I don't understand why people who want to spread out the shots get any sort of exemption including falsely claiming a religious exemption.

For those who don't want to do too many shots in one visit and want to space out the vaccinations, that's fine. But you know that you'll be entering a public school with rules on having vaccinations by a certain age. So rather than starting at the usual time and pushing the envelope back, make sure that you start early and ensure that all vaccinations are done by the time you enter the public school. So, if you want to space out the shots over a six-month period, try starting six months before the first day of public school and then space them out however you want. You know that you're going to get the vaccinations. You know that you're going to enter a public school that requires vaccinations for the protection of the entire school community. So work with your doctor to get the shots done before the start of school.

Religious exemptions should be for those people who belong to religions who expressly do not allow vaccinations and who will not be getting vaccinations at all.

Anonymous wrote:

I'm not going to argue about whether I feel it is lying (I do - but I also don't think a lie is always a great moral failing and I certainly don't think it is in this case). But "religious beliefs and practices" is an elastic term that can comfortably stretch to include many things, and I am sure many who sign the form don't feel they are lying.

I think that "religious beliefs and practices" is an elastic term for people who are using this exemption for non-religious reasons and want to justify their lie to themselves.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You just sign the religious waiver. It does not ask you what religion you are so you can worship the man on the moon who tells you not to vaccinate and that is fine. We did the waiver for a few years and had no issue. We do vaccinate but did it on a delayed schedule. It was our only choice so we signed it and it was no big deal. We did catch up by five but we will always sign it as we will not do more than 2 at a time.

Its not lying by signing the form.

Same here - we were completely caught up by age 5 except chicken pox so we continue to sign the form. If child hasn't gotten chicken pox by age 8 or 9 then we'll get the co shots and no longer have to complete the form. I've been at two schools now and no one has ever batted an eye at our using the forms.

That was our plan too with the chicken pox as I'd rather have a natural immunity but they offered us a combo shot so it would be one shot for two things so we took it but that was right before we turned 5.

You both turned 5 together?

Natural immunity doesn't last. Everyone I know who got the Chicken Pox had to get vaccinated, me included, because the immunity doesn't last.

I have to disagree. "Religious beliefs and practices" is only an elastic term for people who choose, and are permitted, to make it so. It's a convenient lie (and let's call it a lie, because it is) for ignorant, paranoid, selfish people who want to exploit the herd immunity created by the responsible and well-educated among us, and who are totally fine with endangering our precious children with their unvaccinated ones. (Who I feel very sorry for, both for their health risks and the misfortunate to be born to such self-centered and stupid parents.) I am passionate about almost nothing else as much as I'm passionate about this issue. Anti-vaxxers disgust me. The fact that anyone is still hanging on to these totally discredited, debunked b.s. ideas is just pathetic, and so dangerous.

YES!! +1000.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's gonna be sweet when polio comes back and all these kids get paralyzed.

/sarcasm

Many people are delaying or going on an alternative schedule. And, if your child is vaccinated, then you are you making such a big stink over it. Your child is 100% covered if you fully trust them so it should not be an issue.

I see you're not acquainted with the concept of herd immunity, Junior.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm just amazed by the anti/delay vax folks! How do you find the time to devote to all that research? Doctors spend years in medical school. Pharmacists spend almost as long. All those hours of studying and researching! How on earth do you find time to do your regular jobs, parent your kids, AND become experts in immunology?

Makes wonder if you do your own car repairs and root canals as well?

Some of it is common sense. If your child has several sets of vaccinations and has high fevers, cranky and other issues (including an ER visit) common sense is to slow them down. Not everyone can handle the full set. Our docs told us they lump so many together as most parents will not come back more frequently or even for their regularly schedule appointments so they lump them together to make sure the kids get them all. If you show a track record of coming back, they don't care.

And, yes, we do some of our own car repairs, most of our own house repairs and a lot more. I'd rather DIY and send my kid to college.

+1 (although I don't do my own car repairs).

We followed this same path with our frail kid.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You just sign the religious waiver. It does not ask you what religion you are so you can worship the man on the moon who tells you not to vaccinate and that is fine. We did the waiver for a few years and had no issue. We do vaccinate but did it on a delayed schedule. It was our only choice so we signed it and it was no big deal. We did catch up by five but we will always sign it as we will not do more than 2 at a time.

