At Pediatric & Adolescent Medicine, LLP, we consider immunizing infants, children, and adolescents against life-threatening diseases one of the most critical aspects of our practice. Over the years, we have seen a dramatic decline in severe illnesses such as epiglottitis, bacterial meningitis, measles, and congenital rubella syndrome—once common but now rare due to the success of vaccinations.

Despite this progress, some parents remain hesitant about vaccinating their children due to safety concerns, fears of side effects, or misconceptions linking vaccines to autism. Others underestimate the risk of these diseases or believe they are not severe.

As both pediatricians and parents, we are committed to providing accurate, evidence-based information to help families make informed decisions. We firmly uphold the following principles based on scientific research:

• Vaccines are safe and effective in preventing serious illnesses and saving lives.
• Vaccination is one of the most crucial interventions to protect the health of both children and adults in our community.
• The recommended vaccine schedule is based on years of rigorous scientific research. Deviating from this schedule or refusing vaccines increases the risk of serious illness and even death.

The Importance of Vaccination

The success of vaccines has, in many ways, led to complacency. Because they have been so effective, many people have never seen a child suffering from bacterial meningitis, polio, tetanus, measles, or whooping cough. This has led some to believe that vaccines are unnecessary. Combined with the spread of misinformation, this mindset places children at unnecessary risk.

Recent measles outbreaks and rising vaccine hesitancy have heightened our concern for our patients’ well-being. The choices of a few parents have put our most vulnerable patients—such as those too young to be vaccinated or those with medical conditions that prevent immunization—at risk.

As pediatricians, we have a duty to create the safest possible environment for all our patients. Therefore, we have established the following vaccine policy:

Our Vaccine Policy

• All patients must follow the AAP-recommended vaccine schedule unless a medical contraindication is determined by our practice.
• We do not accept new families who choose not to vaccinate their children.
•  We do not recommend alternative vaccine schedules.    
  • We recognize that illness and travel may sometimes make strict adherence to the AAP schedule challenging. However, we firmly require adherence to the following criteria:
  • Primary vaccines (hepatitis B, diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis, haemophilus influenzae, pneumococcal, poliovirus) by 9 months
  • MMR vaccine by 15 months
  • Varicella vaccine by 18 months
  • MMR/Varicella and Dtap/Polio boosters by 6 years
  • Families who do not meet these requirements will need to find another pediatric provider.
• For sick visits, parents must inform the front desk and providers if their child is not fully immunized, as additional precautions, such as isolation, may be necessary.

Our Commitment

We firmly believe that vaccinating on schedule with the recommended vaccines is the best way to protect all children and young adults.

Thank you for taking the time to review our vaccine policy. We welcome any questions or concerns and encourage open discussions with our team.