It seems like it’s actually pretty split between the red and blue states: http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2015/02/04/state-by-state-how-vaccination-rates-have-changed/
Michigan made it so that you had to go to a PH nurse and get educated about preventable diseases before you could opt out (it went into effect last year). There was a sharp decline in opt-out rates.
Surprise, surprise- it had nothing to do with sincerely held beliefs. It had to do with laziness.
http://www.ncsl.org/research/health/school-immunization-exemption-state-laws.aspx shows the states’ laws on religious and personal belief exemptions for immunizations required for school enrollment. CA, MS, and WV are the three states that allow neither (although this was a very recent change in CA).
Regarding tetanus, I had a reaction to the shot at a point, a transient arthritis over a few days. Checking with my allergist, he did a titre and stated I could continue to avoid that particular vaccination. However I should get another titre at some point before long. I get every kind of other vaccine with no problem. Flu shots I take yearly and some of the big guns like yellow fever back decades ago.
Re: #2842
Tetanus vaccine is usually combined with diptheria vaccine (Td) and sometimes pertussis vaccine (Tdap). A problem you would have if you have a bad reaction is that you may not know which component caused the bad reaction, and it may be difficult to find standalone vaccines of the other components.
Reposting from another thread: https://shotofprevention.com/2016/07/20/meningococcal-disease-killed-my-child-but-a-new-vaccine-means-it-doesnt-have-to-kill-yours/
Unfortunately, sometimes the very-liberal enclaves go into stupidity about science – look at their fetish of organic, fear of GMO’s, and (for some) fear of vaccines.
^^^^I just can’t wrap my head around the thinking. Try as I might, I can’t get into the heads of people who think vaccines are some kind of conspiracy. Mind boggling.
As I’ve said before, I study the darkest parts of American medicinal history and I still don’t get it. Especially since the most anti-vaxx demographic groups are mostly not ones who have ever had systemic abuse by doctors, medical systems, etc.
We share the road with the rest of humanity. You can’t pass a red light because of personal freedom.
hey all : re: my tetanus shot (#2834). i’ve had several PMs over this. so 1) i’m going to look into what exactly it was. I think it was only a tetanus booster; but not sure.
i am ery pro-vaccinations, and will always update my kids and my vaccinations in the future. but, to clarify, 2) i wont get another tetanus again. and 3)i’ll look into reporting it.
** ery = very. carry on. (From #2849)
Bumping this back up to rant.
Mr R works at an educational daycare. They don’t have vaccine requirements and he’s not even sure they have vaccine records.
Today he came home and basically ran into the shower and threw his clothes down to the laundry room.
The reason? One of his students has whooping cough. Of course, we’ve both been vaccinated but being immunosuppressed, that doesn’t necessarily mean all that much for me.
He works with toddlers so children who are old enough to have all pertussis vaccines and are still in the highly protected state. The odds are almost certainly on the side of this kid was not vaccinated.
So now I get to wait and hope that I don’t get it. I’m furious and, frankly, scared.
SO sorry, @romanigypsyeyes . Hope you are ok. And those parents are fools, IMO.
Not just fools but irresponsible and selfish!! :-L
And it literally could not have come at a less opportune time. My parents are coming to stay with us tomorrow for a week (mom also has a weakened immune system though not as bad as mine). It’s for a series of doctors appointments so not something they can really reschedule. One of my good friends is staying with us for a few days as she transitions in between housing situations and she too has a weakened immune system. (These are two of roughly only a half dozen people I know who have immune issues so of course they’d be at my house right now.)
I will just never, ever understand how people can live with themselves knowing that they’re putting others’ lives in danger for no reason whatsoever.
And I’m sure we’ll all be fine but it shouldn’t even be a worry!
That’s awful Romani. What is the incubation period? I hope you don’t have to worry for too long. Of course, one of the other kids could have caught it and the whole cycle will start again. Maybe your H can pressure the daycare center to ask for records. If he can’t safely work there in case of bringing home a deadly illness to you, that may be all the impetus they need (but they should have done it long ago - sheesh).
I know someone whose child caught pertussis and he WAS vaccinated. Happened in a place where there wasn’t herd immunity (Marin county, CA) and the disease took hold.
@greenwitch average incubation time is about 1-2 weeks.
I know that vaccines aren’t 100% and not everyone seroconverts but the odds are that this kid was not vaccinated just knowing the area and the type of parents who live around here.
I do feel horrible for the child. Especially if s/he was vaccinated and still managed to get it.
He’s going to find out more tomorrow. It was kind of a last-minute thing at the end of the day today and they were scrambling just to get parents notified.
His work/bosses know that I’m sick and they’ve been fantastic about being flexible with his schedule and whatnot. This is the first time they’ve dealt with something like this since he’s been there so that’s why everything is a little hazy.
They can easily live with themselves because they simply DON’T care about you or your problems. They will look you straight in the eye and tell you that your health is not their problem and they are not going to harm their children in order to do you any favors.
A cold bunch are many of these folks.
Sounds like your husband needs to talk to the daycare’s administration about their policies. You both should be as frustrated with his employer as you are with the family who chose not to vaccinate.
@doschicos it’s a large chain so I doubt it’s something each individual center has control over.
ETA: Michigan in general is really lax about vaccines. They finally tightened up state requirements last year but universities still don’t require vaccines and many (most?) private schools don’t either. There have been lots of breakouts of measles, whooping cough, etc over the last several years.