Beacon Pediatrics Vaccine Statement

Our position on the recent executive order on vaccinations.

At Beacon Pediatrics, we firmly believe in the safety and effectiveness of vaccines. The science has not changed — vaccines save lives and are one of the most effective tools we have to protect children and communities from serious, preventable diseases.

We want to reassure our patient families that our vaccine recommendations will continue to follow the best evidence to protect your children and our community. We will continue to follow the guidance of the American Academy of Pediatrics, whose vaccine committee is 100% dedicated to the safety of your children.

The U.S. childhood vaccine schedule is based on decades of high-quality research and continuous safety monitoring. For this reason, we are deeply concerned about the vaccine schedule change announced by the Department of Health and Human Services. Recent efforts led by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to influence vaccine policy have raised serious concern within the medical community. These pushes have promoted unscientific, disproven, and dangerous narratives about vaccines that directly contradict decades of high-quality research and real-world safety data. This message put forth by the current administration and HHS is dangerous and may lead to confusion, decreased vaccination rates, and increased illness among children.

As Pediatricians, our responsibility is — and always has been — to follow the science, not politics.

Because of this politicization, pediatricians, and physicians in general, no longer trust vaccine guidance coming from the CDC when it deviates from established evidence at the direction of RFK Jr. and this administration. Public health guidance must be rooted in data, transparency, and rigorous scientific review — not ideology.

In contrast, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has made a clear and public commitment to remain strictly evidence-based. The AAP continues to uphold the childhood vaccine schedule exactly as science, safety data, and decades of outcomes research have shown to be most effective and safest for children.

At this time, the American Academy of Pediatrics is the only organization that we personally recommend to families for accurate, trustworthy information about vaccines and the pediatric immunization schedule. Their recommendations are developed by pediatric experts, grounded in peer-reviewed research, and focused solely on protecting children — not appeasing political agendas.

We stand with the American Academy of Pediatrics and pediatric experts nationwide in continuing to support evidence-based, science-driven vaccine recommendations. We will continue to do our very best to help parents keep their children happy, healthy, and safe!

FAQ: Your Vaccine Questions Answered

Does this executive order change what vaccines my child needs?

No. This is a federal recommendation, not a mandate, and it doesn’t restrict your access to any vaccine. Beacon Pediatrics will continue offering and recommending the complete AAP schedule.

Will my insurance still cover the full AAP schedule?

Massachusetts has pledged to maintain its independent vaccine access and coverage, ensuring that routine and seasonal immunizations remain fully available and covered by health insurance based on state public health guidelines rather than shifting federal recommendations. Massachusetts health insurers are required to cover all immunizations recommended by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) regardless of federal CDC changes.

Why does Beacon Pediatrics follow the AAP schedule specifically?

The AAP schedule is developed by pediatric experts and continuously updated based on clinical trial data and real-world safety monitoring. It’s designed to protect children at the ages when they’re most vulnerable to specific diseases.

Is delaying or spacing out vaccines safer for my child?

No. There is no evidence that spacing out vaccines improves safety, and delaying vaccination leaves children vulnerable to serious diseases for longer. The recommended schedule’s timing is intentional — it’s calibrated to when a child’s immune system can best respond and when they’re at highest risk.

Can I still ask questions about specific vaccines at our visits?

Always. We welcome your questions and want you to feel confident and informed about every decision for your child’s health.