Immunization Statement

Immunization: Not Only For The Child, For The Community

Stepping Stones Pediatrics welcomes inquiries from parents who have concerns regarding immunizing their children. We recognize the plethora of information that exists that has caused parents to reconsider the safety and merit of routine, preventive immunizations. There is however a need to validate the work done through the various national and international medical and public health organizations all of whom have independently and consistently found that immunizing is best not only for the child but for the community at large. It is important to remember that the decision not to immunize is actually a choice that parents are making as a result of the remarkable success of years of public health push to immunize the US population. Without it, polio, measles, mumps and many other diseases and their attendant devastation would be evident in our communities in great numbers.

With this said, it is our policy to immunize in accordance with the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended schedule with few exceptions. Please feel free to ask questions at our meet and greet or during regularly scheduled appointments.

Standard Immunization Schedule
2-7 days	hep b#1 (if not given in hospital)
2 weeks	-
1 month	-
2 month	pediarix#1 {dtap#1, polio#1, hep b#2}, hib#1, prevnar#1, rotavirus#1
4 month	pediarix#2 {dtap#2, polio#2, hep b#3}, hib#2, prevnar#2, rotavirus#2
6 month	pediarix#3 {dtap#3, polio#3, hep b#4}, prevnar#3, rotavirus#3, developmental evaluation
9 months	-
12 months	proquad#1 {mmr#1, varicella#1}, hib#3, prevnar#4, hep a#1, developmental evaluation, anemia/lead/tb screens
18 months	dtap#4, hep a#2, developmental evaluation
NOTE	* Physicals are scheduled every year as of 2 years old *
2 years	developmental evaluation, anemia/lead/tb screens
3 years	developmental evaluation, anemia/lead/tb screens, vision, bp
4 years	dtap#5, polio#4, mmr#2, developmental evaluation, anemia/lead/tb screens, urinalysis, hearing & vision, bp
5 years	developmental evaluation, anemia/lead/tb screens, hearing & vision, bp
6 years	psych screen, tb screen, hearing & vision, bp
7-21 years	psych screen, tb screen, hearing & vision, bp, labs & tests
Other Immunizations
6mths-4yrs	influenza (october-april annually)
11-12 years	tdap, menactra, varicella#2, gardasil x3 (females only)
Abbreviations bp:  blood pressur influenza: influenza a & b dtap: diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis menactra: meningococcal gardasil: human papilloma virus mmr: measles, mumps, rubella hep a: hepatitis a prevnar: pneumoccoccal hep b: hepatitis b tb: tuberculosis hib: haemophilus influenza b varicella: chickenpox tdap: tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis