I feel like the only person in the world who has this problem. At the time I’ll be applying for and entering college, I’ll be 17. My parents are completely unwilling to get me vaccinated even when my education is at stake (no amount of scientific evidence will make them believe vaccinations aren’t evil), and I’m not able to be vaccinated without parental consent by law. Every college I’m interested in requires you to be vaccinated before enrolling. I’m so afraid that I’ll have to wait an extra year to enter college and risk not achieving my goal of getting into a good school because of this. Is there anything I can do?
Check out your closest juvenile law center and get help to get a court order.
I am wondering if when you enter college you can just go to the health center. It seems like once you start college they tend to overlook things. For example, your parents will not be able to access your grades even if they pay and you are under 18 at most colleges.
How are you allowed in high school now? Religious reasons? Could those reasons work at college?
If you have been attending public school your parents probably had to get some kind of waiver for you to be able to attend as an un-vaccinated. Check with your colleges to see if they have a similar procedure for waiving the requirement. Your parents will have to do it if you are a minor. Once you turn 18, however, you can decide yourself whether or not to get vaccinated, and probably get a number of the vaccines at your student health center. Although your parents will end up knowing if you are on their health insurance plan and the vaccinations are billed to their policy.
https://depts.washington.edu/bioethx/topics/parent.html
A doctor who is part of a hospital based clinic will have access to more resources to help you fight your parents on this.
Also, after you’re accepted, if it hasn’t been resolved by then, reach out to the schools. I’m sure they’d be willing to find a way to help resolve the issue that doesn’t involve you missing school.
For what it’s worth, I went through my first semester without having some booster shot I was apparently “required” to get (they didn’t inform me of it until winter break). I would apply to colleges and then reach out to them after being accepted to see what the procedure is.
You don’t need it apply to college. You just need it before you start classes. When is your birthday? If you turn 18 before August you can go to a free health clinic and get it.
It may be a stated policy but…
my freshman never submitted any proof of vaccinations before enrolling in her freshman year. To my knowledge, she’s never been asked, even though she could produce the records if requested.
Also, if the parents are that strongly (and stupidly) against vaccines, the OP should get them in a way that does not use parental medical insurance (e.g. free clinic, pay cash, etc.) to avoid the parents cutting off the college money in response.
Just curious are your parents DCHs or is there a family history of Autism?
The reason I ask is some (obviously not all) DCH do not vaccinate and they have all sorts of organizations that support this decision and most of their kids go to college so they must have information. Same with parents of children with autism, the MMR was blamed (rightly or wrongly) right around 1999 or so. I know parents with one autistic child who are very careful about vaccinating any younger siblings. So again these organizations may know how to get around the rules. Also, since you have never been vaccinated, I would do it slowly and carefully and not go to some random clinic.
No, my parents aren’t DCHs or concerned about autism. I think their negative views of vaccines come from a bad experience with my oldest sibling. Apparently she was in a lot of pain for a day or two after getting one as a child.
I did talk to my parents and explained my anxiety over this. We came to an agreement that if there was no way to enroll without vaccinations, they would allow me to have them, but they still want to see what they can do about exemptions. This question was more asking what to do in the worst case scenario. I’m glad to see there’s no way I’ll be completely doomed.
The study suggesting a link between the MMR vaccine and autism has been retracted:
http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736%2897%2911096-0/abstract
More:
http://healthland.time.com/2010/05/24/doctor-behind-vaccine-autism-link-loses-license/
http://www.theguardian.com/society/2010/jan/28/andrew-wakefield-mmr-vaccine
http://www.nhs.uk/news/2010/01January/Pages/MMR-vaccine-autism-scare-doctor.aspx
…seriously…that’s it?
Also what is DCH? Can’t find anything that makes sense on google.
Well, OP, even if you can get enrolled, don’t let your parents’ foolishness get in the way of taking care of your own health. Once you are 18, seek out low cost or free clinics to get all the recommended vaccinations. You risk your own health and that of others in the community by skipping vaccinations for preventable communicable diseases.
The school likely has an opt-out policy for immunizations. Find out and have your parents complete the form and provide documentation if they can (their reasons might not be accepted for opt-out). Bigger issue: Your being unvaccinated in the college community. A real concern.
Edited: A lot of colleges will block you from registering for your second semester of your immunization records are not in by then. You’ll be scrambing.
I would call your county health department to be sure you can’t just go on your own at 17. I know teens can seek out medical care on their own for sexual issues. You could also call your own Pediatrician as they can’t report on you to your parents and may have some good ideas. I would be especially concerned about getting the meningitis vaccine before getting to college. Some of the vaccines require multiple doses months apart so if you can resolve this sooner would be better than later.