Vaccine Schedule: What Parents Need to Know

Heather Bedard, C.H.E.

I want to start by saying this:

My job isn’t to tell you what to do. My goal is to help you uncover information that’s not commonly talked about so you can make informed decisions for your family.

Stick around here long enough and you’ll quickly realize that you can’t always rely on “the experts” to have your best interests at heart—especially when financial incentives and institutional pressures are involved.

That’s why curiosity matters. That’s why asking questions isn’t rebellious—it’s responsible.

Despite the fact that you may think the vaccine schedule is set in stone and no one questions it, studies are showing that more and more parents are asking questions.

Some parents decide after careful consideration not to vaccinate at all.

Some selectively vaccinate or delay based on what they’ve learned.

Some are still sorting through conflicting advice and just trying to make the best decision they can.

Some parents will follow the schedule unquestioningly.

With that being said, let’s dive into five things your pediatrician likely isn’t telling you (or maybe doesn't know) about the vaccine schedule.

Most Pediatricians Receive Very Little Vaccine Training

Most of us assume that pediatricians have spent hours upon hours learning about vaccines in medical school. Surely they’ve studied the ingredients, reviewed the long-term safety data, evaluated the risks and benefits of each shot, and know the ins and outs of the CDC’s entire schedule, right?

Not quite.

A 2024 study published in the Journal of Community Health found that nearly 80% of medical students said their programs didn’t cover vaccines in depth, and over half of them admitted they felt uncomfortable discussing vaccines with patients due to this lack of training.

Most vaccine instruction is rolled into broader subjects like microbiology or pediatrics. There’s no standard curriculum and no required number of hours. Instead of receiving comprehensive education, students are often taught simply to follow the CDC schedule.

If a doctor wants more vaccine education, they usually have to seek it out through optional programs, like the CDC’s online modules or the PIDS Vaccine Education Program.

That’s worth pausing on.

When your pediatrician says, “It’s safe,” they’re not necessarily saying that from a place of deep, independent research. They’re repeating what they were taught.

Well-child Visits Were Eventually Structured Around Vaccine Delivery

Most of us think of well-child visits as developmental check-ins: height, weight, milestone questions, maybe a few answers to our concerns.

But the structure of these visits was heavily influenced by vaccine delivery.

In 1995, the first harmonized childhood immunization schedule was introduced by ACIP, AAP, and AAFP. This wasn’t just about standardizing care, it was about aligning the timing of well-visits with vaccine recommendations to ensure higher compliance.

The AAP’s Bright Futures initiative sets a periodic schedule for well-visits from infancy through adolescence, and vaccines are one of the core functions of those visits.

Here’s something else you probably weren’t told:

Many insurance companies tie provider performance metrics and bonuses to vaccine compliance. If a child skips or delays a vaccine, it can negatively impact a pediatrician’s rating—and possibly their pay. Some providers even receive financial incentives for maintaining high vaccination rates.

So yes, your child’s growth matters. But don’t be surprised if the real pressure in that visit revolves around what vaccines are due that day.

The Vaccine Schedule Includes Far More Shots Than Most People Realize

Depending on indivdual needs and how closely the schedule is followed, the current childhood vaccine schedule includes over 70 doses of 16 different vaccines by age 18. That number includes combination vaccines, annual flu shots, and now COVID-19.

Most of these doses are concentrated in infancy and early childhood, and many are given in clusters—three, four, sometimes more at a single visit.

If it ever felt like the shots were coming fast and no one gave you time to process or ask questions—you weren’t imagining things.

The pace of administration often outpaces informed consent.

We’re given a vague summary sheet or asked to sign a form while the nurse preps the tray. But actual risks? Ingredients? Long-term data? Those discussions rarely happen unless we initiate them.

Adverse Reactions Exist — But You Probably Won’t Hear About Them

We’ve all heard the phrase “safe and effective.” But that doesn’t mean zero risk.

Package inserts (which are legally required to list potential side effects) mention mild reactions like redness or fever, but they also include serious adverse events like seizures, encephalopathy, and autoimmune disorders.

These reactions, while rare, are real. And they’re reported to a government database called VAERS — the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System.

But here’s the issue:

·       Most parents are never shown a vaccine insert.

·       They’re rarely told VAERS exists.

·       And they’re almost never counseled on what red flags to watch for after the visit.

That’s not informed consent.

👉 Tip: Ask for the full vaccine insert before agreeing to any shot. And ask your provider if they’ve read it.

You Can Space Out or Decline Vaccines

The CDC schedule is a recommendation. It’s not legally mandated. You can delay, decline, or modify it based on your own research and comfort level.

But do most pediatricians offer that perspective? Not typically.

Many practices have strict all-or-nothing policies—either you follow the schedule, or you’re dismissed. And that’s happening more often than you think.

A study published in Pediatrics showed that the number of pediatricians who dismiss families for vaccine refusal increased from 6.1% in 2006 to 11.7% in 2013.

This happened to me personally. I was dismissed from a pediatric practice for questioning the schedule for my newborn.

However, if you do choose an alternative schedule, you're not alone.

According to researchers from the University of Michigan:

• 13% of parents follow a schedule different from the one recommended.

• 20% of parents who follow the CDC schedule still have doubts about it.

Among those who use an alternative schedule:

• 53% refused certain vaccines

• 55% delayed some vaccines

• 17% refused all vaccines

  
  

Don't be intimidated

So here’s what I want you to walk away with:

You are capable. You are allowed to ask hard questions. And you deserve clear, honest answers.

If this post gave you a new perspective, share it with a friend who might need to hear it too. And if you want to explore these topics further, head to the latest episode of Holistic Health Strategies for Moms where we unpack each of these points in more depth.

Until next time—stay curious, stay confident, and trust your gut.

Spotify

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Sources:

Dempsey AF, Schaffer S, Singer D, et al. “Alternative vaccination schedule preferences among parents of young children.” Pediatrics 2011 Nov;128(5) (early online publication Oct 3)

Sojati J, Murali A, Rapsinski G, Williams JV. Do Not Throw Away Your Shot: Pilot Study in Improving Medical School Curricula Through Focused Vaccine Education. AJPM Focus. 2023;3(2):100178. Published 2023 Dec 23. doi:10.1016/j.focus.2023.100178

Smith, Jean Clare et al. (2014). History and Evolution of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices — United States, 1964–2014. 63(42).

Committee on the Assessment of Studies of Health Outcomes Related to the Recommended Childhood Immunization Schedule; Board on Population Health and Public Health Practice; Institute of Medicine. The Childhood Immunization Schedule and Safety: Stakeholder Concerns, Scientific Evidence, and Future Studies. Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US); 2013 Mar 27. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK206948/ doi: 10.17226/13563