Please refer to this informative page regarding immunizations from the American Academy of Pediatrics:
http://aap.org/healthtopics/immunizations.cfm

 The American Academy of Pediatrics has assembled a collection of photos of vaccine-preventable diseases. Please refer to the following website:   http://aap.org/pressroom/aappr-photos.htm

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 IMMUNIZATION ALLIANCE

 CALL TO ACTION

The Immunization Alliance, which comprises the groups listed below, sets forth the following Call to Action for public health organizations, government, health care professionals, the media and the public.

What the Alliance commits to:

• We commit to continued partnerships with policy makers to ensure that:

• children receive recommended immunizations on time (according to the schedule of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, the American Academy of Family Physicians and the American Academy of Pediatrics) to protect them against vaccine-preventable diseases and to protect the public’s health;
  
  
• vaccines are as safe as possible and vaccine safety research is adequately funded;
  
  
• the vaccine supply is sufficient and equitably distributed;
  
  
• parents and caregivers have the knowledge and information they need to make fully-informed decisions in the best interests of their child.

What the Alliance asks:

• We ask the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to undertake a public information campaign reinforcing the value and importance of immunization to empower parents to make informed decisions about vaccinating their children.

• We ask physicians and other health care professionals to work closely with parents and patients to foster an understanding of the need for, and timing of, recommended vaccines, and to assess what is needed to earn or regain the trust of some parents.  The goal is to work as a team to fully protect infants and children against diseases that can result in death or life-long disability.
  
  
• We ask medical professional organizations and public health agencies to provide support and guidance to physicians in counseling parents about the importance and safety of vaccines.  The goal is to facilitate informed decision-making by parents and caregivers.
  
  
• We encourage parents to ask questions at the doctor’s office, and to expect answers based on the best scientific information available. We ask them to rely on credible sources for their information about vaccine safety and effectiveness, and to take the time to understand the evidence on which immunization recommendations are based in order to make fully informed decisions about their children’s health.
  
  
• We ask the federal government to dedicate funding for continued research into vaccine safety and effectiveness.
  
  
• We ask the media to take the time to understand vaccine science and the evidence on which immunization recommendations are based. We also ask the media to keep the public interest foremost in their treatment of this subject, and to consider the potential consequences of lending credence to various publicity efforts and spokespersons without a complete and critical review of the scientific merit of these sources.
  
  
• We ask that, given the importance of communicating scientifically based and trustworthy information, all editors of Internet content, publications and blogs should ensure that appropriate efforts are made to comply with the high standards associated with responsible journalism.

List of Participating Organizations
American Academy of Family Physicians
American Academy of Pediatrics
American Academy of Physician Assistants
American College of Preventive Medicine
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
American College of Osteopathic Pediatricians
American Medical Association
American Public Health Association
America’s Health Insurance Plans
Association of State and Territorial Health Officials
California Immunization Coalition
Every Child By Two
Immunization Action Coalition
Infectious Diseases Society of America
March of Dimes
National Foundation for Infectious Diseases
Parents of Kids with Infectious Diseases
Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society
Sabin Vaccine Institute
UnitedHealth Group
Vaccine Education Center at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Voices for Vaccines

The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 60,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric specialists dedicated to the health, safety and well-being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults. Learn more at www.aap.org.

 

 

Measles outbreaks in the United States: Public health preparedness, control and response in healthcare settings and the community

     A measles outbreak linked to an importation from Switzerland currently is ongoing in Arizona. The first case, with rash onset on February 12, 2008, occurred in an adult visitor from Switzerland who was hospitalized with measles and pneumonia.  This hospital admission prompted verification of the measles immune status of approximately 1800 healthcare personnel and vaccination of those without evidence of immunity.  Through March 31, 2008, nine confirmed cases have been reported to the Arizona Department of Health Services, and there are two suspected cases (one in a Colorado resident) and hundreds of contacts under investigation. The nine case-patients range in age from 10 months to 50 years.  All but one were infected in healthcare settings, one of the five adult case-patients is a healthcare worker, and all cases were unvaccinated at the time of exposure.

     In January and February 2008, San Diego experienced an outbreak of 11 measles cases, with an additional case-patient who was exposed in San Diego but became ill in Hawaii . The index case was an unvaccinated child who had recently traveled to Switzerland , where a measles outbreak is ongoing (see http://wwwcdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5708a3.htm). Transmission in this outbreak occurred in a doctor's office as well as in community settings. Measles genotype D5 was identified from more than one case in the San Diego and Arizona outbreaks; this genotype is currently circulating in Switzerland (see http://www.eurosurveillance.org/edition/v13n08/080221_1.asp). Confirmed measles cases also have been reported from New York City (involving genotype D4, which is identical to the genotype responsible for a large ongoing measles outbreak in Israel ; see http://www.eurosurveillance.org/edition/v13n08/080221_3.asp) and from Virginia (importation from India ). In addition, two measles cases recently confirmed in unvaccinated siblings from Michigan may have resulted from exposure during a long stop-over in the Atlanta airport.

