Physicians
are getting bombarded with concerns from parents about the safety
of childhood immunizations.
One study found 93 percent of pediatricians and 60 percent
of family physicians said at least one parent had refused
a vaccine for their child in 2003. Within this year, 69 percent
of the physicians said that the number of concerns from parents
had increased significantly. The study also found that pediatricians
were twice as likely to admit that refusals of the vaccines
were on the rise.
The study showed 74 percent of physicians said they discussed
the refusal with the parent. Many of the parents who refused
vaccines were asked to sign refusal forms, and 10 percent
of physicians asked the parents to find another physician.
The concerns from parents are due to the increasing information
found in news stories, Internet sites and word-of-mouth reports
that warn of harmful effects. These potential effects are
linked to autism, autoimmune diseases, compromised immunity,
learning disabilities, diabetes and paralysis, according to
a study that randomly surveyed 750 pediatricians and 750 family
physicians.
American
Medical News February 9, 2004
