Vaccine Policy

Vaccine Policy


Beacon Pediatrics Vaccine Statement


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. 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 are more than willing to discuss any questions you may have about vaccines, but do require all new patients to our practice to adhere to the vaccination schedule endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
 

  • 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 that all children and young adults should receive all of the recommended vaccines according to the schedule published by the  American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).
     
  • We firmly believe, based on all available literature, evidence, and current studies, that vaccines do not cause autism or other developmental disabilities.
     
  • We firmly believe that thimerosal, a preservative that has been in vaccines for decades and remains in some vaccines, 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 support as parents/caregivers.
     

The recommended vaccines and the schedule of administration 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, if it becomes widespread, can only lead to tragic results.


Over the past several years, many people in Europe have chosen not to vaccinate their children with the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine after publication of an unfounded suspicion (later retracted) that the vaccine caused autism. As a result of under-immunization, there have been small outbreaks of measles and several deaths from complications of measles in Europe over the past several years. The United States experienced a record number of measles cases during 2019, with 1282 cases from 31 states reported to CDC's National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD). This is the greatest number of cases since measles elimination was documented in the U.S. in 2000.


Furthermore, we firmly believe that by not vaccinating your child, you are taking selfish advantage of thousands of others who do vaccinate their children, which decreases the likelihood that a child will contract one of these diseases. We feel such an attitude to be self-centered and unacceptable. Even delaying or “breaking up the vaccines” to give one or two at a time over additional visits goes against expert recommendations, is not supported by any scientific data, can lead to unnecessary delays and errors, and can put your child, other children, and adults at risk for serious illness (or even death). It is therefore against our medical advice as professionals at Beacon Pediatrics.


Beacon Pediatrics Vaccine Policy


1. Because we are committed to protecting the health of your children through vaccination, we require all of our patients to be vaccinated in accordance with the schedule set forth in this policy. All school required vaccines must be received according to the schedule recommended. All vaccines are strongly encouraged by the entire Beacon Pediatrics team. New, incoming families will be required to vaccinate according to the schedule recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics, including HPV. Influenza and Covid will not fall under this vaccine policy for new or current families.

2. If you have doubts regarding vaccination, please discuss these with your healthcare provider in advance of your visit. We are committed to engaging in discussion to explain the benefits of vaccination.

3. In some cases, we may alter the vaccination schedule to accommodate parental concerns or reservations. Please be advised, however, that delaying vaccines to give one or two at a time over two or more visits goes against expert recommendations, can put your child at risk for serious illness (or even death) and goes against our medical advice. Additional visits for vaccinations will also require additional co-pays on your part. Please realize that you will also be required to sign a “Refusal to Vaccinate” acknowledgement in the event of lengthy delays. Delayed immunization schedules leave an infant or child at risk for preventable infections and also present opportunity for errors. It is the responsibility of the parent to track the vaccine schedule and to inform any caregiver if a child is incompletely immunized. The fever work up for an under-immunized child may differ from that of a child immunized according to schedule.

4. Finally, if you should refuse to vaccinate your child despite all our efforts, we will ask you to find another health-care provider who shares your views.

Thank you for taking the time to read this policy. Please feel free to discuss any questions or concerns you may have about vaccines with any one of us.


Time Specific Guidelines:


NEW patients to the practice must have up to date immunizations for age according to the CDC and ACIP schedule OR be working toward catch up.


Children by 20 months are required to have the following:


  • 4th DTaP
  • 4th PCV 13
  • 1 MMR (measles, mumps, rubella)
  • 1 VZV (chicken pox)


Children by FIVE years are required to have the following:


  • 5th DtaP
  • 2nd MMR
  • 2nd VZV
  • 4th Polio


Newborns must be:


  • Vaccinated according to schedule at 2, 4 & 6 months