Lack of Immunization Data for Home-Schooled Children

[Guest guest]

' so the loophole that allows 2 million home-schooled children to escape immunization seems unacceptable.'

The statements are becoming so bold these days, they take your breath away.

[Guest guest]

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/716936?src=rss

The Immunization Status of Home-Schooled Children in

AmericaChoi BK, Manning ML

J Pediatr Health Care. 2010;24:42-47

Article SummaryThe immunization of children against a

vast number of life-threatening infectious agents is one of the greatest

public health interventions of the 20th century. In America, the

morbidity and mortality associated with many common childhood infectious

diseases have all but vanished over the last 4 decades. Although not

perfect, requirements by states for school entry vaccination play a

significant role in achieving the high immunization rates among children

and adolescents and are responsible for the decline in infectious

diseases.

Schools have efficient procedures to review records and follow up the

immunization status of students. This ensures that immunization rates are

high except among children in states that allow exemptions to

immunizations because of religious or philosophical beliefs of parents.

Many of these parents are too young to remember children dying or being

permanently harmed by common childhood diseases. Thus, these parents

often focus on their fear of the adverse effects of immunization and

refuse to allow their children to be immunized -- placing them at greater

risk than if they received the immunizations. The lack of immunization in

some children not only increases the risk for disease in these children

but also in all other children in the community.

In view of the success of the school-entry immunization requirements, it

is difficult to explain why no similar regulation is in place to monitor

the immunization status of the ever-growing home-schooled

population.

To document the lack of standardization in what information is collected

about home-schooled children and whether they are properly immunized, the

authors explored the varying state regulations on childhood immunization.

Specifics are provided about what some states do and do not require. What

emerges is that no one really knows whether the nearly 2 million

home-schooled children are adequately immunized.

Every year more families participate in home schooling. Pediatric and

family nurse practitioners in the primary care setting will need to play

an aggressive role in trying to educate parents and protect the health of

these children, as well as the public's health.

ViewpointIt boggles the mind to read that for so many

home-schooled children, immunization may not be required or there is no

follow-up to determine whether required immunization is completed. A

brief survey of Internet resources suggests that more and more groups are

concerned about this issue, but to date, I could find no national policy

to address this problem that will protect general public health. The most

recent Healthy People report indicates that increasing childhood

immunizations is a priority, so the loophole that allows 2 million

home-schooled children to escape immunization seems

unacceptable.

This failure to have adequate national policy to protect children through

immunization does not sound like the type of regulation that would be

difficult to pass. Immunizing children should not be a partisan issue.

This is a problem that has a clear-cut solution -- and one that we know

would make a difference. This is a problem that many provider groups,

especially nurse practitioners, should support and push on to the

national policy agenda.

Sheri Nakken, R.N., MA, Hahnemannian

Homeopath

Vaccination Information & Choice Network, Washington State, USA

Vaccines -

http://vaccinationdangers.wordpress.com/ Homeopathy

http://homeopathycures.wordpress.com

Vaccine Dangers, Childhood Disease Classes & Homeopathy

Online/email courses - next classes start February 24 & 25

[Guest guest]

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/716936?src=rss

The Immunization Status of Home-Schooled Children in

AmericaChoi BK, Manning ML

J Pediatr Health Care. 2010;24:42-47

Article SummaryThe immunization of children against a

vast number of life-threatening infectious agents is one of the greatest

public health interventions of the 20th century. In America, the

morbidity and mortality associated with many common childhood infectious

diseases have all but vanished over the last 4 decades. Although not

perfect, requirements by states for school entry vaccination play a

significant role in achieving the high immunization rates among children

and adolescents and are responsible for the decline in infectious

diseases.

Schools have efficient procedures to review records and follow up the

immunization status of students. This ensures that immunization rates are

high except among children in states that allow exemptions to

immunizations because of religious or philosophical beliefs of parents.

Many of these parents are too young to remember children dying or being

permanently harmed by common childhood diseases. Thus, these parents

often focus on their fear of the adverse effects of immunization and

refuse to allow their children to be immunized -- placing them at greater

risk than if they received the immunizations. The lack of immunization in

some children not only increases the risk for disease in these children

but also in all other children in the community.

In view of the success of the school-entry immunization requirements, it

is difficult to explain why no similar regulation is in place to monitor

the immunization status of the ever-growing home-schooled

population.

