Vaccinations

[Sarah]

I am a mom of 3, and over the years, I have been thinking about the vaccination issue a lot. My first son is up to date (except for boosters if some were due, I have no clue!), my second child is "half" vaccinated. My 4 years old daughter has gotten 1 shot, the first scheduled one. Than this was it for me, my decision to not do vaccines was taken

When I took this decision, I was aware that in the case of a breakdown my kids would be affected more than someone elses vaccinated kid! But as they grow older, the risks are lower, and lower. But if they were going to a daycare, I would like the provider to respect my decision. There is no laws in Canada that forces vaccination.

By not vaccinating my kids, I chose to put them at a higher risk of getting these illnesses, but it is not putting the other kids at a higher risk. The non vaccinated kids are not carriers of the illnesses more then vaccinated ones. In the case of a breackthrough ALL kids will be equally carriers, so isolating the non vaccinated kids is for their protection, not the one of the olders.

My kids have been in contact with chicken pox, never got it except for my vaccinated one! How weird ?! I personnally was vaccinated, a got the whooping cough...

Anyway, I don't want to debate this, I just would love everyone to see that as much as vaccination is a good thing, it is a personnal family choice that does not affect a daycare!

[jec]

Anyway, I don't want to debate this, I just would love everyone to see that as much as vaccination is a good thing, it is a personnal family choice that does not affect a daycare!

I did not bring this topic up for debate however, nothing wrong with a good debate as long as we respect each other by listening instead of being critical.

I disagree that it does not affect a daycare. My responsibility as a daycare provider is to look out for the well being of the children in my care.
I contacted Telehealth and they forwarded me to the county health deptartment -more specific the infectious diseases clinics. As I came to the forum to find out what everyone thought/knew about it could tell me.
This is what I found out ~ which as the debate of if they are good or bad this answer doesn't pick as side as some would say that the health care professionals are wrong. The measles, mumps and rubella (sorry of my spelling) are all live virus that given through the injection, they are not going to get passed on. However, the chicken pox virus does have a slight chance of being passed on to someone who doesn't have the vaccine.
So ...back to where I agree 100% with everyone here that this is a personal choice and not one to be judged as every parent does what they feel is best for their children. For those who choose not to get their children vaccinated, I need to, as a provider, inform those families that children in my care might be getting the vaccination so, if they choose to keep their child home, they can.
Like Reggio said, she found a policy for her that keeps everyone happy, that is what I am trying to do. Find a policy that will allow all families to feel that I am looking out for the well being of all children in my care.

The reason there is a required record of those who are vaccinated is if there is a breakout, according to the sources above, that if say a child around 16-18 months of age to be more speicific with our business instead of the school aged children ~ if they have not recieved the booster, they run the risk of getting infected and passing on the disease and infecting more. So it is to control more of an outbreak. to protect everyone.

For me, I will be allowing any family either vaccinated or not but do require to know when someone has chosen to not get the vaccinations and those who do choose, I am informed of what is being given so I can inform the families who have chosen not to be vaccinated what their child will be around. It again, turns into the parent's of the unvaccinated child decision to pull them from care as it is usually 2-3 days before the body can build up immune to the injection. Again, though, from my sources above, it is only the chicken pox vaccination that runs the risk of passing it on.

Everyone is right, vaccinated or not, your child still runs the risk of getting any of these but- I think again, it's my job to make everyone informed so they again, can choose for their family.

[Sandbox Sally]

For me, I will be allowing any family either vaccinated or not but do require to know when someone has chosen to not get the vaccinations and those who do choose, I am informed of what is being given so I can inform the families who have chosen not to be vaccinated what their child will be around. It again, turns into the parent's of the unvaccinated child decision to pull them from care as it is usually 2-3 days before the body can build up immune to the injection. Again, though, from my sources above, it is only the chicken pox vaccination that runs the risk of passing it on.

Why not just tell everyonein your daycare when someone is vaccinated against varicella, or if there's been an exposure, and just leave it at that? The parents can then be informed, and use this information to decide the next course of action with their child, whether it be to keep them home, or to get them checked out for a potential infection if they're unvaccinated.

There is still no need for a daycare provider to know the vaccination status of their charges, imo.

[jec]

For me I wondered why I needed at first to know any of this...then one of my friends who is very passionate about not vaccinating her children tell me that she doesnt' believe that is' just one vaccine- the chicken pox that can be transmitted and I should be informing her, if her child was in my care, if there was any vaccines. She doesn't believe that it is just the chicken pox vaccine that can be transmitted.

I"m just trying to come up with something to keep all happy. I had called telehealth to find out why the school system needed to know in the first place why anyone is vaccinated or not.
I thought informing all would just keep the choice that of the parents, which again where the choice is.

Thing is, I have always had in my contract ( due to my own ignorance on the topic) that everyone had to be up to date on vaccines as I thought through my Dr that it was how it had to be.
The parents currently in my care all have their children up to date but bringing a new family is that isn't, I just wanted to word something to make it look as though I was covering all.
ugh ~