Parents face jail for not vaccinating their kids

[Calvin]

Heres a bit of latest story from CNN:
Vaccines or else: Parents blast order for schoolchildren - CNN.com

I agree with the posts here.. vaccines helps children from disease etc. Not everyone agrees with vaccine due to religious, medical reasons such as effects. I think school is right to prevent outbreak of disease from spread.

 

[Banjo]

Vaccinations are meant to prevent people from getting sick, but it doesn't mean you aren't carrying the flu strains/diseases, etc. You just don't get sick from it. So, what I'm saying is that many children may be vaccinated but they may be carrying diseases putting the non-vaccinated children at risk.

Some parents refuse to vaccinate their children due to the concerns of autism. The fact is, autism is on the rise big time and some parents believe it's due to a vaccination shot, especially when it contains mercury. I have heard of many, many parents who claim that their children suddenly became autistic a few hours after the vaccination. Especially boys.

Right now, doctors and the experts (that's what they claim to be) are viciously denying these allegations. It has been going on for over a decade and more and more parents are complaining than ever. I recall a story that I saw on TV a few months ago where around 5,000 families in the USA are bringing the case to Washington D.C. to bring the truth out. It's true that there are no definite proof but that doesn't mean it's not true. Something is causing the rise in autism and they need to find out why.

Anyway, I think the idea of the parents facing jail time is too extreme.

 

[Liebling:-)))]

I don't think it's a good idea to put the parents in jail unless they are a physical threat to the children. It traumatizes the children to see their parents hauled away, and it teaches children that police are the bad guys. Then, who's left to watch the kids at home?

I think the wake-up call should hit the parents, not the children.

Put the parents in jail is not best solution.

 

[Liebling:-)))]

I would like to have a few questions for you all.

Who will cover the cost for children´s vaccination when the parents (workers/employees) cannot afford to have extra healthcare for themselves or make monthly payment?

As far as I know that the medicard or medicare cover the cost for some medicial needs for poor people and elders but children´s vaccination?

From reading the posts here and can understand that some parents refused shots for some reasons. To me, have children shots is mainly important.

Here in Germany is stricter about children vaccination, healthcare cover the cost for all vaccinations including hepatitis B for the children. I got a letter from health department to require the children´s vaccination pass before go first kindergarten and school.

 

[Cheri]

I would like to have a few questions for you all.

Who will cover the cost for children´s vaccination when the parents (workers/employees) cannot afford to have extra healthcare for themselves or make monthly payment?

As far as I know that the Medicaid or Medicare cover the cost for some medicial needs for poor people and elders but children´s vaccination?.

My boys have care source insurance and it goes cover vaccinations.

Even the federal government pays for vaccinations if they are eligible and also have some programs that helps pays for vaccinations too only if they're eligible. It depends on parent's income.

 

[Berry]

On the other side of the issue -- What happened here?

My mother was very leary of the government desire to innoculate everyone whether they wanted it or not; but she was not a member in good standing of a church that had a stated belief against things such as this: Therefore I was given the serum against her will.

As a child I thought she was just being silly -- But now I'm not so sure.

 

[GarnetTigerMom]

On the other side of the issue -- What happened here?

My mother was very leary of the government desire to innoculate everyone whether they wanted it or not; but she was not a member in good standing of a church that had a stated belief against things such as this: Therefore I was given the serum against her will.

As a child I thought she was just being silly -- But now I'm not so sure.

I never really trust the goverment enough and doctors because I feel they don't always tell the truth when it come to vaccines. I get concern that some vaccines can cause austim, but it happens on boys then girls. But it still a with vaccine I don't trust something called RDR I think. that why I say no. I don't mind other vaccine shots such as booter shots, chicken pox, and so on. I believe goverment and doctors need to start being honest with the american people and have it approved by the FDA before passing it out.

 

[VamPyroX]

This is pretty harsh for someone who didn't vaccinate their kids.

There are some parents who are concerned about the current vaccination process.

