May 07, 2010

 

 

CONVENIENCE CLINICS
We are aware that convenience clinics are marketing themselves as a safe, easy way to obtain quick medical care; they imply that obtaining treatment for you or your child is as simple as a trip to the drugstore, but that not accurate.
These clinics do not have the endorsement of any established medical body. They are staffed by minimally supervised nurse practitioners with variable pediatric and adult medical training. They are not available after hours or for follow-up. They have no hospital privileges. They may be “quick”, but the discontinuous, sporadic care they offer is contrary to recommendations of virtually every medical board and academy; we do not support the concept or participate in their activities.
The Board Certified Pediatricians and Internists at Plaza Family Care constantly update our skills to keep pace with medical advances. We have regular evening, weekend, and holiday hours. We are available 24/7/365. Our Pediatricians are on staff at the finest children’s hospital in the area.
We believe you and your children are individual patients not commodities in the aisle behind cosmetics and magazines, and we look forward to providing you with the best medical care possible.

Allen Menkin, MD, MS, FAAP, Patrick A. Caruso, MD, FAAP, Adam M. Dick, MD, FAAP, Kristen Walsh, MD, FAAP, Jimmy Chang, MD, Lillian Theune, DO, Dana Brahms, MD, Melissa Libert, DO, FAAP

 

 

June 28, 2010

 

Vaccine/Immunization Policy
The Pediatricians at Plaza Family Care are troubled by widespread, unfounded, media driven fears about vaccine safety. Childhood vaccination is one of the greatest success stories of modern medicine. Safe and effective immunization has resulted in the virtual elimination of many serious childhood diseases in this country. We have long ago forgotten what it was like to see a child with polio relegated to life in an iron lung, or to know a youngster made blind, deaf, and vegetative by bacterial meningitis. Hundreds of millions of children have grown to healthy and productive adulthood because of vaccines. And we now have two vaccines that prevent cancer.

 

This has not been the universal experience. In the developing world a quarter of a million children die of measles every year, and many more are left with permanent brain damage. Bacterial meningitis and soft-tissue or blood infection have equally bad outcomes. Thousands of babies die from vaccine preventable diarrhea. Over 500 cases of polio have been reported in Central Asia in 2010.

 

Modern jet travel makes it likely that infected people will unwittingly enter the United States from abroad. Newark Liberty Airport puts us 45 minutes from anywhere in the world. Measles outbreaks in San Diego and Long Island were caused by travelers from Europe and Israel; the victims were largely unvaccinated or under-vaccinated children.

 

We have had preventable childhood deaths in Philadelphia and Minneapolis because a meningitis vaccine was temporarily unavailable. There is a whooping cough epidemic in California. Ordinary Influenza kills over 36,000 Americans every year.

 

A number of years ago a vocal minority insisted that a vaccine preservative, thimerosal, caused autism. No linkage was ever established, but thimerosal was removed from infant vaccines. This increased the cost of vaccines substantially and had absolutely no effect on the rising incidence of autism.

 

Claims that Measles-Mumps-Rubella vaccine causes autism have been totally debunked. There is no link between the vaccine and that disorder. An oft cited article in Lancet purporting a connection has been withdrawn; the Editors comment was, “We (all) really messed up.” The British have revoked the license of Andrew Wakefield, the article’s lead author. They concluded that he acted dishonestly, unethically, and in “callous disregard” for the suffering of children. The best available data continually inform us that no vaccine or vaccines, (in any combination, with or without preservative,) cause autism.

 

Individuals and groups that oppose vaccines for whatever reason try to make a case that the “antigenic challenge” to an infant’s immune system is somehow dangerous. That is qualitative and quantitative foolishness. The antigenic challenge of a single ear infection is greater than that of all vaccines given over a lifetime…combined.

 

Infants are highly vulnerable to Pertussis, meningitis, measles, mumps, German measles, chicken pox, and influenza. They also face greater group exposure/risk than most adults. From a public health standpoint, it is almost impossible to contain an epidemic without immunizing infants and children. That is why there are recommendations they be immunized as early as possible and requirements to be met before daycare or school attendance.

 

Unimmunized or incompletely immunized pre-adolescents/ adolescents are at risk for whooping cough, meningitis, chicken pox, hepatitis and Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). The hepatitis B vaccine your baby gets at birth was the first anti-cancer vaccine in history. It prevents chronic hepatitis and liver cancer for life. Gardasil, a vaccine given to girls and boys at 10-11 years of age, protects against the most common STI and prevents cervical cancer in adulthood. Adults need to be immunized for whooping cough, (Adacel). Their childhood immunizations have worn off long ago. It is recommended that women receive this vaccine immediately after childbirth. Unimmunized adults risk bringing this dangerous disease home to susceptible babies and elderly relatives.

 

Modern vaccines are tested exhaustively before licensing, and undergo continuous surveillance after release. They are taken out of production if there is even a suggestion or a suspicion that they might be contaminated or dangerous. Infrequently, individuals may have serious side effects, but the safety record is extremely good.

 

We administer vaccines according to the most recent policies and recommendations of the American Committee on Immunization Practices and the American Academy of Pediatrics. It has been conclusively demonstrated that deferring, delaying, or dividing recommended vaccines does nothing to prevent any measurable complications or side effects. It doesn’t accomplish anything other than leaving infants and children at prolonged risk from dangerous diseases.

 

As parents you have a primary requirement and right to assure the health of your children. As doctors we have a primary obligation to help you make the best choices. We ask that you consider sound data, not anecdotes, sensational headlines, celebrity pronouncements, and scare tactics when you make those decisions.

 

Thank you for trusting us with your children,

 

Allen Menkin, MD, MS, FAAP
Patrick A. Caruso, MD, FAAP
Adam M. Dick, MD, FAAP
Kristen Walsh, MD, FAAP
Melissa Libert, DO, FAAP

For further information please contact:
www.vaccinateyourbaby.com
www.autismsciencefoundation.com