Vaccination Policy
We understand you want what is best for your child and so do we. We know that you are bombarded by conflicting information on vaccine safety. We can help you get the information you need to make an informed decision.
- We firmly believe in the effectiveness of vaccines to prevent serious illness and to save lives.
- We firmly believe in the safety of our vaccines.
- We firmly believe, based on all the literature, evidence and current studies, that vaccines do 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.
We are not accepting families who cannot agree to have their children fully vaccinated by age two.
At Le Bonheur Pediatrics, we strongly believe that every child should be vaccinated. Vaccines are not only important; your child’s well-being is dependent on it. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines a vaccine as a product that stimulates a person’s immune system to produce immunity to a specific disease, protecting the person from that disease. We are not accepting families who cannot agree to have their children fully vaccinated by age two.
We will guide you through which vaccinations your child needs and when. Early vaccination is essential. Diseases that vaccines are meant to prevent are most likely to occur when a child is very young. Tetanus, Hepatitis B, Rotavirus and Acellular pertussis (whooping cough) are just a few of the diseases that the first-year vaccines are designed to prevent. State laws require vaccinations for children who attend public schools, private schools and daycare facilities.
Vaccinations, usually administered through needle injections, are not the most enjoyable experiences for you or your little one. However, they prevent the spread and contraction of diseases.
Vaccinations have played a huge part in the rarity of some diseases in the United States. Some diseases like polio and diphtheria have become rare in our country because we’ve continually vaccinated against them. Vaccines, which are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration, go through a rigorous review of laboratory and clinical data to make sure they are safe before they are given to the public to prevent diseases.
It’s key to vaccinate your child early because infectious diseases can pose more problems to infants than older children. Children don’t receive maternal immunity from certain diseases, such as whooping cough. We do not recommend picking and choosing the vaccinations your child receives, because it leaves children vulnerable to serious diseases that could be avoided. If more and more people choose not to get vaccinated, preventable diseases could begin to become threats.
If you have reservations about a certain vaccine your child is scheduled to receive, ask your child’s doctor about any concerns you have. Also check with your child’s doctor if he/she misses a vaccination. Your doctor will know the best time for a “catch-up” vaccination.
Vaccines protect your children and keep them healthy throughout their lives.