Virginia vaccine requirements for school

[Anonymous]

Does anyone know if proof of positive titers is accepted for school in Virginia instead of getting an extra dose of a vaccine? For example, my child got one dose of varicella. Instead of getting the second dose, if we get titers tested and she is immune, does she have to get a second dose to meet school requirements?

I know for me that I never actually had chickenpox, but got my titers checked for pregnancy and they were off the charts immune to chickenpox. There would be no point in my getting the vaccine to fulfill some requirement when I am already immune, despite never actually having had chickenpox.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone know if proof of positive titers is accepted for school in Virginia instead of getting an extra dose of a vaccine? For example, my child got one dose of varicella. Instead of getting the second dose, if we get titers tested and she is immune, does she have to get a second dose to meet school requirements?

I know for me that I never actually had chickenpox, but got my titers checked for pregnancy and they were off the charts immune to chickenpox. There would be no point in my getting the vaccine to fulfill some requirement when I am already immune, despite never actually having had chickenpox.

What is the advantage? Seems like getting a shot is easier than a blood draw.

[Anonymous]

No, just get the boosters. Believe it or not, the people working for the CDC who set the vaccine schedules that schools follow are very intelligent and spend their careers studying immunity. High levels on a current titer might not last. Boosters extend and boost immunity. That's why the schedule exists. Follow it.

[Anonymous]

I can't speak to Virginia, but here's what my ped pointed out. My kids had chicken pox as infants (live in the UK, no vaccines there for it) but he said 1) it's going to be a ton of hassle with the schools to deal with it along the way and 2) when they get to college they will need to do the titers to show immunity.

We got the shot.

[Anonymous]

I haven't done it but I think it would work. My DD started K without all her Hep A's. (We delayed them.)

Your doctor signs a statement at the bottoms of the standard form that says, "I certify that this child is adequately and age appropriately immunized."

As long as your doc signs and the titer was positive it will likely work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone know if proof of positive titers is accepted for school in Virginia instead of getting an extra dose of a vaccine? For example, my child got one dose of varicella. Instead of getting the second dose, if we get titers tested and she is immune, does she have to get a second dose to meet school requirements?

I know for me that I never actually had chickenpox, but got my titers checked for pregnancy and they were off the charts immune to chickenpox. There would be no point in my getting the vaccine to fulfill some requirement when I am already immune, despite never actually having had chickenpox.

What is the advantage? Seems like getting a shot is easier than a blood draw.

Seriously? Because there are less risks to a blood draw.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone know if proof of positive titers is accepted for school in Virginia instead of getting an extra dose of a vaccine? For example, my child got one dose of varicella. Instead of getting the second dose, if we get titers tested and she is immune, does she have to get a second dose to meet school requirements?

I know for me that I never actually had chickenpox, but got my titers checked for pregnancy and they were off the charts immune to chickenpox. There would be no point in my getting the vaccine to fulfill some requirement when I am already immune, despite never actually having had chickenpox.

What is the advantage? Seems like getting a shot is easier than a blood draw.

Seriously? Because there are less risks to a blood draw.

Ugh.

[Anonymous]

I'm in MD, so this might not help. But, I adopted my children and don't have early vaccine records. Shortly after we got to the US, we had titers done (during the course of blood draws for other purposes). My children showed immunity to certain of the diseases that you are required to vaccinate for. We then developed a vaccination schedule based on what was still needed. The schools have always accepted the vaccination record accompanied by the blood work records to satisfy the vaccination requirements.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone know if proof of positive titers is accepted for school in Virginia instead of getting an extra dose of a vaccine? For example, my child got one dose of varicella. Instead of getting the second dose, if we get titers tested and she is immune, does she have to get a second dose to meet school requirements?

I know for me that I never actually had chickenpox, but got my titers checked for pregnancy and they were off the charts immune to chickenpox. There would be no point in my getting the vaccine to fulfill some requirement when I am already immune, despite never actually having had chickenpox.

What is the advantage? Seems like getting a shot is easier than a blood draw.

Seriously? Because there are less risks to a blood draw.

Do you ever drive your children anywhere for any reason?

If so, you are a bad judge of risk.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I haven't done it but I think it would work. My DD started K without all her Hep A's. (We delayed them.)

Your doctor signs a statement at the bottoms of the standard form that says, "I certify that this child is adequately and age appropriately immunized."

As long as your doc signs and the titer was positive it will likely work.

Why on earth would you delay Hep A of all things!?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I haven't done it but I think it would work. My DD started K without all her Hep A's. (We delayed them.)

Your doctor signs a statement at the bottoms of the standard form that says, "I certify that this child is adequately and age appropriately immunized."

As long as your doc signs and the titer was positive it will likely work.

Why on earth would you delay Hep A of all things!?

Maybe she means Hep B. A commonly delayed one because it's not 100% needed for young infants.

[Anonymous]

Actually we delayed both Heps, but we finished Hep A after K started. My children were not in daycare and did not meet any of the criteria for high risk. Hep A is pretty rare. Below is taken from the CDC website.

Who is at risk for Hepatitis A?
Although anyone can get Hepatitis A, in the United States, certain groups of people are at higher risk, such as those who:
Travel to or live in countries where Hepatitis A is common
Are men who have sexual contact with other men
Use illegal drugs, whether injected or not
Have clotting-factor disorders, such as hemophilia
Live with someone who has Hepatitis A
Have oral-anal sexual contact with someone who has Hepatitis A

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Actually we delayed both Heps, but we finished Hep A after K started. My children were not in daycare and did not meet any of the criteria for high risk. Hep A is pretty rare. Below is taken from the CDC website.

Who is at risk for Hepatitis A?
Although anyone can get Hepatitis A, in the United States, certain groups of people are at higher risk, such as those who:
Travel to or live in countries where Hepatitis A is common
Are men who have sexual contact with other men
Use illegal drugs, whether injected or not
Have clotting-factor disorders, such as hemophilia
Live with someone who has Hepatitis A
Have oral-anal sexual contact with someone who has Hepatitis A

So no one your child comes in contact with travels. Your child will never go to someone's house or outing where the parent has just returned from travel. You have asked all your neighbors, family and friends who host you for meals what their status is and if they have had homosexual encounters or used IV drugs. You inquire at restaurants you bring your children to if any of the food workers are in the above categories and inspect their hands as they prepare the food.

If you thought "no, I don't do any of these things", go get your children vaccinated

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Actually we delayed both Heps, but we finished Hep A after K started. My children were not in daycare and did not meet any of the criteria for high risk. Hep A is pretty rare. Below is taken from the CDC website.

Who is at risk for Hepatitis A?
Although anyone can get Hepatitis A, in the United States, certain groups of people are at higher risk, such as those who:
Travel to or live in countries where Hepatitis A is common
Are men who have sexual contact with other men
Use illegal drugs, whether injected or not
Have clotting-factor disorders, such as hemophilia
Live with someone who has Hepatitis A
Have oral-anal sexual contact with someone who has Hepatitis A

So no one your child comes in contact with travels. Your child will never go to someone's house or outing where the parent has just returned from travel. You have asked all your neighbors, family and friends who host you for meals what their status is and if they have had homosexual encounters or used IV drugs. You inquire at restaurants you bring your children to if any of the food workers are in the above categories and inspect their hands as they prepare the food.

If you thought "no, I don't do any of these things", go get your children vaccinated

I did. Just not per the "schedule." Miraculously they lived. Go worry about someone else.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone know if proof of positive titers is accepted for school in Virginia instead of getting an extra dose of a vaccine? For example, my child got one dose of varicella. Instead of getting the second dose, if we get titers tested and she is immune, does she have to get a second dose to meet school requirements?

I know for me that I never actually had chickenpox, but got my titers checked for pregnancy and they were off the charts immune to chickenpox. There would be no point in my getting the vaccine to fulfill some requirement when I am already immune, despite never actually having had chickenpox.

What is the advantage? Seems like getting a shot is easier than a blood draw.

Seriously? Because there are less risks to a blood draw.

Do you ever drive your children anywhere for any reason?

If so, you are a bad judge of risk.

Actually, I work in risk management. Vaccines have risks. Blood draws have risks. Blood draws generally have less risks.

And yes, I drive my children. In carseats. Getting a vaccine for no reason is more like driving them around in no carseat, to use your very poor analogy.