questions for nonvaxers in Texas

3173 Views 12 Replies 8 Participants Last post by pilesoflaundry, Jun 16, 2004

pilesoflaundry

Discussion Starter · Jun 10, 2004

If you are not comfortable 'outing' yourself here PM me

.

We went to a wic nutrition class today ( why they heck they make you take classes is beyond me!) Anyway they made me sign a form that said my child had seen the doctor at least once between 4-8 months of age, really asking if we went to the 6 month well baby visit. I said we didn't but went at 4 months, luckily we moved when she was 6 months and I used that as an excuse. I signed the form with a visit date of next week since I do have a just quick meet the new ped visit so I know the doc incase I need him. And I did write down her height and weight, I told them I measure her myself every month. She is growing like a weed(1 lb and 1.5 inches in a month!) and healthy as anything she don't need a doctor!

My question is, do I need to have an exemption form ready at our next visit since it will be a reapplication and I will have to see a case worker?

In GA they only asked if I had a pediatrician but not if we went to visits or were vaxed so this is new to me! I can't believe they made me sign that i took my kid to the doc

: . They also announced to the whole class, anyone needing vax we give them free, even for the kids who need kinder boosters

: I do understand they are trying to help those that want vax but can't afford them but making the rest of us have them is stupid. I do have insurance that fully covers them but I don't want them!

I know that they can't force me and I plan to have paperwork ready on the laws as soon as I can find them. I checked the archives but found mostly stuff on medicaid or just basic wic can't deny you stuff not the exact law of TX, I do know they used to deny you welfare and food stamps for not vaxing due to clinton's welfare reform laws but I read something on the prove site that they made it illegal to deny aid due to not vaxing but I can't find the actual law to print out. Any links? THANKS!

See less See more

Save

1 - 13 of 13 Posts

CerridwenLorelei

· #2 · Jun 10, 2004

I just told them that the ins covered them ( this was before the philosophical exemption obviously )
it has been years since I was on it but they could not at the time make you sign a form that you had been to the dr

http://www.vaccineinfo.net/alerts/pr...xemption.shtml

when you call Austin ask for Alison according to a friend of mine she is the main worker on this and very helpful and kind..

maybe the ped will be cool with your stance and write wic a note to back you up?
you can also tell them you are delaying at this point due to waiting for system to build up because you are concerned with allergies

Save

fourgrtkidos

· #3 · Jun 10, 2004

I'm in Fl. ust wanted to say GoOD Luck. Don't sign anything that is false though,, it seems to me it will turn around and work against you. Get a legal exemption and see a ped like they want so they can't say you fooled the sytem , KWIM?

It is unfortunate that if you need the help you have to play (and beat them) by their own rules.

Save

amnesiac

· #4 · Jun 10, 2004

Go ahead & get the new exemption form from TDH & have it with you just in case. The law about agencies not being allowed to deny services for legal exemptions is a part of that big new Health & Human Services revamp that the new exemption law is a part of. I don't remember what bill it was but I'm sure it's named over at PROVE somewhere. And they are asking you about well-checks just as much as they are shots so be aware of that & anticipate that they will still be looking for you to go to those even with an exemption.

Save

pilesoflaundry

Discussion Starter · #5 · Jun 10, 2004

I don't mind going to the well checks if I have to, we did go before we moved, just haven't since we got here. She has only missed her 6 month.

thanks amnesiac, I will double check the prove site again and I will get the form just incase. I figured as much that I would need it. I would rather be honest and have my paper work in a row than lie and get in worse trouble.

cerr- thanks for the link and the name, if I have any problems I will call her up.

fourgrtkidos- thanks for the support and luck!

Save

crazydaisy

· #6 · Jun 11, 2004

hey, i just moved from GA to amarillo, texas area. there is only one ped in this area that takes unvaxed kids...can you believe it! i was told by one ped that he doesn't take "kids who don't get their shots!" made my dd sound like she wasn't a controled robot or something.
anyway, love texas b/c it has a consientious (spelling?) exemption for school. don't know if you can use that for wic also. also, they have a religious exemption, so you could say it is against your religion, and if they ask what religion, you can tell them that is your own business. they can't ask, actually, what religion you are!!!!
anyway, i don't see how they could go against your religious beliefs on this one.
anyway, good luck
-kate

