Should Parents Disclose When Their Child Isn't Vaccinated?

Moms Talk is a new feature on Agoura Hills Patch, part of an initiative to reach out to moms and families. We invite you and your circle of friends to help build a community of support for mothers and their families right here in Agoura Hills.

Each week in Moms Talk, our council of smart moms will take your questions, and share stories and solutions. Moms, dads, grandparents and the diverse families who make up our community will have a new resource for questions about the thousands of issues that arise while raising children.

Today's topic: Parent-to-Parent Communication About Vaccination 

This week's question comes from Lauren Rifenbark, who is a mother of a toddler:

Before I had my son almost two years ago, I never gave any thought to the issue of vaccinations and the fact that some parents choose not to vaccinate their children. Now that I have a toddler, who has not yet completed his schedule of childhood vaccines and does not have full immunity to many preventable illnesses, it is difficult for me to ignore recent outbreaks of measles and whooping cough.

When we visit the local indoor playroom or the park, I can't help but wonder if any of the kids my son is trading slobber with is unvaccinated. This brings me to my question for the day:

Do you believe that parents who choose not to vaccinate their children have an obligation (moral, ethical, or otherwise) to notify other parents of their decision?

Agoura Hills Patch's Mom Council Members

Lauren Rifenbark moved to Agoura Hills in 2007. In 2009, after years of practice as a litigation attorney,  she became a stay-at-home mom, doing a little attorney work on the side when she is not chasing her toddler.

Susan Pascal, a 15-year veteran of the motion picture industry and mother two—Jacob,8, and Mia Rose, 5—graduated New York University with a B.F.A. degree. She is currently Patch's  columnist. 

Laura Moss, our  recipe guru, received her bachelor's degree in Radio & Television from the University of Arizona. For the past 12 years, Moss has been a stay-at-home mom, sports coach, art teacher, culinary wizard, head laundress, chauffeur and photographer for her beautiful family here in Agoura Hills.

Charlene Ross, the woman behind , has been an Agoura resident for five and a half years. She left the unglamorous life of a low-level tour marketing employee in the music industry 14 years ago to become a mom of her two kids.

Lori Hultin has been a resident of Westlake Village for nearly 13 years, and the Conejo Valley for more than 20. She and her husband, Per, have two daughters, ages 17 and 12, who attend Agoura High School and Lindero Canyon Middle School, respectively. For the past 20 years, Hultin has managed her PR and marketing consultancy, LSH Communications.

Ziona Friedlander moved to Agoura Hills in 1996 and has since become co-president of Agoua High's Parent Faculty Club, co-project Manager of the 2011 Every 15 Minutes Program at the high school, and co-founder of C.O.R.E. (Californians Organized to Rescue Education). Her son will be graduating Agoura High in June.

Sheena Stephens is a PR professional, handling brands like Razor and Grocery Outlet. Stephens, mother of three, is also a well-known local blogger resides in Liberty Canyon. 

Breann Kline considers herself native to the area, having lived here since she was 7 years old. Kline shares her experiences and insights into the particular nature of raising a toddler in Agoura Hills in The Motherload.

Lauren Meinhardt recently moved back to her hometown of Agoura Hills. A first time mom to a 6-½-month-old daughter, she is an Agoura High School graduate who currently practices as a family law/divorce attorney in Brentwood.