I have declined the HPV vaccine for my daughter - school nurse demands I give reasons why - is this legal?

[TimeIsAnIllusion]

I have declined the HPV vaccine for my daughter. Do I have to explain the reasons why on the form? I received a telephone call from the school nurse saying I must but I don't wish to explain myself. If the vaccine is offered I have a right to decline surely - so must I give a good enough reason to decline?

I don't know who the information will be passed on to and how my reasoning will be judged or considered. I just want to politely and quietly take the "no thanks" option without being pressed as to why.
By the way I my dd has had all other childhood vaccines but it's this particular one I'm not happy for her to have.

Why do authorities need to do something about it? It's hardly Ebola virus.

Justtherightbullets...

Why mock my post then look it up on the Internet for yourself & find the same comments about the vaccine..??

I didn't say it was my view I said it's what I remembered reading when the HPV vaccination started in schools.

IamHelenaJustina thanks for the laugh (if I don't give you all the information you are curious about you deduce my reasons are spurious!) i am not obliged to answer to you - I don't wish to give my reasons to the school nor to you! I feel they are a private matter and they are our personal choice.

It is up to each individual to get themselves informed about the pros and cons and make their own choices. My child has also discussed this with us herself and rightly or wrongly also wishes to decline the vaccine. She is just 12y old at present.

This thread was started to find out where I stood regarding the legalities of being requested to provide reasons. I believe I am legally entitled to decline the vaccine whilst it is offered as a choice. It's not mandatory currently.

I merely wished to know if I had to write a long winded reply detailing my reasons by law. It seems not.

The family history of allergy is just one small element and is probably worth adding to the decline form should they be thinking of pressuring my child into accepting the vaccine in the school environment without my consent. It is not the whole reason.

The only people likely to be affected by my decision to decline would be my daughter and the pharma company providing the vaccine (or maybe the health authority that buys the vaccine?). There is no "herd immunity" involved with this particular vaccine.

Yes I was suprised just how firmly the leaflet was word in favour of it being the girls choice.

I have nothing against the HPV vaccine, but 12 seems very young to be allowed to decide in a school enviroment, which tends to be very rushed.

Couldn't resist.

I understand your concerns re allergies, and as far as I'm concerned if you say no the answer is no. How about asking the GP about it? You could always tell the nurse she's already had it... :o

actually herd immunity has already been shown in Australia, where non-vaccinated men get fewer HPV infections.

JustTheRightBullets there is no herd immunity because the boys the girls are catching HPV from (assuming they are heterosexual) are not being immunised. Nor are many other communties globally being immunised. Nor are older generations being immunised. So no. I do not think my daughter is going to be the one to prevent "herd immunity" somehow!

If you're going to get all precious about not being obliged to share your reasons with random people, why post about it in the first place?

EvilTwins have you read this thread title? I was asking if it was a legal requirement to provide a reason. It was not because I wished to discuss my reasons.

JustTheRightBullets it has not provided herd immunity. Men are still getting HPV in Australia.

FloggingMolly, soontobesix, IamHelenaJustina, this woman has researched the vaccine and chosen for reasons she does not wish to debate, not to have the vaccine. Seriously, what makes you think that you know more than her on the basis of that information? I am shocked at the dismissal of previous family history of reaction to vaccines and other allergies, the seriousness of which no one can predict, but the existence of which, definetly puts an individual at higher risk.

Yes I've read the thread title but you'd have to be enormously naive to assume no one would ask. FFS - the very first post did!

Why so precious about it? If you're confident with your reasons, what's the problem with sharing them? It may well be that other parents are considering their options at the moment and your reasons would help them make a decision as you may have discovered something others hadn't thought about.

Allergies are not as serious as cervical cancer, eh six?

What dangerous nonsense to spout. Anaphalactic shock can kill within minutes. There is no guarantee for someone with severe allergies that a substance they are fine with one day will not cause a severe reaction the next. Severe allergies don't just mean hives and swollen eyes and a runny nose. And often the person has to cope with other conditions like exema and asthma.
Many vaccines contain albumen which is a known allergen. If OP is worried about medical conditions she is right to refuse at this time, having discussed it with her DD because she has weighed up the risks.

Herd immunity takes time to increase, that's why some men in Australia still carry hpv. It will decrease if everyone is immunised.

Sorry, xpost with bullets

Yes angryangryyounwoman and JustTheRightBullets over time if everyone was vaccinated boys as well as girls there would be a potential for herd immunity to be achieved. I do understand how it works and I do understand that it's going to take an awfully awfully long time if they do not immunise the boys also. At present my decision to decline the vaccine for my daughter will not affect herd immunity.

Thank you everyone who was able to help advise on the legality of being asked to give reasons. Also to those with suggestions how best to answer that part of the form.

Everyone else may continue discussing the pros and cons of the vaccine here if they wish or it could be better to start a new thread for that purpose its up to you.... Have a good Saturday all!