Save

amnesiac

· #7 · Jun 11, 2004

Here it is POL-

SECTION 2.04. Subchapter B, Chapter 531, Government Code,
is amended by adding Section 531.0335 to read as follows:
Sec. 531.0335. PROHIBITION ON PUNITIVE ACTION FOR FAILURE
TO IMMUNIZE. (a) In this section:
(1) "Person responsible for a child's care, custody,
or welfare" has the meaning assigned by Section 261.001, Family
Code.
(2) "Punitive action" includes the initiation of an
investigation of a person responsible for a child's care, custody,
or welfare for alleged or suspected abuse or neglect of a child.
(b) The commissioner by rule shall prohibit a health and
human services agency from taking a punitive action against a
person responsible for a child's care, custody, or welfare for
failure of the person to ensure that the child receives the
immunization series prescribed by Section 161.004, Health and
Safety Code.
(c) This section does not affect a law, including Chapter
31, Human Resources Code, that specifically provides a punitive
action for failure to ensure that a child receives the immunization
series prescribed by Section 161.004, Health and Safety Code.

http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/statutes/gv.toc.htm

I'm not exactly sure what that last paragraph means. All I saw in Ch.31 was that it allowed for exemptions per the Health & Safety Code.

See less See more

Save

Changed

· #8 · Jun 13, 2004

I hated WIC and only went to one appt. They asked to do a heel or finger stick on my daughter for iron and I told them to eat crap.

Save

girlfactory

· #9 · Jun 14, 2004

Gosh Angela, why doesn't that surprise me

None of the ped's offices in austin that take medicaid patients are accepting NEW patients, so I couldn't get in to see someone if I tried. I did have to take dd#2 to a clinic for what we thought was a UTI, and man did I regret that. No one spoke English, and the doc was at least 70 yrs old. Last time I EVER take my kids to a medicaid sponsored clinic!!

See less See more

Save

GoodWillHunter

· #10 · Jun 14, 2004

oh, tell me about it... i won't go on wic strictly because of the hoops we have to jump thru for it

See less See more

Save

pilesoflaundry

Discussion Starter · #11 · Jun 15, 2004

Quote:

Originally Posted by amnesiac
Here it is POL-

SECTION 2.04. Subchapter B, Chapter 531, Government Code,
is amended by adding Section 531.0335 to read as follows:
Sec. 531.0335. PROHIBITION ON PUNITIVE ACTION FOR FAILURE
TO IMMUNIZE. (a) In this section:
(1) "Person responsible for a child's care, custody,
or welfare" has the meaning assigned by Section 261.001, Family
Code.
(2) "Punitive action" includes the initiation of an
investigation of a person responsible for a child's care, custody,
or welfare for alleged or suspected abuse or neglect of a child.
(b) The commissioner by rule shall prohibit a health and
human services agency from taking a punitive action against a
person responsible for a child's care, custody, or welfare for
failure of the person to ensure that the child receives the
immunization series prescribed by Section 161.004, Health and
Safety Code.
(c) This section does not affect a law, including Chapter
31, Human Resources Code, that specifically provides a punitive
action for failure to ensure that a child receives the immunization
series prescribed by Section 161.004, Health and Safety Code.

http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/statutes/gv.toc.htm

I'm not exactly sure what that last paragraph means. All I saw in Ch.31 was that it allowed for exemptions per the Health & Safety Code.

It is confusing, gotta love government

:. Thanks for looking it up for me

. It does seem as if you are now safe from CPS but that wic and other services can still deny you. I guess I will find out in the coming months when my next appointment comes up. I am sending a request for those exemption forms this week so I get them in plenty of time incase my letter gets 'lost'

.

The only reason I even bother with wic is because the baby is on formula

. If she wasn't I probably wouldn't bother since we are trying to cut out dairy and we don't often eat eggs. I do use the peanut butter but if it came down to wic or vax I would gladly pay for my peanut butter!

See less See more

Save

amnesiac

· #12 · Jun 16, 2004

BTW, this came in my e-mail today- from Dawn Richardson @PROVE:

[Dear PROVE Members,
A Federal Judge just ruled that the State of Texas will no longer be able to
deny Medicaid benefits to parents who don't immunize their kids. Even though we have an exemption here which made this restriction a moot point, this is a great ruling because most parents don't know about their rights to use the exemption and they are intimidated with threats far too often. Now families, especially those with high medical costs due to vaccine injuries and need these benefits, won't be subjected to the harassment that accompanies a policy like this, and it will be illegal for the state to terminate a family's benefits if they don't vaccinate their kids. This coupled with the law that was passed this past session making it illegal to initiate a Child Protective Services (CPS) investigation on a family due to lack of vaccination helps keep overzealous bureaucrats in check. If anyone in Texas is still threatened by a state employee or doctor that if they don't immunize their child they will either lose their benefits or be reported to CPS, please contact us immediately. Knowingly making false claims on a parent to CPS is a criminal offense. Thanks. Dawn]

See less See more

Save

pilesoflaundry

Discussion Starter · #13 · Jun 16, 2004

Thanks for posting that

. I will be sure to report anyone that gives me flack!

See less See more

Save

1 - 13 of 13 Posts

Top Contributors this Month