[chattamom]

My son is supposed to start Kindergarten in the fall. We have not had the MMR or Chicken Pox vaccines (and don't have any plans to get them any time soon)! I just read that the MMR CANNOT be waived. Is this accurate??? Help!! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/headscratch.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="headscratch">

 

[HollyBenMom]

TN, like most other states, has a religious exemption. I'm relocating to Knoxville, so I've been doing a lot of research. Here is the link to the TN dept of health official guidelines. <a href="http://health.state.tn.us/CEDS/required.htm" target="_blank">http://health.state.tn.us/CEDS/required.htm</a> If you scroll down to the middle-bottom, it discusses medical and religious exemptions. We currently have a religious exemption for Florida and when we move next month I'll be getting one in TN as well.<br>
TN, like FL, has a blanket religious exemption, so to them its all or nothing. My daughter is also partially vaxed, but I just give them our exemption form and don't mention that she's partially vaxed. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/shrug.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="shrug"><br><br>
Btw, where are you in Chattanooga? Its where I grew up and where I am currently staying, my parent's live in Middle Valley. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/orngbiggrin.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="orange big grin">

 

[chattamom]

Thank you!! We had Kindergarten registration yesterday, so I spoke to the nurse. She spoke to her supervisor and they said that as long as I write a letter, with my signature, saying that due to medical reasons, we chose to delay vaccinating DS, it was fine. I didn't have to sign any type of form. Thank goodness! I felt bad signing a religious exemption since it wasn't religious reasons (just common sense reasons! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/wink1.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="wink1"> ).<br><br>
We just moved to Ooltewah FROM Knoxville. DH and I were born/raised in Knoxville, attended college @ UT-Chattanooga, moved back to Knoxville for 4 years and couldn't wait to get ourselves back in Chattanooga! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile">

 

[KoalaMommy]

Your nurse was wrong, you can't claim medical reasons in TN without a doctor's signature and it would not be a good idea to do that. But you can claim religious exemption, and yes you can do it for a single shot. I have a friend who claimed religion just for the CP shot in TN without hassle. It's the same state-wide Chattanooga is the same as Knoxville.