Re: California Tdap exemption form for 7-12th graders

June 7, 2011

Good letter. Although I would still give him a separate exemption letter. That

way, the question about the crossed out lines in the form is totally out of the

picture.

>

> Thanks, everyone for your comments and advice on this. I sent the following

email to the principal today. Yes, if home schooling was an option for me I

wouldn't even deal with this, but my daughter is a kid who loves school,

strangely enough. She actually thrives in that environment and the social

activity is very important to her. I thought about it earlier on but decided to

send her to an alternative charter school for her elementary years, which was

great. Now she's in a mainstream high school and doing great. Home schooling

just wouldn't work for her. She would be very upset if she knew there was a

chance she won't get her schedule on time or wouldn't be able to start the year

off right. That sort of thing stresses her out. I need to get this handled now.

- Jane

>

> Dear ,

>

> I'm concerned that this may take a while, and I want to be certain now that my

daughter will get her schedule in August. There is no " course of action " that

needs to be taken. Here is the law:

>

http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/displaycode?section=hsc & group=120001-121000 & fi\

le=120325-120380

>

> 120365. Immunization of a person shall not be required for

> admission to a school or other institution listed in Section 120335

> if the parent or guardian or adult who has assumed responsibility for

> his or her care and custody in the case of a minor, or the person

> seeking admission if an emancipated minor, files with the governing

> authority a letter or affidavit stating that the immunization is

> contrary to his or her beliefs. However, whenever there is good cause

> to believe that the person has been exposed to one of the

> communicable diseases listed in subdivision (a) of Section 120325,

> that person may be temporarily excluded from the school or

> institution until the local health officer is satisfied that the

> person is no longer at risk of developing the disease.

>

> All I need to do is give you a letter stating the immunization is contrary to

my beliefs. There is no requirement for this particular form with the additional

language. The form I already signed is legally sufficient. There is nothing for

anyone to figure out here.

>

> I need to know now this week that my daughter will get her schedule on time in

August. I do not want to have to deal with this at the last minute. My daughter

is a very good student and the beginning of her school year should go smoothly

without delay. I have been totally compliant with this new law and I expect the

school to accept this.

>

> Thanks for your attention to this matter.

>

June 9, 2011

I went to turn in registration paperwork for one of my sons who will be starting high school in the fall, and the person at the front office had me stop by the nurse's office to sign the appropriate exemption form. The nurse was nice enough, but strangely she couldn't find the regular blue exemption form yet had no problem producing the new Tdap exemption form for me to sign (which is also blue). She was very apologetic and went on to explain that the Department of Health is causing headaches with this separate exemption requirement. Anyway, I was prepared beforehand from what I had already learned from you all and from my own research, so I read the form over, crossed out the sentence I deemed inappropriate/not true, initialed the crossed out section, and then signed and dated the form. The nurse watched me the whole time and didn't even bat an eye-lash when I started crossing stuff out. She accepted it back

and just added it to my other paperwork. She said I was the very first person (out of a school with roughly 3,000 students) that she has given the new form to so far and was impressed that I already knew all about it. She laughed and said she would save her spiel since I had clearly already done my homework.

I have a feeling I may be getting a phone call or a letter telling me I have to go back and sign the other form as well. The nurse didn't know and thought probably not since the school seemed more concerned with this new Tdap situation. Unfortunately, what with California's dismal budget situation, the nurse position has been terminated, and her last day is next Tuesday. She was pretty bitter about it and wondered how the school would cope since they don't have a back up plan for some sort of health services. She said she had been with the school for 3 years and saw "scores" of students daily for some ailment or another.

As I was leaving she wished me well and said my son is very lucky to have such a smart mother. Go figure, huh?

From: Sheri Nakken <vaccinedangers@...>Vaccinations Sent: Fri, June 3, 2011 10:07:35 AMSubject: Re: Re: California Tdap exemption form for 7-12th graders

May want to remind him that the law doesn't say anything about needing a separate form.To go by the law for exemptions you only need to sign the back of the blue formSheriAt 06:49 AM 6/3/2011, you wrote:>I got this email back from him. I think the schools are just doing >their best to comply with the health depts. They don't know what to >do when someone doesn't play the stupid game.>>Ms. Sheppard,>>Sorry it has taken me so long to get back to you. This process, and >the the new law, are very new to us at the school sites. We have >been directed to have the objector sign only in our presence. There >was never a discussion about someone lining out sections of the document.>>It will take me a while, but I have to check with the coordinator >downtown regarding your remarks below. After I have discussed with >her what my course of action

should be, I will get back to you.>>Thank you for your patience on this matter.>>>>> > >> > > So I got tired of waiting for this principal to call me back. I