Its not lying by signing the form.

Here is the form:

http://phpa.dhmh.maryland.gov/OIDEOR/IMMUN/Shared%20Documents/896_form.pdf

There are two grounds for exemption, the medical contraindication and the religious exemption. The medical contraindication says, "The above child has a valid medical contraindication to being immunized at this time". A medical provider signs the medical contraindication.

The religious exemption is "Because of my bona fide religious beliefs and practices, I object to any immunizations being given to my child." If the reason you don't vaccinate is your bona fide religious beliefs and practices, then you're not lying when you sign the form. If the reason you don't vaccinate is anything else, other than a medical contraindication, then yes, you actually are lying when you sign the form.

I'm not going to argue about whether I feel it is lying (I do - but I also don't think a lie is always a great moral failing and I certainly don't think it is in this case). But "religious beliefs and practices" is an elastic term that can comfortably stretch to include many things, and I am sure many who sign the form don't feel they are lying.

I have to disagree. "Religious beliefs and practices" is only an elastic term for people who choose, and are permitted, to make it so. It's a convenient lie (and let's call it a lie, because it is) for ignorant, paranoid, selfish people who want to exploit the herd immunity created by the responsible and well-educated among us, and who are totally fine with endangering our precious children with their unvaccinated ones. (Who I feel very sorry for, both for their health risks and the misfortunate to be born to such self-centered and stupid parents.) I am passionate about almost nothing else as much as I'm passionate about this issue. Anti-vaxxers disgust me. The fact that anyone is still hanging on to these totally discredited, debunked b.s. ideas is just pathetic, and so dangerous.

^^ *misfortune*

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You just sign the religious waiver. It does not ask you what religion you are so you can worship the man on the moon who tells you not to vaccinate and that is fine. We did the waiver for a few years and had no issue. We do vaccinate but did it on a delayed schedule. It was our only choice so we signed it and it was no big deal. We did catch up by five but we will always sign it as we will not do more than 2 at a time.

Its not lying by signing the form.

Here is the form:

http://phpa.dhmh.maryland.gov/OIDEOR/IMMUN/Shared%20Documents/896_form.pdf

There are two grounds for exemption, the medical contraindication and the religious exemption. The medical contraindication says, "The above child has a valid medical contraindication to being immunized at this time". A medical provider signs the medical contraindication.

The religious exemption is "Because of my bona fide religious beliefs and practices, I object to any immunizations being given to my child." If the reason you don't vaccinate is your bona fide religious beliefs and practices, then you're not lying when you sign the form. If the reason you don't vaccinate is anything else, other than a medical contraindication, then yes, you actually are lying when you sign the form.

I'm not going to argue about whether I feel it is lying (I do - but I also don't think a lie is always a great moral failing and I certainly don't think it is in this case). But "religious beliefs and practices" is an elastic term that can comfortably stretch to include many things, and I am sure many who sign the form don't feel they are lying.

I have to disagree. "Religious beliefs and practices" is only an elastic term for people who choose, and are permitted, to make it so. It's a convenient lie (and let's call it a lie, because it is) for ignorant, paranoid, selfish people who want to exploit the herd immunity created by the responsible and well-educated among us, and who are totally fine with endangering our precious children with their unvaccinated ones. (Who I feel very sorry for, both for their health risks and the misfortunate to be born to such self-centered and stupid parents.) I am passionate about almost nothing else as much as I'm passionate about this issue. Anti-vaxxers disgust me. The fact that anyone is still hanging on to these totally discredited, debunked b.s. ideas is just pathetic, and so dangerous.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You just sign the religious waiver. It does not ask you what religion you are so you can worship the man on the moon who tells you not to vaccinate and that is fine. We did the waiver for a few years and had no issue. We do vaccinate but did it on a delayed schedule. It was our only choice so we signed it and it was no big deal. We did catch up by five but we will always sign it as we will not do more than 2 at a time.

Its not lying by signing the form.

Here is the form:

http://phpa.dhmh.maryland.gov/OIDEOR/IMMUN/Shared%20Documents/896_form.pdf

There are two grounds for exemption, the medical contraindication and the religious exemption. The medical contraindication says, "The above child has a valid medical contraindication to being immunized at this time". A medical provider signs the medical contraindication.

