Vaccinations are more about trust than science

I am going to confess that I am my children’s pediatrician.  I have given them every vaccination they have ever had and probably would not trust another provider to do it.   I endorse the vaccination schedule recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics; I believe it is safe and prevents disease.  I completed medical school and three years of pediatric training that helped shape this belief.  I have seen death in children from polio, whooping cough, and pneumococcal meningitis. However, I have chosen to use an alternative vaccination schedule when my vaccine-hesitant families request it.  Mine evolved over time to complete most of the required vaccinations by the time a child is 2 years old.  It is not “evidence-based”, the catchphrase we use to say something is scientifically proven safe and effective.  However, it is rooted in something I value highly as a pediatrician: trust, open communication, and compromise. My patients and I have a difference of opinion sometimes, whether it is about immunizations, antibiotics, or discipline.  That does not mean we cannot or should not keep talking to each other.  There are a lot of people out there not vaccinating their children, who may be putting others at risk of contracting disease.  Guess what?  They love their children as much as I love mine, and you love yours.  As a pediatrician, I am going to trust you are doing what you think is best for your children, even if I do not agree with your opinion. Contin...
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - Category: Journals (General) Authors: Tags: Conditions Pediatrics Source Type: blogs