School Immunizations: Are they Needed?
June 29, 2009 by Eliza Ferree
Filed under Family, Parenting
Is it a requirement for a child to be fully up-to-date on their immunization records before attending their first day of
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For those that don’t know here’s how to find out if your school does or does not require them before the first day. I’m only putting it like this because some allow it if they already know (military schools) you plan on getting it in a few days or first month.
Go to the school and ask about the requirements to start or do a quick google search on your school with the words immunization records in it. You can normally pull up a school web page if they have it or the student handbook.
Example of our kindergarten requirements:
To be enrolled in kindergarten, a child must be five years of age on or before July 31st. Proof of age, immunization records, and proof of residency are required for children entering school for the first time.
Now for the bigger question: “Is it really important to have your immunization shots?” I know many ask this and some do not believe in them. I’ve read people state yes it is because they prevent disease and have read no because it causes autism or it is their religious belief. So this is where you come in and share your reasonings with us. Why are they or important or why are they not?
My kids had their immunizations on time. I remember going to the pediatrician, he was an older guy, and he said we’re so lucky to have the immunizations. I’ve seen so many sick children who have died or were permanantly debilitated before the immunizaions came about. Then he looked at me and said – “you know I say that to my parents, because I believe it, but I forget sometimes and say it to people like the parents I just saw, who lost a child before the immunizations came about. They were understanding, but I felt bad for reminding them. ”
My sister in law didn’t believe in them. I told her about the doctor, and she said she depends on everyone else to have theirs so that they won’t pass the disease on to her children. I thought, but what if someone is a carrier and gives it to your child, and your child passes it on. Who’s responsible then?
This is a very touchy hard subject because so much is on the line. These are our kids, the most precious things we have and are charged with taking care of them and protecting them. The fact that this is even a questions stands to challange the fact that we did or did not adequaely protect our child. Whatever choice you have made, just by discussing it with someone who made a different choice, is likely to cause outcry. You might as well stand in the street and yell, “you suck, you hurt your kids”. After months, now years, of research I think it is unclear with any amount of certanty what is the safest choice. I do believe you are trading a known risk, the chance for your child to get a vaccine preventable disease, with an unknown risk, the chance for your child to be injured by the vaccine itself. Now, it is not time to condemm the other moms who chose differently than you. They chose to protect thier kids the way they thought best, the best for them. The important thing to think about is they got to choose! Weighing the decision, debating what is right for your circumstances, history, lifestyle it can not be a cookie cutter mentality, for we are all different cookies and that is what makes America so great. For me, my decision is to do without the vaccines, to file an exemption with the state, to know what my choices are and why and not let any authority scare me away from they choices I believe in, to protect my child the best way I feel I can.