The simple truth is parents and pediatricians want children to grow up healthy and reach their full potential. In recent days, the Secretary of Health, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., made the dangerous and unscientific decision to decrease the recommended number of vaccines given to children. This risky effort to challenge years of vaccine safety information should not be a surprise to those who know RFK Jr. as a well known anti-vaccine activist for many years . Even so, we at Silver Spring Pediatrics are shocked, angered, upset, and deeply disappointed that the federal government is allowing this attack on a scientifically sound, well-studied, public health intervention that has saved countless lives and prevented hospitalizations and illness in children and adolescents.  Some uninformed individuals have even suggested restructuring the U.S. vaccine schedule to mirror that of Denmark.  However, the United States cannot be directly compared to other countries with respect to vaccine schedules or health care systems because of important differences in population size, demographics, and health system structure. This suggestion neglects critical details that will endanger children in the United States. The physicians at Silver Spring Pediatrics consider vaccines vital to our mission to care for and protect your children. SSP will continue to practice, promote, and rely on evidence-based, scientifically proven health practices to protect all children. SSP will continue to recommend and provide all routinely indicated vaccines, aligning with the American Academy of Pediatrics vaccine schedule as the best way to keep children healthy. SSP will continue to advocate for broad, universal access to immunization, protecting your children and others in the community, including those who are immunocompromised and more susceptible to severe illness. Please review the following link to the American Academy of Pediatrics webpage about vaccines. This resource provides schedules, explanations regarding vaccine science, addresses concerns about vaccine safety, and has a video explaining why the AAP schedule does not match the CDC schedule. AAP Recommended Immunization Schedule AAP Childhood Immunization Schedule 0-6 yrs on YouTube Misinformation could lead to uncertainty - but you have us! Please schedule a consult visit if you have questions or concerns specific to your child(ren). To reiterate, we are unwavering in our dedication to our patients and families. A core pillar of this dedication is our commitment to vaccination against all preventable illnesses. Vaccines are among history’s greatest medical triumphs.

Dear SSP Families, We are pleased to offer a new option for our families: Winter Walk-In Sick Visits  for quick evaluation of simple illnesses beginning December 8th. Who Is Eligible? Established patients only (seen in the last 24 months) Vaccinated infants and children over 6 months of age Sign in between 8am - 8:15 am What Types of Concerns Are Appropriate? Walk-in visits are designed for straightforward, short-term health concerns , including: Sore throat Earache Cough Fever Rash Other simple illnesses that have begun within the last 72 hours When Should I Schedule a Regular Sick Appointment Instead? Children with symptoms lasting longer than 3 days, ongoing illnesses, or those with a complex medical history, need a more thorough evaluation than a quick walk-in visit can provide. Examples of concerns better served by a scheduled appointment include: Asthma or wheezing or difficulty breathing Constipation Headache, concussion, or head trauma Chronic or recurring symptoms Any condition requiring extended assessment or treatment How Do Walk-In Visits Work? Simply show up, no phone calls required Patients are seen on a first-come, first-served basis There may be a wait; wait will depend on volume Physicians vary by day, and we are not able to accommodate specific doctor requests Sign-in must be completed by 8:15 AM Families arriving after this time will be offered the next available appointment We suggest arriving at 8 am. There is no grace period for walk in clinic. Other important information Starting December 8th, end date to be determined Concerns that do not meet the appropriate criteria will be asked to schedule an appt. We do not offer same day well visits, medication management, or sports physicals We request that our families sign up for the patient portal for improved communication and follow-up

