Coordinating a Community Parent Forum to Address Vaccine Safety Concerns

Background:
Recent media attention has focused on increasing public concerns about vaccine safety and the fear that vaccines are linked to autism. Celebrities and others have used emotional rather than scientific-based arguments against routinely recommended immunizations and promoted misinformation about vaccines. In the spring of 2008, San Diego County experienced a measles outbreak that originated in a school with a higher than average number of under-immunized children. This prompted members of the San Diego Immunization Coalition to sponsor a forum that would allow parents to hear from medical and health professionals on vaccine safety and autism.

Setting:
Community agency (YMCA) in San Diego, California.

Population:
Residents of San Diego County coastal suburbs where several schools show higher than average rates of exemptions from school immunization requirements.

Project Description:
A panel of experts, including a pediatric infectious disease specialist, an autism researcher, a pediatrician from a local practice, and parents of children affected by under-vaccinators, was assembled to address how vaccines work, the rationale for the current ACIP recommended immunization schedule, and current research on autism with an emphasis on the myth linking vaccines to autism. A post event survey was sent out to the attendees.

Results/Lessons Learned:
Over 40 residents participated in the event and the information shared was well received. Speakers invited questions from the audience and were prepared to respond to challenges about vaccine safety. Questions asked indicated a high level of misinformation about vaccines but also a high level of interest in hearing detailed and technical information. There is a need to plan similar activities that proactively counter popular media stories with vaccine facts. Post event survey's confirmed an interest in this type of community learning opportunity.