Being asked questions about the flu shots

[bratmomma]

I think the OP's issue was with the follow up questions, such as... if not, why not? What are your reasons for not getting the vaccine?, etc. IMO, THAT is none of their business. They may have a valid reason for requesting vaccine information, but they don't need to know WHY the child was/wasn't vaccinated (unless of course, it was a separate medical issue that may also require their attention at some point). If I were the OP, I would answer the questions I was comfortable answering. Any that I felt were inappropriate or intrusive, I would skip.

 

[MariDisney]

Do you mind my asking why you do not vaccinate? If you do not want to answer it is ok. It is one thing that I feel very strongly about as I had a cousin almost die from measels at 11 months. I have abiochemistry degree and have done a lot of research on the subject, so I am always interested in people's reasoning for not donig it.

I don't mind answering. For us, there are several reasons. I work with many children who do seem to have "developed" autism or similar issues in reaction to a shot. I am very up to date on the research in this area, yet I'm not confident enough in it to go ahead and get the shots, particularly for a very young child.

I also am very leery of some of the potential long term auto-immune issues that may be related to vaccines (MS, etc.).

I am worried about peanut oils in some of them possibly being responsible for the dramatic and unexplained increase in nut allergies.

On a very general note, I don't believe the government should be involved in requiring these things. That is all I will say because I do not wish to have a political discussion per the board guidelines.

I would, after much research, give my DD some of the vaccines on an alternate schedule. But, it is difficult to find a doctor who will agree to it. So, for now, she has none. That doesn't mean she wouldn't have some at some point.

 

[MariDisney]

I think the OP's issue was with the follow up questions, such as... if not, why not? What are your reasons for not getting the vaccine?, etc. IMO, THAT is none of their business. They may have a valid reason for requesting vaccine information, but they don't need to know WHY the child was/wasn't vaccinated (unless of course, it was a separate medical issue that may also require their attention at some point). (snipped)

I think this is an excellent point!

 

[princessmom29]

I don't mind answering. For us, there are several reasons. I work with many children who do seem to have "developed" autism or similar issues in reaction to a shot. I am very up to date on the research in this area, yet I'm not confident enough in it to go ahead and get the shots, particularly for a very young child.

I also am very leery of some of the potential long term auto-immune issues that may be related to vaccines (MS, etc.).

I am worried about peanut oils in some of them possibly being responsible for the dramatic and unexplained increase in nut allergies.

On a very general note, I don't believe the government should be involved in requiring these things. That is all I will say because I do not wish to have a political discussion per the board guidelines.

I would, after much research, give my DD some of the vaccines on an alternate schedule. But, it is difficult to find a doctor who will agree to it. So, for now, she has none. That doesn't mean she wouldn't have some at some point.

thanks so much for the answer!! I made adifferent choice for my DD, but am always interested in how others see this particular issue. I am with you on the researh being unclear. Different studies seem to have vastly different results sometimes and it is difficult to wade through all the statisical data to figure out how they actually got their results!

 

[Mouse House Mama]

Not their business...unless it was required by law for the child to have the vaccine they have no right to know whether they have gotten it or not.

I agree. I would delete the email.

 

[jodifla]

I agree. I would delete the email.

I probably would answer the email. I don't see the big secret.

Also, I think it would put me on notice that if my child isn't vaccinated, he likely would not be able to attend day camp without it. Private groups can screen out for that.

One thing glossed over is that while families don't have to vaccinate, they can be barred from attending school when an outbreak occurs. So if you've declined the measles shot and a measles outbreak occurs, your child may be home with you for weeks -- or months.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

I probably would answer the email. I don't see the big secret.

Also, I think it would put me on notice that if my child isn't vaccinated, he likely would not be able to attend day camp without it. Private groups can screen out for that.

One thing glossed over is that while families don't have to vaccinate, they can be barred from attending school when an outbreak occurs. So if you've declined the measles shot and a measles outbreak occurs, your child may be home with you for weeks -- or months.

I get what you are saying and I do agree with a lot of it. I wouldn't have a problem so much with them asking if my child received a certain vaccine. I do have a problem with them asking me why. It is simply none of their business why.

 

[woodkins]

I have a six year old and I try to keep her teacher as informed as possible about what is going on with her anytime it may have an effect on her classroom perfromance. When she is not feeling well, I stick a note in her folder ect. It is her teacher's business b/c she needs to know why she is tired/ cranky. I am not leagally required to tell her, but it is the right thing to do. I see the vaccines the same way. It is the right thing to do tho let the staff know wether or not your child has had them. If they know a child has not had the vaccine and is running a temp, they will be more likely to contact you right away. If the child has had the vaccine, they might take a wait and see approach with something borderline. The infroamtion does matter.

I have to disagree, my daughter receiving a vaccination has no impact on her classroom performance. If my child is running a temp I should be contacted right away REGARDLESS of if she has had a vaccine or not, there should be no wait and see approach. The vaccine being discusses is for 1 strain of a flu, there are hundreds of other diseases much worse than the flu and swine flu that a child can get and I would never want a school to take a "wait and see" approach based up the fact that my daughter was vaccinated agains H1N1.

 

[jodifla]

I get what you are saying and I do agree with a lot of it. I wouldn't have a problem so much with them asking if my child received a certain vaccine. I do have a problem with them asking me why. It is simply none of their business why.

The email does seem a bit odd....asking why and all.

We're in an odd circumstance....I'd love to get it for my son, but it's contraindicated because of his egg allergy. He can't have any flu vaccines.

 

[princessmom29]

I have to disagree, my daughter receiving a vaccination has no impact on her classroom performance. If my child is running a temp I should be contacted right away REGARDLESS of if she has had a vaccine or not, there should be no wait and see approach. The vaccine being discusses is for 1 strain of a flu, there are hundreds of other diseases much worse than the flu and swine flu that a child can get and I would never want a school to take a "wait and see" approach based up the fact that my daughter was vaccinated agains H1N1.

Vaccines can have a n impact on classroom performance if the contract the diseease it is designed to prevent, but my point was about disclosure in general not just a vaccine. I don't feel the same about temps. If my child has a temp of 99.5 and no other symptoms and is not complaining, there is no need to call me to leave work and come get her. She will be fine until I get there at 3 to pick her up, and is likely not infected with anything highly contagious.

 

[lindsmom]

I think the main reason I wouldn't answer are that it was sent as an email so it's not anonymous. The sender sounds like they're just collecting data, which would be an anonymous survey. In that case they should send home a paper which the parents return, ensuring anonymity. I still tend to be hesitant about most information send online, unless I can see that it's a secure site. Technically, there's no way to be sure where the email is coming from and what the information will be used for. Don't get me wrong, I fill out surveys online, but not regarding my children.