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Infants, Toddlers, & Preschoolers
vaccine exemptions - what's the deal?
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Anonymous
| I have my kids in a dc daycare, and I'm always running to get my health forms completed so that they don't get kicked out. A friend whose kids are also in this daycare mentioned that his kids are NOT vaccinated because he doesn't believe in it. Anybody know what the rules on this are? Is vaccination mandatory or is it just a suggestion? |
Anonymous
| I am curious about whether anyone has an answer to the OP's question. I am also curious as to whether some shots are "optional" and others mandatory for entry into daycare. For example, is Prevnar and the rotovirus vaccine mandatory for school and daycare entry? They are newer vaccinations and I am just curious. |
Anonymous
| I didn't have to get my son Prevnar for preschool. But, he receives services through the county and I had to get it for him to remain in services once he hit age 4. I think there is a way to get exempted from vaccinations. You can go to the MD health and human services website to find out. |
bigmaman
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Vax exemptions vary state to state, just like vax timetables and requirements. Anyway, DC allows exemptions (i) for medical reasons, when certified to by a doc or public health official, and (ii) for religious reasons. If I recall, the law is silent on whether and how the religious belief in question is to be documented. There's no exemption for simply philosophical reasons, however, as exists in some states. So if someone from your daycare is getting an exemption because he "doesn't believe" in vax-ing, he's either stating it in terms of a religious belief when he fills out the DOH health form, or the DOH is letting him slide.
As for what's required, DC's vaccination law was last enacted/updated in the late 90s -- 1997, maybe? So newer vaccines like Prevnar and Rotateq wouldn't be addressed. And, (my personal favorite) the vaccine schedule that's printed on the back if the DOH school health forms is NOT an accurate summary of DC's laws. It's based on much more recent AAP/CDC guidelines. So if you try to follow that schedule, you can still end up in hot water. We did. Oh, and because the DOH is in the process of updating the law, I've been told that they're not distributing copies of what's currently in effect. You'd have to go to the library and pull the municipal regulation yourself. So basically, you only find out if your child's vaccines are "in violation" when DOH's computerized vaccine registry throws up a red flag, and DOH notifies your daycare provider. So that's really helpful for planning purposes. But what's really great is when the DC registry isn't programmed in accordance with the DC law, and DOH sends erroneous notices that your child is due for a vaccine that, under the law, isn't yet required. Our tax dollars at work. Sorry for the rant. I've gone a couple rounds with daycare and the DOH over vaccine requirements, can 'ya tell? |