More parents using alternative immunization schedules

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More parents using alternative immunization schedules

Dempsey AF.

Pediatrics. 2011;doi:10.1542/peds.2011-0400.

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More than one in 10 parents of young children currently use a schedule

for routine immunizations that is not endorsed by the American Academy of

Pediatrics or Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, according to

a study published online this week.

A study by F. Dempsey, MD, and colleagues reported that

increasing numbers of parents are following a schedule that is leaving

their children at risk for

vaccine-preventable diseases. In addition, those parents who are

currently following the recommended schedule appear “at risk for

switching to an alternative schedule,” the researchers concluded.

The cross-sectional, Internet-based survey included a nationally

representative sample of parents of children aged 6 months to 6 years.

Bivariate and multivariate analyses identified associations between

demographic and attitudinal factors and alternative vaccination schedule

use, according to the study results.

The response rate was 61% (n=748), and only 17%

reported refusing all vaccines. Of the 13% of parents who

reported following an alternative vaccination schedule, 53% refused only

certain vaccines and/or delayed some vaccines until the child was older

(55%).

About 30% of parents following an alternative schedule reported having

initially followed the recommended vaccination schedule initially.

Among parents following the recommended vaccination schedule, 28% thought

that delaying vaccine doses was safer than the schedule they used, and

22% disagreed that the best vaccination schedule to follow was the one

recommended by vaccination experts.

Factors significantly associated with likelihood of using an alternative

schedule included nonblack race and the absence of a regular health care

provider for the child.

“The results of this study highlight the need to develop interventions

quickly to quell the apparently growing concerns among parents about the

safety and necessity of recommended childhood vaccines,” the study

researchers concluded.

Disclosure: Dr. Dempsey receives compensation for service on an

advisory board for Merck related to male human papillomavirus

vaccination. The company had no input into the design, implementation,

analysis or presentation of the results of this study, and Dr. Dempsey

receives no research support from Merck.

W.

Kimberlin

Researchers from the University of Michigan have conducted a large

Internet-based survey of parents across the country to assess if and how

they embrace alternative schedules in vaccinating their children. Over

10% of respondents reported following an alternative schedule, and most

of these realized that doing so put their child and others at risk of

acquiring the infections that the vaccines prevent. This paradox may

provide an opportunity to prevent deaths from vaccine-preventable

diseases, in that at least there is common ground in understanding that

there are definite risks involved in delaying immunizations.

Another important aspect of this report is the role that the pediatrician

plays in the non-standard administration of vaccines. Of the parents who

utilize alternative schedules, only 10% use those promoted by authors

selling books on the subject. Instead, most use schedules that they or

their friends put together, and only 8% indicated that they had to change

providers because their child's doctor refused to go along with their

vaccination preferences - meaning that the majority of these families'

pediatricians agreed to administer the schedule in a manner other than

recommended by the CDC and AAP.

This raises the obvious question of what would have happened if they had

not agreed to do this. Some families would have shopped around for

another medical provider, but I bet that most would have been influenced

by a passionate endorsement of the current vaccine schedule by their

pediatricians. Studies have consistently shown that most parents trust

their pediatrician to provide the most accurate information about

protecting their child's health.

When parents ask about what they should do or suggest an alternative

schedule, we should say that vaccines save lives, that we have protected

our own children against these diseases, and that we would want nothing

less than the same for their children. In this global world, all

vaccine-preventable diseases, except smallpox, are only 18 hours away by

plane, and imported Hib bacteria would love to meet a 3-month-old child

whose parents chose to delay initiation of immunizations.

W. Kimberlin, MD

Infectious Diseases in Children Editorial Board member

Disclosure: Dr. Kimberlin reports no relevant financial

disclosures.

Sheri Nakken, former R.N., MA, Hahnemannian

Homeopath

Vaccination Information & Choice Network, Washington State, USA

Vaccines -

http://vaccinationdangers.wordpress.com/ Homeopathy

http://homeopathycures.wordpress.com

Vaccine Dangers, Childhood Disease Classes & Homeopathy

Online/email courses - next classes start October 14

[Guest guest]

http://www.pediatricsupersite.com/view.aspx?rid=88202

More parents using alternative immunization schedules

Dempsey AF.

