We deviated from the government schedule slightly and the nurses were ok with it. We chose to wait a few months to do the MMR so just did the pneumococcal one at 12 months and they were fine with that. They asked why but they won't do it unless you consent so they just scheduled the appt for MMR at 15 months.
vaccinations
- Thread starter sarahdcl
- Start date
As far as Im aware the reason you can't select individual vaccines is not usually down to the GP but the drug company. Most of them only supply vaccines in combined form, so it is difficult to pick and tailor make your vaccine programme.
Vaccination is not mandatory and surely schooling is available for unvaccinated children - they are the ones 'at risk' without the vaccines after all.
Vaccination is not mandatory and surely schooling is available for unvaccinated children - they are the ones 'at risk' without the vaccines after all.
floridamom
Registered User
IS the Hep B vaccine required at birth at all hospitals, or are there some hospitals that let you opt out?
Thank you !
I would definitely check with individual schools regarding which vaccinations they require - the two preschools that my child has attended have both required vaccination records before she could begin classes. So do most of the international schools. Don't know about the local schools so perhaps someone else can provide info on that.
RE: the unvaccinated children being the only ones 'at risk' - not quite true as they can pose a risk to the community at large by spreading the disease to others (often before identifiable symptoms develop), including infants who are to young to have received a particular vaccination and the small percentage of the population who has received a vaccination which is not effective for whatever reason (for example, the measles vaccine is about 96% effective in the US, so 4% of vaccinated children would be put at risk if they were exposed).
I'm not advocating that anyone do or don't vaccinate their children - it is ultimately a parent's decision, but don't pretend that there is no risk to public health from unvaccinated children, as certainly is. For example:
"The evidence is overwhelming that declining vaccination rates are contributing to outbreaks of disease. Take just one example, measles. The World Health Organization reports outbreaks in countries where vaccination rates have gone down, including France (7,000 cases so far this year, more than in all of 2010), Belgium, Germany, Romania, Serbia, Spain, Macedonia and Turkey. There have already been 334 measles cases in England and Wales this year, compared with 33 all of last year. The U.S. has seen 118 cases as of mid-May, compared with 56 cases a year from 2001 to 2008."
http://articles.latimes.com/2011/jul/18/opinion/la-oe-ropeik-vaccines-20110718
I second this with regard to international kindergartens, and some Cantonese medium ones. I applied to four and I checked out several others and all required a copy of vaccination card as part of the application. So while there might be some schools willing to accept a child that does not have the usual vaccines, I have a feeling it would narrow your choice.
The kindergartens and schools do ask for a copy of vaccination records but I have deviated significantly from the standard schedule (refusing some, delaying some and having some as per recommended schedule) and this hasn't caused any problems.with our applications and admission.
Silly question here, but where do you go for the baby's vaccinations? Your family doctor or local hospital? Is the cost of the vaccination covered under the government health scheme?
Also, we are planning to deliver in Japan and will stay there another month before coming back to HK. Based on the HK prescribed vaccination schedule, the first one will occur at birth and month one. As we will be in Japan, we may get the first two shot there - will this pose any problems? Has anyone encountered a similar situation?
Also, we are planning to deliver in Japan and will stay there another month before coming back to HK. Based on the HK prescribed vaccination schedule, the first one will occur at birth and month one. As we will be in Japan, we may get the first two shot there - will this pose any problems? Has anyone encountered a similar situation?
