COVID-19 vaccinations are being administered every day around the world, which can leave many child care professionals naturally wondering how this affects their communication with the families they work with.
Should I be sharing my vaccination information with families I currently work with or prospective families?
As it is with all your other vaccination and health information, the bottom line answer is: it’s entirely up to you.
A vaccination status is a part of your personal health information (PHI) and when, where, and how much of it you share with others—whether family, friends, or in this case an employer or prospective employer—is a decision that you can make for yourself.
What should I do if parents ask for my vaccination status?
Due to the fact that children are a vulnerable population and are not of age to be vaccinated yet, parents may ask care providers about their vaccination status. Here are some things to keep in mind:
- Be transparent about your comfort level with vaccine discussions in your one-on-one conversations with your (potential) employer. You choose to disclose only what you’re comfortable with.
- Families looking to hire a child care provider are legally allowed to ask about your vaccination status and include vaccinations as a part of their job requirements. However, they’re NOT allowed to ask any follow-up questions (i.e. asking why or why not).
- Remember: your Sittercity profile is publicly viewed information. If you want to, there are ways to indicate that you’re willing to share certain information with prospective families without explicitly sharing your personal health information for anyone to see.
Clear communication between families and care providers is an essential element in creating a healthy work environment for everyone. However, everyone needs to be on the same page about what they’re willing and not willing to discuss. Take some time to consider what’s important to you to keep private, and what you’re willing to share with the families you work with so that you’re prepared ahead of time.
The information presented in this article is not intended to be construed as legal or medical advice. Sittercity recommends consulting a legal and/or medical professional to ensure that you have accurate, up-to-date information applicable to your specific situation.
