Pediatrics Vaccine Policy Statement

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

We firmly believe, based upon all available literature, evidence and current studies, in the safety of our 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 the American Academy of Pediatrics.

We firmly believe that vaccines do not cause autism or other developmental disabilities. We firmly believe that thimerosal, a preservative that had been in vaccines for decades, 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 health care providers and that you can perform as parents/caregivers. The recommended vaccines and their schedule given are the results of years and years of scientific study and data-gathering on millions of children by thousands of our brightest scientists and physicians.

The vaccine campaign is truly a victim of its own success. It is precisely because vaccines are so effective at preventing illness that we are even discussing whether or not they should be given. Because of vaccines, many of you have never seen a child with polio, tetanus, whooping cough, 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 or even lazy about vaccinating. But such an attitude can only lead to tragic results.

Over the past several years, many people have chosen to decline or delay vaccinating their children. As a result of underimmunization, there have been outbreaks of and deaths from measles, Haemophilus and pertussis. By not vaccinating children, parents/caregivers are taking selfish advantage of others who do vaccinate their children. In addition, this places other children at risk for serious illness and death.

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 an emotional one for some parents. We will do everything we can to convince you that vaccinating according to the schedule is the right thing to do. However, should you have doubts, please discuss these with us. Please be advised that delaying or spreading out the vaccines to give one or two at a time over multiple visits goes against expert recommendations, can put your child at risk for serious illness, disability, and even death, and goes against our medical advice as providers at Central Ohio Primary Care Physicians. In the event of not immunizing your child, you may be asked to leave the practice.

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

Sincerely,
The Pediatricians of Central Ohio Primary Care Physicians