Vaccines

We at Internal Medicine & Pediatrics of Tampa Bay believe very strongly in the importance of vaccines.  Vaccines have been proven to be a safe and effective way to prevent illness and deaths in children.  We follow the childhood immunization schedule recommended by the CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics.  We understand there is a lot of information on the internet available to parents.  Some of this information is reliable and some information may be confusing and even scary.  It is our goal to educate our families on the benefits of vaccinations to  keep your child healthy.  We are always happy to discuss any questions and concerns regarding vaccines and also review their safety and benefits.  If ultimately you refuse to vaccinate your child, we may not be the right pediatric group for your family.   Trust in your pediatrician is very important for this relationship to work.  We want to establish a positive relationship with all our families in all aspects of your child’s care.    In addition, allowing unvaccinated children in our practice puts our other patients at risk.

Several websites that may be helpful to provide more information on vaccines include:

www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules

www.chop.edu/centers-programs/vaccine-education-center