Here’s a simple question every parent should feel comfortable asking when they visit their doctor: “Can I see the vaccine insert?”

If your pediatrician says, “I'm so glad you asked! Let’s read it together,” hold on to them. That’s a doctor who respects informed consent.

If you are met with defensiveness, attitude, or pressure that should tell you everything you need to know.

You don’t need special access to do your own homework. You can find every FDA-licensed vaccine insert yourself:

• Look up the CDC recommended childhood schedule
• Click each vaccine listed
• Open the package insert (the official warning label)
• Go straight to Section 6.1. You will find the safety data the approval relied on

That’s where you’ll see:

1⃣ The number of children studied
2⃣ How long they were monitored
3⃣ Whether there was a placebo group
4⃣ And what they thought “safe enough” meant

Start with Recombivax HB, the hepatitis B vaccine, which has historically been given on day one of life. Read the safety section. Then ask yourself if that’s the standard you’re comfortable with.

You owe it to yourself (and to your child) to read what you’re being asked to sign off on.

@delbigtree