David 
by Independent Medical Alliance (fomerly FLCCC)
Deciding whether to vaccinate, when to start, and how to space doses is one of the hardest calls parents face. It deserves more than a rushed waiting-room conversation. It deserves time, information, and room to think things through.
That’s what Dr. Elizabeth Mumper, Dr. Liz to the families she’s cared for over four decades, offers in ‘A Parent’s Guide to Childhood Vaccination Decisions.’ She’s a board-certified pediatrician and the host of Kid’s Corner with Dr. Liz. Some of the families she advises decide not to vaccinate. Others proceed with a modified schedule. Her role is to help each family arrive at whatever is right for them, with clear information and without pressure.
Here are Dr. Mumper’s recommendations:
Understand what informed consent means
Before saying yes to any vaccine, you have the right to ask questions and get real answers. Your provider should lay out the risks and benefits of the proposed treatment, and mention whatever alternatives exist.
That process has a name: informed consent. It means you’re in on the decision, fully briefed on what could go right and what could go wrong, and given the space to think it through without anyone rushing you or pressuring you. The conversation should happen well before you’re in the exam room with a vaccine already drawn up.
Questions worth considering before birth:
- What is the risk of vaccine-preventable diseases in my region?
- Should we give the hepatitis B vaccine at birth if the mother is hepatitis B-negative and the infant is not at risk?
- Do we want to follow the CDC-recommended schedule, or modify timing and spacing?
- Is there a benefit in spacing vaccines to reduce cumulative exposure to adjuvants such as aluminum?
- Should vaccines be delayed if the child is sick or taking antibiotics? Should vaccination be postponed if developmental or neurologic concerns are emerging?
- Do we have religious or philosophical beliefs that influence our decisions?
- Are there differences in health outcomes between vaccinated and unvaccinated or under vaccinated children?
You can see all of Dr. Mumper’s recommendations here: https://imahealth.org/tools-and-guides/parents-guide-to-childhood-immunizations/
Go here to download “Download A Parent’s Guide to Childhood Vaccination Decisions”
You are the parent and grandparent. You have the power and the authority to protect your children/grandchildren. Please read the full parent’s guide and be informed.
