Open Discussion Forum

  • 1.  Unvaccinated children

    Posted 01-07-2021 01:39 PM
    Hello!  I work for a resource and referral agency in Montana.  We are currently facing the issue of having a vaccination requirement removed from our childcare licensing regulations.  I am writing to ask if other states have this requirements and if any state allows facilities to take unvaccinated children or if they provide a path for such facilities to still be licensed?  

    Thank you.

    -Larisa

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    Larisa Moe
    Professional Development Specialist
    Child Care Connections
    Helena MT
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  • 2.  RE: Unvaccinated children

    Posted 01-08-2021 07:49 AM
    Indiana permits unvaccinated children with a parent note for religious purposes only.  They also allow a doctor's note if there is a medical reason a child could not be vaccinated.  If there were an outbreak of a disease, we are permitted to exclude unvaccinated children until that outbreak is over.

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    Elizabeth Weller
    Director
    Park Place Children's Center
    Anderson IN
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  • 3.  RE: Unvaccinated children

    Posted 01-08-2021 10:58 AM
    Good morning, as far as unvaccinated children in Oklahoma goes-- the health department has a wavier form that parents/childcare centers can request. the form has to be completed by parent sowing reasons why their child is unvaccinated. Then the for has to be approved by Ok health department in order for it to be valid. the form has to be kept on file in your center, just as you would a shot record. but it is still your choice to enroll or not enrolled an unvaccinated child.

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    Brenda Jones
    Director
    salvation station
    Oklahoma City OK
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  • 4.  RE: Unvaccinated children

    Posted 01-08-2021 11:37 AM
    California  ALL children must be immunized.  Here is the law:  https://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/he/hn/immunization.asp

    Children in Pre-Kindergarten (Child Care) Need:

    Immunizations (shots) needed before starting pre-kindergarten (child care) and at each age checkpoint after entry:

     

    AGE WHEN ADMITTED

    TOTAL NUMBER OF DOSES REQUIRED OF EACH IMMUNIZATION

    2 through 3 Months

    1 Polio    1 DTaP    1 Hep B    1 Hib

    4 through 5 Months

    2 Polio    2 DTaP    2 Hep B    2Hib

    6 through14 Months

    2 Polio    3 DTaP    2 Hep B    2 Hib

    15 through 17 Months

    3 Polio    3 DTaP    2 Hep B                 1 Varicella         

     

    On or after 1st birthday:          1 Hib*   1 MMR       
    18 months through 5 years 3 Polio    4 DTaP    3 Hep B                 1 Varicella
     
    On or after 1st birthday:         1 Hib*    1 MMR

     

    *One Hib dose must be given on or after the 1st birthday regardless of previous doses. Required only for children younger than 5 years old.


    DTaP = diphtheria toxoid, tetanus toxoid, and acellular pertussis vaccine
    Hib = Haemophilus influenzae, type B vaccine
    Hep B = hepatitis B vaccine
    MMR = measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine
    Varicella = chickenpox vaccine

     

    Parents must show their child's Immunization Record as proof of immunization.


    Medical Exemptions

    1. For admissions on or after January 1, 2021, what is required for a medical exemption to a required immunization?

    Starting January 1, 2021:

    • Medical exemptions can only be issued through the California Immunization Registry – Medical Exemption website (CAIR-ME) by physicians licensed in California. 
    • Schools and child care facilities may only accept from parents new medical exemptions that are issued using CAIR-ME.

    2. Are medical exemptions filed for children in attendance at a California child care facility or school before 2021 valid in later years?

    A medical exemption filed at a pre-kindergarten facility or school remains valid until the earliest of:

    • When the child enrolls in the next grade span (TK/K-6th grade, 7th-12th grade)
    • The expiration date specified in a temporary medical exemption
    • Revocation of the exemption because the issuing physician has been subject to disciplinary action from the physician's licensing entity.


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    Karen O'Brien-Curran
    La Mirada CA
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  • 5.  RE: Unvaccinated children

    Posted 01-08-2021 03:26 PM
    I work in Colorado and I pulled the comment below directly from the Immunize Colorado Website. 
    "Colorado is one of just 15 states that allows for medical, religious and personal belief exemptions from vaccine requirements for school enrollment. Further, the state has had one of the most lenient state policies regarding vaccination requirements for school enrollment in the country."
    I have taught many children over the years that are unvaccinated, or on a different vaccination schedule. Primarily I worked in the public school system in CO which accepts children who are not vaccinated for personal, religious, or medical reasons. I hope that answered your question 


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    Terri Kelley
    Elizabeth CO
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  • 6.  RE: Unvaccinated children

    Posted 01-12-2021 10:47 AM
    I live in Alberta Canada, but children do not have to be licensed here. This can be for any reason. We have to respect this here. However we have  policy in place that if an unvaccinated child attends our program and our Minister of Health declares and official outbreak, that child is not allowed to attend the centre until the outbreak is clear. 

    This means that we can respect parents wish not to vaccinate while still protecting all the children in our care. There are exceptions for medical reasons, however they must come with a doctors note. Personal or religious beliefs will follow the policy.

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    Chantalle Wakelin
    Operations Manager
    Summit Start
    Calgary AB
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  • 7.  RE: Unvaccinated children

    Posted 01-13-2021 10:57 AM
    Wow! I like this policy.

    I am not sure what the policy is now in NJ but when I was a Director, parents could opt-out from vaccines using religious beliefs as the objection even when you knew this was a false statement from the parent. Also, if there was an underlying medical condition, parents could come with a doctor's note, which allowed that child to be in school without vaccinations.


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    Nora Krieger, PhD
    Associate Professor Emerita/Past Chair NJEEPRE
    Bloomfield College/NJ Educators Exploring the Practices of Reggio Emilia
    Highland Park, NJ
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  • 8.  RE: Unvaccinated children

    Posted 01-15-2021 01:19 AM
    My program is located in Kansas.  Parents can opt-out of vaccinations due to medical reasons (must be signed by a doctor) or for religious reasons.  We are a Catholic program and most of our children are Catholic.  The Church allows all vaccines so when a parent checks the box, I know that they are just using it as an excuse.  We will be implementing a new process where parents will be given a document to read regarding the efficacy of vaccines and another document with the Church's position statement on vaccines. The parents will have to sign off on it.  We reserve the right to ask a parent to keep their child home if there is an outbreak or other legitimate reason to deny admittance.

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    Mary Kay Scanlon
    Program Director
    Holy Trinity Early Educaqtion Center
    Lenexa, KS
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