Vaccine Policy Statement
The pediatricians of Pediatric Associates of Wellesley believe firmly in the effectiveness and safety of vaccines to prevent serious illness and to save lives. We also believe that all children and young adults should receive recommended vaccines according to the schedule published by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention as well as the American Academy of Pediatrics. This schedule is based on the danger posed by different infections to different age groups. We think that vaccinating children and young adults may be the single most important intervention we as healthcare providers and you as parents can perform to promote health.
Because of vaccines, many of you have never seen a child with measles, polio, tetanus, whooping cough, bacterial meningitis or even chicken pox. The time when friends or family members died from one of these diseases has thankfully passed. This success can make you feel that vaccinating your child is not necessary. History has shown that a decreased in vaccination rates allow theses diseases to resurface again, and put your child at serious risk.
The recommended vaccines and their schedule are the result of years and years of scientific study and data gathering on millions of children by thousands of our brightest scientist and physicians. We encourage you to join us in protecting your child by giving vaccines on time and on schedule.
We welcome discussion of any of your concerns. Those parents who decline vaccines will be asked to sign a waiver that attests to the fact that you have not
followed our medical advice, which is grounded in peer-reviewed science and supported by the CDC and AAP.
For more information about the current vaccination schedule see the following link: