For the Parents

Resources:

Alabama Poision Control - 1-800-222-1222

Vaccine Policy

We believe in the effectiveness of vaccines to prevent serious illness and to save lives.

We believe in the safety of the vaccines we provide.

We believe that all children and adolescents should receive all of the recommended vaccines according to the schedule published by the Center for Disease Control and the American Academy of Pediatrics.

We believe, based on all the available literature, evidence, and current studies, that vaccines do not cause autism or other developmental disabilities. We believe that thimerosal, a preservative that has been in vaccines for decades and remains in a few vaccines now, does not cause autism or other developmental disabilities.

We believe that vaccinating children and adolescents may be the single most important healthpromoting intervention we provide as your pediatrician. The recommended vaccines and the schedule by which they are given are the results of years of scientific study and data gathering on millions of children by our brightest pediatricians and epidemiologists.

West Alabama Pediatrics would like to emphasize the importance of vaccinating your child. We recognize that you may hear a lot of rumors or myths about vaccines. We will do everything we can to inform and educate you about each vaccine on the current vaccine schedule. Vaccine Information Sheets are provided for each vaccine. Should you have questions, please discuss them with us.

Please be advised, that "alternative schedules? or ?breaking up the vaccines" to give one or two at a time over multiple visits goes against our recommendations. This can put your child at risk for serious illness or death.

An Alabama Certificate of Immunization (Bluecard) will not be given until your child is up to date on vaccines according to the American Academy of Pediatrics vaccine schedule. Should you refuse to vaccinate your child, we will ask that you find another health care provider who shares your views.