#418: Is Your Child High Risk? How to Know Before the Next Vaccine Visit with Dr. Ari Calhoun

For the first time, the CDC vaccine schedule officially reflects that not every child has the same risk and that some vaccines now fall under 'shared decision making' between you and your doctor. Here's how to actually use that.

In this episode, Dr. Elana sits down with Dr. Ari Calhoun, ND to unpack the most significant shift in how the CDC frames childhood vaccination. The updated schedule now includes three categories: vaccines recommended for all children, vaccines for high-risk groups and vaccines based on shared decision making. Dr. Ari and Dr. Elana break down what those categories actually mean at a real doctor's visit, how to figure out your child's individual risk factors, which questions to bring to your pediatrician and what a pre and post vaccine support protocol can look like for families who want to minimize adverse reactions while still gaining the benefit of vaccination.

Whether you are fully on board with the CDC schedule, considering an alternative plan or somewhere in the middle, this episode gives you the language and the framework to make decisions that actually fit your child.

Topics Covered In This Episode:

• The CDC's New Vaccine Schedule Categories

• What 'Shared Decision Making' Actually Means at a Doctor's Visit

• How to Know if Your Child Is High Risk

• The Key Risk Factors: Daycare, Gut Health, Breastfeeding, and More

• Do You Have to Complete Every Dose? (And Can You Switch Brands?)

• Questions to Ask Your Pediatrician at Every Vaccine Visit

• Navigating Anxiety: When Vaccine Fear or Illness Fear Is Running the Show

• How the Inflammatory Response Works and What You Can Do About It

• How to Walk Into Your Pediatrician's Office Feeling Confident

Show Notes:

• Learn more about Dr. Ari

• Follow @dr.aricalhouh on Instagram

• Click here to learn more about Dr. Elana Roumell's Doctor Mom Membership, a membership designed for moms who want to be their child's number one health advocate!

• Click here to explore Steph Greunke, RD's Mindset and Metabolism Substack, nuanced discussions on fat loss and behavior change for women.

• Watch this episode on our Youtube channel @medschoolformoms

• Listen to today's episode on our website

Dr. Ari is a perinatal and pediatric naturopathic doctor, the owner of Wholesome Brain Medicine, a founding medical advisor for Needed, and a passionate speaker and educator. She helps parents holistically optimize their child's brain and emotional development