The discussion of whether to vaccinate or not, and on what schedule has been a growing debate through the last decade. Many well intentioned parents are trying to make the right decision for their families. This commentary from a pediatrician offers an interesting perpsective to what has been prevented through routine vaccination as well as what could happen if we choose not to vaccinate.

Routine vaccination of the HPV vaccine for both females and males is now recommended by the CDC and AAP.  The HPV vaccine provides protection from certain HPV-related diseases and cancers in males, as well as possible prevention of the transmission of HPV to females.

In an effort to reduce dosing errors and to standardize dosing for all age groups the concentration of infants acetaminophen will now be 160mg/5mL. The product makers of Tylenol as well as OTC medications have agreed to begin this standardization as early as summer 2011. For accurate dosing information please see the dosing chart, or contact our triage department.

The American Academy of Pediatrics has issued new guidelines for car safety seats. This includes keeping children rear-facing until age two. Additionally, most children will need to be in a belt-positioning booster until they have reached the maximum height of 4 feet 9 inches. Although there has been a significant decrease in the number of motor vehicle related deaths, this is still the leading cause of death for children age 4 and older. This new advice should help parents change the way they buckle up their children when traveling.