To document the lack of standardization in what information is collected

about home-schooled children and whether they are properly immunized, the

authors explored the varying state regulations on childhood immunization.

Specifics are provided about what some states do and do not require. What

emerges is that no one really knows whether the nearly 2 million

home-schooled children are adequately immunized.

Every year more families participate in home schooling. Pediatric and

family nurse practitioners in the primary care setting will need to play

an aggressive role in trying to educate parents and protect the health of

these children, as well as the public's health.

ViewpointIt boggles the mind to read that for so many

home-schooled children, immunization may not be required or there is no

follow-up to determine whether required immunization is completed. A

brief survey of Internet resources suggests that more and more groups are

concerned about this issue, but to date, I could find no national policy

to address this problem that will protect general public health. The most

recent Healthy People report indicates that increasing childhood

immunizations is a priority, so the loophole that allows 2 million

home-schooled children to escape immunization seems

unacceptable.

This failure to have adequate national policy to protect children through

immunization does not sound like the type of regulation that would be

difficult to pass. Immunizing children should not be a partisan issue.

This is a problem that has a clear-cut solution -- and one that we know

would make a difference. This is a problem that many provider groups,

especially nurse practitioners, should support and push on to the

national policy agenda.

Sheri Nakken, R.N., MA, Hahnemannian

Homeopath

Vaccination Information & Choice Network, Washington State, USA

Vaccines -

http://vaccinationdangers.wordpress.com/ Homeopathy

http://homeopathycures.wordpress.com

Vaccine Dangers, Childhood Disease Classes & Homeopathy

Online/email courses - next classes start February 24 & 25

[Guest guest]

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/716936?src=rss

The Immunization Status of Home-Schooled Children in

AmericaChoi BK, Manning ML

J Pediatr Health Care. 2010;24:42-47

Article SummaryThe immunization of children against a

vast number of life-threatening infectious agents is one of the greatest

public health interventions of the 20th century. In America, the

morbidity and mortality associated with many common childhood infectious

diseases have all but vanished over the last 4 decades. Although not

perfect, requirements by states for school entry vaccination play a

significant role in achieving the high immunization rates among children

and adolescents and are responsible for the decline in infectious

diseases.

Schools have efficient procedures to review records and follow up the

immunization status of students. This ensures that immunization rates are

high except among children in states that allow exemptions to

immunizations because of religious or philosophical beliefs of parents.

Many of these parents are too young to remember children dying or being

permanently harmed by common childhood diseases. Thus, these parents

often focus on their fear of the adverse effects of immunization and

refuse to allow their children to be immunized -- placing them at greater

risk than if they received the immunizations. The lack of immunization in

some children not only increases the risk for disease in these children

but also in all other children in the community.

In view of the success of the school-entry immunization requirements, it

is difficult to explain why no similar regulation is in place to monitor

the immunization status of the ever-growing home-schooled

population.

To document the lack of standardization in what information is collected

about home-schooled children and whether they are properly immunized, the

authors explored the varying state regulations on childhood immunization.

Specifics are provided about what some states do and do not require. What

emerges is that no one really knows whether the nearly 2 million

home-schooled children are adequately immunized.

Every year more families participate in home schooling. Pediatric and

family nurse practitioners in the primary care setting will need to play

an aggressive role in trying to educate parents and protect the health of

these children, as well as the public's health.

ViewpointIt boggles the mind to read that for so many

home-schooled children, immunization may not be required or there is no

follow-up to determine whether required immunization is completed. A

brief survey of Internet resources suggests that more and more groups are

concerned about this issue, but to date, I could find no national policy

to address this problem that will protect general public health. The most

recent Healthy People report indicates that increasing childhood

immunizations is a priority, so the loophole that allows 2 million

home-schooled children to escape immunization seems

unacceptable.

This failure to have adequate national policy to protect children through

immunization does not sound like the type of regulation that would be

difficult to pass. Immunizing children should not be a partisan issue.

This is a problem that has a clear-cut solution -- and one that we know

would make a difference. This is a problem that many provider groups,

especially nurse practitioners, should support and push on to the

national policy agenda.

