My two children have been patients at North Shore Pediatrics in Danvers for several years and while overall we've been satisfied with the quality of care, recently we were asked to leave the practice. About two years ago they adopted a policy mandating that all their patients be 100% vaccinated according to the AAP or be asked to leave the practice. My 19 year old is fully vaccinated. My nine year old falls short by two vaccinations, varicella and Hep B. Despite this new policy we've been seen the past two years without issue which led us to believe they softened around this mandate or possibly re-addressed the policy. I was wrong.
On the eve of what should have been a wellness visit for our youngest child, I received a call from the nurse who oversees the practice's vaccination program. She informed me know that I must consent to having these two vaccinations at the visit or leave the practice. She also stated that if I didn't verbally agree then my child could not come in for the scheduled wellness visit. I let her know my husband was traveling and we couldn't make that decision before 11:30 the following morning. The appointment gets cancelled.
About 15 minutes later, and after a few deep breaths, I call back requesting that they reinstate the appointment which will also allow me to have a 1:1 conversation with my child's physician. I'm told that Lauren (nurse who called me) will not speak directly to me, that they won't give me the appointment back and the doctor will call me in the morning. After trying to connect with the doctor twice, I give up.
My nine year old child is not at risk for Hep B, a disease that is contracted through semen, blood or other bodily fluids such as open sores. It is usually contracted through unprotected intercourse and IV drug use. Facts the PCP confirmed. I am not opposed to these two immunizations, however after much research, I do believe there is a more age appropriate time for giving them.
Through this process I also learn that while my 19 year old was at the practice two weeks prior to this incident for a sick visit another PCP offered the HPV vaccine. My child tentatively consented having forgotten that we declined it in the past due to health history and known counter indications of this vaccine. My child's PCP was aware of our concerns and that we had perviously declined. This was the first visit to the practice where my child could give own consent. So while at a sick visit navigating the presenting symptoms that this vaccine also is known to cause, our child was asked to have this immunization. In our view this was irresponsible on the part of the physician.
North Shore Pediatric's policy of having to be 100% vaccinated does not take into account the individual patient and instead puts financial incentive over making decisions based on health history and actual risk of infection/disease. They have taken the informed parent's thoughts and concerns out of the equation and instead given them an ultimatum for being under their care. As a private business they are absolutely able to do this. And while my nine year old was the only one asked to leave the practice, we have chosen to remove both our children and move to practices more in alignment with our values of patient centered care. read more
