Immunization Policy Change

[Anonymous]

Ok, so I know this can become a heated topic, but I have a question…

Recently our military clinic in accordance w/the main military hospital changed their immunization policy. Originally, the Pediatrician was able to make the decision about delaying vaccines if they found necessary. Now, NMCP(the main hospital) is implementing a new policy that basicly states that your child is not allowed to be vaccinated at the clinic unless your child receives ALL vaccines recommended by the CDC for their age. The response given by the Regional Program Manager for Immunizations @ NMCP was that, “My biggest fear is an unvaccinated or partially vaccinated child getting or spreading potentially deadly diseases.”

Ok, I understand where she’s coming from, BUT…We are still allowed to bring our “unvaccinated/partially vaccinated” child into the exact clinic waiting room for well baby visits/sick visits along w/other fully vaccinated kids. I just don’t get how they are making things more “safe” for vaccinated kids by not allowing my child to get ANY vaccines unless I get ALL. We would still be a “risk” given we are still going to the exact SAME clinic. Am I missing something here?

Look, I don’t have any problems w/vaccines necessarily. I believe every parent should be educated and make the right decision for THEIR child. What was best for Averi was a delayed schedule. She had been on an antibiotic for a very long time, and we(me, Ped, Ped GI) all agreed that it was best to delay. Averi is only a few shots away from being FULLY vaccinated, but now things have been delayed b/c I have to take her down to the Health dept. in order to get ANY vaccines. They’ve been fairly backed up & this new policy change has now made MY DD more at risk for contracting a potentially deadly disease b/c this woman decides she doesn’t want my “fears to cloud my judgement.” This was actually said by her. Ugh…

Some background info…A friend of mine was the one who informed me of this new change. She went straight to this woman and then to the News. Unfortunately NOTHING came from it. I’m just as frustrated as she is. She has gone all the way up the Chain of Command, and I can’t get ANYONE to return a phone call.

Do any of you have suggestions as to what steps we could maybe take? They have basicly taken the right away from the Pediatrician. My Ped has NO ability whatsoever to go over this policy. How can that be?!

This woman had the nerve to tell my friend that she was delaying her DDs vaccines b/c it was the new “Gucci” thing to do! Yeah, can you believe that?! It’s so frustrating b/c everyone assumes that ALL parents who choose to delay vaccines are concerned about what’s being said in the media. Don’t get me wrong, I have those fears too. But my main concerns w/my DD are due to her medical issues(reflux, MSPI/MFPI, long term antibiotic use, etc).

Ok, well, I’m done rambling & I am hoping that someone has some advice! TIA!

ETA: Here’s a link to the news clip…BTW, a lot of the info Ms. Kraft says in the video isn’t true.

http://www.wavy.com/dpp/news/health_news/Health_wavy_virginiabeach_navymom_20090727

valentine4mommy2009-09-18 13:55:28

[Anonymous]

Wow! Can you go anywhere different for a general pedi that is more in line with your beliefs? With a vaccine injured child, I too am pro vaccine, but pro SAFE vaccine. some children should be delayed and some not at all while the Majority is safe to get them in the CDC recommended manor, that is not true for all children.

OK, I shouldn’t say more, but if you have ANY other choice, I would go to another ped. The ONLY thing I can think of, if that there have been some mistakes in double dosing, (this happened to Dylan in the NICU) etc..because of different schedules, so they are only allowing them to do the recommended schedule or none at all…….I would try to find out if there isn’t some other reason for the policy change? Not sure who you could go to in order to get that…..

