Advice Please! (accepting non-immunized children)

[littlefish]

This is the first time I'm dealing with this situation, I'm just wondering if you take children who don't have immunization shots,

thanks

[Suzie_Homemaker]

I no longer accept children without them being up date with immunization. I too would be concerned.

First, I think you need to decide if you want someone in your care who not immunized. It not bother some people and I know some carers not ask because they not mind.

If you do not want this child, then you must be honest with parent. You must tell them as soon as possible that it your expectation that children fully immunized and if she not planning on getting shots, then sorry you can't provide care. You should hand back any deposit she paid too.

I would suggest that if this is a concern, you add to your policies and remember to ask future potential clients if they up to date. Lot of parents not immunizing so I think it quite common.

Also, another idea too, is if you decide to take child, that you require their removal, with full pay, when there is sickness in the day care and they not allowed returning until it cleared up but I not think many will agree to that as it potentially a lot of exclusion time.

[babydom]

I require up to date kids only also. If you prefer up to date then give notice. Just say sorry but I require all kids in my care to be up to date on their needles. So you will have to schedule her doctors appt to complete needles within the next mth. If you are not willing to do so then here is my notice. I'm sure she'll understand and either leave or get needles done. Good luck. If I were u I'd give notice as it makes me uncomfortable when they are not up to date. But that's just me :)

[Suzie_Homemaker]

I not think Mom was being sneaky. Might be that she not value them but if not asked by you, she might not realized it was requirement of some provider. I think facilities it more common to be asked but even then, not always excluded.

[playfelt]

Also do not equate this child being sick a lot with immunizations not being up to date. The immunizations are for specific diseases and have no bearing on any other illnesses such as colds, ear infections, viral rashes, or any that are not vaxxed such as roseola or fifth's disease or hfm.

I get how you are feeling and basically I think you need to just make a decision and then let the mom know. I agree that mom was being a bit sneaky by not saying anything when she knows it is a subject of controversy and that there was a chance a provider might not accept her. If you don't have it in your contract as a must - you asked for the record and she gave it so met the obligation as set out. BUT if you are not comfortable with the situation it is ok to tell mom, remind her of the termination notice in the contract you must give and then ask her to find a new provider.

[littlefish]

Yes, in our interview I asked her to provide me with a copy she said ok, and kept it quiet so I assumed she was going to provide it, the days passed and she didn't so I check my contract where in one of my questions I asked is your child up to date and her answered was no, so i send her an email asking her if the child is getting her shots soon, so I'm waiting for her response. I'm concern because I haven't had the measles so I'm kind of worry but at the same time I don't want to lose a child because I have another child who is leaving due to her mom pregnancy . It'll be a hard decision but If I end up taking her I will explain that any rush or anything I see out of place she must take her to see the Dr and I'll need a Dr. note a must.

[littlefish]

I no longer accept children without them being up date with immunization. I too would be concerned.

First, I think you need to decide if you want someone in your care who not immunized. It not bother some people and I know some carers not ask because they not mind.

If you do not want this child, then you must be honest with parent. You must tell them as soon as possible that it your expectation that children fully immunized and if she not planning on getting shots, then sorry you can't provide care. You should hand back any deposit she paid too.

I would suggest that if this is a concern, you add to your policies and remember to ask future potential clients if they up to date. Lot of parents not immunizing so I think it quite common.

Also, another idea too, is if you decide to take child, that you require their removal, with full pay, when there is sickness in the day care and they not allowed returning until it cleared up but I not think many will agree to that as it potentially a lot of exclusion time.

I think is a good idea, because if the child is not immunized and I decided to take her, parents will understand to take time off to get the child healthy again and this is in the case of major disease that needs exclusion but I'll be firm with a Dr. note. thanks

[playfelt]

If it is measles you are concerned about the most don't forget that you can also be immunized against them as an adult. In fact many I know that had the immunizations as a child when they had blood work tested as an adult turns out they are no longer immune so I would speak to your doctor anyways to be tested and then protect yourself either way.

The DPT and the MMR are the only ones I require if a parent questions things.

[littlefish]

I received an email from mom, and on her email she attached a copy which doesn't look like her immunization records and most of it it's empty, she said she'll give the copy in a month time, because she is hesitate to have her child immunize, but she said she will, but I doubt it I think she'll need only one more month so she can find somebody else and leave, too bad good experience and for my next clients I'll ask and wait for their yes or no answer and this job every time you learn something new wow.

[littlefish]

playfelt: I worry about all those diseases I don't know about, I'll talk to my Dr. on how I can protect myself and my family so I can have a peace of mine.

[babydom]

Put it in writing that the shots have to be up-to-date in that one months time or she will have to leave immediately
so she doesn't come back in a month didn't find someone didn't get the shots and you're still stuck until you give your notice for another 2 to 4 weeks

[playfelt]

Try to talk to the mom about the schedule she is using. There is a modified delayed schedule that some parents use based on the idea that the more mature the child's system is the more effective it is. A good example is the MMR. My kids all got it at 15 months rather than 12 months based on my oldest three getting it at 15 months in other provinces. When my fourth came along here in Ontario they wanted to do it at 12 months because they said even though it is more effective if given at 15 months because of kids in daycare they do it at 12 months figuring the lower effectiveness offsets the delay. Since my child wasn't in a centre and everyone else in my daycare was getting it at 12 months I went ahead and waited till 15 months for her.

I like the idea of telling the mom in writing that the immunizations need to be up to date by said date or the contract will be considered terminated by the parent and deposit forfeited. Make sure to cash deposit now so it can't be cancelled by parent.

[littlefish]

I don't know what to do now, she handed me a copy of her yesterdays updated shots for her daughter, but on the form it doesn't say she got the shots for mumps, measles, varicella, chicken pox, only the polio tetanus I wonder if that is enough to keep her here? what do you think? she is 18 months old and she had two set of the same shots in 2014 but no MMR.

Thanks

[babydom]

That's up to you to decide. If u want the child fully immunized then relay that to mom. Say I feel most comfortable if all children in my care are up to date on all shots. If you are not comfortable with that then i will have to ask you to find another provider.
If your fine with just some of her shots then carry on. For me I require ALL shots to be up to date including chicken pox. So if this was my client I'd be telling her I am not comfortable with only some of the shots done and perhaps she needs to look for a provider who is comfortable with that.

[Lee-Bee]

You need to go with your gut feeling, and stand firm on it. If only have some of the shots concerns you then make it known and have them find alternate care. For me, not having the measles, mumps and chicken pox while in the group setting would concern me. These are all active illnesses that the child can pass on the youngest in your group (who are not yet old enough to be vaccinated) and to the younger siblings of children in your group.

You just need to go with what makes YOU comfortable...they are deciding to deviate from the 'norm' so it is expected for them to run into hiccups along the way. That is not on you. If you are not comfortable with the potential exposure of those illnesses to other children/families in your care then take the steps now to prevent it so you don't regret it later. If it doesn't bother you then move ahead!