Pediatrics. 2011;doi:10.1542/peds.2011-0400.

Submit a Comment

Email

Print

More than one in 10 parents of young children currently use a schedule

for routine immunizations that is not endorsed by the American Academy of

Pediatrics or Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, according to

a study published online this week.

A study by F. Dempsey, MD, and colleagues reported that

increasing numbers of parents are following a schedule that is leaving

their children at risk for

vaccine-preventable diseases. In addition, those parents who are

currently following the recommended schedule appear “at risk for

switching to an alternative schedule,” the researchers concluded.

The cross-sectional, Internet-based survey included a nationally

representative sample of parents of children aged 6 months to 6 years.

Bivariate and multivariate analyses identified associations between

demographic and attitudinal factors and alternative vaccination schedule

use, according to the study results.

The response rate was 61% (n=748), and only 17%

reported refusing all vaccines. Of the 13% of parents who

reported following an alternative vaccination schedule, 53% refused only

certain vaccines and/or delayed some vaccines until the child was older

(55%).

About 30% of parents following an alternative schedule reported having

initially followed the recommended vaccination schedule initially.

Among parents following the recommended vaccination schedule, 28% thought

that delaying vaccine doses was safer than the schedule they used, and

22% disagreed that the best vaccination schedule to follow was the one

recommended by vaccination experts.

Factors significantly associated with likelihood of using an alternative

schedule included nonblack race and the absence of a regular health care

provider for the child.

“The results of this study highlight the need to develop interventions

quickly to quell the apparently growing concerns among parents about the

safety and necessity of recommended childhood vaccines,” the study

researchers concluded.

Disclosure: Dr. Dempsey receives compensation for service on an

advisory board for Merck related to male human papillomavirus

vaccination. The company had no input into the design, implementation,

analysis or presentation of the results of this study, and Dr. Dempsey

receives no research support from Merck.

W.

Kimberlin

Researchers from the University of Michigan have conducted a large

Internet-based survey of parents across the country to assess if and how

they embrace alternative schedules in vaccinating their children. Over

10% of respondents reported following an alternative schedule, and most

of these realized that doing so put their child and others at risk of

acquiring the infections that the vaccines prevent. This paradox may

provide an opportunity to prevent deaths from vaccine-preventable

diseases, in that at least there is common ground in understanding that

there are definite risks involved in delaying immunizations.

Another important aspect of this report is the role that the pediatrician

plays in the non-standard administration of vaccines. Of the parents who

utilize alternative schedules, only 10% use those promoted by authors

selling books on the subject. Instead, most use schedules that they or

their friends put together, and only 8% indicated that they had to change

providers because their child's doctor refused to go along with their

vaccination preferences - meaning that the majority of these families'

pediatricians agreed to administer the schedule in a manner other than

recommended by the CDC and AAP.

This raises the obvious question of what would have happened if they had

not agreed to do this. Some families would have shopped around for

another medical provider, but I bet that most would have been influenced

by a passionate endorsement of the current vaccine schedule by their

pediatricians. Studies have consistently shown that most parents trust

their pediatrician to provide the most accurate information about

protecting their child's health.

When parents ask about what they should do or suggest an alternative

schedule, we should say that vaccines save lives, that we have protected

our own children against these diseases, and that we would want nothing

less than the same for their children. In this global world, all

vaccine-preventable diseases, except smallpox, are only 18 hours away by

plane, and imported Hib bacteria would love to meet a 3-month-old child

whose parents chose to delay initiation of immunizations.

W. Kimberlin, MD

Infectious Diseases in Children Editorial Board member

Disclosure: Dr. Kimberlin reports no relevant financial

disclosures.

Sheri Nakken, former R.N., MA, Hahnemannian

Homeopath

Vaccination Information & Choice Network, Washington State, USA

Vaccines -

http://vaccinationdangers.wordpress.com/ Homeopathy

http://homeopathycures.wordpress.com

Vaccine Dangers, Childhood Disease Classes & Homeopathy

Online/email courses - next classes start October 14