Vaccination
Vaccination is a big issue in the United States. Some of the parents feel that their children do not need the vaccine since, at that particular time, they are healthy and strong, and as such, these parents feel that vaccinations are not necessary. However, as it turns out, this is far from the truth, and as the story of Regina Booth illustrates, vaccination is vital for the long-term health of a child. Another mistake that parents make on the issue is relying on physicians for their children’s health needs rather than approaching the real experts who know more than the pediatricians. Therefore, the chapter looks to address the physicians’ variations in their approach to those parents who decline the experts’ recommendations.
The chapter discusses several sections that show three models that can alleviate this tension when providing pediatric care. The first model is individualized vaccine schedule practice explained by Ben Kirkland, a pediatrician who opted to open his own practice. This model is very convenient for all those involved; for instance, the patient can get the personalized care they require, and through this, they can have the confidence and trust in the doctor and as he is always there for them. On the other hand, the doctor can work without the constraints that other doctors who work in public health or under insurance go through as he charges by the hour.
Another model discussed in this chapter is balancing patient preference with public health. Kevin Sato, a pediatrician who works with other pediatricians where their patients have scheduled visitations, unlike Ben’s case. Ben believes that as pediatricians, as much as they have the expertise and understands the role of vaccines; however, he states that parents are, above all, the experts when it comes to their children, and pediatricians ought to honor that. And although parents are experts on their kids, Kevin believes pediatricians know more about science. Still, they always consider the opinions of the parents and here where they are coming from.
One other model here is explained by Carrie Mathers, a pediatrician who works at a clinic where most patients are publicly insured or have no insurance. This model is known as public health and time limits. Carrie deals mostly with patients from low-income families, and vaccination is something that she does all the time. Like many pediatricians from clinics in such communities, most parents do not ask about the vaccines’ specifics. However, she recounts the differences in her clinic’s approach to vaccines and the practice where she takes her daughter and believes there are differences in approaches, demands, and pediatricians’ responses when dealing with patients from different backgrounds.
The chapter also discusses the vaccine choice, the flu vaccine, as well as pediatric advice. Pediatricians agree that vaccination is important but should be specialized for individual patients like those susceptible to serious illnesses instead of mass flu vaccination, even for healthy kids. All the doctors involved concluded that they have to establish an individualistic vocabulary with parents to understand which, when and if vaccination is necessary.
To conclude, the chapter discusses the conflict in terms of expertise in pediatric care. Though parents know their kids, better pediatricians think they are more equipped and do know better than the parents, and in some cases, there can be a disconnection on whose expertise should be more valued between the two parties. However, doctors are becoming more and more compromising; whether they are doing this to prevent the children from these illnesses or ensure they have more patients is anyone’s guess. The important thing is that they have become more accommodating by allowing the parents to be involved in making decisions on their children’s health.