Sheri Nakken, R.N., MA, Hahnemannian

Homeopath

Vaccination Information & Choice Network, Washington State, USA

Vaccines -

http://vaccinationdangers.wordpress.com/ Homeopathy

http://homeopathycures.wordpress.com

Vaccine Dangers, Childhood Disease Classes & Homeopathy

Online/email courses - next classes start February 24 & 25

[Guest guest]

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/716936?src=rss

The Immunization Status of Home-Schooled Children in

AmericaChoi BK, Manning ML

J Pediatr Health Care. 2010;24:42-47

Article SummaryThe immunization of children against a

vast number of life-threatening infectious agents is one of the greatest

public health interventions of the 20th century. In America, the

morbidity and mortality associated with many common childhood infectious

diseases have all but vanished over the last 4 decades. Although not

perfect, requirements by states for school entry vaccination play a

significant role in achieving the high immunization rates among children

and adolescents and are responsible for the decline in infectious

diseases.

Schools have efficient procedures to review records and follow up the

immunization status of students. This ensures that immunization rates are

high except among children in states that allow exemptions to

immunizations because of religious or philosophical beliefs of parents.

Many of these parents are too young to remember children dying or being

permanently harmed by common childhood diseases. Thus, these parents

often focus on their fear of the adverse effects of immunization and

refuse to allow their children to be immunized -- placing them at greater

risk than if they received the immunizations. The lack of immunization in

some children not only increases the risk for disease in these children

but also in all other children in the community.

In view of the success of the school-entry immunization requirements, it

is difficult to explain why no similar regulation is in place to monitor

the immunization status of the ever-growing home-schooled

population.

To document the lack of standardization in what information is collected

about home-schooled children and whether they are properly immunized, the

authors explored the varying state regulations on childhood immunization.

Specifics are provided about what some states do and do not require. What

emerges is that no one really knows whether the nearly 2 million

home-schooled children are adequately immunized.

Every year more families participate in home schooling. Pediatric and

family nurse practitioners in the primary care setting will need to play

an aggressive role in trying to educate parents and protect the health of

these children, as well as the public's health.

ViewpointIt boggles the mind to read that for so many

home-schooled children, immunization may not be required or there is no

follow-up to determine whether required immunization is completed. A

brief survey of Internet resources suggests that more and more groups are

concerned about this issue, but to date, I could find no national policy

to address this problem that will protect general public health. The most

recent Healthy People report indicates that increasing childhood

immunizations is a priority, so the loophole that allows 2 million

home-schooled children to escape immunization seems

unacceptable.

This failure to have adequate national policy to protect children through

immunization does not sound like the type of regulation that would be

difficult to pass. Immunizing children should not be a partisan issue.

This is a problem that has a clear-cut solution -- and one that we know

would make a difference. This is a problem that many provider groups,

especially nurse practitioners, should support and push on to the

national policy agenda.

Sheri Nakken, R.N., MA, Hahnemannian

Homeopath

Vaccination Information & Choice Network, Washington State, USA

Vaccines -

http://vaccinationdangers.wordpress.com/ Homeopathy

http://homeopathycures.wordpress.com

Vaccine Dangers, Childhood Disease Classes & Homeopathy

Online/email courses - next classes start February 24 & 25

[Guest guest]

Every year more families

participate in home schooling. Pediatric and family nurse practitioners in the

primary care setting will need to play an aggressive role in trying to educate

parents and protect the health of these children, as well as the public's

health.

????

Oh yeah. Let them try to educate me.. they’ll get an earful. Why

do they assume we who don’t vax haven’t done any learning or

research?? Oh that’s right. We do it all on the ‘net and you

know you can’t believe it if it’s on the ‘net. Anybody can

put anything

Nita, and my crew: 16, Jon 15, 12, 10,

8, Christian (RIP: 7/16/03 to 8/22/04), 4 and Isaac, 1

http://momof6.dotphoto.com

for not necessarily current pictures

http://nitasspot.blogspot.com

I'm like a snapdragon: half of me has snapped and the other is draggin'

[Guest guest]

I still have my right to "protect myself", right? LoriFrom: "grafted2theroot@..." <grafted2theroot@...>Vaccinations Sent: Fri, February 26, 2010 4:44:09 AMSubject: Re:Lack of

Immunization Data for Home-Schooled Children

' so the loophole that allows 2 million home-schooled children to escape immunization seems unacceptable. '

The statements are becoming so bold these days, they take your breath away.

[Guest guest]

They should use this opportunity to do an unvaccinated vs vaccinated case study.

2 million is certainly enough to show them that the unvaccianted is much more

healthy! Or do they want to find a way to get these kids vaccinated so they are

just as sick as the rest to cover their butts!

