Vaccines at Canyon

Pediatría Canyon > Vaccines at Canyon

Vaccines & Immunizations

Vaccines are an important part of pediatric care, and we know families may have questions about which vaccines are recommended, which are required for school, how vaccines work, and whether a particular vaccine is right for their child.

At Canyon Pediatrics, we want families to have good information and the opportunity to talk through their questions with their healthcare provider. Vaccine recommendations can vary based on a child’s age, health history, risk factors, and current public health guidance.

Recent federal changes to childhood vaccine recommendations have also created understandable questions about what has changed and what has not. We are monitoring guidance from federal and Arizona health agencies and will update this page as additional information becomes available.

Here you can find trusted resources about childhood vaccines, current Arizona requirements, and answers to common questions.

Vaccine Resources for Families

American Academy of Pediatrics – HealthyChildren.org
Easy-to-understand information written for parents about childhood vaccines, vaccine schedules, safety, common questions, and individual vaccines.

CDC – Vaccines for Your Children
Information for parents and caregivers about childhood vaccines, vaccine-preventable diseases, and vaccination.

CDC – Vaccine Information Statements (VIS)
Official information sheets explaining the benefits and risks of individual vaccines. These are the same Vaccine Information Statements provided when vaccines are administered.

Arizona Department of Health Services – School Immunization Requirements
Current Arizona requirements for vaccines needed for childcare and school attendance.

Vaccines for Children (VFC) Program
Information about the federal program that provides vaccines for eligible children who might otherwise have difficulty accessing them.

Questions?

If you are unsure which vaccines your child needs or have questions about the risks and benefits of a particular vaccine, please talk with your Canyon Pediatrics healthcare provider. We welcome questions and want families to feel informed when making healthcare decisions for their children.

Vaccine FAQ

Childhood Vaccine Executive Order - What to know?

A new federal Executive Order changes the Administration’s policy direction on childhood vaccines.

What changed federally?

The order:

  • Creates three vaccine categories: routine for all children, risk-based, and shared clinical decision-making.
  • Moves several vaccines — including Hep A, Hep B, rotavirus, meningococcal, influenza and COVID — toward risk-based/shared decision-making.
  • Calls for separate measles, mumps and rubella vaccines to become available in addition to MMR.
  • Encourages giving childhood vaccines at separate visits when feasible.

What has NOT changed yet?

  • Canyon’s vaccine workflow has not changed.
  • Arizona school vaccine requirements remain in effect.
  • Separate measles, mumps and rubella vaccines are not currently available to us.
  • We have not received VFC, AHCCCS or payer instructions requiring a change in practice.

The federal government has announced a new approach to childhood vaccine recommendations.

Some vaccines will continue to be routinely recommended for all children, while others may increasingly be recommended based on a child’s individual risk or through shared decision-making between families and healthcare providers.

However, many details still need to be implemented by federal and state health agencies.

Not at this time.

We are continuing our current vaccine practices while we review guidance from federal and Arizona health agencies, vaccine programs and insurers.

Yes. Arizona’s current school immunization requirements remain in effect.

A change in a federal recommendation does not automatically change Arizona law.

Federal vaccine recommendations and state school requirements are different things.

The federal government makes national vaccine recommendations and oversees programs such as Vaccines for Children.

Arizona determines which vaccinations are required for attendance in Arizona schools.

That means a vaccine could be handled differently under federal recommendations while still being required for school in Arizona.

Which vaccines are being handled differently?

The new federal framework places some childhood vaccines into risk-based or shared clinical decision-making categories rather than recommending them routinely for every child in the same way.

These include:

  • Hepatitis A

  • Hepatitis B

  • Rotavirus

  • Meningococcal vaccines

  • Influenza

  • COVID-19

What does “shared clinical decision-making” mean?

It means the vaccine is still an available option. Families can talk with their healthcare provider about the benefits and risks of the vaccine and whether they would like their child to receive it.

These vaccines are not being banned or taken away. If you would like your child to receive one of these vaccines, please talk with your provider.

What does “risk-based” mean?

Some vaccines may be particularly recommended for children who have certain medical conditions, exposures, travel plans, family circumstances, or other factors that increase their risk.

Your provider can help determine whether your child falls into one of these groups.

Can my child still receive these vaccines even if they are not considered high-risk?

Yes. The federal changes are about how vaccines are recommended, not about preventing families from choosing them.

Some details about insurance coverage, federal vaccine programs, and how the new recommendations will ultimately be implemented are still being clarified. We will update families as additional guidance becomes available.

No.

The Executive Order calls for separate measles, mumps and rubella vaccines to become available in addition to the combined MMR vaccine.

Separate measles, mumps and rubella vaccines are not currently available in the United States. The Executive Order directs HHS to provide additional guidance and work toward making individual products available.

For now, the combined MMR vaccine remains the available option.

The Executive Order encourages vaccines to be given at separate visits when feasible.

We have not received guidance requiring Canyon to schedule a separate visit for every vaccine, so our current scheduling procedures have not changed.

That depends on the individual vaccine, your child’s age and health, current recommendations and your family’s questions or concerns.

Our providers are happy to discuss the risks and benefits of individual vaccines with you.

Does Canyon Pediatrics accept patients whose families choose not to vaccinate?

Canyon Pediatrics welcomes families who have questions or concerns about vaccines, including families who are still deciding or who would like to discuss a modified vaccine schedule.

Our providers follow established pediatric guidance and will generally recommend the vaccines we believe are appropriate for your child based on their age, health, risk factors, and individual circumstances. We are happy to explain those recommendations, discuss benefits and risks, and work with families who want to make informed decisions over time.

Canyon is not a vaccine-neutral practice. If a family plans to routinely decline recommended preventive care and does not feel comfortable with the medical guidance our providers offer, Canyon may not be the best fit for ongoing well-child care. In our experience, the most successful long-term relationship is one in which families trust their pediatric provider’s clinical recommendations, even when there are questions or disagreements along the way.

We do not want vaccine questions to prevent a child from receiving needed care. We may still provide acute or urgent care when appropriate, and we are happy to help families discuss their concerns while they determine what type of ongoing pediatric relationship is right for them.

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