I need information on objecting to a vaccine. I know in TX we could object on moral, medical, or religious grounds. Here, I'm told you can only object on medical or religious grounds. I do NOT want the children to get the booster of the varicella vaccine, I have information from sites such as WHO that support my stance. We have to go in for their physicals, and my ex and I agree we do not feel this vaccine is worth the risks. They've had all the other shots needed.

TIA!!

By Crystal915 on Monday, August 6, 2007 - 06:05 pm:

Oh, and I do NOT want to start a debate here, I have heard both sides, and made the decision I felt best for my children.

By Kate on Monday, August 6, 2007 - 06:42 pm:

I objected on religious grounds and was granted an exemption, but my kids go to a Christian school. I'm sure that helped. There are websites if you google them, with examples of letters people have written.

One thing though...you could just get them blood tests to check their titre level for varicella (it will show how immune they are to chicken pox). BUT, you have to see if your state will allow an adequate titre instead of the booster. They SHOULD, but the vaccine laws are SO different all over that who knows.

By Tsa on Monday, August 6, 2007 - 10:52 pm:

I always nicely decline. If they push, which they usually do, I again nicely decline. Never raise your voice just sweetly say NO THANK YOU. You can remind them that you are making an informed decision and you feel it is best for your child that they not recieve the booster. Keep it short and SWEET. Good Luck, keep us posted.

By Crystal915 on Monday, August 6, 2007 - 11:02 pm:

Thanks for replying! Theresa, it's not a matter of declining with the doctors, it's a required immunization for school. This is a major stress point for me, I battled it with the military doctors in TX when my kids were one, and lost because I was uninformed. They isolated me from my children in the clinic and told me they would call protective services if I didn't allow them to be vaccinated. (I didn't find out until later that I could object legally) Now that the varicella virus is recommended in 2 doses, I'm reliving the battle.

By Brandy on Tuesday, August 7, 2007 - 09:01 am:

Isn't this the one for chicken pox? i never had my boys done...nick got the chicken pox and alex never has although he was around his brother the whole time lol..

By Bobbie~moderatr on Tuesday, August 7, 2007 - 09:04 am:

Wow, No clue what to suggest.. I had no idea that Varicella is now required. However... I did a search and it is a required vaccine in Ohio too..

The State of Ohio Immunization Law requires that all Kindergarten students have 1 dose of Varicella Vaccine (given after the 1st birthday) before they can be registered in school. During my search I also found that the recommended immunization schedule has them getting the injections between the ages of 12 to 15 months for the first injection and between 4 and 6 for the second injection of the Varicella Vaccine..

I so disagree with this.. I hope you can figure out how to get around this requirement.. Chicken Pox is not something that has to be inoculated against, unless your child has a compromised immune system..

What are they going to "make" us do to our children next???

Big hugs (((CRYS))) let us know what you figure out...

By Colette on Tuesday, August 7, 2007 - 01:13 pm:

Good luck Crystal. I wish I had been more informed when my kids were younger. I have no problem with most of the vaccines, however my daughters are NOT getting the HPV vaccine and I have received quite a bit of pressure about that from the doctor's office.

By Tink on Wednesday, August 8, 2007 - 08:31 pm:

Sorry I am just now replying to this. I was on vacation. Unfortunately, all the info I can find says that Kansas doesn't offer any personal choice exemptions so you'll have to sign a religious waiver form to get out of having the twins receiving the varicella vaccine. I know that's not going to be something you're comfortable with but I don't see any other way around it. If it helps, you don't have to be a member of a formal religious organization to claim religious exemption. On the U.S. Supreme Court level in Frazee V. Illinois Dept. of Security, 489 U.S. 829, it was found that a state may not deny an exemption simply because a person is not a member of a formal religious organization and that atheism, secular humanism and nontheistic faiths, are all "religion" for the purpose of free exercise analysis.

I've never really had to fight for an exemption for my kids, other than just firmly saying "I'm choosing not to give my children a full vaccination schedule and need a waiver for that." I've had secretaries tell me that they couldn't find the waiver, didn't have any, etc. but I just say that I'll need that in order to finish registering my child. If the Office of Education gives you a hard time, just put that part of the registration process off and go through the school nurse once the school year starts. Here, they keep copies of blank waivers in their offices and can give you one. You'll probably have to listen to a lecture on the dangers to your child and their schoolmates but I just let it go in one ear and out the other while politely smiling. Good luck and let me know if you need any more help!

By Crystal915 on Wednesday, August 8, 2007 - 11:43 pm:

Thanks, Cori. I'm nervous about the religious exemption, if they press me to name the religion. I wish I could find stats or personal stories from KS, because this state can be difficult when attempting anything outside the norm!!! The office gave me the waiver, it appears all I need to do is sign it, but I'm a nervous wreck!!!

