Schools are not medical clinics | Vaccinated classmates can shed the flu virus for nearly a month

We hear more and more stories regarding the lack of informed consent and the overreach of medicine into our children's schools and our own workplaces. This is one such story happening in McComb, Mississippi, shared by Rebecca Carter.

As I unpacked my daughter's school bag during the first week of October I found a letter about the school’s FluMist School Vaccination Program.  The letter stated that the local Children’s Clinic had teamed up with our private school to help immunize the students against the flu. It stated that a consent form was attached so that parents could review and agree to have their child vaccinated while at school on October 16.

I discovered that there was no Vaccine Information Sheet included so I made a phone call to the school the following Monday.  The headmaster was out, but was able to speak with the elementary principal.  I explained to her my concern that there was not an Information Sheet sent home with the concent form.  I told her that for a parent to engage in informed consent that the information must be presented to that parent before they can consent.  I asked her to please have the Vaccine Information Sheet sent home with a new consent form, and to do away with the consent forms that were previously signed.  

The principal also mentioned to me that she didn’t know what I’d want to do with my daughter that day since it was a live virus and she wondered about her being around WC, my son who was previously immunosuppressed.  That opened an opportunity for us to discuss shedding and how that was a major concern of mine as well.  I also shared with her that the school being liable if a reaction occurred was another real concern of mine.   

A day later, a new notice showed up in the school bag.  More FluMist Information…well, not really.  

The school sent home another FluMist consent form but this time is was from the State of Florida’s Department of Health.  (A perfect example as to why the school shouldn’t try to run a medical facility.) 

The principal must not have understood what I was asking her to include.  So, I did what I’m good at and I took matters into my own hands. I went to the local Children’s Clinic and requested the FluMist Vaccine Information Statement for the FluMist that would be given at the school.  The nice lady at the counter promptly returned with the information and then I asked her why this information wasn’t given to the parents in the first place?  This time she promptly went and found some help. 

Another lady approached the counter.  She commented that she didn’t know why they (the school) do not send out the Vaccine Information Statement with the consent form.  Even when I asked her if it was the Children’s Clinic’s duty to provide this information for the parents since the clinic would be the ones administering the vaccines she said, “no, they (school) do all of the paperwork, we just go out there and do it (administer vaccine) as a courtesy for them.” 

What I discovered later was that the information that had originally been sent home in my daughter's bag was actually sent from the Children’s Clinic.  The nurse at the Children’s Clinic clearly stated on several occasions that the school was the one responsible for the information that was sent to parents, yet the letter was signed, ****** Children’s Clinic.  I hate that I didn’t realize this while I was at the clinic so that it could have been addressed properly.  

What I learned from my visit to the Children’s Clinic was that they are very unconcerned with making sure parents know what the risks are before having their children vaccinated.  The nurse there did her best to put the blame somewhere else.   

Nevertheless, I took the FluMist Vaccine Information Statement to the school and presented it to the elementary principal. She looked it over and agreed to send it out to all of the students and even thanked me for bringing it to her.  However, it hasn’t shown up in LC’s school bag yet and it’s the Tuesday before vaccination day on Thursday.  

My main concerns from the very beginning with this situation were: 

• Does the school have the students’ best interest in mind?  
• Have they provided the proper information for the students’ parents to make an informed decision?  
• Is the school prepared to handle an adverse reaction situation if it were to occur at the school?      
• Has the school provided the proper information to protect it from liability?        
• Shedding! 

Schools are supposed to be a place where we send our children to get an education.  Schools are not medical clinics and vaccines should not be administered in schools where the students’ do not have a parent present.  

I highly doubt the school’s readiness to handle an adverse reaction situation were it to happen.   The reason that I am doubtful is because most people think that it will not ever happen “here” until it actually does.  In my opinion, if the school continues to offer the FluMist program, eventually someone will have an adverse reaction.  

So far, I do not believe that the school has provided enough information for parents to make an informed decision.  They may have provided the minimum information necessary to meet informed consent, but this is our children that we are talking about.  In this case, we parents deserve more than the minimum.  I believe that if a child has an adverse reaction after receiving the FluMist vaccine at my child’s school, the parents are going to be at that office demanding an explanation as to why they weren’t provided with information about possible risks of the vaccination. 

I don’t think the school has really thought about the potential risks that this could bring upon the students.  It is my prayer that they would reconsider. 

