<p>Hi- my sigh, oh so educated 18 yr has just informed me he won't get the bacterial meingitis booster for college ( I had him have the initial shot when he was 15 or so). He feels the long term risks with aluminum ? / mercury? in vaccines far outweighs the benefits of any more vaccines in his body. meanwhile of course, univ wants him to have the shot. We just had a huge screaming match over this and then some long discussions about pros and cons, etc. I still want him to have the shot. What to do??? Any suggestions?</p>
<p>Oh my gosh this is my hot button issue.
Here is a link to an article I commented quite a bit on. It has links to numerous research studies. My name is Salk on the article btw. This should give you very good ammunition. Feel free to ask me for more info. I know a lot about this subject though have very little patience for anti vaxers. </p>
<p>[Paul</a> Offit, M.D., To Speak About The Myths And Realities of Vaccine Science | Daily Gazette](<a href=“daily.swarthmore.edu domain has changed”>daily.swarthmore.edu domain has changed)</p>
<p>Uninformed people like that are endangering the entire US population and bringing back diseases that were nearly eliminated. And it is an epidemic of sorts. Very sad.</p>
<p>Does the college require it?
I am sure that our student’s college had a full vaccination record requirement…</p>
<p>do you mean your kid has balked too? I’m so furious. He pulls up all these skeevy websites which link vaccines to arthritis and ahlzeimers and “the end of the world as we know” it to vaccinations and I have to listen to this horses---- and all I want him to do is go to the goddam doctors and get a physical and a booster for meningitis. I don’t want my kid dying in college. .and all he does is cite these scurious blogs. I could throttle him.</p>
<p>fog: Tufts requires it, and says its state law, but Mt know it all says he can get a medical waiver???</p>
<p>I don’t think he can get a medical waiver unless he has a condition (ie undergoing chemotherapy) that would actually make a vaccine risky.</p>
<p>It’s particularly because of the people that can’t get vaccinated that it’s so important for everyone else to. Maybe your son wouldn’t die (although he’d risk it), but his HIV+ floormate who couldn’t get the vaccine almost certainly would.</p>
<p>Well I’m so mad I’m thinking about saying no vaccine = no college $. Too harsh? Should I enlist college’s help?</p>
<p>Medical waivers come from a physician, not from the kid filling out a form. Not worth fighting over- send the kid over to the primary care physician, and let the Doc explain that unless you’re undergoing a bone marrow transplant or on dialysis you don’t qualify for a medical waiver.</p>
<p>I’d call the college and see exactly what the requirement and law is. I really don’t think he can get a medical waiver. Some colleges allow religious waivers. If this one doesn’t, it’s not even your choice – they won’t allow him into the dorms if he hasn’t gotten the vaccine, whether you pay or not.</p>
<p>Our MD gives all of the vaccines to his kids…and what he feels is safe for his kids, we follow suit…
The “data” re vaccines etc doesn’t show things like the mercury issues etc…
The internet is full of cr@p about that…
We believe in vaccines–and have traveled a lot worldwide that my kids have been vaccinated for things like Cholera and Yellow Fever.</p>
<p>Living in the dorms etc…I think the college required the Menningitis vaccine…among other things.
I don’t see how your student can get a “medical exemption” without prior history etc and proof…</p>
<p>I am with Swattiechick on this issue…</p>
<p>I would also require the Gardisil shots…not only to protect him, yet his future wife.</p>
<p>CDC Recommendations:</p>
<p>The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has created guidelines for parents to know what vaccines they — and their children should receive. The following is a recommendation for routine vaccination of persons aged 11 through 18 years.</p>
<p>ACIP recommends routine vaccination of persons with quadrivalent meningococcal conjugate vaccine at age 11 or 12 years, with a booster dose at age 16 years.</p>
<p>For adolescents who receive the first dose at age 13 through 15 years, a one-time booster dose should be administered, preferably at age 16 through 18 years, before the peak in increased risk. Persons who receive their first dose of meningococcal conjugate vaccine at or after age 16 years do not need a booster dose.</p>
<p>Seems that he may be due for a booster, but the fact that he already had one injection may be enough for the school.</p>
<p>50 State Summary of Meningitis Legislation and State Laws:
<a href=“http://www.ncsl.org/issues-research/health/meningitis-state-legislation-and-laws.aspx[/url]”>http://www.ncsl.org/issues-research/health/meningitis-state-legislation-and-laws.aspx</a></p>
<p>Mine required the meningitus one. I hate shots, but i’d take them over coming down with something serious (i do not however get flu shots).</p>
<p>That would not only infuriate me, but make me seriously wonder what’s wrong in his brain to act so foolishly. My ex, D’s dad, is a freak and refused to take her to any appointments that had vaccines - an inconvenience b/c he was always off work earlier than I (before she could drive herself) - good thing he really also has no back bone or I might have really had trouble.</p>
<p>Good luck Cheeky</p>
<p>Wow. If a person thinks there is still mercury in vaccines, then you should question what and who he listens to. </p>
<p>You might try pointing out that if someone there gets sick and, heaven forbid, dies that would in part be his moral responsibility because vaccines only work if enough people in the population have immunity. Only that prevents disease from establishing itself.</p>
<p>Look up the policy on the schools website, print it out, and give him the date and time of his appt. No talking necessary :). If he wants to go to school, he most likely doesn’t have a choice to refuse it.</p>
<p>If its Tufts, there’s a waiver form here:</p>
<p><a href=“Health & Wellness | AS&E Students”>Health & Wellness | AS&E Students;
<p>He’s 18, not sure there’s much you can or should do about it.</p>
<p>That waiver says…“may begin classes”…it doesn’t say “may live in the dorms”…
interesting…</p>
<p>So if the OP’s kid gets sick–who pays?
Will insurance pay if the kid elected to waive the vaccine…I think not.</p>
<p>I would never want a kid without vaccines in my kids dorm, on the same team (or drinking from the same red solo cup… 
)</p>
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<p>While I agree that the kid should get the shot…I’m not sure the above matters at all if YOU and YOUR KIDS are immunized.</p>
<p>My 20 year old son was notified by his college that he needed the booster (I am not sure why his dr. at home didn’t notice that he wasn’t up-to-date last summer when he was there). He was home this weekend and managed to get it at Walgreens. I don’t know if they would have kicked him out of the dorm but we weren’t taking any chances. Plus, I agree that it is morally right to be vaccinated.</p>