Any DC pediatricians open to somewhat flexible vaccine schedule?

[Anonymous]

We are currently searching for a pediatrician in the DC metro area. Our daughter is due October 4th and we’ve been interviewing for the past week.
We want a pediatrician that will be open to spreading out the vaccinations a bit, just to avoid too much at one time. Two of whom we have interviewed, were dismissive, albeit, in a condescending manner, that it is now a debunked study that linked MMR to Autism. Regardless, there are other studies that support it, and generally thinking, we don’t think it’s necessary to inject all of those chemicals into a baby at one time, makes more logical sense to spread them out some. Does anyone have any recommendations of any pediatricians that seem open to this? We are in the BCBS insurance plan. We are not specific to the Dr. Sears schedule, we do want to give our child the necessary vaccines, but not at the same time, specifically, MMR. (Apparently it’s hard to get the single vaccinations that make up MMR because the Pharm. Companies don’t manufacture it en masse)

Thanks

[Anonymous]

These MD's are at risk, so please do not post their names here.
OP, your doctor works for you. You tell him/her what you want. If they give you a hard time you fire them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:These MD's are at risk, so please do not post their names here.
OP, your doctor works for you. You tell him/her what you want. If they give you a hard time you fire them.

Times are tough for doctors to, these days.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:These MD's are at risk, so please do not post their names here.
OP, your doctor works for you. You tell him/her what you want. If they give you a hard time you fire them.

This is the OP. Why not post names? They are not at risk because they are not bound to those schedules. All I am asking is if any one has a pediatrician that has worked with them on a schedule. The schedules, altered, are fine as long as they follow local laws. (ie getting so and so mandatory shot at 6 months as opposed to 4months, for example )

[Anonymous]

I have such a list b'c my doula clients ask for it. I haven't heard from these MDs that they feel at risk. You can call these MDs yourself and the receptionist won't hesitate to confirm their openness to slow/adjust a child's vaccine schedule based on parental consent.


Kensington Pediatrics
Connecticut Ave Kensington, MD [phone]

Dr Iona Razi
Washington, DC 202-333-1774

Dr Mark Garson @ National Integrated Health Associates
Wisconsin Ave., Washington, DC 202-237-7000, x108

Dr Janet Adams @ Woodside Pediatrics
Silver Spring, MD [phone]

Dr. Toni Thompson-Chittams @ Woodside Pediatrics
College Park, MD 301-277-9770

Dr Vijay Subramanian
Takoma Park, MD 301-891-6080


I haven't checked these Virginia pediatricians in a while so you'll have to call to confirm:

Dr. Matt Irwin, home visits [e-mail] 703.780.1261

Dr. Bradley Ware, Alexandria Family Medicine, Alexandria 703-212-0800

Dr. Diane Halpin, NoVa Pediatric Assoc, Falls Church 703-532-4446

Dr. Ed Fox, Sleepy Hollow Pediatrics, Falls Church 703-534-1000

Dr. David Leonard, Fairfax 703-352-7100

Alexandria/Lakeridge Pediatrics 703-212-6600 (Alexandria) 703-491-4131 (Woodbridge)

Dr. Mathis 703.777.4203 www.ayurvedicmd.com

Mt. Vernon Primary Care, Alexandria 703.799.4000

[Anonymous]

I think it's fine if you spread the vaccines out a bit. But as for the study data, there is no longer any study data left that supports the MMR-autism link. The original UK study was debunked recently in part when his raw data was found to be faulty (he misrepresented the date of onset for autism). But in the intervening years, a slew of studies have been done to test the possible link as well as to analyze all the proposed mechanisms. Every one of them reached the same conclusion. Now that doesn't make anyone money at Barnes and Noble, but this is what the science says.

[Anonymous]

Vaccines are huge $$$ for pharmas. Their profit motive is too much for me to trust them. Why do they tell us that newborns must get their first vaccines before leaving the hospital?

[Anonymous]

We vaccinate on an altered schedule (we don't vaccinate at all) and the "autism link" issue doesn't influence our decision. You might consider skipping that portion of the discussion when talking to drs. Our concerns are that there so many new vaxes being added- 4 or so since my DS was born, maybe more, honestly, I can barely keep up; increase in autoimmune illness/concern about autoimmune issues, no long term studies on vaccine safety, no studies on combo vaxes, in what combo they're given, health of the child at the time given, etc etc. IOW, just too many unknown, unstudied factors, the human immune system is barely understood- especially that of an infant/young child (though your ped will claim otherwise, just ask any dr that's working heavily on trying to create an effective HIV vaccine), too many general safety issues, too much money changing hands, questionable relationships between the drs performing studies and the medical industry funding the studies- the same companies that will reap financial benefits from vaccines (but I wouldn't recommend bringing tho last few concerns up to any potential dr).

If you discuss the autism issue, almost any dr will dismiss your concerns. Period. So save yourself the time and skip it.

I'd recommend my dr, but we're military so see a military dr. GL.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Vaccines are huge $$$ for pharmas. Their profit motive is too much for me to trust them. Why do they tell us that newborns must get their first vaccines before leaving the hospital?

Vaccines are not very profitable at all. The government has to work hard to get companies to produce many of them. I would question the motives of the people who write the books in Barnes and Noble. They make millions telling the public about the risks of vaccination. But not one of them would make a dime selling a book that said vaccines are safe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Vaccines are huge $$$ for pharmas. Their profit motive is too much for me to trust them. Why do they tell us that newborns must get their first vaccines before leaving the hospital?