By Amecmom on Thursday, August 9, 2007 - 12:09 am:

Good Luck, Crystal. It is not a choice I would make, but that's not what it's all about. I respect you for making a choice for your children. I hope it works out for you.
Ame

By Tsa on Thursday, August 9, 2007 - 12:10 am:

Ok, now that I know that you are in Kansas, this won't be sooooo bad. There is a Chiropractic College in Kansas City that can help big time. Cleveland Chiropractic College 1 800 467 cckc. They will help big time. Also, when we lived in KC I never had to claim religious exemption. I just refused and had it notorized. I agree wait on bring the exemtion form during the registration process. The nurse is a much easier way to do it. Remember be polite, and you are doing what is best for YOUR family.

Not that I am saying that this is ok, but.... For this particular vaccine, some of my friends lied and said that their kids had got the chicken pox. Then no waiver, no vaccine necessary. GOOD LUCK

By Crystal915 on Thursday, August 9, 2007 - 08:41 pm:

Thank you, everyone!! I'll call the number you gave me, I have a local chiro that has seen the kids, but I don't know if they will accept a medical waiver from a DC. I'll definitely look into it!! (Although driving 2 hours to KC would stink!!!)

By Andi on Saturday, August 18, 2007 - 02:37 pm:

Both of my kid had the Chicken Pox Vaccine...with no problems.
Just curious what the issue is, health wise?

By Jackie on Saturday, August 18, 2007 - 03:26 pm:

All 3 of my kids had the vaccine as well, with no problems,

By Crystal915 on Saturday, August 18, 2007 - 10:28 pm:

I just don't feel that the risks, or possible risks, outweigh the benefits. I had the chicken pox at 4, without problem, but have family members on my side and my ex-husband's who had them as teens and adults, with serious side effects. It's just a personal decision we made, to object to the vaccine.

By Dawnk777 on Sunday, August 19, 2007 - 12:51 am:

Emily was 18 months old and Sarah got them 2 weeks later, at 4. They had no problems from chicken pox, either. That was 1993.

By Andi on Sunday, August 19, 2007 - 10:27 am:

You can still get Chicken Pox after having the vaccine but the disease will be much milder. I remember when I was a Nanny and the little guy I took care of got them. He had the vaccination so we were amazed when he got them. All he had was about 20 little bumps on his body and that was it.

I agree it's a personal decision and I decided to get all of the vaccinations available. With so many people coming in and out of our country and us living so close to the border, I want to make sure my children have all the necessary immunizations to keep them healthy.

I still don't understand what you think the "risk" is.

By Kate on Sunday, August 19, 2007 - 12:55 pm:

I'm not Crystal, but I object to most vaccines. The 'risk' is that ALL vaccines are risky, some more than others. ALL vaccines have chemicals and preservatives in them that are not meant to go inside the human body. Some vaccines are grown in chicken embryos or human fetal tissue. That isn't something that is supposed to be entered into the human body either. Vaccines enter the body right into the bloodstream. When you get a disease, it often enters through the mouth, nose, or eyes, thus it hits or travels thru many more avenues before settling in the bloodstream. By that avenue the body is able to not be hit so hard and is able to more slowly build the antibodies to attack the disease. Getting the disease naturally is better for your body and builds much better immunity.

Chicken pox, specifically, is a pretty harmless disease IN MOST CASES. I realize there are true horror stories out there about people getting the pox, but they are rare. I remember reading in Parents magazine in 1996 or so that the vaccine was going to be embraced and encouraged in the USA so that parents didn't have to take so much time off work to nurse their chicken pox kids. That's a pretty poor reason to inject kids with chemicals and preservatives. Also, it can easily wear off just in time for the kids to now be teens and adults when the disease really IS dangerous.

See, the thing with 'childhood diseases' is that nature usually gives them to kids in childhood, then they are immune for the rest of their lives, and aren't at risk as teens and adults. A manipulated vaccine giving a manipulated immunity (again, thru the bloodstream only) isn't nearly as foolproof as the real thing which is only obtained by catching the disease.

I am not advocating either way, but you do need to weigh the risks vs. the benefits for each and every vaccine. Do I want my child to get polio? No, I don't. But diphtheria? Pertussis? Measles, mumps, rubella, or chicken pox? Well, no I don't WANT them to get ANY disease, but those really are usually very harmless! Hep B is gotten by engaging in sex with many partners, sticking yourself with a contaminated needle by being a drug user or health care worker. So why give a BABY that vaccine? Babies don't engage in those activities! Let them grow up and make their own decision and see if they plan to go into those 'fields' and see if the benefit outweighs the risk.

Also, the vaccine schedule is different for every state and that tells me that people have no idea what they're doing! Some demand three shots of one vaccine, some five....some don't require one, while others do....there's no rhyme or reason to it and it's a dangerous thing to be so chaotic about.

Anyway, yes, the diseases still exist and are often only a plane ride away. But injecting man made vaccines loaded with chemicals and preservatives and chicken embryo and human fetal tissue isn't all that safe either. I urge every parent to do the research and weigh the risks vs. the benefits, as well as the likelihood of them catching the disease in the first place, and then make an informed decision. But don't assume just cause doctors routinely give these shots and school systems require them, that they are innocuous. Your over the counter medicines and your aspirin isn't innocuous, either. Most everything you put in your body has the potential to harm you so it's prudent to look into what you're really putting in it and why.