>

> ' so the loophole that allows 2 million home-schooled children to escape

> immunization

> seems unacceptable.'

>

> The statements are becoming so bold these days, they take your breath

> away.

>

[Guest guest]

I think they want to find a way to require immunization for the home school kids too...if they do a study on vaccinated v. unvaccinated then it will prove that WE have been right all along and they don't want that...it's all about "covering their butts" and the almighty $$$LoriFrom: blurplebutton <rjbly1@...>Vaccinations Sent: Fri, February 26, 2010 9:24:57 AMSubject: Re:Lack of Immunization Data for Home-Schooled Children

They should use this opportunity to do an unvaccinated vs vaccinated case study. 2 million is certainly enough to show them that the unvaccianted is much more healthy! Or do they want to find a way to get these kids vaccinated so they are just as sick as the rest to cover their butts!

>

> ' so the loophole that allows 2 million home-schooled children to escape

> immunization

> seems unacceptable. '

>

> The statements are becoming so bold these days, they take your breath

> away.

>

[Guest guest]

" It boggles the mind " (as this article says) that so many put such an

emphasis on homeschooling. There are estimated 900,000 - 2,000,000

children homeschooled in the US. According to census and other reports,

there are approximately 50,000,000 children in public schools.

According to other stats, there is generally a +/-75% vaccination rate

among children, with a very low opt out percentage. Take the top

estimate of 2,000,000 homeschooled, that makes only 4% of all children -

when 25% of public school children are not vaccinated for one reason or

another! These numbers show this is nothing but an attack on

homeschooling and cannot be thought of as anything other. And another

fact - homeschoolers are likely to be vaccinated at a higher rate than

other separated groups. Not everyone is against all vaccinations, but

many educate themselves on each available. People want full disclosure

and choice.

Mike

references:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_the_United_States

http://school.familyeducation.com/home-schooling/alternative-education/5\

6352.html

http://www.hslda.org/research/faq.asp

>

>

>

>

<http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/716936?src=rss>http://www.medscape.\

com/viewarticle/716936?src=rss

>

>

>

> The Immunization Status of Home-Schooled Children in America

>

> Choi BK, Manning ML

> J Pediatr Health Care. 2010;24:42-47

>

>

> Article Summary

>

> The immunization of children against a vast number of

> life-threatening infectious agents is one of the greatest public

> health interventions of the 20th century. In America, the morbidity

> and mortality associated with many common childhood infectious

> diseases have all but vanished over the last 4 decades. Although not

> perfect, requirements by states for school entry vaccination play a

> significant role in achieving the high immunization rates among

> children and adolescents and are responsible for the decline in

> infectious diseases.

>

> Schools have efficient procedures to review records and follow up the

> immunization status of students. This ensures that immunization rates

> are high except among children in states that allow exemptions to

> immunizations because of religious or philosophical beliefs of

> parents. Many of these parents are too young to remember children

> dying or being permanently harmed by common childhood diseases. Thus,

> these parents often focus on their fear of the adverse effects of

> immunization and refuse to allow their children to be immunized --

> placing them at greater risk than if they received the immunizations.

> The lack of immunization in some children not only increases the risk

> for disease in these children but also in all other children in the

community.

>

> In view of the success of the school-entry immunization requirements,

> it is difficult to explain why no similar regulation is in place to

> monitor the immunization status of the ever-growing home-schooled

population.

>

> To document the lack of standardization in what information is

> collected about home-schooled children and whether they are properly

> immunized, the authors explored the varying state regulations on

> childhood immunization. Specifics are provided about what some states

> do and do not require. What emerges is that no one really knows

> whether the nearly 2 million home-schooled children are adequately

immunized.

>

> Every year more families participate in home schooling. Pediatric and

> family nurse practitioners in the primary care setting will need to

> play an aggressive role in trying to educate parents and protect the

> health of these children, as well as the public's health.

>

>

> Viewpoint

>

> It boggles the mind to read that for so many home-schooled children,

> immunization may not be required or there is no follow-up to

> determine whether required immunization is completed. A brief survey

> of Internet resources suggests that more and more groups are

> concerned about this issue, but to date, I could find no national

> policy to address this problem that will protect general public

> health. The most recent Healthy People report indicates that

> increasing childhood immunizations is a priority, so the loophole

> that allows 2 million home-schooled children to escape immunization

> seems unacceptable.

