We follow the immunization guidelines recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). For information about these vaccines and the diseases they protect against, please visit http://www.aap.org/healthtopics/immunizations.cfm

For detailed Vaccine Informational Sheets published by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) please visit www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/vis/

Our Vaccine Policy

We believe in the effectiveness and safety of vaccines to help prevent serious illness and to save lives. All children and young adults should receive the recommended vaccines according to the schedule published by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). The recommended vaccines and their schedule are the result of many years of scientific study and data gathered from millions of children by thousands of our brightest scientist and physicians. 

Because of vaccines, many parents have never had, or seen, a child with polio, tetanus, bacterial meningitis or even chickenpox, or known a friend or family member whose child died of one of these diseases. By not vaccinating your child, you are taking advantage of thousands of others who do vaccinate their children, which decreases the likelihood that your child will contract one of these illnesses. This is unfair and dangerous. You are also putting our other patients who are too young or are not able to be vaccinated for specific reasons at risk. Vaccinating children on schedule for currently available vaccines is the right thing to do for all children and young adults. Please feel free to discuss any concerns you may have about vaccines with us. We will try to work with you, but if you should ultimately decline to vaccinate your child we will respect your decision - and ask you to find another healthcare provider who shares your views.

Vaccines are effective to prevent serious illness and to save lives, and all children and young adults should receive the recommended vaccines according to the schedule published by the CDC and AAP.  The recommended vaccines and their schedule given are the results of years of scientific study and data gathering on millions of children by thousands of our brightest scientists and physicians. The evidence and current studies show that vaccines do not cause autism or other developmental disabilities, and vaccinating children and young adults may be the single most important health promoting intervention we perform as healthcare providers, and that you can perform as parents. 

We recognize that there has always been, and will likely always be, controversy surrounding vaccinations.  Because of vaccines, many of you have never seen a child with polio, tetanus, bacterial meningitis or even chickenpox, or known a friend or family member whose child died of one of these diseases. Such success can make us complacent about vaccinating. 

Furthermore, by not vaccinating your child you are taking advantage of thousands of others who do vaccinate their children, which decreases the likelihood that your child will contract one of these diseases. We feel such an attitude to be unfair.  You are putting our other children who are not able to be vaccinated for specific reasons at risk of developing these fatal diseases.

We are making you aware of these facts not to scare you or coerce you, but to emphasize the importance of vaccinating your child. We recognize that the choice may be a very emotional one for some parents. Should you have doubts, we can discuss your hesitations at your visit. In some cases, we may alter the schedule to accommodate parental concerns or reservations. Please be advised, however, that delaying vaccines goes against expert recommendations, and can put your child at risk. 

Finally, if you should absolutely decline to vaccinate your child despite all our efforts, we will respect your decision but we will ask you to find another health care provider who shares your views. 

Recommended Immunization Schedule

• 0-6 Years - Schedule for Persons Aged 0 Through 6 Years | 2019
• 7-18 Years - Schedule for Persons Aged 7 Through 18 Years | 2019
• Catch-up Schedule -Schedule for Persons Aged 4 Months Through 18 Years Who Start Late or Who Are More Than 1 Month Behind | 2019

Vaccine Information Statements (please have a look!) http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/vis/

Vaccine Safety:

• Website for the Institute for Vaccine Safety: http://www.vaccinesafety.edu/

Resources

Vaccine Education Center by Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

Vaccine Safety: The Facts A brief fact sheet on vaccines from the AAP