Since we've been doing this vaccination process for years, genetics have led to stronger viruses that these vaccinations can't fight against. Also, some people develop better resistance against things when they go the natural way... such as breast feeding.

 

[GarnetTigerMom]

Medical presents evidence to show that disabilities caused by vaccines are often "disguised" under different names: autism, dyslexia, learning disability, epilepsy, mental retardation, hyperactivity and minimal brain dysfunction. MMR (measles-mumps-rubella) or DPT (diphtheria-pertussis-tetanus) is scary to give shots to kids that possiblity caused austism or worst. Around 7,000 parents have filed a claim of an adverse reaction with America's Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP). To win an award, the claimant must prove a causal link to a vaccine. As the medical establishment has refused to recognise any link to autism, the VICP has so far rejected 300 claims for this outright.

 

[Reba]

I would like to have a few questions for you all.

Who will cover the cost for children´s vaccination when the parents (workers/employees) cannot afford to have extra healthcare for themselves or make monthly payment?

Each state is different.

For South Carolina:

DHEC offers free childhood and adolescent immunizations to eligible persons through a program called the South Carolina Vaccine Assurance For All Children (VAFAC) Immunization Partnership. This program is available in many private physicians’ offices and most county public health departments. Contact numbers for countypublic health departments can be found at SCDHEC: Health: County Listings.

 

[Angel]

I would like to have a few questions for you all.

Who will cover the cost for children´s vaccination when the parents (workers/employees) cannot afford to have extra healthcare for themselves or make monthly payment?

As far as I know that the medicard or medicare cover the cost for some medicial needs for poor people and elders but children´s vaccination?

From reading the posts here and can understand that some parents refused shots for some reasons. To me, have children shots is mainly important.

Here in Germany is stricter about children vaccination, healthcare cover the cost for all vaccinations including hepatitis B for the children. I got a letter from health department to require the children´s vaccination pass before go first kindergarten and school.

There are many state Medicaid benefits programs for low income individuals..

 

[shel90]

washingtonpost.com


PRINCE GEORGE'S SCHOOLS
Judge's Letter Produces Inoculations, And Anger
At Courthouse, Some Parents Prove Kids' Shots Were Current

By N.C. Aizenman
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, November 18, 2007; Page C03

Dozens of parents brought their children to a Prince George's County courthouse yesterday in response to a judge's letter warning them that they had failed to get their children state-mandated vaccinations and faced imminent exclusion from the school system.

But a number of the parents who showed up, some of them irate, said they had their children immunized on time and therefore should not have received letters stating they were out of compliance. The parents accused the school system of poor record-keeping.



Parents and children wait in line in front of Prince George's Circuit Court, Saturday, Nov. 17, 2007, in Upper Marlboro, Md. Parents in Prince George's County have been ordered to appear at a special court hearing Saturday where they will be given a choice: Get their children vaccinated on the spot or risk up to 10 days in jail and fines. (AP Photo/Stephen J Boitano) (Stephen J Boitano - AP)

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"Why have I been dragged out here on a cold Saturday morning?" fumed Velma Floyd of Landover. She said it had been weeks since she provided officials at G. James Gholson Middle School a doctor's note proving that her 13-year-old son has had the chickenpox and therefore does not need the vaccine. "Insulted is an understatement. They make you feel like you're an unfit parent, when the one thing I stay on top of is my children's health."

John White, a spokesman for the school system, did not dispute the accounts of parents who said they should not have received letters. But, he said, if mistakes were made, "they were made at the school level." Or parents might have had some but not all of the paperwork they needed to prove that their children had had their immunizations and booster shots, he said.

"For two years, we've been sending letters, going door-to-door, spreading the word that if you believe your school does not have your paperwork, please take care of it with your principal," White said.

Prince George's officials have been struggling for months to ensure that all 131,000 children in the county's schools are properly immunized against such diseases as chickenpox and hepatitis B, ultimately setting a Sept. 20 deadline for parents to comply.