By Crystal915 on Sunday, August 19, 2007 - 02:17 pm:

Kaye pretty much explained it, much better than I could. The risk of the shot wearing off later in life, when they could get very ill from a normally harmless childhood disease is not worth it to me. You can get chicken pox from the weakened virus in the vaccine, so getting a booster as an adult could be dangerous. There is also concern about a shingles epidemic when our children are adults. The number of children who get seriously ill from getting the chicken pox naturally is very low, it's not like polio or other diseases that are usually crippling or deadly. I read everything I could find, from the CDC to the anti-vaccine side, and ultimately found that I didn't feel this vaccine was worth the risk. As for my original post, I re-scheduled the physicals, so I will let you guys know how it works out.

By Reds9298 on Thursday, August 23, 2007 - 03:26 pm:

If I think too long about what's in a vaccine I would go crazy with worry, I'm sure. But also, if I think too long about what's in the chicken we ate lastnight (hormones mainly)I would go crazy with worry, too. So many kids get the vaccines and so few have problems from them, so we didn't actually think too long about the possible "risks".

It's a very personal decision from what I see here. Crystal - You sound very confident in your decision, as I and others who have gone the opposite way and gotten the vaccine. I respect your confidence!

I personally didn't have chicken pox until I was 13-14 and they were terrible, although I'm not sure if they were worse than others.

By Tink on Thursday, August 23, 2007 - 06:22 pm:

I would be the same way about many things, Deanna. Unfortunately, I'm not sure that my son wasn't adversely affected by immunizations and I probably never will know but it means that I do the best I can to avoid the things that could have triggered his autism when taking care of my other children. That means that we don't give a full round of immunizations to any of our kids. I'm sure that if you worried about a problem with N being caused by the chicken you ate last night, you'd avoid it, too. Before my son was diagnosed, I never would have given vaccines a second thought.

By Kaye on Thursday, August 23, 2007 - 09:54 pm:

tink the sad part for me is, I was overly worried with my dd, even went to great lengths to not do more than one shot at a time, etc. By time kid 3 got here, I just became complacent. Even his ped things he is one of the truely rare kids that has had a reaction to shots. As it is he can hardly take med without adverse side effects. I do vacinate my children, but not with everything they come up with. I can't tell you how many times in my dd's life vaccines came out, given and then pulled, we seem to vacinate for many many extra things these days!

By Tink on Thursday, August 23, 2007 - 10:36 pm:

Seth had such a terrible reaction to his first three rounds of shots that I am positive that there had to be long-lasting side effects to the high fevers, long rounds of antibiotics, etc. that he dealt with. When he was first diagnosed, I'd never heard about the vaccine-autism link but I immediately wondered if this was going to be how his reaction showed itself. He still has bizarre reactions to a few meds and we have to watch his stomach anytime he goes on antibiotics because he's miserable. I just don't think that everything that might be vaccinated against needs to be or needs to be given at such a young age.

By Kaye on Thursday, August 23, 2007 - 10:49 pm:

probably the strangest quirk my son has is he is apparently allergic to methamphetamines, less that .001 percent of the population has that allergy. We have to carry an epi pen when he goes on a med now, because we just have no idea what might happen.

By Reds9298 on Thursday, August 23, 2007 - 10:50 pm:

Tink - I certainly understand where you're coming from with your children and have read about the possible vaccine-autism link. I completely see why people choose not to vaccinate, just pointing out my own personal feelings with regard to my own child. Believe me, when Natalie was an infant and got her first vaccines, you can bet that the info I had regarding vaccines/autism made me worry and wonder about the possibilities. You're totally right in that I would be giving up chicken if there were links to a problem that Nat was having as a result. I truly understand the concerns about vaccinations and I hope my post didn't come off negatively.

By Kaye on Thursday, August 23, 2007 - 10:50 pm:

methamphetamines are speed, etc, but they are prescribed for adhd (ritalin, adderall, etc). What we are unsure of is will all stimulants cause this reaction, so like he can't have a redbull cause who knows what that would do to him. And again, not that we would give him one at the age, but it is a huge deal for a college kid.

By Tink on Friday, August 24, 2007 - 12:41 am:

Wow, that's frightening, Kaye. I can't imagine having that kind of fear. Deanna, no worries! I do think that everyone has to make a decision for their own family, based on their risk factors and their beliefs. I just wish that more parents (not here on the MV board) educated themselves instead of just following doctor's orders.

By Crystal915 on Friday, August 24, 2007 - 04:49 am:

Deanna,
I had mentioned something the other day about the things we never even THINK about until we have children. Look at the circumcision debate, most people don't even know there is one until they get pregnant, I know I didn't until I found out we were having a son. Vaccines, I've had all of mine, and didn't know there were risks, options, etc until my children were over a year old. It really makes you think about all of the things we worry about as parents, I kind of long for the carefree days of childhood right now!

By Reds9298 on Friday, August 24, 2007 - 07:49 am:

Crystal, I agree! Once you are a parent you know so much more and it's overwhelming at times to pick and choose what's potentially harmful and what's not. You just hope that you're always doing what's best and keep your fingers crossed that you didn't overlook the wrong warning.