Let’s Chat About Vaccines
The discussion about vaccines has become forefront in our society. It extends from parents on the playground to governmental officials, and so we know many of you have questions as you navigate this issue. As professionals who care for children, our job is to look into the research and educate families as to the science behind childhood vaccinations.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has always stood behind a schedule that reinforced the need to protect children against life-threatening/life-altering diseases. Vaccine science has become so fine-tuned that children these days receive less of the antigen (illness-causing portion of the vaccines) than their parents or grandparents did as children while protecting against many more diseases. The diseases that these vaccines protect still exist. Cases of measles continue to crop up in large amounts. Whooping cough (pertussis) is common in our community. RSV lands tons of young infants in the hospital annually requiring supplemental oxygen and can result in death. And not uncommonly, there are outbreaks of hepatitis A that circulate in Spokane. We would love for all of these illnesses to be eradicated, but the truth is that they still exist and still pose a threat to our children and adults.
We have the benefit in the US of having many educated researchers and clinicians who have tackled the vaccine question for decades. They know what circulates in the US, what poses the highest risk for our children and what we need to do to prevent mortality and morbidity. These are the people who we turn to in order to get guidance about vaccines schedules.
We know that the news has brought into question vaccines and the schedule that has been validated for years. We know you have questions. We invite you to ask us those questions, and we will give you honest answers. Vaccines are not something we recommend to get "kick backs" or do so blindly knowing that kids are having adverse effects. Vaccines are the forefront of pediatrics and one of the biggest medical marvels ever. We are fortunate to be able to offer vaccines to patients and will continue to do so as per the AAP recommendations.
Many parents ask if we are concerned about access to the recommended vaccines with the CDC changes, and at this time, the Washington Department of Health (as part of the West Coast Health Alliance) continues to advocate for the vaccines as per the AAP. We are always happy to discuss if any vaccines can be given on an earlier schedule if there are concerns about access.
Here are some links for more information: