News & Politics - Maryland parents told to bring their children for vaccination, or else

elisheva · 11-18-2007, 01:10 PM

Quote:

November 18, 2007
Maryland Parents Told to Have Children Immunized
By SARAH ABRUZZESE

UPPER MARLBORO, Md., Nov. 17 — Hundreds of parents, who had been warned that they might face fines and jail time unless they had their children immunized, brought their children to a courthouse here Saturday for the vaccinations.

The families appeared at the request of Judge C. Philip Nichols Jr. of Prince George’s County Circuit Court, who is in charge of juvenile issues. Judge Nichols had sent letters this week to the homes of more than 800 households with children in public schools, strongly recommending that the children be immunized Saturday at the courthouse, where health department workers had set up tables to process paperwork and give shots, or that parents prove that the children had already been immunized in accordance with state law.

This year, the State of Maryland added the requirement that children have shots for hepatitis B and chickenpox in addition to other vaccinations including polio, mumps and measles.

That letter came on the heels of another sent on Nov. 1, by the Prince George’s County state’s attorney, Glenn F. Ivey, informing parents that their children would be withdrawn from school until the school received proof of vaccination. The letter also informed parents that if their children were not attending school, they might be subject to criminal charges with a maximum penalty of 10 days in jail and a fine of $50 per day of absence.

“We want to get the kids back in school, not put the parents in jail,” Mr. Ivey said. He added that exemptions were allowed on medical and religious grounds.

Still, the letters upset many parents who showed up.

Some said they had already had their children immunized and had sent that information to the school. One such parent, Jerome Lofton of Fort Washington, arrived early with his family and stood in the cold amid television cameras and photographers until officers allowed people to enter the building, through metal detectors.

Mr. Lofton, who said his son had been immunized, was infuriated. “We shouldn’t have had to come here,” he said as he left the building after proving to health care workers that his son had all of his shots.

As shots were administered in the courthouse, some children cried, one so loudly that an officer and his dog came over to investigate.

For others, though, the trip to the courthouse was not so bad.

T’asia Mayweather, 10, who received five vaccinations, smiled bravely until the last shot, when she gave a small yelp.

Leaving the building with her mother, Tara Matthews, and stepfather, Richard Wilkens, she and her family expressed relief that the vaccinations were taken care of. “I’m glad it is over with,” Mr. Wilkens said.

The Prince George’s County Public School System is the 18th-largest in the nation, with 132,000 students. The number of students affected by the vaccination push were a small percentage, said John White, a schools spokesman.

The county winnowed the number of children needing documentation to 1,111 as of Thursday, from 2,643 in October. By the end of Saturday officials believe that number was 939, with 101 children receiving shots and 71 having their records updated.

If parents do not comply, schools will send a notice to the court, Mr. White said.

Judge Nichols said he was pleased with the turnout. “I appreciate we’re out on a limb a little bit but it’s working really well,” he said.

Outside the courthouse, demonstrators gathered.

Among them was Charles Frohman, who represented the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons, a group opposing mandated vaccinations. Mr. Frohman said the county should have done more to make parents aware of their options. “Reports are that very few folks are really hearing about exemptions,” he said.

Later in the day, after the line had diminished, Remy Durham brought her son, Lamonte Hyter, 18, to have his chickenpox vaccination. Mr. Hyter had spent six days out of school and two doing make-up work after the county said his health records were lacking proof that he had had chickenpox when he was younger.

“We weren’t upset. We knew he needed to have the shot,” Ms. Durham said before talking with health care workers. “And we didn’t want him or anyone else infecting other people.”

What does everyone think? I'm personally generally in favour of mandatory vaccinations (in cases where they're proven to work, anyway) - I think it's incredibly thoughtless and irresponsible not to have your children immunized against diseases that we've BEATEN and all you have to do is get the vaccination shots. It infuriates me when people rely on fake science to avoid immunizing their children - for example, the people who think that MMR shots cause autism, which, I don't think I've ever heard anything more ridiculous in my entire life, but it's still such a persistent myth.

**Melis** · 11-18-2007, 02:25 PM

I agree that vaccinations are important. I'm a teacher in PG County, and some of my students had to be sent home. They missed about three weeks of school.

I'm not trying to be mean, but some parents didn't get the vaccines for their children because they couldn't afford the cost. The article doesn't mention that there is a lot of poverty in the county. I teach in a low-income area, and many of the parents/students do not have health insurance.

elisheva · 11-18-2007, 02:42 PM

I didn't even think of that aspect. :/ The school board or something won't cover it for low-income families? If children are being denied vaccinations because of cost, that's terrible.

4N6 DNA · 11-18-2007, 05:50 PM

I don't understand. They passed this law? When?

I was still under the impression that it is not mandatory to immunize your children. So now it's required by law?

In my personal opinion, children should all be immunized. But I guess I feel that if you want to make it into law, you should be able to provide a way for low income families to afford it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by elisheva (View Post)

The school board or something won't cover it for low-income families?

I live in Montgomery county, which is one of the wealthier counties in Maryland and my father is a teacher here. Our county's deficit is crazy, even schools here are making huge cut-backs. Schools are pretty underfunded so they most likely are not able to pay for the vaccines. However, at child and adult health centers and children's clinics you can get your child vaccinated for free or at very low costs.

The state has to make this a top priority. Forget your casino lobbying for the time being, there are more important things to spend time and money on

migamoo · 11-18-2007, 08:38 PM

I'm in Baltimore County myself, and wow, I guess I haven't really looked at the local news lately. I didn't know anything about this.

4N6 DNA · 11-18-2007, 08:43 PM

I guess this law is on the county level?

migamoo · 11-18-2007, 10:10 PM

I'm not sure. I guess I'd be able to look it up.

**sunnykerr** · 11-19-2007, 08:02 PM

I didn't did of the costs associated with vaccinations either. I guess that's what I get for being Canadian and getting all that good stuff for free.

So there's two reasons to be pissed off here, really. One, the fact that parents have to pay to give their children potentially lifesaving immunizations.

Two, that some morons would probably still choose not to. I'm not saying that's the case anywhere here. But we all know human nature. There's always those that like to buck the trend just for the heck of it with little regards to what that can sometimes entail.

The more troubling part for me will always remain the lack of universal health care in the United States. And I'm not saying any of this because I believe every word that is uttered in a Michael Moore documentary. Or because I think it's my business to tell other countries how to run their... well, country. But I do think that there shouldn't be a price put on health. Our system up here is far, FAR, from perfect. But I do think the intention behind it is decent. Kids should have free immunizations. It's simple as that, really.

migamoo · 11-20-2007, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sunnykerr (View Post)

Two, that some morons would probably still choose not to. I'm not saying that's the case anywhere here. But we all know human nature. There's always those that like to buck the trend just for the heck of it with little regards to what that can sometimes entail.

I know a lot of people who choose not to get vaccines right away for their children over health concerns. Like, they believe they are too young for something, or they want to wait, but will eventually get their child the specific vaccine. There are also those who choose not to vaccinate due to religious belief.

**sunnykerr** · 11-20-2007, 09:33 PM

I have no problem with parents exercizing their right to protect their young children. Especially against untested medications, which would probably include some vaccines.

And obviously there must be some kids, just like there are some adults, who have specific medical reasons why specific medications aren't for them. I'm assuming the same goes for immunizations. I'm not irrational. I understand why immunizing those kids would be a bad idea.

But I do lose patience a bit with people who don't trust the vaccines that have been around for ages and ages. Yeah, medical errors happen. And there are always risks. My form of contraceptive, for instance, comes with a warning that it may cause heart attacks in people who have migraines. I have migraines. I'm still taking it. It's a risk, but it's an extremely minute one. Just like I run the risk of getting hit when I'm crossing the street. I've been taking it for eons now. No heart attack yet. Not so much as an increase in tension.

At the end of the day, of course, I respect the right that people have to do whatever the heck they want with their lives. It aggravates me when they carry that right to the extent of preventing their children from getting the same immunizations we've all received and not died from because they're afraid of some conspiracy theory risk they've heard about. But it's their choice.

Just like it's the choice of some people to carry their religious beliefs to apply to the treatment of their medical health and that of their children. I have some friends who are Jehovah's Witnesses. I love them. They're the awsomest people. But I do have to admit that I don't get why any one religion should prevent a person from exercizing their full rights to physical health. That's my limitation, I guess.

elisheva · 11-20-2007, 10:43 PM

For me, the difference between "personal choice about your health" and "totally irresponsible decision" kind of depends on whether it's actually a choice about yourself or not. If I am an adult Jehovah's Witness and I refuse transfusions for myself, because that's something I believe in and I understand the consequences for myself, that's one thing. But when it comes to denying those things to your children, who cannot make that choice, then it's wrong and irresponsible. Everytime I think about the MMR-autism thing it just shocks me all over again. Can you believe that these diseases have actually resurfaced because of this? Diseases that we beat years ago and should never have to worry about losing children to again? It just infuriates me.

And yeah, Sunny, I guess we're spoiled - I didn't think of the costs involved at all because I remember just getting them in school.

I understand that a lot of Americans are against "socialized" health care, but I just don't see how you can exclude children from medical insurance because their parents are unable to pay.

migamoo · 11-20-2007, 11:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elisheva (View Post)

And yeah, Sunny, I guess we're spoiled - I didn't think of the costs involved at all because I remember just getting them in school.

I understand that a lot of Americans are against "socialized" health care, but I just don't see how you can exclude children from medical insurance because their parents are unable to pay.

I don't get it either, and I'm American! I think a lot of it has to do with taxes. But I do think they are trying to get some sort of universal care for children at the moment. I could be wrong though.

Dana_Lana · 11-21-2007, 02:52 PM

I'm not sure about other states, but Texas gives free immunizations to low income family's.

**sunnykerr** · 11-21-2007, 05:30 PM

I wonder how you qualify for low-income status, though. I remember when I was in college. I applied for loans and bursaries, because both my parents were retired and not from the highest-paying jobs either. Well, I was denied. Apparently, the fact that they were divorced meant that, between them, I was supposed to find plenty to finance my education.

I mean, my experience with loans and bursaries isn't the point, but it made me curious about how exactly people qualify as being of low income.

migamoo · 11-21-2007, 05:44 PM

I think you have to be making below the poverty line.


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