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As of July 1st, there is a new requirement by the CDC that is discriminatory to adoptive families.

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) has decided that in order for immigrants from China to get a visa, they must show proof of not having TB (Tuberculosis).  Not a bad idea in theory, but this includes adopted children!  The way that adoption in China works is that the adoptive family has legally adopted the child by the time the child gets the medical evaluation done in Guangzhou at the US consulate.  This evaluation now also includes a TB test for children over the age of 2.  This  adds 1-2 days to adoption trips (which means a higher cost too).  First the child will have the TB skin test.  If that is positive, which most are because most kids in China get the TB vaccine, then they must get a chest x-ray.  So far, those cases have proven to be negative, and then the visa is issued, and the family comes home.

But eventually, a child is going to test positive.  Then there is another test, and the adoptive family must stay even longer.  If in fact the child has TB, the child must remain in country for what could be 9-12 months!  So what is the family of this child supposed to do?  This is a child of US citizens who have legally done all the paperwork so that the child is a US citizen as soon as he/she sets foot on American soil.    TB is not considered contagious for children under the age of 12, even if they have active TB.  Most families cannot afford to stay in China 9-12 months, and treatment would be easy to find in the US.

This skin test is also given at the same as many children are getting as many 6 immunizations at one time!  Families can no longer get a waiver to do immunizations here in the US.  This means kids are getting more shots than necessary as well.   Most Americans would never give their young child so many shots at once and many pediatricians to not recommend it!

So here is how you can help families like us:  Go tohttp://www.gopetition.com/petitions/build-families-not-barriers.html and sign the petition started by the Joint Council for International Children Services to overturn the TB requirement for adopted children.  It’s quick to sign the petition – will probably take you less than 2 minutes.  Thanks for your help!

I cut and pasted this post from another blog.  Since this was written, at least one child has tested positive for TB.  Her family must return to the US without her.  They are devastated.  They are working hard to be able to bring her home.  This makes me so sad.  Click here for a link to their blog.

Please click here to sign the petition.