> just sent him this letter. He's a nice guy, I've talked with him > before on other issues. I'll let you know what he responds. He'll > probably send it to the health dept to get their feedback or > approval. I don't care, I'm already on their "watch list" I'm sure > because of my website and because I've written letters published in > the local newspaper.> > >> > > Dear Mr. Van Dyke,> > >> > > I was told by Beth, the school nurse, that you would like me to come> > > in and meet with you regarding my daughter's exemption form for the> > > Tdap vaccine. She said either you or she would get back to me and I> > > haven't heard back. Can you please explain the purpose of this> > > meeting?> > >> > > I have fully complied with the Law AB 354 by signing the exemption> > >

form. By law, my daughter should be allowed in school in August. I did> > > cross out some of the wording on this form. The statement, "The> > > unimmunized child and the child's contacts at school and home are a> > > greater risk of becoming sick with pertussis..." is not true. I have> > > been extensively researching vaccinations for over 16 years, and my> > > research shows me that this is not true. I will not sign a statement> > > that I know to be false. The pertussis vaccine is not an effective> > > vaccine, and most people who have had pertussis in CA over the past> > > year have been fully vaccinated. It is vaccinated kids and adults who> > > are spreading this disease. I have taken steps throughout my> > > daughter's life to strengthen her immune system and I believe she is> > > less likely to become

sick with pertussis than vaccinated kids. In> > > fact, she was exposed to pertussis when she was a toddler, by a fully> > > vaccinated child with the disease. She did not get the disease. Of> > > course I know it's always possible that she may contract the disease> > > if exposed again, but she's not at any greater risk than those kids> > > who are vaccinated.> > >> > > I also crossed out the statement, "I understand that, for the> > > protection of the child and other students, the child may be excluded> > > from attending school for prolonged periods during outbreaks of> > > pertussis". I do know that my daughter may be excluded from school if> > > there's an outbreak; it's part of the law, whether I cross this> > > statement out or not. I don't agree with this and that's why I crossed>

> > it out. I've already signed that statement on the back of the original> > > blue immunization card already on file at the school. That should be> > > sufficient. But if crossing this statement out is a problem for you, I> > > will sign another form and not cross out that entire statement. I will> > > only cross out the part that says "for the protection of the child and> > > other students" since that part of the statement doesn't make any> > > sense at all.> > >> > > Honestly, I'm not trying to be difficult and I know that you and I are> > > both very busy. We should not even have to deal with this. I just> > > cannot put my signature on something that I don't believe to be true.> > > And it doesn't change anything with the cross-outs - I'm still> > > exempting my daughter as required by

law. There is nothing in that law> > > that requires that wording for exemption. The law does not even> > > require the additional new form.> > >> > > I consider it tragic that the health department via the public school> > > system is coercing parents to make medical decisions for their> > > children. Vaccines, like all prescription medicines, carry risks.> > > Whether or not to vaccinate a child is not a decision to be taken> > > lightly. It should be decided by the parents in consultation with> > > their child's doctor after complete research - without outside> > > influence or coercion.> > >> > > Please let me know ASAP if you would like me to sign another form. I> > > will come in and sign it. On this new form, I will only cross out the> > > following

statements:> > >> > > "The unimmunized child and the child's contacts at school and home are> > > a greater risk of becoming sick with pertussis..."> > >> > > "for the protection of the child and other students"> > >> > > Please contact me ASAP. I want this issue resolved this week. My> > > daughter must receive her schedule in August with everyone else. Thank> > > you.> > >> > > Sincerely,

..

June 9, 2011

Well I’m glad that all went well for you and eliminating the school nurse.. geez.. how stupid can they be? Instead of eliminating their fat paychecks or their annual 5 billion percent pay raise.. no can’t ax that Nita, mom to: 18, Jon 16, 14, 12, 9, Christian (7/16/03 to 8/22/04), 5, Isaac 3 and , born 3/1/11http://momof6.dotphoto.com for possibly current pictures and http://nitasspot.blogspot.comLearn from the mistakes of others. Trust me... you can't live long enough to make them all yourself.

June 9, 2011

Exactly! This school is actually a cluster of 6 different schools sharing the same campus. (School of Business, School of Communication, etc.) Each "school" has it's own principal. Well, apparently a couple of the principals' jobs were on the line and the other principals banned together and voted instead to eliminate the nurse position and some counselor positions so the other principals wouldn't lose their jobs or have to take pay cuts. Nice.

