Immunization Policy
Immunization Policy
Dear Parents:
During your recent visit, our physician/staff expressed the standard care as it relates to immunizations. We took away from this conversation that you do not wish to immunize your child(ren).
Palmetto Pediatrics views the physician-patient relationship as critically important to the ability of our physicians to provide appropriate and safe care. This relationship relies on trust from both parties.
We feel by not vaccinating your child(ren), you do not trust our values, philosophies, or the science involved in providing safe and effective care. Although we respect your decision not to immunize your child(ren), we do not agree and feel you are placing your child(ren) and others at great risk.
Below are the immunizations required to remain a patient of Palmetto Pediatrics
Immunization | Required Maximum
Age to Begin Immunizing |
Minimum Number of Doses |
Other Notes |
---|---|---|---|
DTaP | 4 months | 5 | 3 doses by 9 m 4 doses by 24 m 5 doses by 6yo |
IPV/Polio | 4 months | 4 | 2 doses by 9 m 3 doses by 24 m 4 doses by 6yo |
HIB/Prevnar | 4 months | 4 of each | 3 doses by 9 m 4 doses by 24 m |
MMR | 16 months | 2 | 1 dose by 16 m 2 doses by 6yo |
Varicella/Chickenpox | 16 months | 2 | 1 dose by 16 m 2 doses by 6yo |
Tdap | 13 years | 1 | 1 dose by 13yo |
Meningococcal ACYW | 13 years | 2 | 2 doses by 19yo |
Hepatitis B | Must meet SC
requirements for daycare and school | 3 | 3 doses by 6yo |
Hepatitis A | Must meet SC
requirements for daycare and school | 2 | 2 doses by 6yo |
Children under five years and above one year of age who are not yet immunized are required to begin the MMR, Varicella, Polio, and DTaP immunization series within 60 days of receipt of this policy and be “up-to-date” with the recommended CDC “catch-up” schedule within one year of beginning these immunizations.
Children greater than five years of age and teens who are beginning to be immunized are required to begin MMR, Varicella, Polio, and appropriate Pertussis (Tdap or DTaP) immunizations within 60 days of receipt of this policy and complete the recommended CDC “catch-up” schedule within one year of beginning these immunizations.
Although we are not requiring the HPV or Rotavirus vaccines at this time, we strongly encourage you to receive these vaccinations
Non-immunizers Policy
1. Policy effective June 1, 2015
2. Patient has 60 days to initiate the required immunizations from the date the letter is signed
3. Policy will be distributed by clinical staff or physicians when it is determined the patient is not vaccinating their child
4. The clinical staff will document in Reminders (located in the Medical Summary) the date the family signed the policy
5. The policy will be scanned into the Immunizations tab of chart by the front desk staff
6. A 60d follow up is scheduled to ensure immunizations are administered
7. Patients who exceed the 60 days to initiate the immunization or 1y to complete the series will be contacted by the front office and given an opportunity to schedule an appointment to vaccinate
8. Patients who do not show up for the appointment (after the staff has reached out to them) will be dismissed - Dismissal for non-compliance (attached) at which point we will see the patient for emergency sick visits for 30 days.
If we are unable to reach an understanding on appropriate immunization, we ask that you find a pediatrician whose values align with yours within the next 60 days
Palmetto Pediatric and Adolescent Clinic