Last week, school officials and Prince George's County State's Attorney Glenn F. Ivey threatened legal action against the parents of more than 2,300 students who they said still needed vaccinations and had been barred from school as a result.

About the same time, as a first step, Judge C. Philip Nichols Jr. sent a letter to the parents of 1,700 students requesting their presence at the courthouse Saturday and informing them that staff from the county Health Department and public schools' Health Services would be available to perform vaccinations on the spot.

Yesterday, White pronounced the strategy a success; since Wednesday, 1,189 parents have come forward to resolve their children's cases, he said. An additional 172 parents took care of their cases at the courthouse; 101 children received their needed shots, and parents of 71 children provided proof that their kids had received the necessary vaccinations.


White said 939 students are now out of compliance.

"It's not zero, but it's better," he said. "So we keep trying."

White said school officials will begin looking tomorrow at each of the 939 cases to determine how to proceed.

 

[jillio]

washingtonpost.com - nation, world, technology and Washington area news and headlines


PRINCE GEORGE'S SCHOOLS
Judge's Letter Produces Inoculations, And Anger
At Courthouse, Some Parents Prove Kids' Shots Were Current

By N.C. Aizenman
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, November 18, 2007; Page C03

Dozens of parents brought their children to a Prince George's County courthouse yesterday in response to a judge's letter warning them that they had failed to get their children state-mandated vaccinations and faced imminent exclusion from the school system.

But a number of the parents who showed up, some of them irate, said they had their children immunized on time and therefore should not have received letters stating they were out of compliance. The parents accused the school system of poor record-keeping.



Parents and children wait in line in front of Prince George's Circuit Court, Saturday, Nov. 17, 2007, in Upper Marlboro, Md. Parents in Prince George's County have been ordered to appear at a special court hearing Saturday where they will be given a choice: Get their children vaccinated on the spot or risk up to 10 days in jail and fines. (AP Photo/Stephen J Boitano) (Stephen J Boitano - AP)

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Who's Blogging» Links to this article
"Why have I been dragged out here on a cold Saturday morning?" fumed Velma Floyd of Landover. She said it had been weeks since she provided officials at G. James Gholson Middle School a doctor's note proving that her 13-year-old son has had the chickenpox and therefore does not need the vaccine. "Insulted is an understatement. They make you feel like you're an unfit parent, when the one thing I stay on top of is my children's health."

John White, a spokesman for the school system, did not dispute the accounts of parents who said they should not have received letters. But, he said, if mistakes were made, "they were made at the school level." Or parents might have had some but not all of the paperwork they needed to prove that their children had had their immunizations and booster shots, he said.

"For two years, we've been sending letters, going door-to-door, spreading the word that if you believe your school does not have your paperwork, please take care of it with your principal," White said.

Prince George's officials have been struggling for months to ensure that all 131,000 children in the county's schools are properly immunized against such diseases as chickenpox and hepatitis B, ultimately setting a Sept. 20 deadline for parents to comply.

Last week, school officials and Prince George's County State's Attorney Glenn F. Ivey threatened legal action against the parents of more than 2,300 students who they said still needed vaccinations and had been barred from school as a result.

About the same time, as a first step, Judge C. Philip Nichols Jr. sent a letter to the parents of 1,700 students requesting their presence at the courthouse Saturday and informing them that staff from the county Health Department and public schools' Health Services would be available to perform vaccinations on the spot.

Yesterday, White pronounced the strategy a success; since Wednesday, 1,189 parents have come forward to resolve their children's cases, he said. An additional 172 parents took care of their cases at the courthouse; 101 children received their needed shots, and parents of 71 children provided proof that their kids had received the necessary vaccinations.


White said 939 students are now out of compliance.

"It's not zero, but it's better," he said. "So we keep trying."

White said school officials will begin looking tomorrow at each of the 939 cases to determine how to proceed.

