Is it possible to get out of getting my dtr the flu shot?

[love2disney]

In NJ it is the law for day cares and senior center. Its a law for a reason. Why not ask you pediatrician and state how your other child had a reaction. Since she had a reaction after a flu shot I am assuming you have no issues against vaccinating and are just wary of your other child falling sick too. IF the Pediatrician thinks she should not get a shot get a note from him and that should be sufficient for the school. If the doctor has other ideas maybe it would be a good thing to find out that your child is not allergic to the shot.

 

[mhsjax]

Not having to pump my own gas is a bonus! I don't think I could ever leave here - it's really a great place to live, if you can afford it.

I don't mind pumping, I just find it odd. YOu like it that is great, my friends, born and raised there couldn't stand it. (and they were rich) But hey, I am from Florida and most people would never live here, but I love it, so I get where you are coming from.

 

[mhsjax]

I think you are over-thinking this. Just have her get the flu shot! Seriously, what is one more vaccination? A fever (in a sibling, no less) is not a severe reaction. It's possible it wasn't even related to the shot.

All of my kids get them every single year (except one year when ds9 got the flu before his appointment). We've never had any issues. Every other kid in that school is getting one.

Sorry but I disagree. She isn't over thinking it. Why should she have to do it, if her other kid has had a reaction or even if they haven't had one. My kids never got one and I would dare anyone to tell me mine had to, to stay in school. That crap wouldn't fly with me. One more vaccination can be a problem, I don't blindly follow rules like this and neither should anyone else.

 

[Elinor Dashwood]

I gotta say, NJ has some strange laws, right up there with not pumping your own gas. BIZAAR. NO wonder a friend on mine said the best thing about leaving NJ, was watching it disappear in the rear view mirror.

Ha ha! We went to a wedding in NJ and I had no idea this was an actual law. So my DH got out to pump the gas and the attendant about flipped out!

OP, I think it's ludicrous that it's required by law. The state has no business dictating immunizations. And I don't buy the whole "it's for the greater good" garbage either,but that's another thread . Parents have rights for crying out loud and if they choose not to give their child the flu shot for whatever reason, it's their business. I'd be very tempted to opt out for religious reasons.

 

[mhsjax]

In NJ it is the law for day cares and senior center. Its a law for a reason. Why not ask you pediatrician and state how your other child had a reaction. Since she had a reaction after a flu shot I am assuming you have no issues against vaccinating and are just wary of your other child falling sick too. IF the Pediatrician thinks she should not get a shot get a note from him and that should be sufficient for the school. If the doctor has other ideas maybe it would be a good thing to find out that your child is not allergic to the shot.

What reason, other states don't have it?

 

[robinb]

The CDC recommends the flu vaccine for all children under the age of 5.

This is an interesting read on the topic:http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2882617/

I scanned that and it's about adults in the workplace. Not preschoolers who are booger factories.

When I read "bad reaction" I thought something like Guillain-Barré syndrome or a febrile seizure. Not a simple fever which is a known side effect that was so mild the OP didn't even report to her doctor. Personally, I don't think that "my other kid had a known side effect" is a good enough reason to get out of complying with the law. Renae3, if you don't want to vaccinate then you are going to have to lie.

In the spirit of full disclosure my family always gets the flu shot/mist. I think it's important to our family personally and for the community in general.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

She doesn't want to give her daughter the shot. That is a good enough reason.

I agree that, as parents, we should be able to make the call for our children that we believe is best. The school, however, is following the apparent law in NJ and can refuse to allow the child to continue at the school. We all have our rights to choose, but it doesn't mean our choices are without consequences.

HOWEVER, like I'd mentioned before, I don't think there should be a law making the flu vaccine mandatory, especially since the efficacy rate is not high.

 

[Elinor Dashwood]

I think you are over-thinking this. Just have her get the flu shot! Seriously, what is one more vaccination? A fever (in a sibling, no less) is not a severe reaction. It's possible it wasn't even related to the shot.

All of my kids get them every single year (except one year when ds9 got the flu before his appointment). We've never had any issues. Every other kid in that school is getting one.

I respectfully disagree. She is not overthinking it, it's her child, and a little one at that. Personally I think people blindly follow the whole immunization route without thinking it through. Nobody should be forced to immunize if you ask me. It's a personal decision and the state (and federal) has no business requiring it. One more vaccine is not a good enough argument IMO to get the flu shot. There's nothing wrong with thinking it through, rather than just saying okey dokey, who cares since it's only one more vaccine.

 

[mjkacmom]

Sorry but I disagree. She isn't over thinking it. Why should she have to do it, if her other kid has had a reaction or even if they haven't had one. My kids never got one and I would dare anyone to tell me mine had to, to stay in school. That crap wouldn't fly with me. One more vaccination can be a problem, I don't blindly follow rules like this and neither should anyone else.

I believe the flu vaccine is a requirement for daycare in Florida, as well, and every state have vaccination laws in regards to public schools. What is the difference? A friend of mine lost her one year old to complication caused by the flu - it's not always just a routine illness.

