Gateway Pediatrics Vaccine Policy Statement
We get questions every day concerning the safety of the currently recommended vaccines and the immunization schedule. In response to the increasing concerns expressed by parents, we have developed a policy statement which we hope will carefully and thoroughly address your concerns.
The controversy we face now is a result of the success of immunizations but also the fears and incomplete information of those who are opposed. 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, hardly anyone now has seen or even heard of diseases such as polio, tetanus, whooping cough, bacterial meningitis or chickenpox. This success has made many parents complacent or nonchalant about vaccinating their children. Such an attitude, if it becomes widespread, can only lead to tragic results and has resulted in the resurgence of once eradicated illnesses.
Based on the currently available scientific data and facts, here is our policy regarding immunizations:
1. Vaccines prevent serious illnesses and save lives.
2. All currently available vaccines are safe.
3. All children and young adults should receive all of the recommended vaccines according to the schedule published by the experts at The American Academy of Pediatrics AAP , the Centers for Disease Control CDC, and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices ACIP.
4. Based on all available literature, evidence and current studies, vaccines do not cause autism, autoimmune dysfunction, or other developmental disabilities.
5. Thimerosal does not cause autism or other developmental disabilities. Thimerosal has been removed as a preservative in vaccines used for infants and children in the US since 2001.
6. Vaccinating children and young adults may be the single most important health-promoting intervention we perform as your child’s health care providers.
7. The current vaccines and their schedule are the result of years and years of scientific study and data-gathering on millions of children by thousands of the brightest scientists and physicians world-wide.
8. We do want you to make informed decisions and we ask that you read the resources that we have included on our website .
9. Some parents prefer to give vaccines according to a modified schedule or split the vaccine components. Please be advised that such a schedule would go against expert recommendations, can put your child at increased risk for serious illness, and goes against our medical advice as your child’s primary care providers. The American Academy of Pediatrics has in fact refuted Dr. Bob Sears "Alternative Immunization Schedule". If you decide to give the vaccines on a different schedule, we request that you write out the schedule and sign it and we will add it to your child’s chart. You will be charged a separate co-payment for each immunization visit. If you decide to refuse any immunization, we will require that you sign a “refusal to vaccinate” acknowledgement and it will be included in your child’s records.
10. We respect your decision if you choose to refuse all immunizations for your child. In that case, you may prefer to find a practice that is more in line with your beliefs.
11. Please understand the risks and your responsibilities when you choose not to vaccinate your child. This article from the Centers for Disease Control can provide you additional information if you need.
We thank you for reading our policy. Please do not hesitate to contact us if we can answer additional questions or give you more information regarding vaccine safety.
Sincerely,
Sudha Chandrasekhar, M.D., FAAP
Michelle Valenzuela, M.D., FAAP
Neva Schwartz, CPNP
