Looking for a Pediatrician

I highly recommend coastal family practice. You'll see why...... Tell dr carmel and brittany i said hello

Not sure if this is the right category for the question- I'm looking for a pediatrician that might be a little more alternative. Specifically, would administer preservative free vaccines and be ok with spacing them out etc. Thanks

I highly recommend coastal family practice. You'll see why...... Tell dr carmel and brittany i said hello

Just to clarify, Carmel Hawkins is a nurse practitioner, not a physician.

To my knowledge, Susie Fitzharris is the only pediatrician in South Walton accepting babies. Her office is next to Sacred Heart hospital, where she has privledges. I am not sure about what her policies are regarding spacing out vaccines;by the way, if thiomersol is the preservative you fear, it is no longer present in any routine pediatric vaccines except the influenza shot. Furthermore, the immunologic challenge presented to a child by following the appropriate vaccination schedule has never been proven to cause any harm (contrary to what 1994's Playmate of the Year might opine).

I don't know about alternative, but I'd recommend Dr. Patrick Ferry, 837-0032.

Just to clarify, Carmel Hawkins is a nurse practitioner, not a physician.

To my knowledge, Susie Fitzharris is the only pediatrician in South Walton accepting babies. Her office is next to Sacred Heart hospital, where she has privledges. I am not sure about what her policies are regarding spacing out vaccines;by the way, if thiomersol is the preservative you fear, it is no longer present in any routine pediatric vaccines except the influenza shot. Furthermore, the immunologic challenge presented to a child by following the appropriate vaccination schedule has never been proven to cause any harm (contrary to what 1994's Playmate of the Year might opine).

:confused: Wondering why I had to spend that extra year in extremely depressing post-Katrina New Orleans limbo if someone isn't accepting babies now.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't a court just rule that a child with an extremely rare (1 in 350 million) mitochondrial condition may face risks? Was that just from thiomersol? Is there any obstacle to working with parents to space out the vaccinations? I know most insurers won't cover the extra visits, but if the parents are willing to pay out of pocket because they don't trust the science, does a responsible physician have leeway in the administration of vaccines?

Furthermore, the immunologic challenge presented to a child by following the appropriate vaccination schedule has never been proven to cause any harm (contrary to what 1994's Playmate of the Year might opine).

So, why is this a true statement? Is it because a study tried to prove harm and failed, or because a study has not been done? Or some other reason?

Not sure if this is the right category for the question- I'm looking for a pediatrician that might be a little more alternative. Specifically, would administer preservative free vaccines and be ok with spacing them out etc. Thanks

Dr. FitzHarris is our pediatrician (my baby is 9 months old) and we love her. Not sure on her feelings/policies about spacing out vaccines but she and her staff are definitely worth your time for a consultation visit.

We have 1 month old twin boys and We have susie Fitzharris as our pediatrician. We have talked to here about vaccines and she will let us space them out . She wants us to come up with our schedule and follow it. Doing this will add extra appointments and more copays ( which is the least of my worries when it comes to my kids). She does not use any shots that contain thiomersol even the flu shot when given to children.

Not sure if this is the right category for the question- I'm looking for a pediatrician that might be a little more alternative. Specifically, would administer preservative free vaccines and be ok with spacing them out etc. Thanks

It's possible that the health food store "For The Health Of It" in Blue Mountain may have some ideas about pediatricians that fit what you are looking for.

FOR THE HEALTH OF IT
Ed Berry & Rachel Morgan
In the Highpoint Center
2217 Scenic Highway 30A
Blue Mountain Beach, Florida 32459
850-267-0558
fax 850-267-1901
For The Health Of It - Blue Mountain Beach Store

So, why is this a true statement? Is it because a study tried to prove harm and failed, or because a study has not been done? Or some other reason?

Somehow or the other I missed this, NDY...the evidence is retrospective and of course nobody is going to design a study that might hurt kids.

Here is an excellent article from Discover Magazine that lays out the debate, the evidence and conclusions:

Why Does the Vaccine/Autism Controversy Live On? | Vaccines | DISCOVER Magazine

Thank you for replying, Skunky. I missed your reply until today.
I think it is less the thiomersol, which as you pointed out has been removed, as it is the number of vaccinations and the schedule that parents worry about today.
Compared to what I received and what my adult son received as a child, the current regime does seem to certainly have the potential to present a challenge to developing immune systems.
I have to say that "retrospective" sounds a whole lot like "anecdotal" to me, and also sounds like what some parents say about the effects of vaccines. The alleged effects were noticed "retrospectively."

Thank you for replying, Skunky. I missed your reply until today.
I think it is less the thiomersol, which as you pointed out has been removed, as it is the number of vaccinations and the schedule that parents worry about today.
Compared to what I received and what my adult son received as a child, the current regime does seem to certainly have the potential to present a challenge to developing immune systems.
I have to say that "retrospective" sounds a whole lot like "anecdotal" to me, and also sounds like what some parents say about the effects of vaccines. The alleged effects were noticed "retrospectively."

No, retrospective data is solid and objective. The charge was that thiomersol caused autism, and well after thiomersol was removed, the number of kids placed under the autistic spectrum continues to increase. How could that be? Obviously, there has to be another explanation. I vote for increased awareness and more kids being labelled 'autistic' who in the past would have been labelled something else.

Also, you voice a common, but unfounded concern over the number of vaccinations children now receive. Many people observe that there are more shots given now than when they were children and therefore speculate that there could be a dangerous immunologic challenge posed to the child. The reality is that modern vaccine is much more streamlined, and while the total number of needlesticks may be more, the subtances added to initiate an immune response are actually lower relative to earlier eras.

Here is a topical piece from today's NW Florida Daily News. We have got to take these diseases seriously and vaccinate or there will be many who needlessly suffer. Whooping cough rises in Santa Rosa County | cough, whooping, county - News - Northwest Florida Daily News