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Published: 2011-11-03 12:53:00
Updated: 2011-11-03 18:17:30

Some parents delay childhood vaccines


Children prepare for school with vaccinations
Children prepare for school with vaccinations
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More parents are choosing to spread out their children's vaccines, but some pediatricians refuse to see children unless their parents follow the government-recommended immunization schedule.

Dr. Wayne Yankus, a general pediatrician in Ridgewood, N.J., is among a growing number of pediatricians who don't give parents the option of delaying child vaccines.

"These things prevent diseases that we don't have to see anymore," Yankus said.

The Centers for Disease Controls recommends 27 immunizations by a child's second birthday and another six by the time a child turns age 18. Some parents believe that's too frequent and want the option to spread out the vaccinations.

Yasmina Zaidman asked her daughter's pediatrician to slow down her baby's vaccination schedule.

"It just felt right to us, given that she's young and her immune system is developing," Zaidman said.

Yankus argues that the timing can impact the effectiveness of vaccines.

"Although parents have a right to do their children's immunizations as they see fit, they don't have a right to endanger school children," he said.

Mary Barnes, the mother of an 11-year-old boy, said she feels better knowing that everyone else in Yankus' waiting office is right on schedule with their vaccines.

"You know that if you're in the waiting room, the other children sitting near yours are healthy to the best of their capacity," Barnes said.


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Quoting: "The only reason why spreading them out is not approved by the AAP and CDC is because every time a parent has to brink their child in they have to pay another copay. The thought it that medicaid would save $158,000,000/year lumping as many as possible in a single visit." bensmyson November 4, 2011 7:17 p.m. Report abuse

Most vaccines are included in a child's well visit, which most insurance companies don't require a co-pay. I have 2 children and have had 2 different insurances since they were born and did not pay co-pays on any of their well visits where they received vaccines. I don't think Medicaid and co-pays has anything to do with why we should vaccinate.

Yasmina Zaidman asked her daughter's pediatrician to slow down her baby's vaccination schedule. "It just felt right to us, given that she's young and her immune system is developing," Zaidman said.

Isn't this the purpose of the vaccinations? The immune system is developing, which means it isn't completely developed. If it's not completely developed how can you expect it protect the child against diseases?

Also, aren't doctors the ones who have had the education and training in this? How can we as parents think we know as much or more than they? If that's the case, why go to a doctor to begin with? This is just common sense.

kudos to Jellygirl and her office. I work in immunizations and it never ceases to amaze me at what people do to jeopardize their childrens' health by crafting what they believe is a better schedule that what the AAP and ACIP have based theirs on( years of studies--go figure!)My favorite is the parents that only want 1 shot at a time (so as to not overwhelm the immune system) -poor kid. Wish we could fire patients the way her office can!

I am also a nurse, a pediatric one at that and am proud to say I work at a office where the doctors will not continue to see a family that will not vaccinate. I also believe these people should not be allowed to attend public school. If they have some religious belief then they need to go to some religious school. I don't think these unvaccinated children should be allowed to expose other immunocompromised children and the general population. The problem is that most parents are in the lucky generation that have never seen what some of the horrible diseases can do to you. Lets hope they never have to!

Guess Ms. Nurse 101 had never seen a child die from H.flu sepsis or meningitis, hospitalized or left permanently deaf from H.flu.Many of the younger parents have never seen alot of these diseases,thanks to vaccinations-not because the diseases don't exist-they are only a plane ride away,folks!!

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