Shedding, a topic that was brought up to me by the principal herself, is also something that the administration has clearly not thought through.  If they had, they would realize the potential risks of contracting the flu virus even for those who chose to forgo the vaccine itself.

Rebecca Carter is a wife, mom and vaccine rights advocate who despite forgoing the FluMist vaccine for her own children went out of her way to make certain that other parents had the information they need in order to provide true informed consent. MPVR received reports from several parents regarding this issue. We are horrified that a children's clinic together with a private school would act so carelessly and irresponsibly regarding the children in their care.

 _____________________________

Did you know, regarding FluMist?

Shedding is real. FluMist is a live vaccine. Take a look at the above package insert. This is taken from the insert from the vaccine that will be administered at Parklane Academy tomorrow. 

What this table means is that among children age 6 months to 17 years, who received FluMist, between 1-7% of them were shedding the live virus through nasal secretions for up to 28 days post vaccination.

The insert warns about transmission to "immunocompromised household contacts."
What about classmates?
Children in a school setting spend 7-8 hours together in close quarters, five days a week. Many of these children have allergies and asthma and other immune conditions that make them more vulnerable to infections.

Don't parents have a right to know other children are contagious and are spreading the flu? AS A RESULT OF GETTING THE VACCINE! I'd go so far as to say that recently vaccinated children should stay out of the classroom until they are no longer contagious.

Also form that same insert:

...clinical significance that delivered doses were detected in the brain stomach and lungs of ADULTS is unknown. 

...has NOT been evaluated for its carcinogenic or mutagenic potential or its potential to impair fertility.

Well then. 


90% of those who die from influenza are over 70 years old. If you are 69 or younger, your chances of dying from the flu are something like 1 in 100,000. Meanwhile, there are close to 100 flu-vaccine deaths reported annually, and the reporting system (VAERS) is dysfunctional. The real number is likely over 1,000 annual flu-vaccine deaths.

We are talking about preventive medicine here. Shouldn't preventive medicine be MORE safe than the thing it is supposedly preventing? 

Of course, we cannot give medical advice, our goal is simply to arm parents with knowledge...to present the failures that are most often omitted from the informed consent equation. To make others think.

On a personal level, because there are risks in administering vaccines, I would certainly never consider allowing any vaccine to be administered to my child without being present. Should there be an adverse reaction, I would want to be there to access it, comfort my child and see to it that he/she got the attention needed at that moment in time. 

Remember to that neither drug companies nor the doctors/nurses etc. can be sued when something bad happens as a result of vaccination. 

Comments

[Rebecca Carter]

The Vaccine Info Statement wasn't sent home today either. :( I don't understand. I will get to the bottom of this situation.

[MaryJo]

Excellent information, Rebecca. Thank you for being a parent who cares enough to take action and make Mississippi a healthier place for our children.

[Brittany]

Thank you, Rebecca! Your stance on this is very much appreciated!!!

[Anita]

As a parent we make choices... To send our children to public or private school to do the flu mist or not ... I choose NOT to do the flu mist...
Although, I think totally putting down on PA, Mrs Love and our administration for a financial gain?
If you do your research which is what it seems she knows how to do, she would know PA makes not one nickel off of this vaccination. If you or someone else has questions about the vaccine then use the brain God gave us all and research it! Everyone has a choice and making other parents feel like the suck as parents to vaccinate or not is wrong! As a parent you don't feel like PA has your child's best interest at heart go to another school! They'll make great decisions for you and your child! I make decisions for MY children they gave you a choice to take it or not, they are a school not a clinic although they are offering this through the children's clinic linda love probably doesn't know everything and detail about the vaccination! As parents it's up to us to research! Bashing someone that does so much for your child is wrong!

[Rebecca]

***The information about "financial gain" in the blog post was based on my assumption that most people/institutions that are involved with vaccines in some way/shape/form usually benefit financially from them. I assumed the same would go for the school in this case. I spoke about that issue here without having all of the information and I should have never done so. After speaking with the headmaster of the school this morning, he informed me that the school doesn't get any money from the vaccine program.

[MPVR]

The original blog post has been edited to omit the comment regarding financial gain, our apologies for the misinformation.

MPVR Stands behind the information shared and its intent to inform parents. This is happening in schools across Mississippi. Schools are not medical clinics and we maintain that the proper place for medical treatment is at a doctor's office. Parents do have valid concerns and the school administration should realize the potential liability surrounding this.

[SKA]

Great points. Thanks for your contribution & compassion on this important matter!

[Emre]

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