Misconceptions about vaccinations required for students entering school are needling a local woman. Vaccinations are recommended, but a waiver is available.

Vaccination News Home Page

http://www.ourmidland.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=5316764&BRD=2289&PAG=461&dept_id=472542&rfi=8

Midlander needled by vaccination requirements for school
 
Amy Soper , The Midland Daily News 09/10/2002
     Misconceptions about vaccinations required for students entering school are needling a local woman.
     Vaccinations are recommended, but a waiver is available.


     Michigan law prohibits a teacher or principal from allowing a new child to attend school without having at least one dose of measles/mumps/rubella (MMR), polio, diphtheria/tetanus/pertussis (DTP), hepatitis B and chicken pox (varicella) vaccines. To stay in school, children must have received more doses of many of these immunizations.
     State law also allows exemptions from the requirements if a physician certifies that a specific immunization is or may be detrimental to a child’s health or is not appropriate or if a parent or guardian presents a written statement saying the requirement cannot be met because of religious beliefs or another objection to immunization.
     However, few people know about the waiver, said Toni Rodnick, who has ceased having her children get vaccinated.
     "I’m opposed to them because of the health risks," she said. "I was never told by the school or health department about the option, so most people wouldn’t know unless someone who knew about it told them."
     Rodnick cited several books she read for research and noted that some children have died after being vaccinated. Some side effects of vaccinations include swelling of the brain and there is evidence that some vaccinations are tied to learning disabilities, she said.
     Rodnick’s two youngest children have not been vaccinated while the other three have received varying levels of shots.
     "For the first couple of kids, I had them get shots. I thought that if the doctor says you need it, you need it," she said. "Then I went to a seminar and heard a doctor speaking about it. I started getting books and looking into it."
     Michigan is one of 23 states that allows an exemption based on philosophical reasons, Rodnick said. Her children’s grade schools have accepted the waivers, but her child was removed from one preschool when he didn’t have vaccinations. A second preschool accepted him, but transferred him to another room after one teacher would not allow Rodnick’s son near her without his vaccinations.
     "If there is a philosophical objection, a parent has to fill out a form and state a reason," said Judy Smith, clinic services team leader for the Midland County Health Department. "It doesn’t happen very often."
     If a waiver is submitted and there is an outbreak of any disease the child can be excluded from school, according to state law, Smith said.
     Smith said there are minimal health risks with getting vaccinated and she feels the risk of getting the vaccine is less than the risk of disease. She also said the waiver is not something the health department tries to promote.
     "Why should we? It’s a state law. Usually people come in with their concerns and we try to provide them factual information. Part of that information is that they have a choice," Smith said. "We tell them the consequences of not getting a vaccination and have the waiver forms we offer to them. We never hold back the forms."
 
©Midland Daily News 2002

 

Vaccination News Home Page

ALL INFORMATION, DATA, AND MATERIAL CONTAINED, PRESENTED, OR PROVIDED HERE IS FOR GENERAL INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS REFLECTING THE KNOWLEDGE OR OPINIONS OF THE PUBLISHER, AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED OR INTENDED AS PROVIDING MEDICAL OR LEGAL ADVICE.  THE DECISION WHETHER OR NOT TO VACCINATE IS AN IMPORTANT AND COMPLEX ISSUE AND SHOULD BE MADE BY YOU, AND YOU ALONE, IN CONSULTATION WITH YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER.