Help: Preschool admissions with delayed vax - are we out of luck?

356 Views 6 Replies 5 Participants Last post by JBaxter, Mar 8, 2007

pinzmama

Discussion Starter · Mar 8, 2007

Today DH, DD and I toured the preschool we want DD to start this summer. I handed in our registration forms and got the health form from the director. I asked about vax and I'm afraid I blew it.

I made the mistake of telling the truth -- that DD had some vax, but wasn't up to date on all of them. Quite literally, every time I make an appointment or think about doing a vax, she gets sick. I refuse to vax her when she's not 100% well (and have done enough reading in the past 3 years to make my head spin about the whole thing).

Anyhow, I asked if there was an exemption or provision for being in the process of getting them and the director said there wasn't any. DD must have all shots up to date or she can't start.

So, I think I blew my chances of a religious exemption.

Does a private preschool have to take a religious exemption anyway? If so, any idea how I can get one at this point? Should I claim we converted this afternoon?

What do no vax parents do about preschool? I had planned to keep DD home with me, but she really needs the social interaction and I'm just not up to doing it myself. Bad mommy.

Why, why, why did Maryland eliminate the philosophical exemption?!

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mama2claire

· #2 · Mar 8, 2007

IIRC, you can claim religious exemption at ANY point - whether your child has received 0 vaccines or 20 vaccines. You don't have to state a particular religion or provide any details either. As for whether a private school has to accept the exemption, I think it comes down to: 1) do they receive ANY money from the state and 2) I guess a case could be made for discrimination (i.e.: that they are discriminating against your religion by not allowing the exemption).

I don't think you blew it at all. File religious exemption and see what happens! The school is probably just unfamiliar w/it and don't know the rules themselves.

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JBaxter

· #3 · Mar 8, 2007

I would file the religious exemption NOT mentioning any of the vaxes you have selectivly done. You may want to post over in the vaccination area to get another opinion.

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pinzmama

Discussion Starter · #4 · Mar 8, 2007

I guess what worries me is that I already told the director that she has had some vax -- so if I file religious exemption, would the director think I am basically lying (and therefore not the kind of parent with whom to do business).

I think I could walk up to another preschool and just pull out an exemption, maybe. Would a preschool decide not to take my daughter since she's not vax even if I claim exemption?

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dramamama

· #5 · Mar 8, 2007

I think administrators basically understand that the law in Oregon puts parents in a tough position. We can not claim "idealogical exemption," (which makes more sense with a selective vax choice,) so we must either get all the vaccinations for our children or claim religious exemption. Most folks do not neatly fit in one category or the other.

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mavery

· #6 · Mar 8, 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by pinzmama

I did something similar. I had told the preschool I had hesitations about vaxes bc my son had reacted to them, but I was getting up to date (I didn't realise there was any alternative). Then there was some mess-up with the health form (his ped forgot to sign it) and I got an urgent call from the school to fix it before their records were inspected by the state.

I seized the chance, and asked them to give me a fresh copy of the form. I signed the religious exemption and destroyed the old form. No one commented. They just wanted their records to be legit.

I think you could just fill the form in, say nothing and see what they do. Chances are, they won't care so long as their records are straight. They may even feel better knowing your dd has had some vaxes, even though "officially" your are not vaxing.

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JBaxter

· #7 · Mar 8, 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by pinzmama

Ok... At what point did you have your religious epiphany

At some point you and God came to an agreement he made your daughers immune system perfect and he FORGAVE you for the indiscressions of the injections you gave her prior to you SEEING THE LIGHT

THATS MY story and Im sticking to it...

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