Preventive care is the cornerstone of pediatrics. Check-ups give us an opportunity to assess your child's physical and mental well-being, as well as to screen for anemia, hearing loss, vision impairment, scoliosis, thyroid and kidney problems. This also provides an opportunity for your child to become comfortable with their doctor so that when issues arise, they are willing to communicate in an open fashion.

Well check-ups are also an opportunity to update your child on immunizations. We strongly believe in the benefits of immunizations and follow the schedule endorsed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). Vaccinations are important for children and the community. Refusing to vaccinate leaves not only your child at risk, but puts children who are too young to be vaccinated and persons medically unable to be immunized at risk.

It is for these reasons that we only see patients who vaccinate according to this schedule. Please be aware that we do not follow alternative schedules such as leaving certain vaccines out, delaying vaccines, or splitting vaccines up to give one or two at a time. Doing these things goes against expert recommendations, and can put your child at risk for serious illness (or even death) from preventable diseases. We recognize that the choice to vaccinate may be a very emotional one for some parents. We are here to answer your questions should you have any concerns. However, if you ultimately decide that you do not wish to follow this schedule for your child, we will have to ask you to find another provider who shares your view.

The following is our schedule for well check-ups and immunizations. Although some ages do not have immunizations due, we recommend yearly check-ups to maintain good health. Children entering Kindergarten, sixth and ninth grade are required to have an examination for school entry. School sports also require yearly physicals for participation. We require that all children to have a physical within 1 year prior to completing health examination forms for daycare, camp, school or sports.

Newborn Hepatitis B #1
1 month Hepatitis B #2
2 months Pentacel #1 (DTaP, Polio, Hib), Prevnar #1, Rotavirus #1
4 months Pentacel #2 (DTaP, Polio, Hib), Prevnar #2, Rotavirus #2
6 months Pentacel #3 (DTaP, Polio, Hib), Prevnar #3, Rotavirus #3
9 months Hepatitis B #3, Lead, Hemoglobin
12 months MMR #1, Prevnar #4
15 months Varicella #1, Hepatitis A#1
18 months DTaP #4, Hib #4, Lead, Hemoglobin
2 years Hepatitis A#2, Hemoglobin
2 ½ years Hemoglobin
3 years Hearing & Vision screening (yearly), Hemoglobin (yearly)
4 years Polio #4, MMR #2
5 years DTaP #5, Varicella#2, Lead
11 years Tdap, Meningitis #1
12 years HPV series (Gardasil)
16 years Meningitis #2