Our Commitment to Vaccination Has Not Changed
Recent changes in federal vaccine guidance have understandably created questions for many parents and families. We want to be clear about where our practices stand:
Our position on childhood vaccination has not changed. We continue to strongly recommend routine childhood immunizations according to the evidence-based guidance of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).
Vaccines are one of the most important tools we have to protect children from serious, and sometimes life-threatening, infectious diseases. Our recommendations are grounded in the same principle that guides every aspect of the care we provide: making decisions based on the best available medical evidence and what is safest and healthiest for children.
Why Vaccination Matters—Especially Now
The importance of vaccination is particularly clear as measles continues to spread across the United States.
The country is experiencing its highest levels of measles in decades. By July 2026, more than 2,200 cases had already been reported nationwide, with children and adolescents accounting for approximately 70% of cases. The overwhelming majority of cases have occurred in people who were unvaccinated or whose vaccination status was unknown.
Measles is not simply a rash or a routine childhood illness. It is highly contagious and can cause serious complications, including pneumonia, hospitalization, inflammation of the brain and, in rare cases, death.
The good news is that measles is highly preventable through vaccination. The AAP recommends two doses of measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine as part of routine childhood immunization. Since measles vaccination was introduced in the United States in 1963, the incidence of measles has fallen by more than 99%.
Vaccination protects not only the individual child receiving the vaccine but also babies who are too young to be fully vaccinated and people in our communities who may be especially vulnerable to serious infection.
Also for parent education, keep in mind that separate (monovalent) measles, mumps and rubella vaccines are not currently available for purchase in the United States.
Why We Follow the American Academy of Pediatrics
Families may be hearing different messages about vaccines from different sources. When recommendations conflict, it is reasonable to ask: Whose guidance does our pediatric practice follow, and why?
We follow the American Academy of Pediatrics.
The AAP is the professional organization representing pediatricians and pediatric specialists dedicated to the health and well-being of infants, children, adolescents, and young adults. Its recommendations are developed with pediatric expertise and careful review of scientific evidence, including vaccine safety, effectiveness, disease risk, and the specific health needs of children.
Following AAP guidance also allows us to provide consistent, evidence-based care rather than changing medical recommendations in response to shifting political or administrative priorities.
The AAP has reaffirmed its support for childhood immunization following the August 10, 2026 executive order directing changes to the federal childhood vaccine schedule. Our practices share that commitment.
Our Recommendation Remains the Same
We recommend that children receive routine immunizations on the schedule recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics.
That recommendation has not changed.
We recognize that parents want to make thoughtful decisions about their children’s health, and questions about vaccines are always welcome in our office. We would much rather have a conversation than have families feel they need to sort through conflicting information on their own.
Our job is to help you understand the evidence, discuss the benefits and potential risks, and make recommendations based on what we believe provides the best protection for your child.
At a time when vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles are again spreading in our communities, that commitment to evidence-based prevention is more important than ever.
We remain strongly pro-vaccine, we continue to follow American Academy of Pediatrics immunization recommendations, and we remain committed to helping every family protect their children from preventable disease.