From: Venita Garner <nitagarner@...>Vaccinations Sent: Thu, June 9, 2011 4:22:05 PMSubject: RE: Re: California Tdap exemption form for 7-12th graders

Well Iâ€™m glad that all went well for you and eliminating the school nurse.. geez.. how stupid can they be? Instead of eliminating their fat paychecks or their annual 5 billion percent pay raise.. no canâ€™t ax that

Nita, mom to: 18, Jon 16, 14, 12, 9, Christian (7/16/03 to 8/22/04), 5, Isaac 3 and , born 3/1/11http://momof6.dotphoto.com for possibly current pictures and http://nitasspot.blogspot.comLearn from the mistakes of others. Trust me... you can't live long enough to make them all yourself.

June 9, 2011

,

So good to hear this. I want to also say to those in CA whose children are not

yet in school that it is SO EASY to get a vaccine exemption in CA. There is

nothing to worry about. I've never had an issue until now, and it's only with

this new form for high school. And I can see how I made it more complicated than

it needed to be. I went to the school to sign the form, not knowing what was on

it, and when I read the first couple of statements on it I decided to take it

home with me and then figure out what to do. Those statements just caught me

off-guard and in my anger I didn't think about simply crossing them out. The

nurse wasn't there, just her assistant. I should have just crossed out the

statements, signed it, and quietly gave it back to the assistant, like you did.

But since I took it home, the nurse called me and I told her how I felt and said

I'd sign it if I could cross out those statements. She said ok, go ahead and do

it but she'd have to check with the health dept " coordinator " if that was ok.

That's when it all went downhill. I should never have had this phone call with

her. Then she went and got the principal and now the Director of Ed for the

district, plus the health dept involved. Sheeeesh!

But my point is that it's very easy to get your kids exempted in CA if you know

beforehand to just confidently go in and sign the form.

Jane

> > > >

> > > > So I got tired of waiting for this principal to call me back. I

> > just sent him this letter. He's a nice guy, I've talked with him

> > before on other issues. I'll let you know what he responds. He'll

> > probably send it to the health dept to get their feedback or

> > approval. I don't care, I'm already on their " watch list " I'm sure

> > because of my website and because I've written letters published in

> > the local newspaper.

> > > >

> > > > Dear Mr. Van Dyke,

> > > >

> > > > I was told by Beth, the school nurse, that you would like me to come

> > > > in and meet with you regarding my daughter's exemption form for the

> > > > Tdap vaccine. She said either you or she would get back to me and I

> > > > haven't heard back. Can you please explain the purpose of this

> > > > meeting?

> > > >

> > > > I have fully complied with the Law AB 354 by signing the exemption

> > > > form. By law, my daughter should be allowed in school in August. I did

> > > > cross out some of the wording on this form. The statement, " The

> > > > unimmunized child and the child's contacts at school and home are a

> > > > greater risk of becoming sick with pertussis... " is not true. I have

> > > > been extensively researching vaccinations for over 16 years, and my

> > > > research shows me that this is not true. I will not sign a statement

> > > > that I know to be false. The pertussis vaccine is not an effective

> > > > vaccine, and most people who have had pertussis in CA over the past

> > > > year have been fully vaccinated. It is vaccinated kids and adults who

> > > > are spreading this disease. I have taken steps throughout my

> > > > daughter's life to strengthen her immune system and I believe she is

> > > > less likely to become sick with pertussis than vaccinated kids. In

> > > > fact, she was exposed to pertussis when she was a toddler, by a fully

> > > > vaccinated child with the disease. She did not get the disease. Of

> > > > course I know it's always possible that she may contract the disease

> > > > if exposed again, but she's not at any greater risk than those kids

> > > > who are vaccinated.

> > > >

> > > > I also crossed out the statement, " I understand that, for the

> > > > protection of the child and other students, the child may be excluded

> > > > from attending school for prolonged periods during outbreaks of

> > > > pertussis " . I do know that my daughter may be excluded from school if

> > > > there's an outbreak; it's part of the law, whether I cross this

> > > > statement out or not. I don't agree with this and that's why I crossed

> > > > it out. I've already signed that statement on the back of the original

> > > > blue immunization card already on file at the school. That should be

> > > > sufficient. But if crossing this statement out is a problem for you, I

> > > > will sign another form and not cross out that entire statement. I will

> > > > only cross out the part that says " for the protection of the child and

> > > > other students " since that part of the statement doesn't make any

> > > > sense at all.

