Paint Creek Pediatrics
Vaccine Policy (Revised 7/1/11)

We support the vaccination of all children and young adults. Vaccines have saved more lives in the past century than any other medical intervention. Our vaccine recommendations are based on the schedule published by the Centers for Disease Control and the American Academy of Pediatrics. The recommended vaccines and their schedule are the result of many years of scientific study and data gathering from the billions of children who have been immunized.

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 or not they should be given. Because of vaccines, many of you have never seen a child with polio, tetanus, whooping cough, bacterial meningitis or even chickenpox. Unfortunately, the physicians in our office have seen children suffer and/or die from these preventable illnesses. Such success can make us complacent or even lazy about vaccinating. But failing to vaccinate, if it becomes widespread, can lead to tragic results.

Immunization is vital to preventing disease among the general population. Vaccines benefit both the persons who receive them, and the vulnerable, unvaccinated people around them, because the infection can no longer spread. We have many patients who are too young to be vaccinated, and are at risk for contracting a vaccine preventable disease from a child who is unvaccinated. While it is your choice to assume the risk of a vaccine preventable disease for your child, we cannot assume the same risk for our patients.

By following the recommended schedule of well visits, our patients receive vaccines at 2, 4, 6, 12, 15, and 18 months. It is our expectation that your child is fully immunized before his or her second birthday. We do not encourage deviating from the schedule of recommended vaccines. Deviating from the recommended schedule of vaccines so your child receives fewer vaccines over more visits is not beneficial and leaves your child unnecessarily vulnerable.

If you should absolutely refuse to vaccinate your child despite all our efforts, we will ask you find another health care provider who shares your views. Please recognize that, by not vaccinating, you are putting your child and other children at unnecessary risk for life-threatening illness, disability, and even death.

Although we do not encourage deviating from our recommended schedule, we can do an alternate one that spaces out the shots, but will require more visits.  Thank you for your time in reading this policy. Please feel free to discuss any questions or concerns you may have about vaccines with any one of us.