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 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 that based on all available literature, evidence, and current studies, that vaccines do 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 of robust scientific study and research.

Vaccines are a victim of their own success because they are so effective at preventing illness. Because of the safety and effectiveness of vaccines, many of the younger generations have never seen a child with polio, tetanus, bacterial meningitis, or even chickenpox. Vaccine use is supported and continues to be recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and numerous infectious disease experts globally.

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. It is our job to advocate for children and their health is our priority.

At Cary, Fuquay-Varina, and Apex Pediatric Centers, our goal is to partner with parents for the long-term health of children and advocate for their protection. As such, we are committed to the use of vaccines and believe strongly that they prevent serious diseases without resulting in significant risks. Thus, we require patients in our practice to be vaccinated according to established standardized immunization policies (see below). If you should refuse to vaccinate your child despite our efforts and recommendations, we will ask you to find another health care provider who shares your views.

If you have more questions, please see our “Vaccine Facts & Perspectives” download below.

TYPICAL VACCINE ADMINISTRATION SCHEDULE:

Birth – 2-Weeks: (1 shot) Hep B

Birth – 8 months: (1 shot) RSV

 2-month series (3 shots):  DTap/IPV/HiB, Pneumococcal, Hep B, and oral Rotavirus

4-month series (2 shots):  DTap/IPV/HiB, Pneumococcal, and oral Rotavirus

6-month series (3 shots):  DTap/IPV/HiB, Pneumococcal, Hep B, and oral Rotavirus

1 year series (4 shots):  MMR, Varicella, Hep A, and Pneumococcal

15-month series (2 shots): DTaP, HiB

18 month (1 shot): Hep A

4-5 years old (2-4 shots depending on combination used): MMR, Varicella, DTaP, IPV

9 – 12 years old: HPV (2 doses needed)

11-12 years old (2 shots):  Tdap, MCV4

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, & Pneumococcal by 1 year of age.

2-year standard:  Each toddler should have the 1-year standard + 1 dose each of MMR, Varicella + boosters of DTaP, HiB, & Pneumococcal (total of 4 each) by 2 years of age

6-year standard:  Each child should have the 2-year standard + boosters of MMR, Varicella, DTaP & IPV.

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

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.