Ot should a parent be jailed

[Guest guest]

Hi Jenn,

Just read your missive. I'm somewhat surprised. Only because you're

in Oregon (which I always thought was more progressive), and I'm in

Missouri. I spent 30 years in ED and Trauma medicine, and now am a

school nurse. I had both my kids vaccinated for everything, but

prior to doing so, had to read volumes of info, then my doc came in

and talked to me about concerns. She was the one that articulated

what concerns were out there, ie, Thimerisal(sp) which has been

pulled from most pediatric vac, now. She didn't depend on my reading

the volumes to articulate what the issues were. You also had a

choice with every vaccine to get it or not, she encouraged me to do

so, but didn't push.

Regarding the schools, I let each parent know who has a concern, they

can sign a medical or religious waiver at any time. The only

negative being, if there is an outbreak, of say measles, and your

child hasn't been vaccinated, they are pulled out of school...for

their safety, until the outbreak is over. Only place we've had an

outbreak in our area of recent date was at a religious private

school, that didn't recognize medicine in general. They closed the

school as none of their students had been immunized...the outbreak

was self limiting.

I do live in a relatively urban/suburban are, but, boy oh boy you

best not be telling any parent here they HAVE to get their child

immunized to go to school. Rather they HAVE to get them immunized OR

sign a waiver. Which by the by also absolves the scool districts of

any negative effects if their child does come down with a childhood

disease that could have been prevented had they been vaccinated, this

is the part that most parents have a problem with, which I find,

frankly rather amusing.

I personally vaccinate, but never argue with those who don't as I'm

sure their convictions are as strong as mine. This is after all

America, and everyone has the right to their own opinion...I will

forever celebrate and support that.

Regarding the Flu vaccines, again surprised that there was confusion

there. All of the info we got from the CDC noted the 2 different

kinds. Of course the 'Thimerisol' brand was easier to get, but every

place, including our school, which had a clinic for flu shots, as did

every school in our district, had substatial notifications to

participants that the 'free' flu shot was available, at limited

sites, but for the SAME price as the regular vaccine. I took the

regular, my kids who have asthma, got the free. It cost me 30

minutes wait time and an extra 20 minute drive. I asked while I was

at the Mo DOH whether they were supporting the same systems in rural

counties...They said yes. If anyone else in Mo has a different

experieince regarding availability, I'd love to know. I'll scream,,

access is a big issue.

I do believe that knowledge is power, and if you don't know to ask

you may feel intimidated, but that doesn't mean providers are forcing

you rather, you just have never felt powerful enough to question. I

have dealt with many folks who 'think' they have to do what I say,

(As a health care provider), I assure them that they have choices,

and should educate themselves as to what those choices are.

Granted easier said than done, but, my job, as I see it is to EDUCATE

folks regarding their responsibility to care for them selves, and to

be their best own advocate.

I can hear folks shaking their heads, I know, getting information is

hard. You have to want to seek it out, and have the resources to do

so. When I wasn't the 'boss' I always got in trouble for taking to

long with discharge instructions, and when I was the boss, got yelled

at for being to harsh with my employees who I thought didn't provide

all the info, and then verify that the folks they were giving it to

understood what they said, (This is key).

The folks on this list, are knowledge seekers, and shareers, (Is that

a real word?) I think that is great!!!! The only thing I would

reccommend, share your passion for getting ALL the information, and

remember, don't let your personal beliefs get in the way, give all

the information, express your own rationale for decisions when asked,

and hope for the best!

Happy early thanksgiving to you all!

Lynn