Why It’s So Important Not to Deviate from the Vaccination Schedule

05 Dec Why It’s So Important Not to Deviate from the Vaccination Schedule

During a child’s first two years of life, one of the leading topics of discussion between parents and pediatricians is undoubtedly vaccinations. Today, the CDC recommends that all healthy babies be vaccinated against 12 different viruses or diseases during these first 24 months of life. The CDC has also developed a very detailed schedule on when these vaccinations should be given for the best effect.

However, there are a few parents today who are still asking for a different schedule, or alternative schedule, for their child and spacing out their vaccines farther apart than the CDC suggests. The concern is understandable, as no parent likes giving their baby shots and the idea of administering so many shots to a small child can be overwhelming for parents. Studies show that 1 in 10 parents are asking for any alternative schedule. According to a study from the University of Michigan, 1 in 4 parents worries that this vaccination schedule may be overriding their baby’s systems.

However, deviating from this schedule does more harm than good for your newborn child. In a recent Time Magazine article, Dr. Michael J. Smith, a pediatrician at the University of Louisville, compared this new trend of spacing our vaccines like not buckling your child during a car ride, meaning you never know when they may get hit. It is putting your child at risk without the protection that they need. Experts like Smith suggest that spacing child’s shots out gives them a more significant amount of time where they may be exposed to certain illnesses, instead of having the protection of a vaccination.

It can be difficult for any parent to make decisions about their child’s health, but it is essential that parents of newborn babies understand why it is so important not to deviate from this vaccination schedule. Here are some facts to consider.

• While kids today get four more vaccines than they did in 1990, the amount of antigen in these shots has decreased. This is what triggers a response in your child’s immune responses.
• Research has not found any difference in children’s test scores when comparing kids who received their vaccinations late and those who did not receive them at all. The scores looked at motor skills, verbal memory, attention span and other neuropsychological factors.
• No research supports that changing the vaccination schedule provides any benefit to children.
• Spacing out vaccinations means leaving a child unprotected and unvaccinated longer than they need to be.

The more you know about the importance of sticking to the CDC recommended vaccine schedule, the better. Many parents understandably have questions regarding immunizations and the best course of action for their child.

As part of our commitment to the health and well-being of our patients and all of the children in our office, we only follow the CDC mandated schedule to ensure every child in our office has the protection they need to stay their healthiest. Here at Continuum, we happily schedule vaccination appointments with all children who are on the CDC appointed immunization schedule as well as newborns looking for their first round of vaccines in accordance with CDC recommendations. Call us today at 817-617-8600 to schedule your child’s next vaccination appointment with Continuum.

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