Helping families make decisions about their child’s health takes training, expertise, and experience. The training is standardized (medical school, residency, fellowship), and the expertise confirmed by passing board examinations and maintaining yearly CME (continuing med education). But the experience piece is ultimately unique for each physician. With each day in clinical care, patients teach, instruct, […]
Vaccines
Do You Believe in Vaccines: (Part II: Evidence)
I asked a group of 33 pediatricians what they would say to the question, “Do you believe in vaccines?” while standing in line for coffee. I asked for their help in thinking about an effective, 2 minute answer. This is part 2 in a series. For detailed information behind the why, read part I (emotional […]
Do You Believe In Vaccines? (Part I: Emotion)
I wrote 33 pediatricians an e-mail asking what they would say, while in line for coffee, to the parent of a newborn when asked if they “believed in vaccines.” I wrote the e-mail not as a gimmick or a way to frame the issue of vaccine hesitancy, but because this happened to me. Rather, this […]
Two Minutes To Represent Vaccines?
Last Friday I was in line for a coffee and met a newborn baby. Her father asked me if “I believed in vaccines.” I answered him (hint: I do). But then I got to thinking…how could I have done it better? I wrote some friends…
6 Tips For Successful Shot Visits
Getting shots, or the pain and fear associated with them, is one frustrating association children have with seeing their doctor. There are some ways to make this better. Diminishing shot anxiety is a huge goal for parents and pediatricians. If expectations are clear, everyone can leave a visit after shots feeling more successful. Prepare: Do […]
Understanding Immunizations
It’s my true fortune that I spend the majority of my days with children–my patients and my own. But as a mom in the year 2010, I find I worry a lot. As a pediatrician, my job is to reassure. My experiences with these divergent, and then entirely interwoven roles, converge at one issue in […]
Crack The Code On Pediatric Flu Shot Recommendations
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0gYJmuw9So Flu shots have arrived to nearly every neighborhood in the US. Frustratingly, clinics often get the doses after the retail stores (seems silly) and doses for children under age 3 may not arrive at the same time. So if you’re reading all over the planet that shots are available and your pediatrician’s office can’t […]
Mandatory Flu Shots: "Ethically Justified, Necessary, & Long Overdue"
This year, The AAP issued a statement urging pediatric hospitals and clinics to require mandatory immunization against influenza for all health care workers. They stated it’s “ethically justified, necessary, and long overdue.” The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) began recommending influenza immunization (flu shots/mist) for health care workers back in the early 1980s. Even […]
If It Were My Child: No Tylenol Before Shots
Earlier this year there was a massive Tylenol recall. The recall included Infant Tylenol drops, Children’s Tylenol, as well as many other children’s medications. I’m not exaggerating when I say massive, but generic medications (liquid acetaminophen made by Walgreens or CVS, for example) were not included. The recall was a great reminder that generics are […]