Dear SSP Families, We want to share important information in response to the CDC’s webpage promoting discredited concerns on Vaccines and Autism. We know this may feel confusing or unsettling, and it’s our priority to support you with clarity, compassion, and trusted medical guidance. Below, we will explore what experts are saying, and how we’re approaching this at our practice. Some individuals wrongly assert there is a link between vaccines and autism. Before the claim was discredited, researchers took it seriously , investigated it thoroughly , and found no link . This re search, in many countries, involving thousands of individuals, has spanned multiple decades. Any effort to misrepresent sound, strong science poses a threat to the health of children and does a disservice to our autistic community. - Fact Checked The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), led by its president, Dr. Susan Kressly, publicly criticized the spread of misinformation, stating “The conclusion is clear and unambiguous: There’s no link between vaccines and autism.” SSP WANTS YOU TO KNOW THIS: Vaccines are among our greatest medical successes. They're safe and effective. Serious diseases that once caused widespread illness and lifelong health issues are now rare. There are risks associated with not vaccinating children. Since 1998, independent researchers across seven countries  have conducted more than 40 high-quality studies , involving over 5.6 million people , all of which found no connection  between vaccines and autism. - American Academy of Pediatrics If you see something online that concerns you, or if you have new questions, please use our website links, contact us on the patient portal, or schedule a consultation. Your doctors at SSP continue to lean on our trusted resources, primarily the American Academy of Pediatric (AAP) for information. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is not a government agency ; it is a non-profit, professional medical association for pediatricians and other child health specialists dedicated to promoting the health and well-being of children and adolescents.  The AAP is funded by membership dues, publications, grants, and other sources, not by taxes or government appropriations. The AAP engages in advocacy by working with federal and state governments to influence child health policies, but it is not a part of the government itself. Until June 2025, the AAP served as a liaison to the  Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) of the CDC . Please note, The AAP's news release regarding the current vaccine schedule as it "differs from recent recommendations of the ACIP, which was overhauled this year...". LINK HERE

We are hosting our annual Drive-Up Flu Clinic on Sunday, November 2nd by appointment only. Please call the office to reserve your child(ren)'s time slot AND read the important information below to prepare for the visit - Review the Vaccine Information Sheet (VIS) before the appointment. Enter the parking lot from BOURNEFIELD WAY to keep the flow of traffic in one direction. Please do not enter from Broadbirch Drive. Make sure your child(ren) are dressed appropriately for easy access to the injection site. Upper legs for those under 4 years old and upper arms for those over 4 years old. Only children 6 months and older can receive flu vaccine Everyone should remain buckled up. If your child is unwell, please cancel the appointment. Quick Facts: This is by appointment only. We recommend everyone 6 months and older get vaccinated every flu season. Children 6 months through 8 years of age may need 2 doses during a single flu season if this is their FIRST flu vaccine series ever. Everyone else needs only 1 dose each flu season. We will not have COVID-19 vaccines available during this clinic. THIS IS FOR FLU VACCINATION ONLY. Yes, you can get the Flu vaccine and the COVID-19 vaccine within the same timeframe. People with egg allergies can receive any licensed, recommended age-appropriate influenza vaccine. However, for those with a severe egg allergy, we recommend calling our office or your Allergist for a personalized plan. Please do not attend the Drive-Up Clinic. If your child is within 10 days of a COVID diagnosis or a positive test, please reschedule.

Hey SSP Families!! We have a lot of information to share in this post. Put those littles to bed and read on. This is a very helpful post regarding 3 important ways to protect your children, our amazing patients. In addition, we provide links to common questions and concerns about these viral illnesses. Flu Vaccine We are offering flu vaccine in our office AND during our 2025 drive-up flu clinics . Yes, children can get Flu vaccine within hours or days of the COVID vaccine No, we are not offering the COVID vaccine at our drive-up clinics at this time. Please get your children vaccinated where/when you can - schools, pharmacies, urgent cares are all great options if it is more convenient for you. Here are helpful links about Flu Flu: What Parents Need to Know if your child is sick. Your Flu VACCINE questions answered by the AAP RSV Antibody (known as RSV vaccine) RSV Antibody is not considered a vaccine because it does not depend on an infant's immune system for a response to provide protection. Unlike true vaccines, the antibody is provided, leading to almost immediate protection. Here are a few fast facts At risk children are given 1 dose per RSV season - AFTER October 1st It is only provided to two categories of infants and toddlers: All infants under 8 months old Children  8 - 19 months old WITH HIGH RISK CONDITIONS Click here to read more. We plan to provide it to our infants at their well visits. We will keep you updated on our RSV vaccine availability during your infants office visits and on our website and Facebook page. If you got RSV vaccine while pregnant, we will guide you at your newborn visits. RSV vaccine in pregnancy COVID vaccine Information from the AAP SSP is prioritizing the vaccination of our youngest patients because we understand that there are not many options in our community - WILL SEND INFORMATION WHEN WE HAVE IT AVAILBLE We will add details here when we have COVID VACCINES available Children should complete the " primary series " with the current 2024-25 vaccine, if available. Previously vaccinated children should get the booster dose with the 2025-2026 vaccine. Children who recently had COVID can delay COVID vaccine by up to 3 months. See below for where to vaccinate children 5 years and older. Please bring their COVID vaccine records to each appointment, if possible. Read this Vaccine Info Sheet from 2024-2025 for now Please utilize the portal for questions of this nature instead of calling the office. This keeps the phone lines available to families with sick children. These places may have COVID vaccines for children in 2025 Padek Pharmacy (two locations) Demmy's Pharmacy College Park Morgan's Care Pharmacy (DC) has Moderna 6 months+ Grubbs Pharmacy in DC (coming soon) Caplet Pharmacy (3 yrs +) Xpress Pediatrics  in Kensington/Wheaton 4. Other Guidance for Sick Children RSV, Flu, & COVID : How are they different Symptom Checker Tool : A great resource when you need it 5. Same-Day Sick Visit: May become limited at the height of illness. Here is how you can help your SSP community (patients and staff): Please arrive on time for your visit and be patient with us. We strive for quality care. Cancel any appt that you can not keep ASAP. Trust us, someone wants it. Get your child(ren) vaccinated. Keep mildly ill children at home and support them if you feel comfortable. We typically reserve testing for children who are moderately ill, it will change the treatment plan, or for children under 6 months old. RSV testing, in particular, is reserved for our youngest patients.

