Questions to Ask Your Pediatrician About Vaccines

As a parent, making healthcare decisions for your child can feel overwhelming—especially when it comes to vaccinations. With so much information (and misinformation) available, it’s essential to educate yourself and feel confident in your choices. Whether you’re following the recommended immunization schedule, considering an alternative approach, or questioning vaccines altogether, being prepared with the right questions can help you make an informed decision.

In this post, we’ll explore the key questions to ask your pediatrician about childhood vaccines, including potential risks, benefits, ingredients, and alternative options. By equipping yourself with knowledge, you can have an open and informed conversation with your doctor, ensuring the best decision for your child’s health.

Do You Have The Full Vaccine Inserts for Me To Read or Directions on How to Find Them?

This should be one of the first things that you ask your doctor during a wellness visit! Are they willing and able to get you the information that is listed inside of the box? The key take away is to see whether or not your doctor is WILLING to help you attain this information. It will shed light on whether your doctor is okay with you making an informed decision.

Have You Personally Read the Inserts?

You’d be surprised to know that most doctors have not read the inserts for each of the vaccines! If you doctor has not read the insert, you should be very weary. If they are pushing, recommending, or advising you to give your child the vaccines, but HAVE NOT read the inserts. That speaks volume! Your doctor should be fully aware of any information positive or negative regarding childhood vaccines.

What is the VAERS Data Regarding This Particular Shot?

VAERS Data is where adverse reactions to vaccines are recorded. Did you know that only 1% of vaccine injuries are recorded? (According to a major study from Harvard) You need to make sure your pediatrician is aware of this data and can speak on to whether not they are familiar with the data around the particular wellness shot for your child. Transparency and knowledge is so important regarding vaccines. This is a great question to provoke thought and truly see what your doctor is aware of in regards to the vaccine.

Who is Held Responsible if My Child is Injured?

Plot twist…nobody is held responsible. Did you know that? The doctor nor the manufacturer is liable if your child becomes injured by a vaccine! That is why it is so important to discuss this with your doctor and decide if vaccines are right for you and your family! If your child does become injured by a vaccine, you will be left responsible for any medical care or therapies needed. You need to make your doctor say this out loud! If they try and beat around the bush and avoid this question, that is a red flag!

Can You Explain to Me the Safety Data on This Shot?

Is your doctor willing to take the time to discuss the studies done on each of the vaccines? This is a hard conversation to have for several reasons. The first is that your doctor sadly, may not have sat down and read through it all! Your doctor may not be informed on the matter. Secondly, they may not have the time! There is a hustle and bustle approach in the pediatrician’s office. Your doctor may not have time to sit down and explain everything.

What Are the Benefits Versus the Risks of this Vaccine?

Is your pediatrician willing to admit there could be some risks? Sit down and discuss this in depth with your child’s doctor. A HUGE question to ask is “Will My Child Even Come Into Contact with this Virus?!” Likely, the answer is no. If there little to no risk, why are we still vaccinating for it?

What Are the Potential Outcomes if My Child Contracts a Virus Naturally?

This is where as a parent, you need to weigh the pros and cons. If your 5 year old gets the chicken pox, are they at a REAL risk? So, why do we give the varicella shot?! Pushing doctors to have these conversations is very important. Is this conversation gets brushed off, consider it a red flag!

I’ll Leave You With This

Ultimately, it is YOU, the parent’s responsibility to be informed on what you put inside of your child’s body. If your doctor’s office is going to REQUIRE your child to get a specific roundup of vaccines, then the doctor should be able to back up what they’re promoting!

You should never be made to feel difficult for asking the important questions. If they do make you feel difficult? FIRE THEM! (Yes, you CAN do that!)

Do you want more information on Child Vaccine Guides? I have a free guide! Download it here.