BACKGROUND:
Forty-eight states currently allow parents to claim immunization exemptions for their child for non-medical reasons. Children with non-medical exemptions to vaccination are at increased individual risk of contracting vaccine-preventable diseases and transmitting these infections to others.

OBJECTIVE:
Compare the attitudes and beliefs of parents who have filed or considered filing a non-medical immunization exemption with parents who have never filed or considered filing an exemption, concentrating on three issues: a) the perceived safety of immunizations; b) the perceived necessity of immunizations; and c) trust in the government and the health care system.

METHOD:
We performed a case-control study using participants in the 2004 ConsumerStyles survey. Survey respondents with children aged 4-10 were asked if they had ever filed or considered filing for a non-medical exemption to immunization to determine case/control status. A follow-up telephone interview was then conducted with a sample of respondents to assess perceived safety of immunizations, perceived necessity of immunizations, and trust in the government and the health care system.

RESULT:
Data collection is currently underway for this study. Results will be presented at the conference.

CONCLUSION:
Results from this study will be used to develop and evaluate communication interventions tailored to meet the needs of parents considering non-medical exemption to immunization.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Describe the differences in vaccine safety attitudes and beliefs of parents who have filed or considered filing a non-medical immunization exemption compared with parents who have never filed or considered filing an exemption.