[Anonymous]

i don’t think a single one of my children have had all of their vaccines when they were supposed to get them—-and it had nothing to do with any belief or fear—except that for some reason i thought they couldn’t get them when they had colds (they can if no fever) and daisy always had a cold when she was little. sylvia was just too fussy to even think about getting around to vaccines. when the surgeon asked if she was up to date and i said “no”, he had (nicely) questioned me—and i remember later thinking “i’m not one of “those”. my oldest son didn’t even get his first shots until he was almost two, but that was because of my ex-husbands religious beliefs—not mine.

i have a friend who’s daughter had a seizure within a month of a shot—–so they left the pertussis part out of the shot for the rest of her kids.

there are so many reasons for being behind on vaccines that sometimes have absolutely nothing to do with any kind of belief, or fear what-so-ever, that it is strange a doctor’s recommendation for delaying would be ignored.

so what would they do with someone like me who showed up and tried to get things caught up—–would i be in trouble? i guess i never took my babies in for regular wellbaby check ups, either, just because i didn’t get around to it unless they were having problems.

i don’t even know if my kids have all their shots–and i am sure some of them need boosters—-i must be a really bad mother!!LOL!! i’m sure this sounded rambling, but it really does not make sence that they will let you come to the clinic to be checked, but not get vaccines unless you get all vaccines.

oh yeah, and i wish i had never had my kids get the chicken pox shot. it was brand new, and our insurance would pay for it, so our docs office specially ordered it in for us. now i find out that my 3 or 4 kids that got it might not be protected and could get it when they are older and end up really miserable. elliot got shots before they did it routinely—so he got chicken pox. it was routine by the time sammie and sylvia got shots—-and then sylvia got chicken pox anyway—right when she was supposed to have major dental work (she had to be put to sleep for it). it was scheduled right at the end of the year so the deductible was already met—-but we had to cancel—then do her teeth and pay an extra thousand dollars or so for the new years deductible, because the stupid vaccine didn’t work!!!!

these are just the ramblings of a mad woman, so take what you want from them and ignore the rest. so far, they are still letting my kids in school!!!

kevieb2009-09-19 21:04:47

[Anonymous]

@Ann Marie…

Yes, we could go find another Ped. The issue is that being military our insurance is Prime and therefore we don’t have any out of pocket/co pays w/this clinic. If we choose to go out in town, we then have to switch to Standard and then there are a lot more bills. 🙂 If Averi was far behind, then I’d consider doing this. She’s only about 7 shots away from full vaccination. So, I figure 2 shots/visit at the health dept and we should be good. I guess it’s the principle of the matter that really has me bugged(putting it nicely). Oh, and I do believe that there was an issue w/a child receiving more shots than what the mother wanted that caused this whole new policy change. Apparantly the Peds weren’t documenting things properly and so instead of enforcing stricter guidelines for the Peds, they do this. This is info that our Ped told us, like I mentioned before NOONE is returning my phone calls. UGH!

Oh, and if we wanted to get her vaccinated at this clinic to get her “caught up” they are saying that she would have to get ALL 7 vaccines that she is currently missing. Isn’t that INSANE!!! I’m like you…pro vaccine, pro SAFE vaccine!!!

@Kevieb…

I completely agree w/you about there being MANY reasons as to why a child may be on a delayed schedule/behind on their shots. It is completely frustrating that they are taking the power away from the Peds to make this decision. It’s just ridiculous.

You wouldn’t be “in trouble” if you wanted to get your kid caught up. The idiots would just make you get ALL the shots that they were missing. No Matter HOW MANY that means…there isn’t a limit. It’s just obsurd! Oh, and I think I’m gonna hold off on the chicken pox vaccine. Is it really that necessary? :)lol Ugh, we’ll see…

Thanks for your responses!

[Anonymous]

I feel for you!!!!!

[Anonymous]

i remember back when we used to want to get our kids exposed to the chicken pox when we heard someone’s child had them—then we cxould get them over with as soon as possible.!!!

[Anonymous]

Can you ask your allergist/ped for a Medical Extension?

I asked my ped for a medical extension for Kendra’s immunizations until she has completley outgrown all her medical/food issues. It wasn’t a piece of cake to get her to agree to this, but she eventually agreed with me that given Kendra’s issues with her immune system and all she has gone through since 3 weeks old, we could probably make things worst for her by stressing her immnune system even more with shots. So far i have until school age to argue my case again. If i cannot get another extension then, i am planning on applying for a “Religious Exemption”, which is valid in my sate. You state may have other type of exemptions too. Best of luck,

Leo

kendramom2009-09-29 13:32:56

[Author]

Posts