Just as I suspected...this was not about forcing any parent to vacciante their child, but a failure of parents to either provide documentation, or to respond to the many letters sent out requesting documentation. I personally think it is a shame that the school system was put in the position of having to take this kind of action to get parents to respond to something that is so simple to take care of.

 

[Dixie]

Here in AR you can go to the local Health Dept. Office - every county has at least one, densly populated counties often have more than one and you can get these shots at no cost.

I remember they issued a new vaccine the week before I was to start my senior year we didnt get the letter until the Friday before - I remember sitting in the Health Dept. Office waiting to get my vaccine before I could start my senior year, and I wasnt the only senior there either.

Soon Maddie will have to get her vaccines, the health dept is very viligant about sending out notices that your child is due for vaccinations and so I comply to stay within the law and not have to put up a fuss over something simple and harmless unless you are allergic to a certain vaccine just as my brother is. He's had a medical exemption on the DTaP shot since he was in 1st grade.

But just as it was said this is not an issue of personal preferances, but that of public health and safety. When you have 100+ kids sharing the same bathroom facilities, playground equipment, and school buses and possibly lunches, there is a VERY high risk of germs spreading to the point of causing an epidemic that may or may not hospitalize other persons depending on the specific strain and the severit of it, just as it is with staph infections during football season. There have been games cancelled and schools closed due to the staph infections here in AR. I dont think I want to risk that sort of thing by not keeping my child properly vaccinated.

 

[jillio]

Here in AR you can go to the local Health Dept. Office - every county has at least one, densly populated counties often have more than one and you can get these shots at no cost.

I remember they issued a new vaccine the week before I was to start my senior year we didnt get the letter until the Friday before - I remember sitting in the Health Dept. Office waiting to get my vaccine before I could start my senior year, and I wasnt the only senior there either.

Soon Maddie will have to get her vaccines, the health dept is very viligant about sending out notices that your child is due for vaccinations and so I comply to stay within the law and not have to put up a fuss over something simple and harmless unless you are allergic to a certain vaccine just as my brother is. He's had a medical exemption on the DTaP shot since he was in 1st grade.

But just as it was said this is not an issue of personal preferances, but that of public health and safety. When you have 100+ kids sharing the same bathroom facilities, playground equipment, and school buses and possibly lunches, there is a VERY high risk of germs spreading to the point of causing an epidemic that may or may not hospitalize other persons depending on the specific strain and the severit of it, just as it is with staph infections during football season. There have been games cancelled and schools closed due to the staph infections here in AR. I dont think I want to risk that sort of thing by not keeping my child properly vaccinated.

Excellent points, Dixie. My son's pediatrician always notified me when it was time for a booster, or a new vaccine. And they sent me home with documentation to provide to the school system. And they also referred patients to the health dept. if they were uninsured or under-insured.

 

[Angel]

Here in AR you can go to the local Health Dept. Office - every county has at least one, densly populated counties often have more than one and you can get these shots at no cost.

I remember they issued a new vaccine the week before I was to start my senior year we didnt get the letter until the Friday before - I remember sitting in the Health Dept. Office waiting to get my vaccine before I could start my senior year, and I wasnt the only senior there either.

Soon Maddie will have to get her vaccines, the health dept is very viligant about sending out notices that your child is due for vaccinations and so I comply to stay within the law and not have to put up a fuss over something simple and harmless unless you are allergic to a certain vaccine just as my brother is. He's had a medical exemption on the DTaP shot since he was in 1st grade.

But just as it was said this is not an issue of personal preferances, but that of public health and safety. When you have 100+ kids sharing the same bathroom facilities, playground equipment, and school buses and possibly lunches, there is a VERY high risk of germs spreading to the point of causing an epidemic that may or may not hospitalize other persons depending on the specific strain and the severit of it, just as it is with staph infections during football season. There have been games cancelled and schools closed due to the staph infections here in AR. I dont think I want to risk that sort of thing by not keeping my child properly vaccinated.

!..