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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To wonder if my kids have to be vaccinated to go to school?

163 replies

Cuddler · 04/07/2012 20:23

Hi,

My son is due to start school in September this year.Its all sorted,today he went to an induction thing and i got handed a form about which vaccinations he had/hadnt had,and just general health questions.

He hasnt been vaccinated since the ones at 16 weeks,so no mmr.My other 2 children havnt been vaxed at all.Im not asking for opinions on whether this is right as i have made a well informed choice and its something i have thought about for a long time and feel strongly about,I know theres not really a law about kids being vaxed to go to school but i just wondered if anyone knew if the school could "make a fuss" about it,or if anyone has any expereience of this.

Until a couple of months ago were going to home educate so it wasnt an issue,but obviously now hes going so just wanted to ask.

OP posts:
valiumredhead · 04/07/2012 20:25

Depends were you live. In the UK I think the school doesn't have a say but I know in parts of California they don't start without them being vaccinated.

thisisyesterday · 04/07/2012 20:26

in the UK no, your children do not have to be vaccinated

thisisyesterday · 04/07/2012 20:26

our school did ask what vaccinations they have had, and i just said none.

Original poster
Cuddler · 04/07/2012 20:27

Yes sorry,I am in the UK.West Sussex to be exact!

OP posts:
JamieandTheOlympicTorch · 04/07/2012 20:27

AFAIK, they don't. If certain DCs I know had been, the measles outbreak which threatened the health of an immuno-suppresses classmate would not have happened.

thisisyesterday · 04/07/2012 20:27

ooh so am i!

thisisyesterday · 04/07/2012 20:28

i also have 3 children, 2 unvaxed and the eldest had baby jabs but not the MMR.

you are me! lol

JamieandTheOlympicTorch · 04/07/2012 20:28

immuno-suppressed classmate

olimpia · 04/07/2012 20:29

Can someone please explain why on earth someone would opt out of vaccinating their DCs? Genuine question!

thisisyesterday · 04/07/2012 20:31

Olimpia, maybe start a new thread for that if you want lots of opinions. it's been discussed in length on here before as well, so could use the advanced search function to find out people's points of view :)

SoozyWoozy · 04/07/2012 20:33

I am watching with interest...

Seriously OP, you post in AIBU about a sensitive topic like vaccinations and you don't want opinions on if not vaccinating your children is right / wrong?

Not going to happen.

and please don't bring measles to my DCs West Sussex school

olimpia · 04/07/2012 20:33

Am I going to get flamed if I do? Have had a few near death experiences latelyGrin

Sirzy · 04/07/2012 20:33

They don't have to be, I would imagine that the school would want to know so if there is an outbreak they can notify the parents of children who haven't been vaccinated so they can be aware of the risk.

thisisyesterday · 04/07/2012 20:35

i don't think you'll get flamed for just asking... the thread may get quite heated though Grin

GrahamTribe · 04/07/2012 20:35

You definitely don't need to be vaccinated to attend school in the UK. I know that from personal experience. I believe that some (many, now?) US states demand proof of vaccination before allowing a child to attend their state schools, FWIW.

You shouldn't be challenged at all and if you are you should feel free to tell whoever questions you to sod off and mind their own business that you don't wish to and are not obliged to discuss it.

thisisyesterday · 04/07/2012 20:36

oh look at all the west-sussexers out on this thread lol

GrahamTribe · 04/07/2012 20:36

(And that goes for on this thread too, OP Grin ).

allmouthnotrousers · 04/07/2012 20:38

No, they don't need to be.

They will ask though, and be aware that its not unknown for children to be done 'by accident' if the school nurse is in offering vax for children whose parents have consented. So make it v v clear if you don't want them done in school.

DowagersHump · 04/07/2012 20:38

They're not going to say your child can't go. They might give you a copy of Bad Science with your induction pack though

GrahamTribe · 04/07/2012 20:38

Soozy

Sidge · 04/07/2012 20:39

Vaccinations aren't compulsory in the UK.

The School Health Team and the school may collect the information for their records but I doubt anyone would follow it up unless there were an outbreak or accident where a child's vaccination status could become a factor.

Sidge · 04/07/2012 20:41

allmouthnottrousers school nurses don't tend to vaccinate children in schools now (except for the HPV vaccine for teenage girls), and where vaccines are offered in schools written consent must be obtained by the person with parental responsibility.

Children will not be vaccinated "by accident".

JamieandTheOlympicTorch · 04/07/2012 20:41

I'm not going to get heated. Can't be arsed.

GrahamTribe · 04/07/2012 20:41

allmouth has a very good point. I've known DC to be jabbed "by accident" in schools so it's worth writing a letter to the Head when your DC starts at the school making it clear that you want him/her to remain unvaccinated, and intimating that you'll sue if they ever so much as put a needle near him/her and ask them to keep it on file with your DCs school notes and medical record.

Sidge · 04/07/2012 20:42

Oops meant 'written consent must be obtained and given by the person with PR'.

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