So I just declined to enroll my son in a daycare due to non vaccinated children

[Godhumor]

The daycare is in my work building, so it would have been very convenient to just bring my one year old son with me to work. Nice facility, decent worker to child ratio and partially subsidized. It seemed perfect and we had joined the waitlist before interviewing with the person in charge just to save some time.

We finally had the interview yesterday, and it went really well until I asked about whether there were any unvaccinated children attending.

After a few seconds she asked, "why? Is that important to you?"

Long story short, the facility has 5 children, including 3 under two, who have not received vaccinations. The woman tried to convince us that herd immunization would take care of any issues. Considering my son is too young to have received his full vaccination schedule at this point, I was not very happy.

Even still, my wife and I discussed it last night, as it was a very convenient option. In the end though, I just could not do it. We gave up our spot on the waiting list, and will begin looking at other, and probably a lot more expensive options.

Very glad I asked that question, though.

[HockeyMom]

1. Parents in Collier Cty. Florida Public Schools

can opt out of the vaccinations on religious grounds. I worked with one autistic 5 year old whose parents objected on religious grounds. How many other states allow this?

[southernyankeebelle]

4. what happens if a child gets very ill, can they sue these people and their church?

[HockeyMom]

8. Would the school even tell those parents?

I doubt they would. The only people told about this particular child were staff who worked directly with him. "If you want or need to get booster shots", we were told. The teacher was very upset about this, especially since this child was a biter. This was one reason why I was hired to be his 1:1 Aide. The teacher got her booster shots, but she was not allowed by HIPPA laws from telling the parents of the other kids in the class about his lack of vaccinations.

I only knew about this one student because I worked with him. Nobody knew how many other kids in the school weren't vaccinated. Could be a potentially dangerous situation. Chalk up another one for "religious liberty" having a detrimental effect on others.

[MattBaggins]

12. In all fairness though

what about children or adults who are immune compromised and whose doctors advise them not to get vaccinated?

[nadinbrzezinski]

22. Actually those patients are advised to get vaccinated

Becaude a few issues with vaccine are far better than full blown.

[southernyankeebelle]

15. disagraceful

[snooper2]

17. Is this natural selection working in different ways?

[Brickbat]

2. IIRC, the place where my kids were at daycare required shots and there were no exemptions.

And that was just fine with me.

[frazzled]

3. Are there no laws in your state?

For instance, I looked up requirements in my state for children at various ages, from Daycare/Head Start on up. Example:

http://www.immunizationinfo.org/vaccines/state-requirements/illinois

[Godhumor]

5. NY has pretty stringent laws actually, but requirements are still not full schedule

Required doses less than recommended, even less doses if not previously vaccinated at all, and use of "age appropriate" exemptions. For those under 2, it means vaccinations can be delayed past physician recommendation.

[postulater]

6. Your kid still could get whooping cough.

"More than 90% of children with pertussis in the current outbreak are up-to-date with their vaccinations, including the recommended booster between ages 11 and 12, Biedrzycki said."

http://www.jsonline.com/features/health/number-of-whooping-cough-cases-continues-to-grow-in-milwaukee-9e569tf-149151645.html

[NickB79]

10. There are still dozens of other diseases out there that can be spread

Whooping cough is but one of many to worry about.

[msanthrope]

7. Who runs the daycare? Who subsidizes it? nt

[laundry_queen]

9. Ok.

That's your choice.

I think it's a tad over the top, but I understand considering you have a young baby. Mat leave where I am is 1 year so there are far less of those issues.

My 5 yo is not fully vaccinated. It's a long story, but she's getting them, just not the whole amount on schedule - she'll be getting her last MMR in a few months. So, when she had to go to daycare, I was lucky enough to find a subsidized certified dayhome where the provider was willing to take kids who were not fully vaccinated. She's very open to ALL the parents about the whole vaccination thing. It helped that I was able to find someone to take my daughter. I respect those places who won't take her because of her vaccination status, and I think it's totally a parents' choice, so long as everyone is open and honest about it. BTW, I wouldn't rely on herd immunity either if I was concerned. Not reliable. Kind of ignorant of that woman to convince you of the whole herd thing - what qualifications does she have to even talk about it?

[Juneboarder]

11. Thankfully you aren't in California...

Here, parents can opt whether they want their children to receive vaccinations or not. They are not forced upon us.

[4th law of robotics]

14. Some states force parents to do all sorts of crazy things to their kids

like feed them, give them a sanitary place to live, not leave them in a locked car on hot days and vaccinate them.

Whatever happened to choice?

[Juneboarder]

16. Yes

I definitely enjoy comparing apples to oranges.

[4th law of robotics]

19. Apples to oranges, both are fruit

both fulfill largely the same function and are quite similar. Yeah, ok.

/not vaccinating your kid isn't a death sentence. Neither is leaving them in their own filth. Or feeding them improperly. Or not letting them go to school. And there are religious/personal arguments for all of those.

[Juneboarder]

20. I prefer apples

oranges are too acidic. Should we throw tomatoes in for kicks and giggles?

[HockeyMom]

13. I do remember there were two Measles cases (siblings)

at a different school I worked at. Letters were sent out parents and staff, minus the names of the students. I guess there were more religious objections. Again, this was at a public school.

My own children were vaccinated as babies and got boosters when pre-teens. I think the only booster I ever had was a DPT. All these other diseases I had as a baby and young child before vacs for them were invented. I was always told that if I had had the actual disease, I didn't need any boosters. Apparently, having the disease incurs more immunity than a vac or booster. I never got measles, or chickenpox, again even being directly exposed to them almost 50 years later.

My generation is dying out, so vaccinate your children. Help eradicate these diseases once, and for all.

[BigAnth]

18. Good for you!

Thanks for taking a stand for common sense and rational thinking. You may want to pass on your concerns to your employer who subsidizes this day care.

[MineralMan]

21. I think that's a very wise decision. Until your child has

received all of the shots, I'd keep him out of group settings where some have not been immunized.