> > > >

> > > > Honestly, I'm not trying to be difficult and I know that you and I are

> > > > both very busy. We should not even have to deal with this. I just

> > > > cannot put my signature on something that I don't believe to be true.

> > > > And it doesn't change anything with the cross-outs - I'm still

> > > > exempting my daughter as required by law. There is nothing in that law

> > > > that requires that wording for exemption. The law does not even

> > > > require the additional new form.

> > > >

> > > > I consider it tragic that the health department via the public school

> > > > system is coercing parents to make medical decisions for their

> > > > children. Vaccines, like all prescription medicines, carry risks.

> > > > Whether or not to vaccinate a child is not a decision to be taken

> > > > lightly. It should be decided by the parents in consultation with

> > > > their child's doctor after complete research - without outside

> > > > influence or coercion.

> > > >

> > > > Please let me know ASAP if you would like me to sign another form. I

> > > > will come in and sign it. On this new form, I will only cross out the

> > > > following statements:

> > > >

> > > > " The unimmunized child and the child's contacts at school and home are

> > > > a greater risk of becoming sick with pertussis... "

> > > >

> > > > " for the protection of the child and other students "

> > > >

> > > > Please contact me ASAP. I want this issue resolved this week. My

> > > > daughter must receive her schedule in August with everyone else. Thank

> > > > you.

> > > >

> > > > Sincerely,

>

> .

>

June 9, 2011

Just what we all need - more principals. In the LAUSD, I rarely found a principal in her office or on campus. ~ Maureen R. Gradvohl ~ From: <allitwin2@...>Vaccinations Sent: Thu, June 9, 2011 3:33:52 PMSubject: Re:

Re: California Tdap exemption form for 7-12th graders

Exactly! This school is actually a cluster of 6 different schools sharing the same campus. (School of Business, School of Communication, etc.) Each "school" has it's own principal. Well, apparently a couple of the principals' jobs were on the line and the other principals banned together and voted instead to eliminate the nurse position and some counselor positions so the other principals wouldn't lose their jobs or have to take pay cuts. Nice.

From: Venita Garner <nitagarner@...>Vaccinations Sent: Thu, June 9, 2011 4:22:05 PMSubject: RE: Re: California Tdap exemption form for 7-12th graders

Well Iâ€™m glad that all went well for you and eliminating the school nurse.. geez.. how stupid can they be? Instead of eliminating their fat paychecks or their annual 5 billion percent pay raise.. no canâ€™t ax that

Nita, mom to: 18, Jon 16, 14, 12, 9, Christian (7/16/03 to 8/22/04), 5, Isaac 3 and , born 3/1/11http://momof6.dotphoto.com for possibly current pictures and http://nitasspot.blogspot.comLearn from the mistakes of others. Trust me... you can't live long enough to make them all yourself.

June 9, 2011

It sounds as if that went very well. Good job! But I would get a copy of the regular blue form elsewhere and get it turned in. You want to be able to claim at all times that you have abided by the law. It won't look as if you know it if you don't turn in the required one without being asked for it.

Too bad the nurse is leaving. She seems as if she would have been a good one to have on your side.

