IMMUNIZATIONS

     One of the most important services we can provide to our patients is vaccinations against life threatening diseases.  As medical professionals, we support vaccinating children according to recommended schedule set forth by the American Academy of Pediatrics.  The recommended vaccines and vaccine schedule are the results of years of scientific study on millions of children by thousands of our brightest scientists and physicians.  When you don’t vaccinate, you take a significant risk with your child’s health and the health of others around them.  Therefore, for the safety of our patients and families, we fully support vaccinations. 

• We firmly believe in the effectiveness of vaccines to prevent serious illness and to save lives.
• We firmly believe in the safety of vaccines.
• We firmly believe that all children and young adults should receive all of the recommended vaccines according to the schedule published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).
• We firmly believe, based on all available literature, evidence, and current studies, that vaccines do not cause autism or other developmental disabilities. 
• We firmly believe that thimerosal, a preservative that has been in vaccines for decades and remains in some vaccines, does not cause autism or other developmental disabilities.
• We firmly believe that 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/caregivers. 

     We recognize that the choice may be a very emotional one for some parents.  We will educate you regarding vaccine safety and the dangers in delaying or refusing vaccinations.  We firmly believe that vaccinating according to the schedule is the right thing to do.  However, should you have doubts, please discuss these with your healthcare provider in advance of your visit.  In some cases, we may alter the schedule to accommodate parental concerns or reservations.  Please be advised, however, that delaying or “breaking up the vaccines” to give one or two at a time over two or more visits goes against expert recommendations, and can put your child at risk for serious illness or even death.  Therefore, it goes against our medical advice as providers at Redbird Pediatrics.  Such additional visits will require additional co-pays on your part.  Please realize that you will also be required to sign a “Refusal to Vaccinate” acknowledgement in the event of lengthy delays.  If you should absolutely refuse to vaccinate your child despite all our efforts, we will ask you to find another healthcare provider who shares your views. 

     As medical professionals, we feel very strongly that vaccinating your child on schedule with currently available vaccines is absolutely the right thing to do to protect all children and young adults. Thank you for taking the time to read this policy. Please feel free to discuss any questions or concerns you may have about vaccines with any one of us.