FQ: My daughter is 5. From birth until recently she has always been on an alternative schedule with no more than 2 shots at any given time. Back in January of 2013 she was given the Varicella vaccine and the Hep B vaccine. I was against the Varicella vaccine (chickenpox) but the nurse told me that it was a requirement for school. My daughter was fine for a week then developed a site reaction to the varicella shot (nothing with the Hep B shot). We tried the ice as suggested by the doctor and it got bigger (enough to make me circle it and take photos). I took her in and was told that this was a normal reaction to the varicella shot for TEENAGERS. Two weeks later I took her back in as now the site was bruised and she was having secondary issues (sudden allergic reaction to adhesive in bandaids, issues with bowels). No new info from the doctors. Her bruise lasted 4 months. At this point I decided to stop giving her the remaining vaccines and switched doctors. She started kindergarten in late August and was due for 4 more booster immunizations to be compliant. After I received notification from the school that she needed these shots I talked to her new doctor who agreed on an extended schedule (1 per month). She then received her dtap booster (for which she had a minor site reaction and also issues with bowels). That same day I received a message from the school nurse that she contacted the state because we were out of compliance. This started a big ball of farce rolling as there are children who attend this public school who are without any immunizations but I was being told that MY daughter was liable to get other kids sick because of needing 3 boosters. My doctor was made to snail mail up a medical exemption to put my daughter on an extended schedule. I was given a week to get a response from this government office who had absolutely no idea what we went through or my daughter would be suspended from Kindergarten. So on that Friday I went to school with a religious waiver. School was covered, I was covered - end of story...right? NOPE. I received a certified letter in the mail yesterday (yes 3 months later) from the Health Department saying that they denied the extended schedule and she needs to have her last three boosters within 30 days or CAN NO LONGER ATTEND SCHOOL. We were also notified that we can appeal through the court system. Just laughable. Ok so here is my question. We live in NC. I have a religious exemption on file with the school. Does this trump the farce of a letter I received from the Health Department? Once I filed the religious exemption with the school I felt a huge sense of relief because I REALLY dont think it would be in my childs best interest to continue receiving these immunizations at this point in her life.
Posted on: Sun, 01 Dec 2013 01:06:56 +0000