ANOTHER Measels Outbreak

I would be very careful where I took the baby! This highlights my two biggest issues with the non-vac crowd. First, we live in a global society and you never know who you're in contact with and secondly, babies who haven't received all of their shots can die or be permanently damaged by diseases like measles that they contract from older kids who don't usually have nearly as rough of a time (although they can depending on the disease). Measles is the perfect example. They cause brain swelling and often death or brain damage in infants, but older kids, while very sick, will usually fare okay with modern medical conveniences. Be careful with that baby!

Got to love it.

Yes the kids are allowed and the schools cannot tell you who is. It is best to act as if everyone can potentially infect your child. :(

To the mom who said bring hand sanitzer and wipes to protect your kids from disease -- I take that as, to protect your kids from her unvaccinated kids...That's staggeringly selfish. And it will make no difference because measles can be spread by coughs and sneezes; in other words, through the air. So can the flu and many other serious diseases. Advising other parents to "bring your hand wipes" and just deal with it because you choose not to vaccinate is naive at best and total denial at worst. Should vaccinated kids avoid breathing in public places too?

Vaccination creates the needed "herd immunity" that prevents diseases from spreading. We've forgotten the vital fact: Measles is not some annoying little childhood sickness that's here and gone. Measles can be fatal, especially in younger kids, and it can cause grave complications and fetal loss in pregnant women. If it makes a comeback on a large scale, the impact could be huge. Oh, and polio is not yet eradicated worldwide; if a kid comes back from a country where there is polio, and your unvaccinated child has contact -- you'll understand the panic that drove widespread vaccination in the first place.

I think a lot of people have forgotten about how devastating these diseases truly are. My grandma had polio as a child and while she survived she lost vision in one eye and had a limp for her entire adult life. she passed away 15 years ago - and it seems there are very few of her contemporaries still alive to remind us of how truly awful and damaging these illnesses can be. i'm afraid the non-vaccing will continue until we have bigger outbreaks of things like measles, pertussis, etc - and the public outcry becomes much louder. That said - you have the right to vac or non vac your child - but to take a non-vaccinated child out of this country and place them in a third world situation where these diseases are rampant is not only ignorant but dangerous. ...shakes head...

You could always ask at the preschool orientation what their policy is regarding vaccination, and ask your pediatrician what they would advise regarding your 6 month old. It might also depend on what the law is in your state but your pediatrician and school officials should be familiar with that. In some states parents can elect not to vaccinate their children for "religious reasons" but then I have to admit, I don't know what then happens when those kids are supposed to go to school (unless the parents are homeschooling them). Personally, I think it's foolish to not vaccinate your children for these diseases, considering how easy it is for someone who is not vaccinated to come into our country and re-introduce something like measles into the local population. We've forgotten what it was like back in the day when people lived in fear of their children contracting something like polio, and then ending up paralyzed for life or worse.

As a mother who had one child vaccinated - with adverse damage, and thus one child that I choose to not vaccinate as I continue to do more research and study...I would like to comment on this. Yes unvaccinated children are allowed everywhere that vaccinated children are. Any gathering, has the potential to spread sickness- your best bet is to carry wipes and alcohol disinfectant, which is what I do in any public place. Even if I don't see my children touch anything I occasionally wash their hands. That being said: These diseases are spread even by people who ARE vaccinated against them as well- but personally, I wouldn't go parading my unvaccinated children into other countries, where many diseases are so prevalent. I feel that is my responsibility to protect them- keep them out of hazardous situations with out proper safeties.
To the mother who verbally 'attacked' my advice- she should have read it accurately before jumping down my throat. I said that any public place has the potential to spread sickness ( I didn't say disease) and that what I DO is always have sanitizer and wipes with me to protect myself and my children. And I have one child that IS vaccinated, and I have to look at him each day and deal with the consequences of knowing that I made a bad decision for him, in allowing him to be vaccinated. I am fully aware that many diseases can be very debilitating, even causing death. As a parent who is responsible for the health of my children, I have to decide which risk I am going to take, and decide which risk is higher. Also educate yourself and know that vaccinations are no guarantee that you or your children are immune against any disease. So honey, good hygiene is ALWAYS the best line of defense!

Here in MN, anyone can have a simple line filled in on the immunization forms (and have it notarized) and thats it. No religious reasons, etc. Just that they object, plain and simple. No reason needed or asked for.

