Which Vaccines Does Your Child Need for School?

Is your child ready to start school this fall? Do they have their school supplies? What about gym clothes? More importantly, do they have their immunizations up to date?

When children enroll for school or enter certain grades (these vary from state to state), they must provide proof of vaccination or exemption. But which vaccines are required for you child? The National Network for Immunization Information (NNii) has the information you need in one location; this way you can be certain your state requirements are met. Here are some additional things to think about:

Pro-action vs. Reaction

Preventing disease is always preferable to treating a disease. Vaccines not only prevent disease in those who are immunized, but also help protect individuals who are in contact with unvaccinated persons.

Exemptions

When it comes to vaccines, some parents are concerned about vaccines. Parents may have heard that the vaccines can cause autism, chronic conditions; some of the vaccines are made from aborted-fetal tissue or are felt to be unnecessary. However, in order to attend school and for a child not to receive a vaccine, the parent must exercise an "exemption". An "exemption" is a legal means to forego the vaccine.

Although different states have different rules regarding exemptions, exemptions can be broken down into three basic categories. Theses are the medical, religious, and philosophical exemptions.

Medical exemptions

When a child has a medical condition or allergy that would make receiving the vaccine dangerous they are exempt from being required to have the vaccine. This exemption is honored by all 50 states. This exemption requires a physician's note supporting the reason for the exemption.

Religious exemptions

Most states allow for parents whose religious beliefs do not allow for their children to be immunized to be granted an exemption.

Philosophical exemptions

Roughly, half of the states permit an exemption for those children whose parents hold strong beliefs that their children should not be immunized. However, this exemption can be challenged by the state. This becomes an issue if it is deemed that the exemption would place a child at higher risk of the disease than reasonable (medical neglect) or would place society in general at greater risk (i.e. epidemic situations).

In some states, if an unvaccinated child is found to transmit a vaccine-preventable-disease to another person, the parents may be held liable in a civil suit.

Considerations

Children who remain unvaccinated are more likely to acquire a vaccine-preventable disease when there is an outbreak of the disease. Unimmunized children will not be allowed to attend school; this is for their own protection.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, "Vaccines are responsible for the control of many infectious diseases that were once common in this country, including polio, measles, diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough), rubella (German measles), mumps, tetanus, and Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib)... Even diseases that have been eliminated in this country, such as polio, are only a plane ride away."

Source:

http://www.cdc.gov/nip/publications/fs/gen/importance.htm