Vaccine Policy

At Family First Pediatric Care, we firmly believe:

• In the effectiveness of vaccines to prevent serious illness and to save lives

• In the safety of our vaccines

• That all children and young adults should receive all fo the recommended vaccines according to the scheduled published by the American Academy of Pediatrics

• Based on all available literature, evidence, and current studies, that vaccines DO NOT cause autism or other developmental disabilities.

• That 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. The recommended vaccines and their schedule are the results of years and years of scientific study and data gathering of millions of children by thousands of our brightest scientists and physicians.

Our practice adheres to the current 2026 AAP Immunization Guidelines. These guidelines provide recommendations that are rooted in science and best for US children. The AAP schedule was endorsed by 12 health professional societies. The CDC immunization schedule is not currently endorsed by the AAP or by our practice. More information regarding the current schedule can be found on the AAP website here.

We recognize that the choice may be a very emotional one for some parents. We will do everything we can to convince you that vaccinating according to the schedule is the right thing to do. However, should you have doubts, please discuss these with your healthcare provider in advance of your visit. In some cases, we may alter the schedule to accommodate parental concerns or reservations.

Please be advised, however, that 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 at risk for serious illness (or even death) and goes against our medical advice as providers at Family First Pediatric Care. Such additional visits will 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. A copy of that form can be downloaded here.

All patients in the practice are strongly encouraged to receive hepatitis B vaccine at birth, DTaP, Hib, polio, pneumococcal, and rotavirus vaccines by three months of age; measles, mumps and rubella, varicella (chickenpox), and hepatitis A vaccines at age 12–15 months; HPV and meningococcal vaccine at 11–12 years (HPV can also be given as early as 9 years); and annual influenza and COVID-19 vaccine. Also, if RSV vaccine was not given during pregnancy, your newborn should receive an RSV preventive antibody before or during the RSV season.

 Finally, if you should absolutely refuse to vaccinate your child despite all our efforts, we will ask you to find another healthcare provider who shares your views. We do not keep a list of such providers, nor would we recommend any such physician. Please recognize that by not vaccinating you are putting your child at unnecessary risk for life-threatening illness and disability, and even death.

As medical professionals, we feel very strongly that vaccinating your child on schedule with currently available vaccines is absolutely the right thing to do to protect all children and young adults. 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.