Dear Families of Farrell Pediatrics and South Riding Pediatrics:
To best protect our patients, our immunization policy will be updated in 2023. The policy was initially created due to concern about the growing risk of exposure to vaccine preventable diseases due to outbreaks of measles and pertussis in our immediate area. We remain concerned about that risk. As pediatricians, we must ensure that our office is a place that is as safe as possible for those children who cannot get vaccines (e.g. newborns or children with cancer or who have received organ transplants).
We strongly feel that childhood vaccines are safe and effective, and we strongly recommend use of the American Academy of Pediatrics vaccine schedule. In the past we have worked with families who prefer to use an alternative vaccine schedule to the AAP schedule.
We will continue to accept families who desire an alternative schedule; however, to ensure that we are applying our immunization policy fairly for all our patients, we are clarifying the policy:
We do not accept patients who have not received and will not receive any vaccines.
We strongly recommend all vaccines to be given according to the AAP schedule. We will work with parents who prefer to use an alternative schedule with the following minimum requirements:
- All patients need to have received at least one dose of all recommended vaccines by the age of 6 months.
- All patients need to be up to date per the AAP guidelines by the age of 2 years.
- All patients need to be up to date per the AAP guidelines by the age of 6 years.
- All patients need to receive a Tdap booster and meningococcal ACYW vaccine by age 13 years.
- All patients need to receive a meningococcal ACYW booster by 19 years.
We have the same policy for those patients who are being seen for sick only visits as for those being seen for well childcare. If a patient has not received vaccines per the above minimum requirements, they will be reminded of our policy and be asked to schedule a vaccine appointment. This will be noted in the patient’s chart. If after 6 months, vaccinations are not administered, we will no longer be able to provide care.
Sincerely,
The Doctors of Farrell Pediatrics and South Riding Pediatrics