[Irize]

I am currently a kinship caregiver/foster parent for my cousin, whom i plan on adopting. The case has just been moved to adoption court, but we don't go until June. Due to my own personal beliefs, I do not get my children immunized. I was just informed by the agency social worker (not DHS, but the agency providing kinship care) that they will pick my son up this Friday and take him to get his shots. They are being audited, so they need to make sure their paperwork is correct, that's why they are rushing to do it; but I'm not understanding how if the law states that any parent or guardian can choose to NOT immunize their child (and he's been my child since he was 5 days old, now 17 mos.) how they can FORCE immunization based upon the fact that he's NOT my child, yet it is clearly understood that I am going to adopt.

Has anyone had any experience with this? And no, my natural children are not immunized either. It is my right not to do so, therefore I don't. To me the pros of NOT immunizing far outweigh the cons.

[Sun8]

I think it comes down to legal terminology. Are you his legal guardian or is the state? if you are then you have the right to not immunize.

[One_Happy_Momma]

If he's still a ward of the State, then the State makes the decisions about his health. If you feel strongly about it, I would contact the child's attorney to see if they can walk it to court to get the immunizations postponed hopefully long enough for the adoption to be final, and then you can make the decisions for him.