Winnie

Re: Re: California Tdap exemption form > for 7-12th > graders> > > May want to remind him that the law doesn't say anything about > needing a separate form.> To go by the law for exemptions you only need to sign the back > of the blue form> Sheri> > At 06:49 AM 6/3/2011, you wrote:> >I got this email back from him. I think the schools are just > doing > >their best to comply with the health depts. They don't know > what to > >do when someone doesn't play the stupid game.> >> >Ms. Sheppard,> >> >Sorry it has taken me so long to get back to you. This process, > and > >the the new law, are very new to us at the school sites. We > have > >been directed to have the objector sign only in our presence. > There > >was never a discussion about someone lining out sections of the > document.>> >It will take me a while, but I have to check with the > coordinator > >downtown regarding your remarks below. After I have discussed > with > >her what my course of action should be, I will get back to you.> >> >Thank you for your patience on this matter.> >> >> >> >> > > >> > > > So I got tired of waiting for this principal to call me > back. I > > just sent him this letter. He's a nice guy, I've talked with > him > > before on other issues. I'll let you know what he responds. > He'll > > probably send it to the health dept to get their feedback or > > approval. I don't care, I'm already on their "watch list" I'm > sure > > because of my website and because I've written letters > published in > > the local newspaper.> > > >> > > > Dear Mr. Van Dyke,> > > >> > > > I was told by Beth, the school nurse, that you would like > me to come> > > > in and meet with you regarding my daughter's exemption > form for the> > > > Tdap vaccine. She said either you or she would get back to > me and I> > > > haven't heard back. Can you please explain the purpose of this> > > > meeting?> > > >> > > > I have fully complied with the Law AB 354 by signing the > exemption> > > form. By law, my daughter should be allowed in > school in August. I did> > > > cross out some of the wording on this form. The statement, "The> > > > unimmunized child and the child's contacts at school and > home are a> > > > greater risk of becoming sick with pertussis..." is not > true. I have> > > > been extensively researching vaccinations for over 16 > years, and my> > > > research shows me that this is not true. I will not sign a > statement> > > that I know to be false. The pertussis vaccine is > not an effective> > > > vaccine, and most people who have had pertussis in CA over > the past> > > > year have been fully vaccinated. It is vaccinated kids and > adults who> > > > are spreading this disease. I have taken steps throughout my> > > > daughter's life to strengthen her immune system and I > believe she is> > > > less likely to become sick with pertussis than vaccinated > kids. In> > > > fact, she was exposed to pertussis when she was a toddler, > by a fully> > > > vaccinated child with the disease. She did not get the > disease. Of> > > > course I know it's always possible that she may contract > the disease> > > > if exposed again, but she's not at any greater risk than > those kids> > > > who are vaccinated.> > > >> > > > I also crossed out the statement, "I understand that, for the> > > > protection of the child and other students, the child may > be excluded> > > > from attending school for prolonged periods during > outbreaks of> > > > pertussis". I do know that my daughter may be excluded > from school if> > > > there's an outbreak; it's part of the law, whether I cross this> > > > statement out or not. I don't agree with this and that's > why I crossed> > > > it out. I've already signed that statement on the back of > the original> > > > blue immunization card already on file at the school. That > should be> > > > sufficient. But if crossing this statement out is a > problem for you, I> > > > will sign another form and not cross out that entire > statement. I will> > > > only cross out the part that says "for the protection of > the child and> > > > other students" since that part of the statement doesn't > make any> > > > sense at all.> > > >> > > > Honestly, I'm not trying to be difficult and I know that > you and I are> > > > both very busy. We should not even have to deal with this. > I just> > > > cannot put my signature on something that I don't believe > to be true.> > > > And it doesn't change anything with the cross-outs - I'm still> > > > exempting my daughter as required by law. There is nothing > in that law> > > > that requires that wording for exemption. The law does not even> > > > require the additional new form.> > > >> > > > I consider it tragic that the health department via the > public school> > > > system is coercing parents to make medical decisions for their> > > > children. Vaccines, like all prescription medicines, carry > risks.> > > Whether or not to vaccinate a child is not a > decision to be taken> > > > lightly. It should be decided by the parents in > consultation with> > > > their child's doctor after complete research - without outside> > > > influence or coercion.> > > >> > > > Please let me know ASAP if you would like me to sign > another form. I> > > > will come in and sign it. On this new form, I will only > cross out the> > > > following statements:> > > >> > > > "The unimmunized child and the child's contacts at school > and home are> > > > a greater risk of becoming sick with pertussis..."> > > >> > > > "for the protection of the child and other students"> > > >> > > > Please contact me ASAP. I want this issue resolved this > week. My> > > > daughter must receive her schedule in August with everyone > else. Thank> > > > you.> > > >> > > > Sincerely,> > . > >

June 9, 2011

Good point. I'll print one out tomorrow and turn it in.From: "wharrison@..." <wharrison@...>Vaccinations Sent: Thu, June 9, 2011 8:13:00 PMSubject: Re: Re: California Tdap exemption form for 7-12th graders

It sounds as if that went very well. Good job! But I would get a copy of the regular blue form elsewhere and get it turned in. You want to be able to claim at all times that you have abided by the law. It won't look as if you know it if you don't turn in the required one without being asked for it.

Too bad the nurse is leaving. She seems as if she would have been a good one to have on your side.

Winnie

Re: Re: California Tdap exemption form > for 7-12th > graders> > > May want to remind him that the law doesn't say anything about > needing a separate form.> To go by the law for exemptions you only need to sign the back > of the blue form> Sheri

.

June 10, 2011

Go Mom!

I cannot believe they are eliminating the Nurse! I would not even send my child

to school without a nurse present, his asthma is so severe. Most of the time the

other personnel think he is faking, but she at least knows how to check him out

and always takes him seriously. What about all the kids with diabetes, asthma,

severe allergies, etc???? IS the secretary going to properly administer all

those potentially dangerous meds???