Title: Childhood Immunizations

When you start working with families, there will be differences of opinion that you will need to resolve. “Childhood immunizations” is a topic that can be controversial, since some families may have concerns. It is critical that professionals understand the research on the safety of childhood immunizations to share with families. or this assignment you are to prepare a position statement as the owner of a child care center.

The issue states with NCDCDEE standards:

NC GENERAL STATUTE 110-91(1)

Requirement for Immunization Records

Each child must have an up to date record of immunization on file at the center within 30 days of enrollment.

A current immunization record showing child is age-appropriately immunized, must remain on file for each child while in care.

 Every center must file an immunization report annually with the State Health Department as required by General Statute 130A-155(c).

The next piece of information you need is from the North Carolina Public Health site referenced in the licensing regulations:

The following vaccinations are recommended by age 2 and can be given in five visits to a doctor or public health clinic:

•1 vaccination against measles/mumps/rubella (MMR)

•4 vaccinations against Hib •3 vaccinations against polio

•4 vaccinations against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTP)

•3 vaccinations against hepatitis B

•1 vaccination against varicella When should my child receive immunizations?

Immunizations are given at birth, and then at 2, 4, 6 and 12-18 months of age. Booster doses of diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTP), polio, and measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) are needed again between ages 4 and 6. The first measles vaccine must be given on or after the first birthday. Check with your doctor or health care provider. Resource: North Carolina Department of Public Health. Parents’ Guide to Childhood Immunizations. Retrieved from https://immunize.nc.gov/schools/ccf_requirements.htm

Find 3 articles in support of immunizing young children and write a statement highlighting the importance of childhood immunizations. Your position statement should be worded so that you would be able to use it to advocate for the children and to provide parents the information they need to make informed decisions.

You also need to be aware of what NAEYC requires of accredited sites. NAEYC Accreditation Criteria for Health Standard 5.A.01 The program maintains current health records for each child:

Within six weeks after a child begins the program, and as age-appropriate thereafter, health records document the dates for services to show that the child is current for routine screening tests and immunizations according to the schedule recommended, published in print, and posted on the web sites for the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Centers for Disease Control of the Unites States Public Health Service (CDC_USPHS), and the Academy of Family Practice.

When a child is overdue for any routine health services, parents, legal guardians, or both provide evidence of an appointment for those services before the child’s entry into the program and as a condition of remaining enrolled in the program, except for any immunization for which parents are using religious exemption.

Resource: National Association for the Education of Young Children. (2005). NAEYC early childhood program standards and accreditation criteria: the mark of quality in early childhood education. Washington DC.

The issue looks fairly straight forward from these sources. The controversy begins when parents decide that immunizations are not safe or not appropriate for their child. You then are faced with a dilemma of denying services to the child or convincing the parent to change their decision.

Your assignment is to research the topic. You need to understand the issue and be able to provide good explanations as to why it is important to immunize children on schedule. Submit being sure to cite your references.

Resources:  Chapter 5 Pages 122-124.