Vaccines are safe and effective lifesaving treatments.  There is no evidence that vaccines cause autism or other developmental disabilities.

The pediatricians and pediatric advanced practitioners of Reliant Medical Group follows the vaccination schedule published by the Centers for Disease Control and the American Academy of Pediatrics.  Vaccinating children and young adults may be the single most important health-promoting intervention we can do for our children.  While we understand there are some controversies about vaccines, we agree with the experts in the field and recommend following the recommended schedule.  Not vaccinating or using a made up “alternative” schedule is unsafe and can expose children to vaccine-preventable diseases.  This puts both the unvaccinated child as well as other children in the community at risk.

Should you have questions please discuss with your healthcare provider before your visit.

Flu Vaccination Statement

09/10/20 – The Centers for Disease Control and the American Academy of Pediatrics has recommended influenza vaccine for all children and adults starting at age 6 months of age. In addition, this year the Massachusetts Department of Public Health will require the influenza vaccine for daycare, preschool, and school-age children in order to protect our children and community during this challenging time of the COVID- 19 pandemic.  In light of this, the Department of Pediatrics at Reliant Medical Group strongly recommends giving the influenza vaccine to all children, starting at age 6 months.

The link below is the statement from the Massachusetts Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics:

https://mcaap.org/2018/wp-content/uploads/8.20.20-MCAAP-Statement-on-New-Flu-Vaccine-Requirement.pdf

Letters of exemption will only be given for true medical contraindications.​   Exemptions for this vaccine include medical conditions such as severe allergic reactions to the vaccine.

Persons who have experienced a severe allergic reaction to a prior dose of influenza vaccine, or who are known to have a severe allergy to a vaccine component (except egg) should not be vaccinated with the influenza vaccine at this time.​ Precautions to vaccination include moderate or severe acute illness at the time the vaccine is to be given, or history of Guillain-Barré syndrome within 6 weeks of a dose of influenza vaccine.  There is no evidence that the injectable form of the vaccine causes influenza, and a history of illness after getting the vaccine is not a reason for a vaccine exemption.

Religious exemptions can only be issued by the school system.  Reliant Medical Group providers cannot provide letters to support religious exemptions.