View Full Version : Vaccine waiver
meeg124
03-17-2010, 11:28 AM
Caden has had this ongoing cough and yesterday, I took him to the doctor and he thought he had pertussis. So I called the school to see what their policy was on Caden returning to school. They didn't have one and said he could return whenever he was fever free. The labs came back this morning and thankfully, Caden does not have pertussis. I get a call from the principal a few minutes ago, stating that because I signed a vaccine waiver at the beginning of the year, any time Caden is sick, I have to provide a note from his physician stating that he is okay to come back to school and they will not let him return to class until I have this from his doctor. I clarified this with principal and even if he just has a runny nose and I keep him home, he can not return without clearance from his physician. Nice that they are telling me this at the end of the school year. Is this legit or am I being given a giant load crap from the school?
My3sonsplus1
03-17-2010, 11:39 AM
First instinct- crapola. The waiver is there for Caden's well being. It is not a punishment for being un/selectively vaxxed. What it means is that if there is an outbreak at school of whateveritis you haven't had him vaxxed for you get a phone call warning you of such. You may not be able to return until *that* outbreak is contained though. Same old line, even if Caden has the plague if all the kids are immune from the plague Caden should be able to be around them all.
-note not debating vaxs themselves just that a vaxxed child with the plague is really no diff from an unvaxxed one with the plague and if little Johnny fully vaxed doesn't have to get a note for a runny nose I don't see why Caden needs to-
My3sonsplus1
03-17-2010, 11:42 AM
Somewhat irrelevant to public health at large but what if little runny nose has no health insurance or the drs office is backed up with legit appts., are they truant?
Kellie_MO5
03-17-2010, 11:45 AM
yeah, Ive NEVER been told that, and my kids have missed quite a bit of school due to illnesses (dang public school)... :yeah to Lisa, I call Crap!
floridamom
03-17-2010, 11:59 AM
That is such BS!!! I would call the district immediately...and I would pull out the parent/teacher handbook and look for this 'mysterious rule'.
momtoM&D
03-17-2010, 12:26 PM
I remember reading something about having to keep your child home if there is an outbreak of something they "should" be vaxed for, but I haven't heard that they need a note for every little thing. I do think that since you told them he *may* have pertussis that it is reasonable for them to want a dr. note this time. Definitely not for every runny nose though.
meeg124
03-17-2010, 12:32 PM
I called the district office and while they have no official policy on this, there is a "Public Health Policy" on this, according to the district nurse. However, the district nurse is not available for me to speak with until Monday.
meeg124
03-17-2010, 12:33 PM
I remember reading something about having to keep your child home if there is an outbreak of something they "should" be vaxed for, but I haven't heard that they need a note for every little thing. I do think that since you told them he *may* have pertussis that it is reasonable for them to want a dr. note this time. Definitely not for every runny nose though.
I have no problem with them wanting a note from the MD for that reason but every time Caden has a cold? Give me a break!
Shawna
03-17-2010, 12:48 PM
I do think that since you told them he *may* have pertussis that it is reasonable for them to want a dr. note this time. Definitely not for every runny nose though.
I agree with this. I have a feeling had you not mentioned he was being tested for Pertussis, they may not have asked for a note for him to return. I cannot see how they can require a note for every runny nose.
But at the same time, getting a note from the dr should not be hard. I bet you could call the office, explain what you need and have them fax it to the school or you.
meeg124
03-17-2010, 01:52 PM
I stopped and talked to the principal on my way home... she knew that I had called the district office, etc. and admitted to me that they had an outbreak of chicken pox earlier in the year and they should have notified me and never did. She also stated that if they have an outbreak of something like measles, pertussis, etc that Caden can not come to school until they outbreak is over. I'll get right on that, if you can be bothered to notify me!
ktjo17
03-17-2010, 01:53 PM
That seems ridiculous to me and I doubt they are supposed to do it.
ktjo17
03-17-2010, 01:54 PM
I stopped and talked to the principal on my way home... she knew that I had called the district office, etc. and admitted to me that they had an outbreak of chicken pox earlier in the year and they should have notified me and never did. She also stated that if they have an outbreak of something like measles, pertussis, etc that Caden can not come to school until they outbreak is over. I'll get right on that, if you can be bothered to notify me!
:rolleyes So, basically it sounds like they are making it up as they go along...
meeg124
03-17-2010, 06:32 PM
Okay, so get this... the district nurse called me and wanted clarification that Caden did or did not have pertussis. I told her labs came back negative and she said if I would provide a copy of that, it would be great. I asked her about Caden not being able to return to school if he had a cold and she said that was completely false and not the information that she provided to the principal at all. She confirmed that if there was a breakout of a disease on the vaccine schedule, then Caden would not be able to return to campus until that was resolved but as far as what illness Caden has, it's all common sense about returning to school. I'm so glad she took the time to call me and get this straightened out and this just confirms what I've suspected about the principal for awhile... she is a complete dumbass.
Lynette
03-17-2010, 07:16 PM
Wow. So the principal didn't do what she is supposed to do by notifying you of an outbreak and instead is making up rules as she goes along. I hope the district gets on her for being an idiot :rolleyes
floridamom
03-17-2010, 08:32 PM
I am glad the nurse contacted you. I can only imagine being in her shoes and having to explain the rules to the principal! I would not want her job right about now...
My3sonsplus1
03-17-2010, 08:48 PM
Wow. So the principal didn't do what she is supposed to do by notifying you of an outbreak and instead is making up rules as she goes along. I hope the district gets on her for being an idiot :rolleyes
There is a confirmed outbreak of pertussis at Caden's school?
meeg124
03-17-2010, 08:50 PM
There is a confirmed outbreak of pertussis at Caden's school?
No, there was a confirmed outbreak of chicken pox earlier this year.
My3sonsplus1
03-18-2010, 08:00 AM
No, there was a confirmed outbreak of chicken pox earlier this year.
That is what I thought but then I read Lynette's post and it sounded to me like Caden had potentially caught pertusis because there was an outbreak and he wasn't kept away but now all the sudden they are 'cracking down' because of him vax status (which of course turned out to be principal's ramblings of misinformation).
meeg124
03-18-2010, 09:48 AM
That is what I thought but then I read Lynette's post and it sounded to me like Caden had potentially caught pertusis because there was an outbreak and he wasn't kept away but now all the sudden they are 'cracking down' because of him vax status (which of course turned out to be principal's ramblings of misinformation).
After talking to the school nurse, this misinformation is definitely all on the principal. I would love to be the proverbial fly on the wall when the nurse has the discussion with the principal about how she is clueless :giggle