Should I vaccinate my child?
There’s a lot of discussion about the pros and cons of vaccines in the parenting world. Some people still thinks they cause autism (they don’t). Others think they have no choice about how to schedule their children’s vaccines (they do, although the CDC makes science-based recommendations). And many people don’t know what types of vaccines are needed at what age (see the recommended schedule here).
Most important, though, is the decision of whether to vaccinate at all. Providence and our partners believe strongly that vaccination is in the best interest of children and communities. Here are other groups that say vaccines are safe for most children, and recommend childhood vaccines:
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC
- Institute of Medicine, IOM
- American Medical Association, AMA
- American Academy of Pediatrics, AAP
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, HHS
- World Health Organization, WHO
- National Foundation for Infectious Diseases, NFID
- American Academy of Family Physicians, AAFP
Check out our infographic about why we support child vaccinations:
A good pediatrician will listen to your concerns, answer your questions and give you the best recommendations based on medical research on immunizations. They will be knowledgeable about everything from the MMR vs. the MMRV, to what’s in vaccines, the relative risk of side effects and where measles and whooping cough/pertussis are making a comeback.
Looking for help understanding vaccines, or need a pediatrician for your child?
Visit our interactive provider map to find a doctor near you.