Hi SSP Families, Thank you for your patience while we collected as much information as possible and reevaluated resources. Recent developments suggest that obtaining COVID-19 vaccines might become difficult, and obstacles to access may rise. We will keep our News Blog section updated as we gather more information regarding access - expect an update after a CDC September18th and19th meetings. Quick facts: At this time, Maryland does not require prescriptions (DC and Virginia will) We do no have the vaccine available in our office at this time Moderna has been approved for infants/children 6 months and up Pfizer has been approved for children 5 years and up COVID-19: who SHOULD and who CAN Recommend complete series for all children ages 6 through 23 months Recommend 1 dose for high risk children 2-18 years at high risk for serious infection or who have never been vaccinated or live with a high risk person. And Should be available to anyone COVID-19: What You Need To Know Your doctors at SSP continue to lean on our trusted resources, primarily the American Academy of Pediatric (AAP) for information. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is not a government agency ; it is a non-profit, professional medical association for pediatricians and other child health specialists dedicated to promoting the health and well-being of children and adolescents. The AAP is funded by membership dues, publications, grants, and other sources, not by taxes or government appropriations.  The AAP engages in advocacy by working with federal and state governments to influence child health policies, but it is not a part of the government itself. Until June 2025, the AAP served as a liaison to the  Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) of the CDC . Please note, The AAP's news release regarding the current vaccine schedule as it "differs from recent recommendations of the ACIP, which was overhauled this year...". The schedule published Aug. 19 includes updated recommendations for RSV, influenza, and COVID-19 immunizations for pediatric populations. Vaccines PAGE 2 COVID Vaccine PAGE 5