I do home childcare in MN, and the immunization form the MN dept of Health for all age children for the state is the same for daycare and school..for all kids. Thats all they need to do.

Private preschools can (as far as I know) not include these kids with their own private policies, but any place recieving public funds (for example Head Start, or the public and charter/magnet schools of a district, or any community education classes thru the city or parks and rec), must include everyone, including non-vaccinated children.

My opinion is...why on EARTH would you take your non-vaccinated child to a country with know illnesses like this? THAT is irresponsible parenting at its finest...regardless of the wider possilbe threat to anyone else....JMO~

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Yes, unvaccinated kids are allowed in school. There are papers that they have to sign and usually uses religious reasons as the determing factor as to why they don't vaccinate (although religion has nothing to do with it).

I'm not sure why anyone wouldn't vaccinate their child. You never who who you are sitting next to. But you can't be worried about going out and about. So enjoy the rest of your summer.

How incredibly sad for this family. They have toknow they have started such a thing. To know they caused pain and suffering to others then those who came in contact with those people. It is so very very sad. Immunizations save lives. I feel for all those effected by this families poor decisions.

As a people we should pay attention to this:
Think about it if this were the bird flu, or some other form of illness that is killing people out there right now. It is hard for any of us to be totally health conscience but we need to remain vigil and wash hands and cover our coughs. We don't want to have the health department knocking on our door some evening telling that the cold we thought we had has killed 10 people in the nearby counties.

Please take care of yourselves and wash wash wash your hands and cover well when coughing and PLEASE stay home if you are not feeling well.

1) yes. Avoid crowded areas/public gatherings. Your baby is too young to get infected.

2) Yes it needs to be addressed at ALL schools.
ASK this question to them.... per the measles outbreak.

3) Yes. As far as I know.

That unvaccinated child that went to Kenya... well, he/she has infected a lot of people already.
Per your stats on it. 21 of the cases, WERE traced back to that unvaccinated child.

Just thought I'd throw this out there. I'm sure it will be ignored though.
http://www.naturalnews.com/022617.html

I would first learn exactly how measles is spread (air? physical contact? etc.) and decide from there. If it's easily spread, honestly I'd be keeping my baby home a lot more until these people are treated.

Unfortunately, unvaccinated kids are allowed in schools. You could always ask if there are any at your four-year-old's school so you understand the risk for your baby during drop off/pick up. Don't need names, but you should at least be able to find out if there's a risky child to be concerned about.

Yes, unvaccinated kids are allowed in school if their parents filed the appropriate paperwork to do so. Most people who don't vaccinate, do so for religious reasons... though you can also ask for an exemption for other reasons as well.

In some school districts, despite exemptions, they do notify parents of outbreaks as a precautionary measure. I don't know if this is the norm here in Minnesota. The only way to find out is to call the MN department of health.

But I did find some information on what is done in other states. As far as I know, this information doesn't apply to the Minnesota Department of Health, but in California, they recommend that schools to inform parents of measels outbreaks . They do this because there is still a risk for vaccinated children and others to contract the disease. And according to the second link posted, there is also an apparent risk for the virus to mutate and affect those not previously vaccinated.

http://www.immunizationinfo.org/pressroom/news-briefs/201...

http://childrenshealthcare.org/?page_id=200

In our state, private preschools and daycares can make up their own rules, but state- run and public schools have to allow waivers or exemptions based on medical, religious, or philosophical reasons. I would never take an unvaccinated child to a foreign country personally!

I wouldn't necessarily keep my kid out of public, check out the likelihood of getting measles and the treatment, etc. It's mostly anti-vaccination but www.thedoctorwithin.com has some good, thorough, scientific information about the diseases, how to catch them, and how to treat them. May not seem as scary after reading about it. Due to "shedding", some recently vaxed kids are more dangerous than a non-vaxed kid who hasn't been exposed to measles.

Here in FL, the answer is no, unvaccinated children are NOT allowed to go to daycare, preschool or school....but that only applies to state-licensed daycare/preschool and public school. You can't get a waiver unless you can prove it's for religious reasons. And as I understand it, you really do have to PROVE it, i.e. provide documentation...just writing a letter or signing something doesn't cut it.
Private daycares, church-run preschools, private schools - anything goes.