How do you feel about vaccinations?

[playfelt]

I think there are other issues at play here too though in the sense that the assumption these days would be that all children are vaccinated according to the accepted schedules so it isn't something that a parent would likely think to ask about but might be concerned if they found out it wasn't what they thought. I would contact local daycare centres or schools and ask for their policy. If you contact your local health unit they will have the rules for your area but even within that there will be a caveat that children whose parents oppose on personal or religious reasons or a child's medical condition doesn't allow for vaccination - ex I had a dayare child with a severe egg allergy so she had very few that she could get. It isnt' so much deciding about what the other parents are comfortable with it is about you. It sounds like you are concerned for your own children and for that reason you have the right to decide that you will or will not accept an unvaccinated child into care. Yes making your policy now and then turning the new family away based on that rule is what you should be doing if that will make you feel more comfortable. It would be wrong to start them into care and then change the policy.

[Dreamtree]

Playfelt,

Yes, I agree that this is more about what I am comfortable with than with other parents, that is what I am going to go forward with. Thank you.

[playfelt]

That's why our contracts are on the computer - so we can easily edit them as needed. The more years you do daycare the more that goes in it - mostly with the I will not be taken advantage of again so the new rule will be... and it goes in the updated contract for the next family and works fine till as you say the next issue crops up. Good luck with your decision. I know it is hard to turn down a family when we have a space to fill but you have to do what is right for your family too.

[mom-in-alberta]

I wrote up a huge response to this yesterday, and it's gone!! Grrrrr.....
ANYway, the gist of it was;
I don't think it is any of the other parents business whether the rest of the children in your care have their own vaccinations or not, personally. I would also be upset if my provider had told others about my personal/medical choices (which I undertand that you didn't). They choose whether or not to vaccinate thier kids, and that is as far as it goes. When they are at playgroup or the park, or letting their child lick shopping cart handles (*shudder*), they have no possible way of knowing who has had the needles, and who hasn't.
If anyone has reason to be concerned then it's the parent of the un-vaccinated child who's little one is playing with all the kids who supposedly have a higher immunity to some of the typical germs and bugs. But that is the decision that they have made, and they have done so with some very valid reasons, I am sure.
Myself, I am still on the fence. I have read a lot about vaccines in recent time, and although I have 3 kids with up-to-date shots, I am not sure about our newest baby coming. I haven't decided yet whether she will be getting them.
It sounds like you are concerned more so about your own little one, which is understandable. I think the toddlers in your care need to be taught (regardless of who has their vaccinations, etc) to refrain from touching your baby anyway. When my newborn is around, the kids in d/c will be discouraged from kissing and hugging and loving on her. Partly a germ thing, but also because kids don't realize how strong they are when they are with a baby. Especially the littlest ones who may still think of the baby as a dolly/toy, and not my precious new baby, haha! It may seem kind of harsh, because of course they only mean well, but I think it's best/safest for everyone.
I am sorry that you felt attacked, because that is not what we are here for. But I know for sure that nobody meant for you to feel that way. We just all have very strong opinions on some stuff, right?
So to sum up: immunizations are a total non-issue for me, and it's totally the parents business. I would be more concerned with teaching the little ones to "look with their eyes not with their hands" and so on when playing with baby.
(Haha, guess it ended up being a long post again anyway!)

[Dreamtree]

very tough issue.

[Sarah]

Legally, I think you could be sued if you refused a child for non vaccination. Even if it's your business, you are not aloud to racism, sexism, or to select or not select someone based on nationality, sex, national or ethnic origin, race, religion, etc... Those are human rights, and it would of course need to be verified, but I think that refusing a person for that specific reason would be contrary to human rights

Maybe not put it as a requirement but ask the question during interview. Then you can refuse without anybody being able to proove the real reason.

(hope I made myself clear!!! )

Sarah

[Dreamtree]

Hmmm... I am not sure that's true.

[Dreamtree]

I think people have to do what they are comfortable with on both ends.

[Sarah]

I am not sure about what I said. But personnally, just to be on the safe side, I would not put it anywhere in writing. I do not agree with your fear of non vaccinated kids, but it is solely your business, and you have made your decision according to your own knowledge and fears.

Sarah

[playfelt]

Rather than put things in negative terms about what you won't accept if your contract says that a child entering care must complete the following chart and show proof that the following immunizations are up to date then that covers the issue. Any parent that can't show that proof either because they lost it or never had them done just wouldn't be able to enrol in your daycare. You get what you want by wording it this way without including any specific exclusions.