Vaccine Policy
We believe in the effectiveness of vaccines to prevent serious illness and save lives, in the safety of our vaccines, and that all children and young adults should receive the recommended vaccines according to the schedule published by the American Academy of Pediatrics. We also believe unvaccinated children pose a risk of spreading these serious diseases to other children who are either too young to be vaccinated or who are unable to be vaccinated because of medical conditions.
Vaccines and the schedule at which they are given are the results of many years of scientific study and data gathering on millions of children by thousands of scientists and physicians. We recognize that there has always been and will always be controversy surrounding vaccination. The vaccine campaign is truly a victim of its own success. It is precisely because vaccines are so effective at preventing illness that we are even discussing whether they should be given. Because of vaccines, many of you have never seen a child with polio, tetanus, whooping cough, meningitis, or even chicken pox. Such success can make us complacent about vaccinating.
We are making you aware of these facts not to scare you or coerce you, but to emphasize the importance of vaccination. We will do everything we can to convince you that vaccinating according to the schedule is the right thing to do. Our goal is to educate and to alleviate any fears you may have. At each well visit the benefit of immunizations will be discussed with you in the hope that you will accept the vaccine(s). Should you refuse to vaccinate, you will be asked to sign a declination form which will remain a part of the permanent record. Refusal to sign the declination form or efforts to alter it in any way is basis for immediate dismissal from the practice.
If after 3 discussions with a provider, you absolutely refuse to vaccinate your child, we will ask you to find another practice who shares your views and with whom you will be more comfortable. If an older child is unvaccinated, we will start them on a catch-up schedule to ensure they are fully protected. If that is not acceptable to you, we will ask you to establish care with another practice. New patients of the practice will be asked for their vaccine record prior to being seen for sick or well visits. If your child is not up-to-date on vaccines, we will ask you to have your vaccines updated prior to scheduling an appointment or find a practice more in line with your philosophy.
For a parent friendly version of the AAP’s most recent vaccination schedule and answers to frequently asked questions, please visit healthychildren.org. We understand that there is a lot of information available on the internet and social media. We encourage you to get your information from reliable sources. Another reputable source of information is letsgetrealaboutvaccines.org.
