More Parents Refusing
To Get Kids Vaccinated
Physicians are getting bombarded with concerns from parents about
the safety of childhood immunizations.
One study found 93% of pediatricians and 60% of family physicians
said at least one parent had refused a vaccine for their child in
2003. Within this year, 69% of the physicians said that the number
of concerns from parents had increased significantly. The study also
found that pediatricians were twice as likely to admit that refusals
of the vaccines were on the rise.
The study shows 74% of physicians said they discussed the refusal
with the parent. Many of the parents who refused vaccines were asked
to sign refusal forms, and 10% of physicians asked the parent to
find another physician.
The concerns from parents are due to the increasing information
found in news stories, Internet sites and word-of-mouth reports that
warn of harmful effects.
These potential effects are linked to autism, autoimmune diseases,
compromised immunity, learning disabilities, diabetes and paralysis,
according to a study that randomly surveyed 750 pediatricians and
750 family physicians.
SOURCE: American Medical News February 9, 2004 |