Pediatric Associates of Alexandria (PAA) cares for thousands of children, with hundreds of families visiting our offices each day. Many of our patients are too young to receive certain vaccines and are therefore especially vulnerable to severe, potentially life-threatening infections. It is our responsibility to protect all of our patients, their families, and our community by maintaining a fully immunized patient population.

All PAA families must follow the following guidelines, unless there is a documented medical contraindication:

1. Begin vaccines at the 2 month well check (before turning 3 months old)
2. Complete required childhood immunizations by 25 months of age (at the 2-year well check)
3. Complete all immunization boosters recommended after the fourth birthday before the start of kindergarten (usually by the 5-year well check and no later than 6 years of age)
4. Initiate required vaccines after the 11^th birthday and complete within 12 months
5. Receive MenACWY (meningococcal meningitis) booster after the 16^th birthday (no later than the start of 12^th grade)
6. Children who are behind must begin catch-up vaccines within 30 days and complete all needed doses within 6 months.

PAA does not recommend an alternative vaccine schedule, but we are happy to work with families who prefer to separate vaccinations if the guidelines above are followed. Please note that following a different schedule may incur additional costs due to more frequent visits to our office.

Families who do not comply with this policy will be discharged from Pediatric Associates of Alexandria.

Immunization status will be reviewed and discussed at office visits. This policy will be updated as new recommendations arise from the American Academy of Pediatrics, or Virginia Department of Health.

Required vaccines are those mandated by the State of Virginia for school entry include:

Meningococcal Conjugate (MenACWY)

Hepatitis B

Measles, Mumps, & Rubella (MMR)

Haemophilus Influenzae Type b (Hib)

Pneumococcal (PCV)

Rotavirus

Polio (IPV)

Varicella (Chickenpox)

Hepatitis A