Effective November 1, 2019 Columbia Pediatrics will no longer accept new families who have chosen not to vaccinate their children. This policy excludes children who are unable to receive vaccinations due to documented medical reasons.

We believe that vaccines are safe and effective at preventing certain illnesses and even death.

We firmly believe that children receive vaccines according to the schedule published by the Centers for Disease Control and the American Academy of Pediatrics that are required by the State of Tennessee for school entry.

We strongly recommend eligible patients receive the Human Papilloma Virus vaccine and the flu vaccine; however, they are currently not required by the State of Tennessee for school entry.

Delaying or breaking up vaccines goes against expert recommendations and puts your child and others at risk for vaccine preventable illnesses or even death. Children who are vaccinated on an alternative schedule will begin all age appropriate vaccines by 3 months and must have vaccines completed before 12 months, 30 months, 6 years, and 13 years according to the vaccine schedules published by the CDC and American Academy of Pediatrics.

Parents who desire a delayed vaccination schedule for their child will be required to sign the American Academy of Pediatrics Vaccine Refusal Form for the recommended vaccines they refuse.

Parents who deviate from this policy will be asked to find another health care provider who shares their views. We do not keep a list of such providers nor would we recommend any such physician.