What does this Immunization Policy really mean?

[kalishea]

IMMUNIZATION POLICY
Children must be immunized according to the current immunization guidelines established by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the Centers for Disease Control's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). If at any time it is brought to your attention that your child is behind on immunizations, you must make the necessary arrangements to get him caught up on his immunizations as quickly as possible.

I am pregnant with our first little baby.. I guess I need to find a pediatrician so I was referred by 4 people to a certain doctor. I was checking out their website and noticed this policy. I am interested in doing delayed and selective vacs and was wondering if this policy was just something they are required by law to post? I asked all 4 people about this offices vaccination feelings and none of them knew because they get everything when they are told to. I will do an interview before I make up my mind, but I was just curious if this was a red-flag or didn't really mean too much?

P.S. I did want to add that one of the referrals sisters children had an allergic reaction to one of the combo vaccinations, so after that she requested single vaccinations with all her children and they do comply.

[carriebft]

It's possible that is their 'one size fits all' answer to more and more parents wanting to create their own schedules that fit to their own children and situations. I would think they might be difficult to make budge since they felt the need to make such a point like that, but some doctors in the practice might be more laid back than others.

[tanyalynn]

There's no legal reason they have that on their website, that's their office policy. To me, it sounds like if you do not follow the CDC schedule and completely vaccinate on-time, then you are not welcome as a patient there. I'd move along. One thing to consider is a family practitioner--we've found a couple who were lovely as people, seemed quite competent (as best I can judge) and were fine with me deciding when and if I wanted the kids vaccinated.

Also, before interviews, if you want to weed out those that don't accept unvaccinated and/or S/D vaccinated kids, you can call the office and ask. I've done that too, just to make sure--no reason to waste your time talking to them.

[Marnica]

Originally Posted by TanyaLopez

There's no legal reason they have that on their website, that's their office policy. To me, it sounds like if you do not follow the CDC schedule and completely vaccinate on-time, then you are not welcome as a patient there. I'd move along. One thing to consider is a family practitioner--we've found a couple who were lovely as people, seemed quite competent (as best I can judge) and were fine with me deciding when and if I wanted the kids vaccinated.

Also, before interviews, if you want to weed out those that don't accept unvaccinated and/or S/D vaccinated kids, you can call the office and ask. I've done that too, just to make sure--no reason to waste your time talking to them.

I agree. Rather than speculate, just call and ask!

[runes]

:

The policy on their website is a pretty big red flag. Call and ask before spending your time. You might want to check in with some local mamas over in "Finding Your Tribe", they may have some recommendations for you for open minded physicians in your area.

Good luck!!

[mamakay]

Yeah, it sounds like they're just being up front about the fact that they'll "fire" patients who want to deviate from the schedule.
Some pedis are like that. I wouldn't even bother calling.

[Scattershoot]

I guess I need to find a pediatrician

That depends on your view of health. If you believe what a pediatrician has to offer is best for you and your child, then certainly take that route. I personally don't see the point of a pediatrician or even an allopathic general practitioner. Throughout all of history the main "doctor" for children has been the parent knowing what to do. Of course, emergencies arise and another expert may be needed, but these situations are very rare. Good luck.

[Ophelia]

I see it as a big honkin' red flag. The word 'must' is very authoritarian. It makes it sound like they want to be the medical decision makers for your child, not to work WITH you on making those decisions. You as the parent have the final say in what your child will or will not receive, and you are the one hiring the doc for their services, not the other way around.

I believe even the CDC says that the vaccination schedule is recommended (not required).
They are also going directly against the AAP official statement (I'm sorry I thought I had a link for it but apparently not. Hopefully someone else does).

[aniT]

It's a red flag and I would move on. I wouldn't even bother calling them.

[kalishea]

Thank you all for your thoughts on this... It kinda caught me off guard to see that and I knew it was not a good sign..
I guess the reason I thought/think I need to find a pediatrician is because I am having a hospital birth and was told that I have to have one down. I have personally never had a doctor, but I was just trying to be prepared for the new LO.

[FernG]

Originally Posted by kalishea

Thank you all for your thoughts on this... It kinda caught me off guard to see that and I knew it was not a good sign..
I guess the reason I thought/think I need to find a pediatrician is because I am having a hospital birth and was told that I have to have one down. I have personally never had a doctor, but I was just trying to be prepared for the new LO.