Vaccines are not very profitable at all. The government has to work hard to get companies to produce many of them. I would question the motives of the people who write the books in Barnes and Noble. They make millions telling the public about the risks of vaccination. But not one of them would make a dime selling a book that said vaccines are safe.

Why should every newborn infant be getting any vaccine before leaving the hospital?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Vaccines are huge $$$ for pharmas. Their profit motive is too much for me to trust them. Why do they tell us that newborns must get their first vaccines before leaving the hospital?

Vaccines are not very profitable at all. The government has to work hard to get companies to produce many of them. I would question the motives of the people who write the books in Barnes and Noble. They make millions telling the public about the risks of vaccination. But not one of them would make a dime selling a book that said vaccines are safe.

Why should every newborn infant be getting any vaccine before leaving the hospital?

Because if given within twelve hours of birth, it can prevent chronic hep b infection from the mother who is either positive or who had a bad test result. Also a number of infants do get it from other sources, and when they get it in the first year of birth, it usually becomes chronic hepatitis b. Sexual transmission is not the only means of getting hep b.

I think there are reasonable people who might not get it, which is why it is optional. However, there are babies who get hep b, even after the mother charts a negative hep b test.

[Anonymous]

I have found that most doctors are flexible if you are willing to vaccinate your children but just at a slower pace. I went in to each of our peds (we've had 3 total) and just confidently shown them our schedule that we had created and although the doctors all pushed a little, every doctor went ahead and let us do it. All of our kids were fully vaxed by the time they went to school- we just did it much slower.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Vaccines are huge $$$ for pharmas. Their profit motive is too much for me to trust them. Why do they tell us that newborns must get their first vaccines before leaving the hospital?

Vaccines are not very profitable at all. The government has to work hard to get companies to produce many of them. I would question the motives of the people who write the books in Barnes and Noble. They make millions telling the public about the risks of vaccination. But not one of them would make a dime selling a book that said vaccines are safe.

The "vaccines are cash cows" argument does not work because for every company making money, there is a company losing money. Insurance companies for one, do not make $$ and lose $$ on vaccines. The vast majority of plans cover vaccines, and reimburse physicians for giving them, since it is the ultimate preventive service. As we all know, insurance companies typically just don't throw money around - they scrutinize the thing they pay for and would deny us at every turn if the science doesn't support it.

I would say Dr. Sears earned the most money on this vaccine debate. Did anyone actually read the book? We are sticking to the AAP schedule as I pretty much devoured every study I could find once I got pregnant. And I have a PhD in a health related field so I feel fairly confident I understand the science.

I bought Dr. Sears book and seriously, it is a joke. I read it cover to cover and was appalled. I did not find any science in there. It was interesting to read what is in the vaccines and a brief history of the diseases, but he does nothing to help guide parents along because he knows the science isn't there and he can get sued. The book is a blatant money maker.

I will continue to read the studies as new vaccines come out. I don't think every parent should just blindly give every child every recommended vaccine, but the AAP schedule worked for us - we have had no problems and we are well past all the controversial ones. But I also think you really need to understand and have reasons for doing an alternate schedule. If you have those reasons, fine. But I personally think because Dr. Sears said so is not a great reason. Just my opinion though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We vaccinate on an altered schedule (we don't vaccinate at all) and the "autism link" issue doesn't influence our decision. You might consider skipping that portion of the discussion when talking to drs. Our concerns are that there so many new vaxes being added- 4 or so since my DS was born, maybe more, honestly, I can barely keep up; increase in autoimmune illness/concern about autoimmune issues, no long term studies on vaccine safety, no studies on combo vaxes, in what combo they're given, health of the child at the time given, etc etc. IOW, just too many unknown, unstudied factors, the human immune system is barely understood- especially that of an infant/young child (though your ped will claim otherwise, just ask any dr that's working heavily on trying to create an effective HIV vaccine), too many general safety issues, too much money changing hands, questionable relationships between the drs performing studies and the medical industry funding the studies- the same companies that will reap financial benefits from vaccines (but I wouldn't recommend bringing tho last few concerns up to any potential dr).

If you discuss the autism issue, almost any dr will dismiss your concerns. Period. So save yourself the time and skip it.

I'd recommend my dr, but we're military so see a military dr. GL.

You don't vaccinate at all? I hope your kids are not allowed in public schools with my kids.

[Anonymous]

Our 6-month-old sees Dr. Fusner at Kensington Pediatrics, on Connecticut Ave. She is fantastic. We are doing the Sears schedule. I understand the PP who said there's no science in his book, but there are some common sense conclusions and we figured it couldn't hurt. He's still getting all his vaccines, but about two at a time rather than 4 at a time. Yes, we have to to pay the $20 co-pay every month rather than every other month, but we're okay with that. I highly recommend Dr. Fusner if you want a dr. who's open to an alternative schedule and who has a holistic approach in general. As far as the MMR, I asked one of the nurses about it, even though we don't have to worry about it for a while, and she said Merck isn't making the separate vaccine anymore. You can still get it at GW and Dr. Fusner will write you a prescription if that's what you want to do. But it's not available at drs' offices.