 

[Christopher Robin]

I was going to quote B Franklin re: liberty and safety, but decided against it.

 

[penn19]

Not having to pump my own gas is a bonus! I don't think I could ever leave here - it's really a great place to live, if you can afford it.

I WISH someone would pump my gas! That to me is a huge plus living in NJ (which I do not by the way)

 

[mjkacmom]

I respectfully disagree. She is not overthinking it, it's her child, and a little one at that. Personally I think people blindly follow the whole immunization route without thinking it through. Nobody should be forced to immunize if you ask me. It's a personal decision and the state (and federal) has no business requiring it. One more vaccine is not a good enough argument IMO to get the flu shot. There's nothing wrong with thinking it through, rather than just saying okey dokey, who cares since it's only one more vaccine.

And she has the right not to send her child to preschool. Just because you think the state has no business requiring it, they, in fact, do.

 

[robinb]

I was going to quote B Franklin re: liberty and safety, but decided against it.

Oh for goodness sakes! It's a flu shot, not the Patriot Act .

 

[Christopher Robin]

Oh for goodness sakes! It's a flu shot, not the Patriot Act .

 

[mhsjax]

I believe the flu vaccine is a requirement for daycare in Florida, as well, and every state have vaccination laws in regards to public schools. What is the difference? A friend of mine lost her one year old to complication caused by the flu - it's not always just a routine illness.

NOt according to the Florida Dept of health. My kids were never required either. Never said it was a routine illness, where did you get that. People do die from the flu. I almost died from Mono. Things happen and it is sad. But I will not be forced into getting a flu shot and neither will my kids. Big difference in the Flu shot and other vaccines. They can only predict what strain of flu, there is no way to tell for sure. Have your opinion, it won't change my mind.

 

[Elinor Dashwood]

And she has the right not to send her child to preschool. Just because you think the state has no business requiring it, they, in fact, do.

Of course. She can absolutely not put her in preschool then. Again, her choice as the parent. And I again disagree with you, the state has NO business requiring it. Yes, the preschool is unfortunately following the state because they are legally required to. Stupid law though.

 

[mhsjax]

Oh for goodness sakes! It's a flu shot, not the Patriot Act .

Seriously?

 

[luvsJack]

OP here....thanks so much for all the replies. My oldest just ended up with a fever from the shot, but I never even told the doctor. When I called the school I told them about my reason being because my oldest had a bad reaction and she said that was not a reason and I had to get it done or she couldn't come back to school. Now if I say it is a religious reason, they know I am lying. Will they question me? I hate to lie, but I am feeling so backed into a corner.

Why don't you call the dr. and let him/her know what happened after the last shot. He/she can tell you whether that reaction is enough to be a medical exemption. The preschool cannot tell you whether that is a reason for medical exemption. What she may be meaning is that you must have something from your dr. stating a medical exemption.

But, please, think about it before you make a decision to give religious reasons. Those exemptions were not put in place for an easy way out. There is a reason for this regulation.

I do not take the flu shot every year and dd hasn't had it since she was much younger, but I do understand the need for it. When your child gets the flu, he/she may be contagious before you realize he/she is sick and is kept home. During that time your child may infect another child that cannot have the shot due to medical reasons; if that child has other health problems the flu could be very dangerous for him/her. Would you really want that to happen?

Please talk to your child's doctor.

 

[RitaE]

First, none of my family gets a flu shot, so I would also be upset over this. BUT, do those of you complaining have a problem with schools & daycares requiring chicken pox vaccines or polio or any of the half dozen or so inoculations our kids get and have to show the school they got?

I think the vaccination debates have been done to death, but yes, I believe that medical care decisions are best left up to the patient, parents, and the Doctors and other medical personnel they choose to advise them. I would be perfectly fine if every state in our nation did away with having to submit vaccination records for enrollment.

I am not a militant no-vaccines parent. All my children received immunizations on the schedule their Doctors and I thought best. I took my college bound sons in for a Meningitis immunization right before they left to live in the dorms because I felt the risk from the vaccine was minimal and the risk of disease from the close quarter living arrangements warranted the vaccination. And it wasn't even required by law!

I think that is the way it should be done, and not dictated by politicians who are often idiots and often highly lobbied and influenced by the Pharmaceutical industry.

 

[Elinor Dashwood]

I think the vaccination debates have been done to death, but yes, I believe that medical care decisions are best left up to the patient, parents, and the Doctors and other medical personnel they choose to advise them. I would be perfectly fine if every state in our nation did away with having to submit vaccination records for enrollment.

I am not a militant no-vaccines parent. All my children received immunizations on the schedule their Doctors and I thought best. I took my college bound sons in for a Meningitis immunization right before they left to live in the dorms because I felt the risk from the vaccine was minimal and the risk of disease from the close quarter living arrangements warranted the vaccination. And it wasn't even required by law!

I think that is the way it should be done, and not dictated by politicians who are often idiots and often highly lobbied and influenced by the Pharmaceutical industry.

Preach it sister! Completely agree.