Disclaimer: This podcast does not provide medical advice. The information on this podcast is for informational purposes only. No material on this site is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. 

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Being a new parent has a lot of unknowns and a lot of misinformation, especially in this era of social media. We all want the best for our children, and all of this information we receive and decisions we have to make can be very overwhelming and even evoke a lot of fear. It’s so important to ask the hard questions, and find medical professionals that you trust and who are reputable.

An example of one of the big questions parents have is, “Should I follow a vaccination plan for my newborn?” Rebekah Diamond is on the podcast today to discuss her role as a pediatrician and how she helps parents figure out their medical plan and give them steps to take when it comes to raising a healthy child. We also discuss the best way to gather information online, the anti-vaccination movement, and how the wellness industry can be predatory to moms and promote false hope.

Dr. Rebekah Diamond is a hospital pediatrician in New York City and an assistant professor of pediatrics at Columbia University. She is the author of the book “Parent Like a Pediatrician.” Follow her on Instagram @parentlikeapediatrician.

In this episode we discuss:

• The decision paralysis that we often experience as parents.
• The inspiration behind “Parent Like a Pediatrician” and how it helps parents when it comes to vaccinations.
• How to gather information online in a way that is helpful instead of harmful.
• Why some families are scared to vaccinate their children and the psychology behind it.
• The history of the anti-vaccination movement and how it parallels today’s anti-vaxxers. 
• The wellness industry and how it’s not actually promoting preventive health or holistic medicine. 
• A clear explanation of what HPV vaccine is specifically used for.

Resources:

• Educated: A Memoir, by Tara Westover
• The Anti-vaccination Movement: A Regression in Modern Medicine
• Kids’ covid vaccines are on the way. Parents, don’t let anti-vax propaganda fool you.
• I Had Early Access To The COVID Vaccine As A Doctor, But I Chose To Get It As A Mother
• A Coronavirus Vaccine Won’t Work if People Don’t Take It

Connect with Dr. Rebekah Diamond:

• Instagram: @parentlikeapediatrician
• Website
• Book: Parent Like a Pediatrician 

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Questions:

1. What do you think of the Covid-19 vaccine era and people vaccinating their children?
2. How do you navigate misinformation online as a parent?
3. How important is it to follow, or not follow, a pediatric vaccination schedule?
4. How can we separate people who have legitimate questions about vaccinations vs. the groups who have an agenda?
5. What is disinformation? 
6. What is the first step to start getting on a vaccination schedule?
7. How old is too old to get the HPV vaccine, and what is the actual purpose of it?