Vaccines at Bee Well
At Bee Well Pediatrics, we support childhood immunization and firmly believe that vaccines have decreased infant mortality. However, we also understand you may have questions and concerns about vaccinations. Our goal is to help you understand the risks and benefits of immunization so that we can work together to develop a vaccine plan in the best interest of your child. At any point, please feel free to discuss your questions with us.
Our general vaccine philosophy is outlined below.
Current evidence suggests that the hepatitis B vaccine is not necessary at birth unless you or a close contact have hepatitis B. We do not routinely recommend the hepatitis B vaccine in the newborn nursery otherwise.
We do feel that healthy children are ready to begin vaccination at 2 months of age. For parents who wish to spread out vaccinations in a non standard schedule, we will discuss the potential risks with you.
We can provide non-mandatory vaccines such as rotavirus, hepatitis A, and human papillomavirus (HPV). If you are interested in these vaccines, please discuss with us.
We do not carry any combination vaccines (other than the MMR and DTaP/Tdap – for which there are no other options), as these vaccines often have greater amounts of aluminum or other additives. All of the vaccines we have at Bee Well Pediatrics are, in our judgment, the safest formulations currently available on the market.
Cincinnati public schools mandate full vaccination as well as yearly influenza vaccines (for those in daycare and preschool). We cannot, ethically and legally, provide medical exemption letters for vaccination unless medically warranted. Medical indications for exemption include severe or anaphylactic reaction to a specific vaccine, permanent neurological deterioration after a vaccine, compromised immune status or severe egg allergy (i.e. for influenza vaccine).
The MMR vaccine can provide lasting immunity after one dose, though not in all cases. For this reason we will, on parental request, perform titers for MMR (a simple blood test) at four or five years of age. These are the immune titers that are accepted as proof of immunity by most states (including OH, IN and KY). If your child is immune to these diseases, you may choose not to give these boosters at 5 years of age.
We provide you with sample vaccine schedules, including the standard-of-care CDC/AAP-approved schedule, as a guideline to help you make decisions regarding immunization. Understand that little if any research has been published regarding the efficacy and safety of any alternative vaccine schedule. Provision of alternative schedules is not an endorsement of any specific plan for your child. The CDC/AAP-approved schedule is the U.S. standard of care.