VACCINE POLICY STATEMENT

It is a widely accepted scientific fact that timely administration of vaccinations is effective to prevent serious illness and to save lives.

It is a widely accepted scientific fact that vaccines are safe.

It is a widely accepted scientific fact that all children and young adults should receive all recommended vaccinations, in accordance with the Schedule set forth by the Center for Disease Control, the Michigan Department of Health, and the American Academy of Pediatrics,

It is a widely accepted scientific fact that vaccines do not cause autism or other developmental disabilities.

It is a widely accepted scientific fact that vaccinating children and young adults may be the single most important health-promoting intervention we perform as health care providers. The recommended vaccines and their schedule given are the result of years and years of scientific study and data gathering on millions of children by thousands of the brightest scientists and physicians.

Due to widespread vaccination, many of you have never seen a child with smallpox, polio, tetanus, whopping 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 about vaccinating which can lead to tragic results. We are making you aware of these facts not to scare or coerce you, but to emphasize the importance of vaccinating your child.

Due to the overwhelming importance of timely vaccinations, we follow the vaccine schedule set by the Center for Disease Control, the State of Michigan Department of Health, and endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics. WE DO NOT DELAY OR SPLIT UP VACCINES which, per scientific and medical expert’s opinions, will put your child at risk for serious illness (or even death) and goes against our medical advice as providers at Well-Being Pediatrics.

If you should absolutely refuse to vaccinate your child, to protect all our patients and staff who are either too young to be vaccinated, pregnant, and/or immunocompromised, you will be required to find another health care provider. Please recognize that by refusing to vaccinate your child, you are placing your child and other children, and any person, regardless of age, who is immunocompromised or pregnant, at unnecessary risk for life-threatening illness, disability and even death.

If your child is a new patient who is behind in vaccinations, but you agree to vaccinate going forward, a provider will place your child on a recommended vaccine catch-up program which you will have to sign with the intent to comply.

If you are committed to withholding recommended vaccines, you have 30 days, from the date of refusal, to find a new pediatrician/pediatric practice for you child. During those 30 days we will see your child/children for sick visits only.

As Medical Professionals who have devoted our lives to the health and well-being of all our patients, we stand in accordance with the American Academy of Pediatrics and the decades of medical and scientific research that supports the fact that vaccinating children on schedule with currently available vaccines is the best way to protect all children from debilitating lifelong illness and possible death.

Below is a list of vaccinations Well-Being Pediatrics requiring be administered per State of Michigan Department of Health:

Diphtheria, Tetanus and Pertussis

Haemophilus Influenzae Type B (not the flu)

Polio

Pneumococcal Disease

Rotavirus

Hepatitis B

Hepatitis A

MMR – Measles, Mumps, Rubella

Varicella (Chickenpox)

Meningococcal ACWY

Meningitis B

In addition, we require all patients receive the recommended and scientifically proven safe and effective Vitamin K shot at birth

Well-Being Pediatrics