Is this not the stupidest think to be expelled from school over

[Leaannb]

In the States children see pediatricians up until aga 18. At age 18 they switch over to General providers or commonly known in the States as Primary Care Physicians. One of my son's turns 18 on November 5. He has a new patient appointment with his new doctor the day before Thanksgiving...
Today, I received a letter stating that of he doesn't receive his Mennogitis Vaccine by 30th he will be expelled from school. My children haven't stepped foot on school property since March 17th and will not return until August 2021. This particular child will never set foot back on campus because he will be graduating in May. Yet they are expelling him over this knowing there is absolutely no way of him getting this vaccine. Stupidiry is at an all time high. So damn frustrated

Why have you left it so late? Surely you knew he needed it? Stop the drama and just get it done.

If your son is planning to go to university in the States, he will probably need the vaccine for that as well. Most require a dose past the age of 16 anyway.

Echo the calls to go to a drugstore or urgent care if you can't get a doctor's appointment. Or a supermarket with a pharmacy--those do it too. Incredibly easy to come by. Can probably get one in the next 24 hours if you need it, and certainly within 72.

Yet another who is incredibly confused:

• why he’s two years late receiving this vaccine
• how you didn’t know he was two years late and had no idea it was any problem at all until this single letter (really?)
• why you can’t go to an urgent care center, a pharmacy, a one-stop health center inside a Walmart or similar, or even some consulates are giving meningitis vaccines; really so many places

This is odd. Are you trying to actually get the vaccine or are you trying to get an exemption? Because at this point, most paediatricians won’t exempt mandatory vaccines, but maybe some adult GPs will, which would explain why you’re waiting for this one doctor.

It sounds like an automatic letter. Pick up the phone and talk to them?

Or see if your very nearly 18 year old can ring himself (might be good experience of the frustrating, adult world). Loiter in the background though!

@RoseAndRose

Why cany you just go and get the jab done?

You're presumably not going to leave him unimmusinsed. So you may as well get it done now

Because they are closed. No where to get one done

@Ideasplease322

It sounds like an automatic letter. Pick up the phone and talk to them?

Or see if your very nearly 18 year old can ring himself (might be good experience of the frustrating, adult world). Loiter in the background though!

He did talk to them. He was told he had until October 31 or he would be expelled

@RightYesButNo

Yet another who is incredibly confused:

• why he’s two years late receiving this vaccine
• how you didn’t know he was two years late and had no idea it was any problem at all until this single letter (really?)
• why you can’t go to an urgent care center, a pharmacy, a one-stop health center inside a Walmart or similar, or even some consulates are giving meningitis vaccines; really so many places

This is odd. Are you trying to actually get the vaccine or are you trying to get an exemption? Because at this point, most paediatricians won’t exempt mandatory vaccines, but maybe some adult GPs will, which would explain why you’re waiting for this one doctor.

He is not two years late. He is perfectly on time with his health conditions.We don't have walk in places. The only place we had was our local health department and its closed due to Covid cluster. No t everywhere has walk in immunization appointments. Our Walmart doesn't even have a pharmacy. They have a gas station. We are stuck until his new patient appointment on that Wednesday. Its so freaking stupid to expel a kid from school when the kid isn't attending classes

Because they are closed. No where to get one done

The pediatrician might be closed, or at least not taking appointments, but where are you that there is no Walgreens, no other pharmacy, no emergency clinic or no other healthcare provider available in the next week?

I’m so impressed that you can’t attend university in the US without the vaccination.

Where are you OP that you’re locked down so badly? I’m in a high lockdown state & I have been able to access medical care including vax the whole time. I can’t think of a state that has stricter measures than mine.

I couldn't attend university in the UK without vaccinations, and I only came from Ireland!

We are stuck until his new patient appointment on that Wednesday

Call the school. Tell them you have an appointment. I faced similar when we moved here, all they wanted was to know we had an appointment to get updated & the deadline was magically waived

I'm American. Pediatricians will see people through College (so up to age 21ish). I dont understand why you cant make an appt with his pediatrician and get the shot. I'm surprised he has not already had it. My son is 17 and has already had his.

I’m in DC at the moment and things are open. It sounds as though you might be in a small town though, so I would suggest getting some PPE and driving to your nearest larger city - frustrating or not, his continued education is worthwhile. Or else get a letter from the doctor confirming why he hasn’t been vaccinated yet, as are given to those who cannot be vaccinated due to compromised immune systems.

@Mintychoc1

Why aren’t they at school?

Presumably Covid!

If it's that important then you stick him in the car and drive him.50 miles or whatever until you get to a Walmart that will do it.

Sounds like you're going to have to go further afield to get the vaccine.

Leean, if I recall correctly (and apologies if not), you're in rural Texas, right? I understand that you might not have a pharmacy or big grocery near you, but I'm betting that within an hour you have either a pharmacy, a grocery, or an urgent care. You can get them there. Also, as a pp said, you can still go to the pediatrician after 18--I have a friend who I think went to her American ped well into early college.

You may be frustrated, but it's essential that he gets this vaccine--for school, for college, and for avoiding getting this horrible, deadly disease.

YANBU.

Declare that a student must get their vaccination before they can (re)attend school, fine.

Permanently expel a student over it, a purely punitive dickhead move by the school.

Doing that in a pandemic where a) healthcare is disrupted, and b) the student's not expecting to return to school anyway, is the kind of idiocy I would expect from ... well, from American schooling.

Call the the pediatricians office they will give him a vaccine. If for some weird reason they won’t, call the new pcp and ask for a nurse. Explain the situation and get an earlier appt or have them do a tech appointment for the vaccine.

If all else fails does your area have an objection clause for vaccines ?

If so he just needs to object in writing (see the laws for specifics) and then he gets the vaccine when he sees the new doc in November.

It is utterly ridiculous. It sounds like one of those bureaucratic decisions that would be overturned if anyone actually looked at the information properly. I would just email, call and write to anyone who might have any sway. School board, local education department, elected representatives, radio hosts etc. Don't let them get away with it.

Do you drive? I’d get in the car and find somewhere to do it even if you have to go a couple of hundred miles. From my british perspective this sounds bonkers. But I wouldn’t put my head in the sand or fight it - far too risky strategy.

If it helps everyone to understand, the usual schedule is a shot in the preteens and a booster at 16. It varies from state to state. The OP's son might be on another schedule, but that's the typical--usually it will have been given at least two years ago, which is plenty of time to plan for this.

(Also, they are trying to prevent a deadly disease from spreading through schools, and help prepare them for college requirements, so I don't think protesting the decision will get you particularly far. Some states make exceptions for religious convictionsfirst amendment influencedbut you can't avoid mandatory vaccinations merely because you haven't made a doctor's appointment.)

@Nancydrawn I don’t think anyone here has suggested protesting the vaccine, ok I guess I did, but just to get the time to get the vaccine from the new doctor without being removed from school.

It’s also a little stupid since, I’m assuming the school is meeting virtually right now which means zero chance of spreading anything to other students.

Really the worst thing that happens here likely is that her son is expelled, I would question the school what this means, is he removed until he gets the vaccine? Which is the most likely scenario, meaning he re-enrolls once he has the vaccine.

At this point @Leaannb should be on the phone with the superintendent. (But also calling both doctors to get the vaccine...one of them will be able to squeeze in a tech appointment to get it sorted).

What evidence do they need, OP, or could you just confirma and tell them you would be willing to bring in evidence when COVID restrictions allow?