>

> This failure to have adequate national policy to protect children

> through immunization does not sound like the type of regulation that

> would be difficult to pass. Immunizing children should not be a

> partisan issue. This is a problem that has a clear-cut solution --

> and one that we know would make a difference. This is a problem that

> many provider groups, especially nurse practitioners, should support

> and push on to the national policy agenda.

>

>

> Sheri Nakken, R.N., MA, Hahnemannian Homeopath

> Vaccination Information & Choice Network, Washington State, USA

> Vaccines - http://vaccinationdangers.wordpress.com/ Homeopathy

> http://homeopathycures.wordpress.com

> Vaccine Dangers, Childhood Disease Classes & Homeopathy Online/email

> courses - next classes start February 24 & 25

>

[Guest guest]

" It boggles the mind " (as this article says) that so many put such an

emphasis on homeschooling. There are estimated 900,000 - 2,000,000

children homeschooled in the US. According to census and other reports,

there are approximately 50,000,000 children in public schools.

According to other stats, there is generally a +/-75% vaccination rate

among children, with a very low opt out percentage. Take the top

estimate of 2,000,000 homeschooled, that makes only 4% of all children -

when 25% of public school children are not vaccinated for one reason or

another! These numbers show this is nothing but an attack on

homeschooling and cannot be thought of as anything other. And another

fact - homeschoolers are likely to be vaccinated at a higher rate than

other separated groups. Not everyone is against all vaccinations, but

many educate themselves on each available. People want full disclosure

and choice.

Mike

references:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_the_United_States

http://school.familyeducation.com/home-schooling/alternative-education/5\

6352.html

http://www.hslda.org/research/faq.asp

>

>

>

>

<http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/716936?src=rss>http://www.medscape.\

com/viewarticle/716936?src=rss

>

>

>

> The Immunization Status of Home-Schooled Children in America

>

> Choi BK, Manning ML

> J Pediatr Health Care. 2010;24:42-47

>

>

> Article Summary

>

> The immunization of children against a vast number of

> life-threatening infectious agents is one of the greatest public

> health interventions of the 20th century. In America, the morbidity

> and mortality associated with many common childhood infectious

> diseases have all but vanished over the last 4 decades. Although not

> perfect, requirements by states for school entry vaccination play a

> significant role in achieving the high immunization rates among

> children and adolescents and are responsible for the decline in

> infectious diseases.

>

> Schools have efficient procedures to review records and follow up the

> immunization status of students. This ensures that immunization rates

> are high except among children in states that allow exemptions to

> immunizations because of religious or philosophical beliefs of

> parents. Many of these parents are too young to remember children

> dying or being permanently harmed by common childhood diseases. Thus,

> these parents often focus on their fear of the adverse effects of

> immunization and refuse to allow their children to be immunized --

> placing them at greater risk than if they received the immunizations.

> The lack of immunization in some children not only increases the risk

> for disease in these children but also in all other children in the

community.

>

> In view of the success of the school-entry immunization requirements,

> it is difficult to explain why no similar regulation is in place to

> monitor the immunization status of the ever-growing home-schooled

population.

>

> To document the lack of standardization in what information is

> collected about home-schooled children and whether they are properly

> immunized, the authors explored the varying state regulations on

> childhood immunization. Specifics are provided about what some states

> do and do not require. What emerges is that no one really knows

> whether the nearly 2 million home-schooled children are adequately

immunized.

>

> Every year more families participate in home schooling. Pediatric and

> family nurse practitioners in the primary care setting will need to

> play an aggressive role in trying to educate parents and protect the

> health of these children, as well as the public's health.

>

>

> Viewpoint

>

> It boggles the mind to read that for so many home-schooled children,

> immunization may not be required or there is no follow-up to

> determine whether required immunization is completed. A brief survey

> of Internet resources suggests that more and more groups are

> concerned about this issue, but to date, I could find no national

> policy to address this problem that will protect general public

> health. The most recent Healthy People report indicates that

> increasing childhood immunizations is a priority, so the loophole

> that allows 2 million home-schooled children to escape immunization

> seems unacceptable.

>

> This failure to have adequate national policy to protect children

> through immunization does not sound like the type of regulation that

> would be difficult to pass. Immunizing children should not be a

> partisan issue. This is a problem that has a clear-cut solution --

> and one that we know would make a difference. This is a problem that

> many provider groups, especially nurse practitioners, should support

> and push on to the national policy agenda.

