Rachel Woodruff1,
Kristine Sheedy1, Debbie A. Gust
2, Glen Nowak
3, Karena F. Sapsis
3, and Beth F. Hibbs
4. (1) Vaccine Safety and Development Activity, CDC, 1600 Clifton Rd NE, MS E-61, Atlanta, GA, USA, (2) Vaccine Safety and Development Activity, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road, MS E-61, Atlanta, USA, (3) National Immunization Program, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road, NE, Mail Stop E-05, Atlanta, GA, USA, (4) National Immunization Program Vaccine Safety, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road, NE, MS E-61, Atlanta, GA, USA
KEYWORDS:
Vaccine safety, parents, beliefs, practices, risk communication
BACKGROUND:
Vaccination has been extremely successful in reducing childhood vaccine-preventable diseases. Most parents have little knowledge of these diseases, the immunization schedule is becoming increasingly complex, and news media and other sources frequently question vaccine safety. Thus, an increasing number of parents have immunization concerns.
OBJECTIVE(S):
Determine parental attitudes, concerns, and beliefs regarding childhood immunizations, sources of immunization information, and concerns regarding vaccine safety.
METHOD(S):
In July 2001 Market Facts (commissioned by Porter-Novelli) administered the annual Healthstyles survey to a representative sample of persons living in the US. Approximately 1900 parents of children 0-18 years were asked questions concerning their attitudes and behaviors regarding immunizations and their beliefs regarding sources of immunization information.
RESULT(S):
98% of parents reported that their children were up-to-date on childhood immunizations and 94% plan to obtain or continue immunizing. Although 58% of parents agreed or were uncertain about their child’s immune system being weakened from too many vaccines, 87% reported confidence in vaccine safety. 43% had no concerns about immunizations, while 35% were concerned about vaccine ingredients and 23% about too many shots in one visit. Racial and socioeconomic differences will also be presented.
CONCLUSIONS(S):
The findings support previous research suggesting that most parents believe in general vaccine safety, trust physicians and continue to rely on them for advice. Furthermore, physicians or an announcement from the CDC or professional medical societies have more influence on the decision to immunize than the media or family members and parents prefer vaccine risk information that is framed in a positive way.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Participants will be able to discuss attitudes and concerns parents have about vaccines, identify parents preferred sources and types of information regarding vaccine safety, and understand the influence of different information sources on parents decisions to vaccinate their children.
See more of Vaccine Safety Concerns and Beliefs Among Activists, Parents, and Providers
See more of The 36th National Immunization Conference
