Physician and parent opinions: are children becoming pincushions from immunizations?

Article Abstract:

Physicians are more concerned than parents about giving children multiple injections at a single office visit. Researchers interviewed 197 parents whose children were immunized at a medical clinic and surveyed 289 physicians to study attitudes and behaviors related to the immunization process. Sixty percent of practicing physicians and 41% of parents expressed strong concern about giving three injections at one office visit to children seven months of age or younger. Eighty percent of physicians were concerned about administering four injections to a child at one office visit. Nearly two-thirds of the parents preferred to have their child receive multiple injections at one visit if recommended by their child's physician. Child pain from multiple injections was the predominant concern for both parents and physicians.

Physicians, Medical professions, Beliefs, opinions and attitudes, Public opinion, Parents

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Is underimmunization a marker for insufficient utilization of preventive and primary care?

Article Abstract:

Children without full immunization may be missing out on all aspects of comprehensive health care. For example, complete immunization schedules include three DPT vaccines, two polio vaccines, and three Haemophilus influenza type b vaccines at 12 and 15 months of age. Researchers analyzed the level of immunization among 1,178 poor children between 12 and 30 months old. One third of the one-year-olds and 15-month-olds were underimmunized. At age 2, 61% were underimmunized. There was a direct relationship between underimmunization and the risk of screening late for anemia, tuberculosis, and lead. Furthermore, underimmunized children missed preventive care appointments and had fewer acute care office visits. Thus underimmunization served as a marker for current and later lack of adequate medical care.

Social aspects, Analysis, Preventive health services, Preventive medicine, Health behavior

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Effect of emergency department immunizations on immunization rates and subsequent primary care visits

Article Abstract:

Efforts to improve the immunization rates of children by screening children in hospital emergency departments may not be effective. Researchers assessed the benefit of using the emergency department (ED) to screen for immunization status among 1835 children attending an ED who had a primary care provider. Letters sent by the ED to primary care providers when children were suspected of being underimmunized did not raise immunization or primary care usage rates. Many parents refused to have their child immunized in the ED, especially since the ED did not have proof that the child was underimmunized.

Demographic aspects, Emergency medical services

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