     Although measles is no longer an endemic disease in the United States , it remains endemic in most countries of the world, including some countries in Europe . Large outbreaks currently are occurring in Switzerland and Israel . In the United States from January 1 through March 28, 2008, 24 confirmed cases of measles resulting from importations from endemic countries have been reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). These cases highlight the ongoing risk of measles importations, the risk of spread in susceptible populations, and the need for a prompt and appropriate public health response to measles cases. Because of the severity of the disease, people with measles commonly present in physician's offices or emergency rooms and pose a risk of transmission to other patients and healthcare personnel in these and in inpatient hospital settings. Healthcare providers should remain aware that measles cases may occur in their facility and that transmission risks can be minimized by ensuring that all healthcare personnel have evidence of measles immunity and that appropriate infection control practices are followed.

     Transmission and case definition

     Measles is a highly contagious disease that is transmitted by respiratory droplets and airborne spread. The disease can result in severe complications, including pneumonia and encephalitis. The incubation period for measles ranges from 7 to 18 days. The diagnosis of measles should be considered in any person with a generalized maculopapular rash lasting > 3 days, a temperature  >101ºF (38.3ºC), and cough, coryza, or conjunctivitis. Immunocompromised patients may not exhibit rash or may exhibit an atypical rash.

Kenmore Pediatric Associates, P.C.

 Vaccine Policy Statement

       We firmly believe in the effectiveness of vaccines to prevent serious illness and to save lives. We also firmly believe in the safety of our vaccines.

       We firmly believe that all children and young adults should receive all of the recommended vaccines according to the schedule published by the Centers for Disease Control and the American Academy of Pediatrics.

       We firmly believe, based on all available literature, evidence and current studies, that vaccines do not cause autism or other developmental disabilities. We firmly believe that thimerosal, a preservative that has been in vaccines for decades and has been removed from all but adult flu vaccine, does not cause autism or other developmental disabilities.

       We firmly believe that vaccinating children and young adults may be the single most important health-promoting intervention we perform as health care providers, and that you can perform as parents/caregivers. The recommended vaccines and their schedule given are the results of years and years of scientific study and data gathering on millions of children by thousands of our brightest scientists and physicians.

       The vaccine campaign is truly a victim of its own success. It is precisely because vaccines are so effective at preventing illness that we are even discussing whether or not they should be given. Because of vaccines, many of you have never seen a child with polio, tetanus, whooping cough, bacterial meningitis or even chickenpox, or known a friend or family member whose child died of one of these diseases. Such success can make us complacent or even lazy about vaccinating. But such an attitude, if it becomes widespread, can only lead to tragic results.

       Over the past several years, many people in Europe have chosen not to vaccinate their children with the MMR vaccine after publication of an unfounded suspicion (later retracted) that the vaccine caused autism. As a result of underimmunization, there have been small outbreaks of measles and several deaths from complications of measles in Europe over the past several years.

       Furthermore, by not vaccinating your child you are taking advantage of thousands of others who do vaccinate their children, which decreases the likelihood that your child will contract one of these diseases (herd immunity). Such a position is risky at best.

       We are making you aware of these facts not to scare you or coerce you, but to emphasize the importance of vaccinating your child. We recognize that the choice may be a very emotional one for some parents. We will do everything we can to convince and assure you that vaccinating according to the schedule is the right thing to do. However, should you have doubts, please discuss these with your health care provider in advance of your visit. In some cases, we may alter the schedule to accommodate parental concerns or reservations. Please be advised, however, that delaying or “breaking up the vaccines” to give one or two at a time over two or more visits goes against expert recommendations, and can put your child at risk and goes against our medical advice as providers at Kenmore Pediatrics.Such additional visits will require additional co-pays on your part. Furthermore, please realize that you will be required to sign a “Refusal to Vaccinate” acknowledgement in the event of lengthy delays.

      As medical professionals, we feel very strongly that vaccinating children on schedule with currently available vaccines is absolutely the right thing to do for all children and young adults. Thank you for your time in reading this policy, and please feel free to discuss any questions or concerns you may have about vaccines with any one of us.