Immunizations
Vaccination policy
We strongly believe in the effectiveness and safety of vaccines to prevent serious illnesses and life threatening diseases.
 
We strongly believe that all infants, children and adolescents should receive all of the recommended vaccines according to the American Academy of Pediatrics and Center for Disease Control.
 
We strongly believe that vaccinating infants, children and adolescents is one of the most important health decisions a health care provider and you make as a parent/caregiver.
 
Links to Vaccine questions:
  • Immunization Action Coalition www.immunize.org and www.vaccineinformation.org
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  • American Academy of Pediatrics
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  • Centers for Disease Control
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  • The Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia (Vaccine Education Center)
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  • Link to Alternative Vaccine Policy / Refusal to Vaccinate
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    The following schedule may be altered based on illnesses, vaccine shortages, late PE's, or other patient related circumstances
    AGE EXAM VACCINE LAB
    Birth   HB  
    2 week Well baby check HB(if not received in hosp)  
    2 month Physical exam Dtap/IPV/HIB1, HB, Prevnar-13 5,
    Rotavirus 4    		  
    4 month Physical exam Dtap/IPV/HIB1, Prevnar-13 5,
    Rotavirus 4    		  
    6 month Physical exam Dtap/IPV/HIB1, HB, Prevnar-13 5,
    Rotavirus 4    		  
    9 month Physical exam    
    12 month Physical exam MMR,Varivax, Prevnar-13 5, PPD 3 Hgb, Lead level
    15 month Physical exam Dtap/IPV/HIB1, Hep A6  
    2 year Physical exam Hep A6 Hgb, Lead level
    3 year Physical exam Catch up vaccines including boosters may be given at this visit.  
    4 year Physical exam Option to give either all or part of kindergarten vaccines.  
    5 year Physical exam Dtap, IPV, MMR, Varivax, PPD 3  
    11-12 year Physical exam Menactra 8 , Tdap 9, HPV 10, Hep A11  
    14-18 year Physical exam Menactra 8, Tdap 9 , HB 2, HPV 10, Hep A11 *  
    The 5 year series of immunizations can be received anytime after 4 years of age. After school age, based on your child's needs, we recommend a physical exam every 1-3 years.
     
    1. Dtap/IPV/HIB is a combination vaccine called Pentacel.
    2. If Hepatitis B series has not been received earlier, then it should be started at this time.
    3. Given to a target population, per questionnaire.
    4. Rotavirus is a recommended and not required for school attendance.
    5. Effective 1/9/09, (Prevnar-13) will be required for attending a licensed child care center. A suppplement dose may be given between 15 months through 5 years of age for those patients that received 4 doses of Prevnar-7
    6. Hep A is a recommended but not required vaccine. Two dose series, administered at least 6 months apart.
    7. Varivax booster given between 4-18 years of age. This is required for school attendance.
    8. 'One dose of Menactra (meningococcal vaccine) is recommended between 11-18 years of age. A required vaccine for most colleges.
    9. Booster dose to Dtap.  Tdap is administered no sooner than 5 years after Dtap and not greater than 10 years.
    10.

    HPV (Human Papillomavirus) is a 3 dose series vaccine. Recommneded but not required for school attendance.
    11.

    Hep A Series if not given earlier.

    * "Catch up" vaccines if not given at 11-12 years of age.
     
    Preventable Diseases
    -Diphtheria -Polio
    -Haemophilus influenza B -Rotavirus
    -Hepatitis A -Rubella
    -Hepatitis B -Streptococcus pneumoniae
    -Mumps -Tetanus (Lockjaw)
    -Neisseria meningitides -Varicella (Chickenpox)
     
    Notes
    1. DTaP  -  Diphtheria and Tetanus toxoids combined with acellular (not live) Pertussis (whooping cough) vaccine.
    2. IPV  -  Inactivated (not live) Polio Vaccine.
    3. Hib - Hemophilus influenzae type b conjugate protects children from some types of meningitis and epiglottitis.
    4. Pneumococcal - (Prevnar - 13) conjugated Pneumococcal vaccine protects children from some types of meningitis, pneumonia, bloodstream infections and even some ear infections.
    5. Pentacel - A combination vaccine that includes DTaP, IPV, and Hib
    6. Pediarix - A combination vaccine that includes DTaP, IPV, and Hep B
    7. Tdap - A combination vaccine that includes tetanus, diphtheria (adult type), and acellular pertussis for those eleven years of age and older. It contains a smaller amount of diphtheria antigen, which provokes a strong reaction in adults. The pertussis antigen was added in the summer of 2005 to help with the increase of whooping cough in the adolescent population. Tetanus vaccine and injuries: for clean minor wounds, a fully immunized child needs no booster dose unless more than 10 years has elapsed since the last dose. For contaminated wounds, a booster dose should be given if more than five years have elapsed since the last dose. Adults should be vaccinated every ten years.
    8. MMR - A live combination vaccine that includes measles, mumps, and rubella (German measles)
    9. Hepatitis B - A vaccine that protects against one type of viral hepatitis, which is transmitted by blood products or intimate contact.
    10. Varicella - A live vaccine protects children from getting the chicken pox. The first dose is given to children at 12-15 months, the second dose is given to each child after 4 years of age.
    11. Rotavirus - An oral vaccine that protects against Rotavirus, a serious cause of vomiting and diarrhea in children.
    12. Meningococcal vaccine (Menactra) - A vaccine that protects against strains of dangerous bacteria which can cause a deadly form of meningitis. Adolescents have been identified as a high risk population for this devastating illness.
    13. Hepatitis A - A vaccine that protects against one type of viral hepatitis, which is transmitted by close personal contact and sometimes by eating food or drinking water contaminated with the virus. This vaccine has been used for travel to endemic areas for over 10 years.
    14. HPV vaccine (Gardasil) - A vaccine protects females and males from the most common types of human papillomaviruses. These viral infections result in genital warts and cervical cancer. The vaccine is given in 3 doses.