A Message from Physician Leadership: Clinical Vaccine Recommendations

At Cook Children’s, our Promise is everything for the child. As a system of more than 1,000 clinicians, including our primary care and specialty physicians, surgeons, APPs, and CRNAs, we rely on evidence-based, expert recommendations. We continue to recommend the complete childhood and adolescent vaccine schedule outlined by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Decades of research and safety monitoring confirm a comprehensive immunization schedule is the most effective way to protect our patients and the broader community from illnesses such as polio, measles, pertussis, and hepatitis. We know that vaccines work and remain our best defense against 16 potentially harmful diseases.

The patients and families we serve look to us for clarity and kindness. We released this statement to the media regarding vaccines and our support for the AAP:

“Cook Children’s Health Care System continues to recommend the complete childhood and adolescent vaccine schedule in alignment with the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). We encourage families and guardians to talk to their pediatricians about what is best for their child.”

We encourage you to engage in meaningful dialogue with families, using shared clinical decision-making to ensure parents feel heard, respected, and informed. To support your communications around vaccines, we want to provide you with this letter that you can provide to your families, created by our immunization experts at Cook Children's. 

We hope you will also use this helpful patient education page created by our clinicians to share with families in advance of, during or following upcoming appointments. The intent is to provide clear recommendations and direct them to additional resources. For more information on vaccines and immunizations, please click here. 

You are the most trusted voices in our community. Thank you for your commitment to protecting the children in our care and for upholding the excellence that defines Cook Children’s.

Sincerely,

Jonathan Nedrelow, M.D. Chief Medical Officer

Matthew Dzurik, M.D., President, Cook Children's Physician Network