Somerset Pediatric Group Immunization Policy
Somerset Pediatric Group is committed to providing the highest quality medical care to our patients. Vaccinating against debilitating and deadly preventable diseases is the single most important health-promoting intervention that our pediatricians perform. Vaccination against preventable disease not only prevents serious illness but saves lives. We firmly believe, based on all available literature, evidence and current studies, that childhood vaccines are safe and effective.
Our physicians are all Board Certified by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). Our physicians adhere to the vaccine schedule as recommended by the AAP, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices and the Center for Disease Control. We feel very strongly that adhering to our vaccine schedule is essential to ensure our ability to care for your child. Therefore, we will insist that all under-immunized children start immunizations within 2 months of this notification. There are minimum immunizations we will require you to meet by ages two, six and after age 8 years. Your physician will determine a mutually agreeable vaccine schedule for your child. Please be aware that these are changes in the recommended vaccine schedule and may put your child at unnecessary risk. . If you chose to split the vaccine schedule and have vaccine visits more often there will be an office visit charge for the vaccine only visits and a co-pay if requested by your insurance carrier.
Not following this policy not only puts your child at great risk, but also endangers others in our waiting room and the community who are too young or unable to be immunized. Because of this, children who do not meet these requirements will have their chart reviewed by the Somerset Pediatric Vaccine Committee. At that time you may be asked to find a healthcare provider who better shares your views about the lack of immunizations.
Vaccine preventable illnesses are on the rise in this country and around the world. We are making you aware of these facts not to scare you or coerce, but to emphasize the importance of vaccinating your child. We recognize that the choice may be a very emotional one for some parents. We will do everything we can to help you understand that vaccinating according to our schedule is the right thing to do. Please feel free to discuss any questions or concerns that you may have regarding vaccines or this policy with your physician. Thank you for your time in reading this policy.
For your information, the following list contains several websites with information regarding vaccines: