IMMUNIZATION: Parents who Question Vaccines
RESPECT - COMMUNICATE -EDUCATE
Most parents believe in the benefits of immunization for their children. However, healthcare providers may encounter parents who question the need for or safety of childhood vaccines. Such parents may choose to delay or forgo immunizing their children with some or all of the recommended vaccines. To assist parents in making fully informed immunization decisions, providers should try to understand differing views of vaccine risks and benefits and be prepared to respond effectively to concerns and questions.
CONCERNS ABOUT UNIMMUNIZED CHILDREN IN MY PRACTICE
Many of the concerns that providers have about caring for unimmunized children can be addressed.
CONCERNS ABOUT LIABILITY:
Liability to a provider in case of an occurrence of a vaccine-preventable disease in an unimmunized patient can be addressed by documenting in writing all immunization discussions and parent refusals in the patient’s record.
CONCERNS ABOUT PUTTING OTHER PATIENTS AT RISK:
Doctors’ offices and clinics can manage the risks of transmission of vaccine preventable diseases in their facilities by adopting the same methods used to control other communicable diseases. Excluding patients from your practice whose parents decline immunizations is not deemed the best public health strategy.
RESOURCES TO HELP PARENTS BETTER UNDERSTAND VACCINES
There are multiple resources that can provide accurate information on vaccines to parents. They include medical organizations such as AAFP, AAP and AMA. Other organizations include:
•	CDC: Information on immunization, vaccines and the diseases they prevent.
www.cdc.gov/nip
•	Children’s Hospital – Vaccine Education Center: The Center seeks to dispel some of the common misconceptions and misinformation surrounding childhood vaccines. 
www.chop.edu/consumer/jsp/microsite.jsp?id=75918
•	Immunization Action Coalition: Provides childhood, adolescent and adult immunization information and education materials.
www.immunize.org
•	Immunization Gateway: Links to many expert immunization resources available on the internet.
www.immunofacts.com
•	Institute for Vaccine Safety: Information on vaccines currently in the media including anthrax, hepatitis B, MMR, and thimerosal.
www.vaccinesafety.edu
•	National Network for Immunization Information: Information about immunization including a guide to evaluate vaccination on the web. 
www.immunizationinfo.org
•	National Partnership for Immunization: General vaccine and vaccine safety information.
www.partnersforimmunization.org

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