Anyone in Australia had a CO form signed?

[Japonica]

I have an appt with some GP (I've never met him/her before) to get a CO form signed for our kids. What's the process basically? Just sit back and listen to the lecture or are we expected to argue back on points...I could probably go head-to-head sure, but I don't want to antagonize the heck out of the GP and have them refuse to sign the form.

The receptionist told me to bring the kids along, so I can't imagine they'll sit for ages listening to the GP go on and on...or that they'll be pleased if we get into an "animated discussion"...

[Spy]

You certainly don't need the kids :). And you are perfectly entitled to saying thank you but I want a signature not a lecture. I am well aware of what you are trying to tell me and I know what I am doing just sign here will you. AFAIK they are required to sign provided they are satisfied that you are aware of what you are doing, and very few are so arrogant as to assume they are the first ones to tell you! :D Worst comes to worst, you can get it signed elsewhere, and it doesn't have to be a doctor/GP, any pediatric nurse can do it (anyone who is authorised to vaccinate is also authorised to sign these forms). Don't stress too much about it.

FWIW, ours came in the mail already signed! :giggle: Years ago.

[Quickening]

As a general rule the signature is to show that you are aware of the "risks" of not vaccinating and have made an informed decision to get the exemption. Depending on the GP, some will just ask you if you have researched this and are aware of the risks etc and they'll sign. Others blab on and on. It is interesting they specifically said to bring the children. This is not required.

[Japonica]

Yeah, I asked why I have to bring the kids (because I'd rather not) and the receptionist said something to do with filling out the forms and billing...I guess they're billing for signing 2 forms, so bring in the "patients." Crazy.

[deesalie]

bring the patients :LMAO::alien:

[Japonica]

bring the patients :LMAO::alien:

Yeah, no kidding :eyeroll::eyeroll:;)

[magical1]

I bet it's more a case of that they assume some people change their minds and they've got the "patients" all ready and waiting.

[Japonica]

I found this while looking at other sites...it's from 2006...NSW I believe...

http://www.docstoc.com/docs/15141467/Increasing-Childhood-Immunisation-Coverage-Rates

Nice to see the breakdown of the incentive payments. Also, a couple of reasons for GPs not to sign...no bonus payments for immunizing and kids whose parents have lodged a CO form stay on the stats in the practice as "not fully immunised" and bring down the ratio...once it gets under 90%, no bonus payments.

[magical1]

That's an interesting point for the submissions in NZ... is it all about MONEY???

[Japonica]

OK, so we're back from the GP visit.

First, there is an advantage to bringing the kids (duh). If you have a 19 month old and 5 year old causing mayhem, the doctor generally wants to get the appt over as soon as possible. So, no big lecture possible. :)

The GP (just picked his practice off the internet and I hadn't met him before) is in a family practice and looks to be in his 60s. He seems pretty easy going.

He asked what my reasons were...I gave a few. He said, "Well, the only one I'd really recommend is tetanus." (I was in shock for a second to hear a doctor say that he wouldn't bother with the others...nice surprise). I said something along the lines of, "Well, if I were so inclined, that might be one that I'd do too. But just the T single vaccine." He replied that he didn't believe the single T vaccine was available in Australia, so I said, "Well, I guess that's that then."

He signed the forms. He said something about diphtheria being important to consider as well in light of the cases that crop up due to a lack of herd immunity (yeah, I thought of Hilary's articles and just bit my tongue...). I came home and checked the notifiable diseases and aside from an outbreak in the NT in 1992 (11 cases), and two other cases reported in the 18 years from 1991 to 2009, there's nothing. Hmm...ah well...every doctor has their "pet" diseases. The kids' old ped back in Canada mentioned diphtheria as well saying, "I've seen it on the (Native) reserves..." Well, no kidding. On the reserves you'll also find no sanitation, non potable water, massive malnutrition, poverty, smoking, substance abuse, and people living 20 to a house.

So, anyway, we have the form signed. And he seems flexible enough to work with us so we have him for those rare occasions we ever need to see a doctor.