American Dairy Association North East

American Dairy Association North East (ADANE) is a non-profit organization representing over 10,000 dairy farm families in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Northern Virginia and the District of Columbia.

ADANE is committed to nutrition education and research-based communications, with a long-standing history working with schools, retailers, and health professionals to help educate on the positive health benefits of consuming dairy products – like milk, yogurt and cheese.

Atlantic Health Partners

The MDAFP partners with Atlantic Health Partners to help you, our members, successfully address the financial and administrative challenges of providing immunizations to your patients.

Vaccines remain one of the most impactful tools in preventing serious and potentially fatal infectious diseases in pediatric populations. Infants and young children, whose immune systems are not yet fully developed, rely on timely immunization to build their natural defenses. Without vaccination, these patients face significant risks from diseases such as measles, whooping cough, and other vaccine-preventable illnesses.

As trusted health professionals, physicians are uniquely positioned to guide parents through critical immunization decisions for their children. Given the rise in non-medical vaccine exemptions and widespread vaccine misinformation, initiating proactive, empathetic conversations with parents is essential for safeguarding community health.

The Role of Routine Childhood Vaccines

Updated annually by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and the Centers for Disease Control and Protection (CDC), the recommended immunization schedule is designed to protect children during their most vulnerable years. Pediatric vaccines are administered early in life to help build immunity before exposure occurs.

The impact of routine childhood immunizations is measurable and significant. According to a CDC study of approximately 117 million children born between 1994–2023, routine childhood vaccinations will have prevented approximately 508 million lifetime cases of illness, 32 million hospitalizations, and 1,129,000 deaths. Nationwide, these efforts have resulted in an estimated $540 billion in direct healthcare savings and $2.7 trillion in societal cost savings.

A Provider’s Role to Educate, Engage, and Empower

While many parents follow the recommended schedule, others may have lingering questions about the vaccines offered to their children. It is essential to approach these conversations with open communication, providing factual, patient-centered education about the safety and effectiveness of vaccines.

To help providers navigate these discussions, we’ve created a guide for addressing common questions around vaccine function, safety, and immunization tracking.

How Vaccines Work

As described by the CDC, immunity is the body’s defense against disease and can be either passive or active. Passive immunity is provided by another person’s antibodies, such as those passed from a mother to her baby during pregnancy. While this offers immediate protection, it typically fades within a few months after birth. Active immunity develops when a person is exposed to a disease antigen, either through natural infection or vaccination. This type of immunity is slower to develop but lasts significantly longer.

Vaccines support the development of active immunity by introducing small, safe amounts of antigens. These antigens stimulate the immune system without causing illness. Once vaccinated, a child’s immune system is prepared to recognize and respond more effectively if exposed to the disease, significantly reducing symptom severity.

Vaccine Safety

Due to the spread of vaccine misinformation that can lead to hesitancy, it is vital to remind patients and their families that vaccines are the safest and most effective way to prevent disease. Before any vaccine is approved, it undergoes rigorous testing and multiple phases of clinical trials. Even after being licensed for public use, government agencies like the Food and Drug Association (FDA) and CDC continuously monitor safety data through systems like the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS).

While it’s important to acknowledge that mild side effects, such as low-grade fever or injection-site soreness, can occur, providers can advise parents that these reactions are typically short-lived and well-tolerated.

Staying on Track

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends vaccination against 15 potentially serious diseases by age 24 months and several additional vaccines by age 18. Physicians can emphasize the importance of staying on schedule while reassuring families that if a vaccine is missed, they’re able to catch up without restarting the entire series.

If your practice uses immunization reminder systems, offer to enroll families to help ensure timely protection. Also, clinicians can distribute the CDC’s immunization schedule as a resource for up-to-date guidance.

Strengthening Immunization Conversations

Beyond individual health outcomes, vaccine-preventable diseases can disrupt lives through school exclusions, missed work, and high medical costs. Supporting families to understand these broader implications reinforces the value of preventive care. By offering clear, compassionate guidance, providers play a vital role in guiding vaccine decisions and protecting the health of their patients.

Atlantic Health Partners is committed to supporting increased vaccination coverage by connecting practices with favorable vaccine pricing and equipping physicians with informative resources to strengthen immunization conversations.

Explore our Resource Center and become a member to unlock vaccine purchasing and procurement benefits for your practice.