>

>

> Sheri Nakken, R.N., MA, Hahnemannian Homeopath

> Vaccination Information & Choice Network, Washington State, USA

> Vaccines - http://vaccinationdangers.wordpress.com/ Homeopathy

> http://homeopathycures.wordpress.com

> Vaccine Dangers, Childhood Disease Classes & Homeopathy Online/email

> courses - next classes start February 24 & 25

>

[Guest guest]

" It boggles the mind " (as this article says) that so many put such an

emphasis on homeschooling. There are estimated 900,000 - 2,000,000

children homeschooled in the US. According to census and other reports,

there are approximately 50,000,000 children in public schools.

According to other stats, there is generally a +/-75% vaccination rate

among children, with a very low opt out percentage. Take the top

estimate of 2,000,000 homeschooled, that makes only 4% of all children -

when 25% of public school children are not vaccinated for one reason or

another! These numbers show this is nothing but an attack on

homeschooling and cannot be thought of as anything other. And another

fact - homeschoolers are likely to be vaccinated at a higher rate than

other separated groups. Not everyone is against all vaccinations, but

many educate themselves on each available. People want full disclosure

and choice.

Mike

references:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_the_United_States

http://school.familyeducation.com/home-schooling/alternative-education/5\

6352.html

http://www.hslda.org/research/faq.asp

>

>

>

>

<http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/716936?src=rss>http://www.medscape.\

com/viewarticle/716936?src=rss

>

>

>

> The Immunization Status of Home-Schooled Children in America

>

> Choi BK, Manning ML

> J Pediatr Health Care. 2010;24:42-47

>

>

> Article Summary

>

> The immunization of children against a vast number of

> life-threatening infectious agents is one of the greatest public

> health interventions of the 20th century. In America, the morbidity

> and mortality associated with many common childhood infectious

> diseases have all but vanished over the last 4 decades. Although not

> perfect, requirements by states for school entry vaccination play a

> significant role in achieving the high immunization rates among

> children and adolescents and are responsible for the decline in

> infectious diseases.

>

> Schools have efficient procedures to review records and follow up the

> immunization status of students. This ensures that immunization rates

> are high except among children in states that allow exemptions to

> immunizations because of religious or philosophical beliefs of

> parents. Many of these parents are too young to remember children

> dying or being permanently harmed by common childhood diseases. Thus,

> these parents often focus on their fear of the adverse effects of

> immunization and refuse to allow their children to be immunized --

> placing them at greater risk than if they received the immunizations.

> The lack of immunization in some children not only increases the risk

> for disease in these children but also in all other children in the

community.

>

> In view of the success of the school-entry immunization requirements,

> it is difficult to explain why no similar regulation is in place to

> monitor the immunization status of the ever-growing home-schooled

population.

>

> To document the lack of standardization in what information is

> collected about home-schooled children and whether they are properly

> immunized, the authors explored the varying state regulations on

> childhood immunization. Specifics are provided about what some states

> do and do not require. What emerges is that no one really knows

> whether the nearly 2 million home-schooled children are adequately

immunized.

>

> Every year more families participate in home schooling. Pediatric and

> family nurse practitioners in the primary care setting will need to

> play an aggressive role in trying to educate parents and protect the

> health of these children, as well as the public's health.

>

>

> Viewpoint

>

> It boggles the mind to read that for so many home-schooled children,

> immunization may not be required or there is no follow-up to

> determine whether required immunization is completed. A brief survey

> of Internet resources suggests that more and more groups are

> concerned about this issue, but to date, I could find no national

> policy to address this problem that will protect general public

> health. The most recent Healthy People report indicates that

> increasing childhood immunizations is a priority, so the loophole

> that allows 2 million home-schooled children to escape immunization

> seems unacceptable.

>

> This failure to have adequate national policy to protect children

> through immunization does not sound like the type of regulation that

> would be difficult to pass. Immunizing children should not be a

> partisan issue. This is a problem that has a clear-cut solution --

> and one that we know would make a difference. This is a problem that

> many provider groups, especially nurse practitioners, should support

> and push on to the national policy agenda.

