Pediatric Vaccines
Our Vaccine Position Statement
Vaccinating children and young adults may be the single most important health-promoting intervention we perform as healthcare providers, and that you can perform as parents/caregivers.
We recognize that the choice to vaccinate your child may be a difficult one. Should you have doubts, please discuss them with your healthcare provider in advance of your visit or schedule a visit to discuss.
Based on best medical practices and scientific evidence, all children and young adults who see Southcoast Health providers are required to receive the minimum recommended vaccines, as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, and the Rhode Island Department of Health, unless there is a medical reason why a child should not receive vaccination.
The recommended immunization schedule is published by the AAP, the American Academy of Family Physicians, and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. The recommended immunization schedule is the result of years of validated data collection and scientific study confirming the safety and effectiveness of vaccines.
Delaying or “breaking up” the vaccines to give one or two at a time over two or more visits goes against expert recommendations and can put your child and other children at risk for serious illness or even death. We strongly advise against this approach. Please also note that if you choose to delay vaccines for an extended period of time you will be required to sign a “Refusal to Vaccinate” acknowledgement. Extending vaccinations over additional visits may also require you to pay additional co-pays.
Parents or guardians of children and young adults who refuse to vaccinate may be asked by Southcoast Health to find another healthcare provider, due to the risks to our patients and the community posed by unvaccinated individuals. In that circumstance, we will work to transition your medical care in a manner that supports continuity of care.
As medical professionals, we know that vaccinating children on schedule with recommended vaccines is the safest and healthiest action to take for all children and young adults, and absolutely the right thing to do.
Thank you for taking the time to read our Vaccine Position Statement. Please feel free to contact any Southcoast Health provider to discuss any questions or concerns you may have about vaccines
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Are vaccines safe?
A. Yes. Vaccines are not only safe, they are effective in helping prevent serious illnesses that can be debilitating and even cause death. The benefits of vaccination extend beyond the individual. When a person is appropriately vaccinated, he or she also helps protect infants who are too young to be vaccinated or people who cannot receive vaccinations because of medical reasons.
Q. What is the recommended schedule for vaccinations?
A. Based on best medical practices and scientific evidence, all children and young adults who see Southcoast Health providers are required to receive the minimum recommended vaccines as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, and the Rhode Island Department of Health, unless there is a medical reason why a child should not receive vaccination. Children with certain medical conditions might have special vaccine needs. You should work with a doctor to choose the best vaccination strategy for your family.
Q. Can I break up the vaccine schedule for my child, so they only get one or two at
each visit?
A. This is not recommended. Breaking up the vaccines puts your child and others at risk for serious illness or even death. It is Southcoast Health’s position to vaccinate children and young adults according to the schedule published by the AAP, the American Academy of Family Physicians, and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
Q. Do vaccines cause autism?
A. No. Scientific studies have repeatedly shown that there is no link between vaccines and autism. In 1998, an unfounded claim was published stating that the MMR (Measles, Mumps and Rubella) vaccines caused autism. Not only was this false study retracted, the physician who made the claim had his license revoked. The fallout from that false study resulted in many people in the US and Europe choosing not to vaccinate their children. Due to under immunization, there have been large outbreaks of measles resulting in several deaths caused by complications of the disease, as well as a recurrence of other serious diseases that are preventable by vaccines.
Q. Aren’t vaccines full of chemicals that are harmful and can cause developmental
disabilities?
A. No. Vaccines are safe and do not cause developmental disabilities. Vaccines have been safely and effectively used for decades and there have been no legitimate studies connecting vaccines to autism or any other developmental disabilities.
Q. Isn’t it true that most vaccines are for diseases that are eradicated, and my child
will not get sick because these diseases don’t exist anymore?
A. This is not true. While the incidence of certain diseases has been significantly reduced because of vaccines, the vaccine campaign is a victim of its own success. It is precisely because vaccines are so effective at preventing disease that people have begun doubting their need. Because of vaccines, most people 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. The false belief that these diseases have been eradicated has lowered concern about the need for vaccination, which has led to outbreaks of Measles. If this misconception persists, it may lead to tragic results.
