Vaccinations

Our Vaccine Policy

We believe in the effectiveness of vaccines to prevent serious illness and to save lives.

We believe in the safety of our vaccines.

We 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.

We believe, based on all available literature, evidence, and current studies, that vaccines do not cause autism or other developmental disabilities.

We 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 believe that vaccinating children and young adults may be the single most important health-promoting intervention we perform as health care providers, and that you perform as parents/caregivers.  The recommended vaccines and their schedule are the results of years and years of scientific study and research, with data gathered on millions of children by thousands of our brightest scientists and physicians.

These things being said, we recognize that there has always been and will likely always be controversy surrounding vaccination.

The vaccine campaign is a victim of its own success.  It’s precisely because vaccines are so effective at preventing illness that we even discuss whether or not they should be given.  Because of the safety and effectiveness of vaccines, many of you have never seen a child with polio, tetanus, whooping cough, bacterial meningitis, or even chickenpox.

Over the past several years, some people have chosen not to vaccinate their children with the MMR vaccine after publication in Europe of an unfounded suspicion that the vaccine caused autism.  This claim was later discredited and retracted.  Unfortunately, decreased vaccination rates have resulted in a rise in the number of measles cases across Europe.

Please understand that delaying or “breaking up” vaccines to give one or two at a time over several visits goes against expert recommendations and can put your child at risk for serious illness or even death.  Doing these things also goes against our medical advice.

As medical professionals entrusted with the lives of children we believe strongly that vaccinating children on schedule with currently available vaccines is the right thing to do.  With rising rates of pertussis being seen in this country we have made the decision here at Cary, Fuquay, and Apex Pediatrics to require our patients to meet certain vaccine standards to be part of the practice.  This is to protect the health of your child, our patients, and our community.

Finally, if you should refuse to vaccinate your child despite all our efforts and recommendations, we will ask you to find another health care provider who shares your views.

We write this statement not to scare you, nor to coerce you, but to make you aware of the facts, and to emphasize the importance of vaccinating your child.

Please feel free to discuss any questions or concerns you have about vaccines with any one of our providers.  Please also recognize that we will do everything we can to convince you that vaccinating your child according to the recommended schedule is the right thing to do.  It is our job to advocate for children and their health is our priority.

TYPICAL VACCINE ADMINISTRATION SCHEDULE:

Birth/2-Weeks: Hep B

2 month series (3 shots):  Pentacel (DtaP, IPV, HiB), Prevnar, Hep B, and oral Rotateq

4 month series (3 shots):  Pentacel (DtaP, IPV, HiB), Prevnar, Hep B, and oral Rotateq

6 month series (3 shots):  Pentacel (DtaP, IPV, HiB), Prevnar, Hep B, and oral Rotateq

1 year series (4 shots):  MMR, Varivax, Hep A, and Prevnar

15 month series (2 shots): DTaP, HiB (Prevnar if not administered at 1 year)

18 month or 2 year (1 shot): Hep A

4-6 years old (2-4 shots depending on combination used): MMR, Varivax, DTaP, IPV

11-12 years old:  Tdap, MCV4, HPV (2 doses needed)

16-17 years old:  MCV4, Meningitis B (2 doses needed)

To meet our practice standards, the following are required:

1 year standard:  Each infant should have 3 doses each of DTaP, IPV, HiB, and Prevnar by 1 year of age.

2 year standard:  Each toddler should have the 1 year standard + 1 dose each of MMR, Varivax + boosters of DTaP, HiB, and Prevnar (total of 4 each) by 2 years of age.

6 year standard:  Each child should have the 2 year standard + boosters of MMR, Varivax, DTaP and IPV. Note that Hep B is required for Kindergarten entry.

12 year standard:  Each child should have the 6 year standard, + Tdap booster and MCV4.

16 – 17 year standard: Each child should have the 12 year standard + MCV4 booster

Vaccination Facts from the Centers for Disease Control

Bear in mind that diseases we vaccinate are not gone.  The number of cases of measles last year was more than any single year since the 1990’s; most of the cases in children who have not been vaccinated either because of age or by choice.

See the Downloads list below for fact sheets about each vaccine.