Hi,

We've enrolled my son in a school in Plano ahead of our move in a few weeks, and the school nurse checked out his immunisation record. We've followed the UK programme of vaccinations, so he hasn't been vaccinated for Hep B.

Texas allows for exemption from vaccines on conscientious or philosophical reasons, and I'm just wondering if anyone has done this? Looking at the Texas Dept of Health website, it looks like we post off the details, then they send a form back that we have to get signed in the presence of a Notary.

If this is straightforward enough to do, I'm thinking about getting the exemption for him rather than the shots... anyone got any experience of this?

Thanks in advance....

I did this for my kids when we first moved to Michigan, then as they got older and we moved to Texas we got the Hep B done.
In Michigan we simply had to sign a form for the vaccinations we didn't want the kids to have ( ie. chickenpox as they had already both had the disease)

Yes, I was able to just sign a form for chicken pox as he has had that, but for the Hep B it's the whole affidavit process...

After looking into the Hep B and talking to a couple of health professionals we decided to get it done, but waited until the kids needed to have it for their green card application....worth thinking about if you're going to apply for your green card sometime in the future.

Hep B is a bit more common in some parts of the US and Canada than it is the UK, especially in areas with large immigrant communities (and Texas falls into that). Some immigrant groups (Asia, Africa and the Carribean) have much higher levels of infection.

The vaccine called TwinRix is a HepA&B course that's pretty effective. It's a three shot deal--first, a month later, and then six months later. You could probably start in under the NHS, get the WHO 'yellow book' vaccine book and bring it with you and then finish up when you arrive here.

If you are going to be living an expat lifestyle, especially if your trips may take you to Asia or Africa, I would strongly recommend getting the TwinRix for your kids protection.

Here is a map of the distribution of other diseases in Texas. The Plague is making a comeback?

http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/idcu/hea.../mapping/maps/

We discussed this a few months ago here:

http://britishexpats.com/forum/showt...hlight=twinrix

Search the forum for Twinrix or Hepatitis and you'll see some other posts.

slighty OT...I had to have my heb b jabs for work, but after several courses never became immune - apparantly some people just dont. Will this be a problem if we go for greencard????

You are required to have the necessary Jabs .,.thats it

OP, why would you not get Hep B vax done? I really can't see why anyone would refuse it...there is no live virus in the vax, minimal side effects... yet there is no cure for hepatitis once you get it. Seems like a no-brainer.

We live in Plano and my kids didn't need the shots until we got our Green Card Application started. But it was a few years ago. I think it would be better to get the shots done and out of the way. We did the 3 in a row option and it was pretty painless.

Plano is a great town and I am sure you will love it here. We have been here for 11 years now and love it. Lots of immigrants and look out for the Newcomers clubs that will get you involved and meet people.

Not in Texas, but have excused my daughter on philosophical reasons, here in the State of Washington. Don't need a notary here though.....wonder why you'd need it in Texas.

Why would kids need it?

I guess the states are different - this is what the texas health dept requires:

http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/immunize...l/default.shtm

I can only assume they make it onerous to dissuade peeps from seeking exemptions

Yes, I did see some of the earlier discussions, but what I was really looking for was some specific experiences of getting exemptions in Texas - didn't immediatley see that in the previous threads

I think the whole debate about vaccinations is a very emotive one - people often have strong views. I wasn't really looking to spark off that debate again - looks like it's been done many times before. Again, just looking for some specifics about exemptions in Texas.

The vaccine? Because it's much better to have it than to get an incurable disease.

OP, I wasn't looking to start a debate - I thought I asked a simple question.

My point was and is....why would small babies need a vaccine that prevents an incurable disease that they have very little chance of contracting. That's my simple response to your simple question.....I guess.