More Parents Refuse, Delay Child's Vaccinations
Despite Delays and Refusals, Overall Vaccination Rate Goes Up
Parents' Vaccine Beliefs
When CDC researchers probed what parents thought about vaccines, they turned up some interesting data.
When asked if they believed that vaccines are necessary to protect children:
- 96% of parents who did not delay or refuse vaccination agreed.
- 95% of parents who delayed vaccination agreed.
- 88% of parents who refused at least one vaccination but did not delay getting others agreed.
- 70% of parents who refused at least one vaccination and delayed at least one other agreed.
"Even among vaccine refusers, it's not like zero percent believe in vaccination," Rodewald says.
Some parents feel it's not necessary to vaccinate their child because so many other children are vaccinated. But this so-called "herd immunity" does not protect individual kids.
"Parents who do that are putting their child at risk and they are putting their peers and neighbors at risk as well," Rodewald says.
CDC researcher Philp J. Smith, PhD, reported the preliminary survey findings at the Pediatric Academic Societies meeting held May 1-4 in Vancouver, British Columbia.