>

>

> Sheri Nakken, R.N., MA, Hahnemannian Homeopath

> Vaccination Information & Choice Network, Washington State, USA

> Vaccines - http://vaccinationdangers.wordpress.com/ Homeopathy

> http://homeopathycures.wordpress.com

> Vaccine Dangers, Childhood Disease Classes & Homeopathy Online/email

> courses - next classes start February 24 & 25

>

[Guest guest]

" It boggles the mind " (as this article says) that so many put such an

emphasis on homeschooling. There are estimated 900,000 - 2,000,000

children homeschooled in the US. According to census and other reports,

there are approximately 50,000,000 children in public schools.

According to other stats, there is generally a +/-75% vaccination rate

among children, with a very low opt out percentage. Take the top

estimate of 2,000,000 homeschooled, that makes only 4% of all children -

when 25% of public school children are not vaccinated for one reason or

another! These numbers show this is nothing but an attack on

homeschooling and cannot be thought of as anything other. And another

fact - homeschoolers are likely to be vaccinated at a higher rate than

other separated groups. Not everyone is against all vaccinations, but

many educate themselves on each available. People want full disclosure

and choice.

Mike

references:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_the_United_States

http://school.familyeducation.com/home-schooling/alternative-education/5\

6352.html

http://www.hslda.org/research/faq.asp

>

>

>

>

<http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/716936?src=rss>http://www.medscape.\

com/viewarticle/716936?src=rss

>

>

>

> The Immunization Status of Home-Schooled Children in America

>

> Choi BK, Manning ML

> J Pediatr Health Care. 2010;24:42-47

>

>

> Article Summary

>

> The immunization of children against a vast number of

> life-threatening infectious agents is one of the greatest public

> health interventions of the 20th century. In America, the morbidity

> and mortality associated with many common childhood infectious

> diseases have all but vanished over the last 4 decades. Although not

> perfect, requirements by states for school entry vaccination play a

> significant role in achieving the high immunization rates among

> children and adolescents and are responsible for the decline in

> infectious diseases.

>

> Schools have efficient procedures to review records and follow up the

> immunization status of students. This ensures that immunization rates

> are high except among children in states that allow exemptions to

> immunizations because of religious or philosophical beliefs of

> parents. Many of these parents are too young to remember children

> dying or being permanently harmed by common childhood diseases. Thus,

> these parents often focus on their fear of the adverse effects of

> immunization and refuse to allow their children to be immunized --

> placing them at greater risk than if they received the immunizations.

> The lack of immunization in some children not only increases the risk

> for disease in these children but also in all other children in the

community.

>

> In view of the success of the school-entry immunization requirements,

> it is difficult to explain why no similar regulation is in place to

> monitor the immunization status of the ever-growing home-schooled

population.

>

> To document the lack of standardization in what information is

> collected about home-schooled children and whether they are properly

> immunized, the authors explored the varying state regulations on

> childhood immunization. Specifics are provided about what some states

> do and do not require. What emerges is that no one really knows

> whether the nearly 2 million home-schooled children are adequately

immunized.

>

> Every year more families participate in home schooling. Pediatric and

> family nurse practitioners in the primary care setting will need to

> play an aggressive role in trying to educate parents and protect the

> health of these children, as well as the public's health.

>

>

> Viewpoint

>

> It boggles the mind to read that for so many home-schooled children,

> immunization may not be required or there is no follow-up to

> determine whether required immunization is completed. A brief survey

> of Internet resources suggests that more and more groups are

> concerned about this issue, but to date, I could find no national

> policy to address this problem that will protect general public

> health. The most recent Healthy People report indicates that

> increasing childhood immunizations is a priority, so the loophole

> that allows 2 million home-schooled children to escape immunization

> seems unacceptable.

>

> This failure to have adequate national policy to protect children

> through immunization does not sound like the type of regulation that

> would be difficult to pass. Immunizing children should not be a

> partisan issue. This is a problem that has a clear-cut solution --

> and one that we know would make a difference. This is a problem that

> many provider groups, especially nurse practitioners, should support

> and push on to the national policy agenda.

>

>

> Sheri Nakken, R.N., MA, Hahnemannian Homeopath

> Vaccination Information & Choice Network, Washington State, USA

> Vaccines - http://vaccinationdangers.wordpress.com/ Homeopathy

> http://homeopathycures.wordpress.com

> Vaccine Dangers, Childhood Disease Classes & Homeopathy Online/email

> courses - next classes start February 24 & 25

>