The Doctors Who Are Shutting Down Anti-Vaxxers

Doctors Shutting Down Anti-Vaxxers

We all know how controversial vaccinations are right now—and I think you all know my stance on the issue (vaccines are not just important for your child’s health, they’re vital for the health of your friends, neighbors, and communities!), so it’s no surprise that I was wowed by some news out of California about a group of doctors taking a hard line on anti-vaxxers.

Doctors like Mike Villa Delgado (or, Dr. Mike, as he likes to be called) in Orange County’s OC Children’s Medical Group are now refusing treatment to patients who are not up to date on their vaccines. Those patients will instead receive referrals to doctors who have adopted a more “holistic” approach to medicine, and who do not have such strict requirements about vaccines.

Dr. Mike has said, “Our policy to immunization on schedule, which has been in place for the last four years for new patients, is for the protection of all of our children and patients. Parents that feel otherwise will be given other option and referrals to another practice.”

I know his stance will be seen as extreme by some, but I think it’s wonderful that a doctor, whose job it is to ensure the health and protection of his patients, is keeping those who might spread measles and other highly contagious viruses to his patients out. Surely, some might argue that the practice could hold “vaccinated” and “unvaccinated” hours like pediatricians hold “sick baby” and “well baby” hours, but since the measles virus can live on surfaces and in the air for hours on its own, there would be no way to ensure that the virus wasn’t present even if the child who was carrying it had long left the waiting room.

Personally, I’d love it if more doctors took this progressive stance, but I’m interested to hear what you think about keeping anti-vaxxers out of pediatricians’ offices. Is no vaccine, no treatment a fair policy? Would you prefer taking your child to a doctor who had a policy like Dr. Mike’s? Let’s get this conversation going!