WHAT IS MEASLES? Measles is a viral infection that spreads in the air from an infected person. It causes cough, congestion, conjunctivitis, fever, and rash in most people. Many children will get an ear infection, diarrhea, and pneumonia. IS IT SERIOUS? Yes, it is. About 1 in 5 people who are unvaccinated and get measles will be hospitalized. Some individuals will get encephalitis (brain inflammation) and have developmental delays. Even "mild" measles infections can cause prolonged complications and immune system changes. HOW CONTAGIOUS IS MEASLES? WHY? It is highly contagious because the virus spreads easily through the air when an infected person breathes, coughs, or sneezes . The virus can remain infectious in the air or on surfaces for up to two hours. 9 out of 10 who are not vaccinated are at risk of becoming infected if they are exposed. People may not show symptoms for up to 7 days after exposure yet they are contagious to others. MEASLES VACCINE AND PROTECTION: Children typically receive two doses of the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccinations Dose #1 at 12 months old and Dose #2 at 4 years old. The MMR vaccine is highly effective, one dose is about 93% effective and two doses are 97% protective. For most people, two doses of measles vaccination will provide lifelong immunity. Breakthrough cases are very rare and typically milder in vaccinated individuals. WHAT ABOUT EARLY MEASLES VACCINATION? We are NOT  making this general recommendation at this time in Maryland. Maryland measles vaccination rates are high. Newborns/Infants 0-6 months old receive some protection from measles through antibodies passed from their mothers during pregnancy Families with infants 6 months-11 months can consult with us about early vaccination if you are traveling internationally or to an area of the U.S. experiencing higher measles infection rates . We may give the 2nd dose of MMR early if traveling internationally SHOULD ANYONE GET BLOOD WORK TO PROVE ONGOING IMMUNITY? We do not recommending blood test to ensure immunity in previously vaccinated persons. Your child's vaccine record is available to you in the portal. Parents, if you are unsure of your own vaccine status, please talk to your trusted provider. WHY IS MEASLES IN THE U.S. NEWS ? Measles was declared eliminated from the United States in 2000 and cases remained low and isolated until 2014. Measles remained common in many parts of the world and this places the U.S. at ri sk of outbreaks in unvaccinated populations. There have been periodic outbreaks within the United Sates since 2019 in areas of the U.S. due to low vaccination rates, aka areas with decreased "herd immunity". Herd immunity means that enough people have achieved protection against the infection, making it very difficulty for the infection to spread widely in that community or region. As of late, outbreaks have been identified in New Mexico, Texas, and Oklahoma; some of which have sadly led to hospitalizations and one death. MARYLAND & MEASLES FACTS Maryland currently has measles vaccination rates of about 96% which makes an outbreak less likely. Sporadic cases could rise due to travel and decreasing vaccination rates in the U.S. According to the Maryland Health Department, there have been three cases connected to international travel at Washington Dulles Airport, none of the three cases were connected to the outbreaks identified in the U.S. For reference, there was one case of measles in Maryland in 2024, one case in 2023, and no cases from 2020-2022 . We are all recommending that all eligible children and adults get vaccinated. A vaccination rate of 95% or more will disrupt broad spread of measles. LAST THOUGHTS This is a vaccine preventable illness. The MMR vaccine was developed in 1971 and is safe. The c urrent vaccines are well-tolerated and have an excellent safety record .  Our office has a vaccine policy and we discourage any deferral of vaccines. We are here to support you. Do not let a google search count as doing "research". We all have algorithms and biases that limit our exposure to sound information. Your child's wellbeing could be impacted by "confirmation bia s" , a the tendency to search for, interpret, favor, and recall information in a way that confirms or supports one's prior beliefs or values. Please ask us questions - we are happy to set up a consultation. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9939709/ https://www.chop.edu/vaccine-education-center/vaccine-safety https://www.chop.edu/vaccine-education-center Infographic credit - Nantucket Hospital

Say "Goodbye" to filling out paperwork in the waiting room and "Hello" to mobile check-in. We have invested in technology from Phreesia that will allow you to spend your time at our office connecting with your health care team and not in our waiting room. YAY!!!!! Please look for an email/text message a few days before your scheduled appointment from Phreesia. NO apps or Downloads necessary and the mobile registration is available in 20 different languages. BEFORE YOUR CHILD'S APPOINTMENT You will confirm your appointment via text message or email. Complete paperwork online prior to your visit. Have access to (and complete) improved pediatric screening questionnaires. ON THE DAY OF YOUR CHILD'S APPOINTMENT You will also check in on your own device when you arrive. You will provide payment through an encrypted secure platform. FAQs What should I look for in my text messages when I receive the Pre-Visit message? A text will come from a 1-844 number that reads "(Child's Name), welcome to Silver Spring Pediatrics!... Click the link to complete registration. What should I look for in my inbox when I receive the Pre-Visit email? An email will come from noreply@phreesia.com with the subject: “Check-in online for your upcoming appointment.” DO NOT FRET! The initial registration takes a little longer, but future check-ins will be much quicker I am having difficulty what should I do? Please ensure with the practice that your child's date of birth on file and phone number matches what you are trying to enter. If you called the office to have a new number added or make a correction, we will also need to resend you a NEW registration link. I am concerned about adding sensitive information online. Phreesia provides industry-leading privacy and security for our patients' data. This information is held to the same standards as the leading healthcare systems in the country. For more information, please click www.phreesia.com/patient-privacy.