A story that should serve as a wakeup call to all American parents is currently making headline news: A Staten Island kindergartner has been barred from attending school because she hasn’t been vaccinated against chickenpox—even though her pediatrician refuses to vaccinate her on grounds that it may endanger the health of her baby sister. Read full story…
I also live in NYS and requested an exemption for my daughter. From what I understand, the school has no right to judge your request for an exemption. I received a letter from the Principal stating that he received my request and that I should understand that if there is an outbreak of whatever disease my child was not vaccinated against, she would not be allowed to attend school until the outbreak was over. That statement really floors me because if there was an outbreak, wouldn’t my daughter be the first to get the disease?? At any rate, this parent should contact the State because unless the laws have changed, the school cannot forbid entry because of the exemption.
Prior to the universal chickenpox (varicella) vaccination program, 95% of adults experienced natural chickenpox (usually as pre-school
to early elementary school children)—these cases were usually
benign. In the prelicensure era, the periodic exogenous (outside) boosting that adults received from children catching chickenpox resulted in long-term immunity. This high percentage of individuals with long-term immunity from exposure to what were annual epidemics of natural chickenpox occurring in communities, has been compromised
by the universal varicella vaccination of children Chickenpox vaccination provides at best 70–90% protection that is temporary and
of unknown duration—shifting chickenpox to a more vulnerable
adult population which, as Dr. Jane Seward cautioned in 2007, carries
20 times more risk of death and 10–15 times more risk of
hospitalization compared to chickenpox in children. Thus,
the proponents for universal varicella vaccination have failed to
consider increased shingles-related morbidity as well as the adverse
effects of both the chickenpox and singles vaccines which have more than offset the limited benefits associated with reductions in chickenpox disease. The universal varicella vaccination program
now requires a booster vaccine for children and an HZ vaccine to
boost protection in adults. However, these are less effective than
the natural immunity that existed in communities prior to licensure
of the varicella vaccine. Hence, rather than eliminating chickenpox
in children as promised, routine vaccination against chickenpox has
proven extremely costly and has created continual cycles of treatment and disease. See the open access article: Review of the United States universal varicella vaccination program: Herpes zoster incidence rates, cost-effectiveness, and vaccine efficacy primarily based primarily on the Antelope Valley Varicella Active Surveillance Project data. Goldman GS, King PG. Vaccine 2012;31(13):1680-94. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264410X12007761
From what I understand, the Health Dept denied the exemption, also against the law. The only exemptions in NY are Medical and Religious. It seems that this family has the prerequisites for a Medical exemption from their doctor. I say, time to consult an attorney, or better yet, keep your child out of kindergarten. I personally used the Religious exemption. No one, not the school nor the State can effectively tell you your objections are not Religious enough. You do not have to belong to any particular religion whose tenets forbid vaccinations; you just need to have genuine religious beliefs that preclude you from vaccinating yourself and your children.
When in need, forge the document. it works.