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Specialties School

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  • Specializes in Pediatrics, Community Health, School Health.

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OldDude

1 Article; 4,787 Posts

Specializes in Pediatrics Retired.
If the student is not vaccinated they simply cannot be in the public school system. That's a law

No, it's not.

1nurse4you

45 Posts

I would ask the schools policy or state policy

OldDude

1 Article; 4,787 Posts

Specializes in Pediatrics Retired.
I would ask the schools policy or state policy

You can ask if you want to but I know what the law is...kids are allowed in public schools without immunizations by way of medical exemptions, religious objections, and in Texas, Reason of Conscience - whatever the Hell that means.

I agree with you. I have never said that I am anti-vaccinations, I am just not liking the tone of some of these posts. These people are still our patients, and this is a public domain...I don't think it is professional to be so disrespectful on a public domain. A discussion in private with your colleagues is one thing, but here, I'm not so sure. And for the record I have no problem with the tone of your post, I completely understand what you're saying.

kidzcare

3,393 Posts

You can ask if you want to but I know what the law is...kids are allowed in public schools without immunizations by way of medical exemptions, religious objections, and in Texas, Reason of Conscience - whatever the Hell that means.

Yep. It varies a little by state. For example, in IL medical and religious exemptions are allowed but no "Reason of Conscience" or "philosophical" objections are allowed.

In IL, for a student to have a medical exemption, we need a note from their physician stating that the reason/diagnosis that prevents the child from being immunized (i.e. egg allergy or previous allergic reaction to vaccine). Two years ago, IL began requiring a new form for religious exemptions that is filled out by both the guardians and physician. The physician has to verify that they have spoken to the parents about vaccines and informed them of the risks of not vaccinating and the parents have to specify which vaccines they are declining and the specific reason why.

Here is a link to the form: http://www.dph.illinois.gov/sites/default/files/forms/religious-exemption-form-081815-040816.pdf

ETA- if a student is not vaccinated, the family is informed that if we are notified of a student with a vaccine preventable disease (i.e. measles) their student will be excluded for a certain number of days (I can't remember the number off hand. 5? 10? Or maybe until there are no more reported cases for a certain number of days?)

MrNurse(x2), ADN

2,558 Posts

Specializes in IMC, school nursing.
I agree with you. I have never said that I am anti-vaccinations, I am just not liking the tone of some of these posts. These people are still our patients, and this is a public domain...I don't think it is professional to be so disrespectful on a public domain. A discussion in private with your colleagues is one thing, but here, I'm not so sure. And for the record I have no problem with the tone of your post, I completely understand what you're saying.

OK, please look at the forum you came into. These are not our patients, they are students. Do not come into our nurses' station and make assumptions. I would never go to the Maternal Child forum and start coming off as holier than thou when I know NOTHING of that world. We welcome you to come and visit, but please be aware that the tone here is not your typical AN, so we respond like this when it creeps in. We are coworkers here, as most are independent in their position and the only health care worker in that environment, we need this to bounce ideas and gather info.

ana010

99 Posts

I agree with you. I have never said that I am anti-vaccinations, I am just not liking the tone of some of these posts. These people are still our patients, and this is a public domain...I don't think it is professional to be so disrespectful on a public domain. A discussion in private with your colleagues is one thing, but here, I'm not so sure. And for the record I have no problem with the tone of your post, I completely understand what you're saying.

So you are being judgmental about your perceived judgment of others?

grammy1

420 Posts

Here in the state of California, you can no longer use religious views to be exempt from school vaccinations, only medical.

I love that! Sometimes I want to question these parents and ask about their religion, but heaven knows we can't upset them.

NutmeggeRN, BSN

2 Articles; 4,620 Posts

Specializes in kids.
I thought vaccines are required by law in all states

Nope.:no:

Specializes in Med-surg, school nursing..
I have to agree with OD 100%. I was a hospital based nurse, in OB/PEDS for 19 years before becoming a school nurse. NEVER in a million years would I have thought it would be as hard ( or as rewarding) as it is. While these posts may sound biased or judgmental, there is a lot of "gray area" for people outside of the specialty. I think what isnt explained, is the frustration when one week a parent is claiming religious exemption, the next gets their shots, or on Tuesday has a MD sign that little Johhny is gluten allergic, but on Wednesday he hates what the school is feeding him so Mom wants us to "cancel" the allergy. Its the flip flop frustration , Im guessing, that makes us sound judgmental. I will say that it does frustrate me when a parent believes that their child is somehow more important than others. I am a parent of 3 children, they are my world. I get we love our kids and sometimes cant think beyond that. I have concerns for my immune-compromised kids, I have concerns for the kids that aren't vaccinated. I have 700+ kids I am responsible for on a daily basis. I believe people have the right to say "No" Just dont flip-flop, stand on your convictions.

Just today I had another staff member make me aware of our very strict gluten free student who came to their house this weekend and ate not a drop of gluten-free food. But you can bet your sweet bippy snowflake HAD to have a gluten free breakfast. C'mon now!

MisRN

18 Posts

Specializes in Emergency, Cardiac, & School Nursing.

When I first started as a school nurse, we had a parent who had 3 children and had most of their childhood vaccinations done, but when the baby had a delay in speech, mom stopped all vaccines (see where this is going???). She had the notarized Religious Exemption form done for each of them. When the measles outbreak happened in California a couple years back, she decided to take them for their second MMR. Our administration and the outgoing nurse had been up in arms as to if they were still considered exempt on religious grounds or if this negates it all together.

What we learned was that (in Virginia) the laws are so loosely written, that we couldn't enforce anything. She could essentially cherry-pick the vaccines she wanted to have and hide under the guise of "religious" exemption for the ones she didn't. It was so aggravating!

MisRN

18 Posts

Specializes in Emergency, Cardiac, & School Nursing.
On a side note, I'm finding it really interesting that people in other states can seemingly so easily opt out of vaccines. Here, parents have to fill out an exemption form, provide "proof" of objections (medical requires a letter from a doctor, religious requires something in print that shows the religion's specific objection. Philosophical objection is no longer valid), have it notarized, send it to the DOH, wait for the DOH to approve or not, and then give the school a copy of the approved form. If the DOH does not approve, they can appeal, but we can also recommend disenrollment after 3 written notices. Is it easier in other states? Or pretty similar?

Oh my goodness, I WISH we had a process that is clearly outlined like this! It's waaaaayyyyy too easy for parents to opt out!

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