go out and do my research now. :

[CCChanel]

And remember you have a philo exempt in Texas! :

...for school that is... you don't need an exemption to show to the Dr or anything...

[alegna]

Originally Posted by babysanchez614

i really didn't want to take him to the doctor and don't plan on frequent checkups.

FWIW you don't *have* to take him to the dr at all if there are no concerns.

Neither of mine have ever seen an MD.

-Angela

[milkybean]

Originally Posted by alegna

FWIW you don't *have* to take him to the dr at all if there are no concerns.

Neither of mine have ever seen an MD.

-Angela

Some ped saw DS from the hospital door, and DS has been to the ER twice, but other than that, nothing.


And regarding the ER, they don't call the doc you mention to them. We haven't seen DS's naturopath since he was 1, but we still consider her to be his ND, and that's who we put down for each ER visit. She hasn't called us wondering why she hasn't seen us based on that.