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Vaccines play a vital role in protecting children from serious illnesses. Pediatric nurse practitioner Kelly White shares her expert insights on the importance of childhood immunizations, how to navigate the vaccine schedule, and ways to address common concerns from parents.
“The vaccine schedule has been well researched based on the timing of your child’s immune system and how well it will respond at various ages,” Kelly explains. “Young babies are at the highest risk for illness and complications, so it’s important to build up their immune system early.”
She adds that the schedule considers how long protection lasts, how many doses are needed, and the optimal spacing between them.
“Parents sometimes have logistical challenges—getting kids to appointments or making up missed vaccines due to illness,” Kelly says. “We do our best to reduce barriers and keep families on track.”
“Without vaccines, our kids are more vulnerable and more likely to become seriously ill or even die from these childhood diseases. Thanks to vaccines, these outcomes are not ones most people have had to see or hear about – because they have been prevented!” Kelly emphasizes, “In addition, vaccines not only protect the individual but also help prevent the spread of disease in the community.”
Kelly and her team stay informed by following the American Academy of Pediatrics and the CDC.
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“Websites ending in .edu, .org, or .gov are typically trustworthy,” she adds.
“The two most common myths we hear are that vaccines cause autism and that they cause the disease they’re meant to prevent,” Kelly shares. “The report stating that vaccines cause autism was in fact, fraudulent. There are substantial, robust medical studies and literature that prove this is false and that vaccines instead are actually one of the most prominent medical innovations to date. Mild symptoms (such as fever) some children may have after vaccination represent the body building immunity against the disease—not that the child is getting the actual illness."
We understand parents receive a lot of information from a variety of sources and it is hard to know what is fact vs. fiction. We are here to help them navigate this and hopefully be a trusted source of information for them!
“I always listen to families’ concerns. It is the only way to really understand their perspective and that can help drive the conversation about vaccines.” Kelly says. “It is important for parents to know that our goal is to help kids grow, thrive, and stay healthy—and we truly believe that vaccines are one of the best ways to make that happen."
“At our office, we emphasize being on top of what vaccines patients are due for and when,” Kelly says. “We use our electronic medical record system within Community along with the statewide CHIRP system to keep kids up to date and to stay informed on what kids have gotten and what they may still need.”
Parents can also request updated vaccine records directly from the office.
Kelly’s approach starts with listening. “Most people who are willing to sit down and talk usually walk out feeling confident in their decision to vaccinate,” she says. “It all starts with a discussion—asking about concerns and tailoring the conversation to address them.”
Vaccines are especially important during back-to-school season. Staying on schedule helps protect children during peak illness times and ensures fewer visits and less distress.
“Get your annual flu shot to reduce the risk of flu and its complications,” Kelly advises. “Because let’s be honest—if you’ve had the flu, it’s no fun!”
Kelly would be happy to help answer questions parents may have about vaccines. Visit her Find a Doc profile to schedule an appointment today.
Learn more about children’s health at Community here.