The religious exemption is "Because of my bona fide religious beliefs and practices, I object to any immunizations being given to my child." If the reason you don't vaccinate is your bona fide religious beliefs and practices, then you're not lying when you sign the form. If the reason you don't vaccinate is anything else, other than a medical contraindication, then yes, you actually are lying when you sign the form.

I'm not going to argue about whether I feel it is lying (I do - but I also don't think a lie is always a great moral failing and I certainly don't think it is in this case). But "religious beliefs and practices" is an elastic term that can comfortably stretch to include many things, and I am sure many who sign the form don't feel they are lying.

Anonymous wrote:You just sign the religious waiver. It does not ask you what religion you are so you can worship the man on the moon who tells you not to vaccinate and that is fine. We did the waiver for a few years and had no issue. We do vaccinate but did it on a delayed schedule. It was our only choice so we signed it and it was no big deal. We did catch up by five but we will always sign it as we will not do more than 2 at a time.

Its not lying by signing the form.

Here is the form:

http://phpa.dhmh.maryland.gov/OIDEOR/IMMUN/Shared%20Documents/896_form.pdf

There are two grounds for exemption, the medical contraindication and the religious exemption. The medical contraindication says, "The above child has a valid medical contraindication to being immunized at this time". A medical provider signs the medical contraindication.

The religious exemption is "Because of my bona fide religious beliefs and practices, I object to any immunizations being given to my child." If the reason you don't vaccinate is your bona fide religious beliefs and practices, then you're not lying when you sign the form. If the reason you don't vaccinate is anything else, other than a medical contraindication, then yes, you actually are lying when you sign the form.

Anonymous wrote:I'm just amazed by the anti/delay vax folks! How do you find the time to devote to all that research? Doctors spend years in medical school. Pharmacists spend almost as long. All those hours of studying and researching! How on earth do you find time to do your regular jobs, parent your kids, AND become experts in immunology?

Makes wonder if you do your own car repairs and root canals as well?

I worked out an alternative/selective vax schedule WITH my pediatrician. We have autoimmune issues. Anyway, the op's question is answered. It is a check box and a signature in MD. School officials have much bigger concerns and don't, as I said earlier, bat an eye. As for your friendship, that depends on you I guess. I am friends with republicans.

Anonymous wrote:I'm just amazed by the anti/delay vax folks! How do you find the time to devote to all that research? Doctors spend years in medical school. Pharmacists spend almost as long. All those hours of studying and researching! How on earth do you find time to do your regular jobs, parent your kids, AND become experts in immunology?

Makes wonder if you do your own car repairs and root canals as well?

Some of it is common sense. If your child has several sets of vaccinations and has high fevers, cranky and other issues (including an ER visit) common sense is to slow them down. Not everyone can handle the full set. Our docs told us they lump so many together as most parents will not come back more frequently or even for their regularly schedule appointments so they lump them together to make sure the kids get them all. If you show a track record of coming back, they don't care.

And, yes, we do some of our own car repairs, most of our own house repairs and a lot more. I'd rather DIY and send my kid to college.

I'm just amazed by the anti/delay vax folks! How do you find the time to devote to all that research? Doctors spend years in medical school. Pharmacists spend almost as long. All those hours of studying and researching! How on earth do you find time to do your regular jobs, parent your kids, AND become experts in immunology?

Makes wonder if you do your own car repairs and root canals as well?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You just sign the religious waiver. It does not ask you what religion you are so you can worship the man on the moon who tells you not to vaccinate and that is fine. We did the waiver for a few years and had no issue. We do vaccinate but did it on a delayed schedule. It was our only choice so we signed it and it was no big deal. We did catch up by five but we will always sign it as we will not do more than 2 at a time.

Its not lying by signing the form.

Same here - we were completely caught up by age 5 except chicken pox so we continue to sign the form. If child hasn't gotten chicken pox by age 8 or 9 then we'll get the co shots and no longer have to complete the form. I've been at two schools now and no one has ever batted an eye at our using the forms.

That was our plan too with the chicken pox as I'd rather have a natural immunity but they offered us a combo shot so it would be one shot for two things so we took it but that was right before we turned 5.

You both turned 5 together?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's gonna be sweet when polio comes back and all these kids get paralyzed.

/sarcasm

Wishing paralysis on kids? You're a sicko

Not as sick as the unvacccinated kids!