IMO, it is important to have a good pedi (or GP) lined up if you plan a hospital birth. A lot of pedi's freak out over perfectly safe bilirubin levels. I looked for a pedi who was knowledgeable about nursing a jaundiced baby. I have a friend who had a hospital birth. The hospital pedi didn't want her nursing her baby b/c of jaundice. She left AMA and went straight to her pedi and got a letter saying her baby was perfectly healthy. When she got home, CPS was waiting at her door, but b/c she had the letter from her pedi, CPS left her alone.

[kriket]

Originally Posted by FernG

IMO, it is important to have a good pedi (or GP) lined up if you plan a hospital birth. A lot of pedi's freak out over perfectly safe bilirubin levels. I looked for a pedi who was knowledgeable about nursing a jaundiced baby. I have a friend who had a hospital birth. The hospital pedi didn't want her nursing her baby b/c of jaundice. She left AMA and went straight to her pedi and got a letter saying her baby was perfectly healthy. When she got home, CPS was waiting at her door, but b/c she had the letter from her pedi, CPS left her alone.

:
that is outrageous! I'm concerned about finding a ped too. I would not even call a ped that had something like that on their website.

[caro113]

I would say that means - like many peds in my area - they will not treat your child unless you vaccinate. But definitely call.

As for the hospital deal, I just kept telling them that I left the information at home and I couldn't remember the name. They kept asking over and over again and I just kept giving the same answer. Eventually, they just gave me the papers for the ped and sent me home. So I wouldn't worry about that.

If you are determined to have a ped, go to the "find your tribe" forum and ask people from your area where they go. I can't see where you are as I type this, but I know of a few people in my area who will be okay with your decisions.

Good Luck with your search and congrats on your baby!!

[applejuice]

That is a huge warning and red flag.

I say keep looking.

If you are going to have your baby in a hospital, you may want to clear up who your pediatrician is there to release your baby so that you will not have any problems there.

And then go to perhaps a local family practitioner.

[shuttlt]

Originally Posted by Scattershoot

That depends on your view of health. If you believe what a pediatrician has to offer is best for you and your child, then certainly take that route. I personally don't see the point of a pediatrician or even an allopathic general practitioner.

Is there really such thing as allopathic medicine outside of homeopathy-speak. I guess a lot of conventional medical treatments could be said to be allopathic, but it's an odd way to describe the world, unless you just looking for a way to say everything that isn't homeopathy.

Originally Posted by Scattershoot

Throughout all of history the main "doctor" for children has been the parent knowing what to do. Of course, emergencies arise and another expert may be needed, but these situations are very rare. Good luck.

I'm a father and I'm not an expert on childhood illnesses. There are lots of times when I worry about my son, but it isn't in any sense an emergency. At the moment he's has what looks like a little blood blister by his nose for a month. He'll be going to the GP to have it looked at in a few days. Short of bothering the hospital I'm not sure what else I would do about it. I'm glad to be living in the modern era where professional medicine exists and is far more likely to cure me than kill me.

[aniT]

Originally Posted by shuttlt

I'm glad to be living in the modern era where professional medicine exists and is far more likely to cure me than kill me.

I'm not so sure about that.

[Sileree]

Originally Posted by aniT

I'm not so sure about that.

Isn't allopathic medicine is one of the top-leading causes of death?

[Mirzam]

Originally Posted by Sileree

Isn't allopathic medicine is one of the top-leading causes of death?

Nod. Conservatively, it kills 100,000 people a year in the US.

[mamadelbosque]

IDK, my DS saw our old local family doctor (DO), when he was first born. I'll probably put him down and take the new baby in there just to keep up appreances... but we haven't been in there since last january.

As for the notice. Yeah, I'd maybe call, but expect to be told that they don't allow selective/delayed/non-vaxers. You definetly don't *NEED* a pedi though, a family doctor is perfectly fine, at least in my experience with hospital births.

[shuttlt]

Originally Posted by uccomama

Nod. Conservatively, it kills 100,000 people a year in the US.

*Allopathic* medicine used to be FAR more harmful that it is today. I'm sure in the 19th Century they'd have easily topped that figure. There is a very old quote (1819) that I thought you'd like:
"there is a wide difference between a good physician and a bad one, but a small difference between a good physician and no physician at all"
http://www.todayinsci.com/Quotations...Quotations.htm

How many people has non-allopathic medicine cured?