Wonder Kids Pediatrics Immunization Policy
We wholeheartedly endorse and follow the complete immunization schedule recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Centers for Disease Control.
We also wholeheartedly believe that the decision to vaccinate your child is yours. We will not turn away children based on their parent’s decision to not vaccinate but Wonder Kids Pediatrics believes that it is in the best interest of your child, the other children in our practice, and our community as a whole for every child to be fully immunized.
At Wonder Kids Pediatrics, we believe that immunizations are a safe and effective method to prevent the development of serious diseases in your child. Although it has been presented in the media that there is a link between certain vaccines and the development of autism, this is simply not true. No one can guarantee that vaccines are 100% safe, but years of study have shown that the benefits far outweigh any possible side effects. The most common problems that we encounter with immunizations are pain, local swelling at the injection site and sometimes a mild fever.
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 can perform as parents. The recommended vaccines and their schedule given are the results of decades of scientific study and data gathering on millions of children by thousands of our brightest scientists and physicians. Every year the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provide updated recommendations, taking into account all available research data with regards to the safety and effectiveness of vaccines.
If you have questions or concerns regarding vaccines we would be more than happy to discuss them further with you.
We would also like to direct families to excellent sources of objective information put forward by caring, thoughtful individuals and groups. In particular, we recommend these websites:
www.vaccine.cop.edu – from the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
http://www.cispimmunize.org – from the American Academy of Pediatrics
www.immunize.org/reports – stories of “unprotected people”
Other Great Resources:
Vaccine Safety: The Facts A brief fact sheet on vaccines from the AAP
Dr Ari Brown answers vaccine Q&As: Excellent summary of vaccine/autism (non)controversy
Dr Vince Iannelli: Excellent, comprehensive list of why parents hesitate to vaccinate
The problem with Dr Bob’s “alternative”/delayed protection vaccine schedule: Dr Paul Offit, international vaccine expert, dissects Dr Bob Sears’ vaccine schedule.
Unprotected People: From the Immunization Action Coalition: Read real-life accounts of people who have suffered or died from vaccine-preventable diseases: compelling personal testimonies, remembrances, case reports, and newspaper articles
PKIDS: From Parents of Kids with Infectious Diseases: One day in May, eight families affected by vaccine preventable diseases gathered in a small studio in New Jersey to share their stories.
Families Fighting Flu: From an advocacy Group founded by parents whose children became severely ill from Influenza.
Deadly Choices: Website for excellent book about the anti-vaccine movement.
Moms who Vax: Pro vaccine blog written by two moms
Voices for Vaccines: Pro vaccine advocacy group of parents and grandparents
Voices for Vaccines: Unimmunized mom decides to protect her children