HOMESCHOOLING AND VACCINES
Here’s another one to keep an eye on.
A measles outbreak in Indiana was “initiated” when an HEK who had never been immunized contracted the disease overseas. It then spread through her church.
The day of her return, the girl attended a church gathering with about 500 people. The church itself had no position on vaccines, but a significant number of its members had refused to immunize their children against the measles because of rumored fears that the vaccine causes autism. These children were home-schooled.
Of the estimated 50 people at the gathering who had not been immunized, 16 (32%) became infected with measles that day. Another 18 people in the community became infected over the next six weeks, bringing the total up to 34.
…Although every U.S. state requires two doses of measles vaccine for children to attend school, only one state, West Virginia, also requires home-schooled children to be immunized, the authors said.
I’m not sure about that last bit. NC requires that we maintain immunization records. I’ve never bothered to read up on the law as to what vaccines are actually required. Does anyone know other states where vaccines are required for HEKs?
5 Responses to “HOMESCHOOLING AND VACCINES”
 Comment by Julie August 4th, 2006 at 8:44 am |
In my state, Minnesota, I am required to submit a pupil immunization record to the school district as part of my letter on intent to homeschool. However, the immunization record includes the following statement: “No student is required to have an immunization which is contrary to the conscientiously held beliefs of his/her parent or guardian. To receive this exemption, a parent or legal guardian must complete and sign the following statement and have it notarized.” Even the parents of public school students have the legal right to opt out. Actually, every state except Mississippi and West Virginia allow parents to opt out of immunization. States have unsuccessfully tried to limit the number of non-immunized kids by mandating that the parents belong to a church with a written tenet opposing vaccinations. |
 Comment by JJ Ross August 4th, 2006 at 10:07 am |
Weird – it never occurred to me that ANY state required vaccine records apart from school enrollment! |
 Comment by Jodi August 4th, 2006 at 2:55 pm |
I know Montana requires homeschoolers to be immunized. If I had to guess, I’d say all states require it unless you have an exemption. When my kids were 2 and 1, whooping cough went through our church. All the kids who got it were vaccinated. My kids were directly exposed to the child who started it, and without being vaccinated, they were fine. Vaccines aren’t a guarentee either way. |
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Comment by JJ Ross August 4th, 2006 at 5:32 pm |
Seriously – what’s the legal rationale states offer as sufficient to impose government-specified health care on private families not interested in institutionalizing their kids? I think we might be onto something that needs attention here — |
 Comment by Allison, Natural Elevation August 5th, 2006 at 3:59 pm |
Vermont is surprisingly lax in this one area, where the rare philisophical objection to vaccination is accepted, as well as a religious objection. Perhaps the philosophical objection was won by our high percentage of “Green”, new-age hippie folks. The home education law states nothing about vaccination. I have a religious objection stored in each of my childrens’ files at their doctor, anyway. |