Exploring The Impact Of The US Measles Outbreak On Parental Awareness Of And Support For Vaccination (original) (raw)

It's Complicated: The 2014-2015 U.S. Measles Outbreak and Parents’ Vaccination Beliefs, Confidence, and Intentions

Risk Analysis, 2018

While it seems intuitive that highly visible vaccine-preventable disease outbreaks should impact perceptions of disease risk and facilitate vaccination, few empirical studies exist to confirm or dispel these beliefs. This study investigates the impact of the 2014-2015 Disneyland measles outbreak on parents' vaccination attitudes and future vaccination intentions. The analysis relies on a pair of public opinion surveys of American parents with at least one child under the age of six (N = 1,000 across each survey). Controlling for basic demographics, we found higher levels of reported confidence in the safety and efficacy of childhood vaccinations in our follow-up data collection. However, this confidence was also accompanied by elevated levels of concern toward childhood vaccines among American parents. We then examined how different subgroups in the population scored on these measures before and after the outbreak. We found that parents with high levels of interest in the topic of vaccines and a child who is not fully upto date with the recommended vaccination schedule reported more supportive attitudes toward vaccines. However, future intentions to follow the recommended vaccination schedule were not positively impacted by the outbreak. Possible explanations for these results and implications for vaccination outreach are discussed.

Pediatricians’ vaccine attitudes and practices before and after a major measles outbreak

Journal of Child Health Care, 2018

The objective of this study was to describe how a sample of pediatricians were impacted by and responded to the Disneyland measles outbreak in the United States. We conducted three repeated cross-sectional, online surveys in 2014 (before the outbreak), 2015, and 2016 (after the outbreak) among members of three state chapters of the American Academy of Pediatrics. We assessed pediatricians’ level of willingness and length of time comfortable delaying the measles–mumps–rubella (MMR) vaccine before and after the outbreak. Frequency of alternative immunization schedule requests and creation of office immunization policies due to the outbreak were measured. The sample included 304 pediatricians in 2014, 270 in 2015, and 221 in 2016. We found no significant changes in willingness or comfort delaying the MMR vaccine before and after the outbreak. In 2015, 38% of pediatricians reported fewer requests for alternative immunization schedules and 20% created stricter office immunization policie...

Association of vaccine-related attitudes and beliefs between parents and health care providers

Vaccine, 2013

Objectives: Health care providers influence parental vaccination decisions. Over 90% of parents report receiving vaccine information from their child's health care provider. The majority of parents of vaccinated children and children exempt from school immunization requirements report their child's primary provider is a good source for vaccine information. The role of health care providers in influencing parents who refuse vaccines has not been fully explored. The objective of the study was to determine the association between vaccine-related attitudes and beliefs of health care providers and parents. Methods: We surveyed parents and primary care providers of vaccinated and unvaccinated school age children in four states in 2002-2003 and 2005. We measured key immunization beliefs including perceived risks and benefits of vaccination. Odds ratios for associations between parental and provider responses were calculated using logistic regression. Results: Surveys were completed by 1367 parents (56.1% response rate) and 551 providers (84.3% response rate). Parents with high confidence in vaccine safety were more likely to have providers with similar beliefs, however viewpoints regarding disease susceptibility and severity and vaccine efficacy were not associated. Parents whose providers believed that children get more immunizations than are good for them had 4.6 higher odds of holding that same belief compared to parents whose providers did not have that belief. Conclusions: The beliefs of children's health care providers and parents, including those regarding vaccine safety, are similar. Provider beliefs may contribute to parental decisions to accept, delay or forgo vaccinations. Parents may selectively choose providers who have similar beliefs to their own.

A qualitative investigation of vaccine risk perception amongst parents who immunize their children: a matter of public health concern

Journal of Public Health, 2003

Background Little is known about risk perception amongst parents who have their children immunized, as opposed to those who do not. Our objective was to assess their vaccine risk perception and thereby to identify strategies to prevent further deterioration in uptake. Methods An in-depth interview study was conducted with parents in two nurseries, one urban and one rural in Norfolk, together with a pilot study. All their children were fully immunized. Topics related to parents' vaccine risk perceptions. Results Certain known risk characteristics were attributable to the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine, including feeling of dread, lack of control and doubt in scientific knowledge. Furthermore, this study re-emphasizes that parents lack trust in government agencies and may have doubts in the medical profession as the 'managers' of vaccine risk. Conclusions Results highlighted an urgent need to address concerns amongst parents who immunize, to prevent them changing their practice in the face of further vaccine controversies.

Trends in Parents’ Confidence in Childhood Vaccines During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Pediatrics

INTRODUCTION The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic substantially disrupted well-child visits and vaccinations in the United States.1,2 Parent hesitancy for pediatric COVID-19 vaccines3 and widespread vaccine misinformation during the pandemic may have affected parent confidence in routine childhood vaccines. Little is known beyond two studies: one involved a convenience sample from a single medical center;4 the other evaluated adolescent vaccines only.5 Using longitudinal data from a nationally representative sample, we assessed how parents’ confidence in childhood vaccines changed during the pandemic.

Childhood Vaccine Attitudes and Information Sources Among Oregon Parents and Guardians

Health Promotion Practice, 2018

We sought to examine parent vaccine information sources and to understand vaccine beliefs and concerns of a representative sample of Oregon parents from an area where low vaccination levels occur. We hoped to understand how these beliefs affect pediatric vaccine uptake and to inform efforts to shift vaccinehesitant habits toward a norm of full vaccination. Oregon still permits nonmedical exemptions. We passively recruited parents of children ages 0 to 13 years, then divided them into focus groups by stancewhether vaccine-accepting or-hesitant. Because of recruitment challenges, we supplemented focus group data from 33 participants with six individual parent interviews. In focus groups and interviews, we probed for vaccine information sources perceived as credible as well as perceptions about vaccines and their utility, benefit, and safety, using constructs of the health belief model. The information sources included medical providers, family, and peers or social networks. We found that vaccine beliefs are not dichotomous but fall along a continuum from full acceptance to full opposition. Most parents who participated inclined toward flexible vaccination scheduling. Another new finding was that most participants, regardless of vaccine stance, acknowledged the tension between social responsibility and individual choice regarding vaccination; vaccineaccepters supported social responsibility and vaccinehesitant participants stressed individual choice. In addition, parents across the spectrum expressed skepticism about the reliability of social media.

Immunization Attitudes and Beliefs Among Parents: Beyond a Dichotomous Perspective

American Journal of Health Behavior, 2005

To better understand differences among parents in their attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors regarding childhood immunizations and health-related issues. Methods: Forty-four survey variables assessing attitudes and beliefs about immunizations and health were analyzed. The K-means clusters technique was used to identify homogeneous groups of parents based upon their responses to the questions. Results: Five clusters were identified: Immunization Advocates (33.0%), Go Along to Get Alongs (26.4%), Health Advocates (24.8%), Fencesitters (13.2%), and Worrieds (2.6%). Conclusions: Although only a small percentage of parents are seriously concerned, other parents who are generally supportive of immunizations for their child are also affected by immunization safety issues.

Parents’ vaccination comprehension and decisions

Vaccine, 2008

We report on 30 in-depth mental models interviews with parents discussing vaccination for their children, both in general terms and in response to communications drawn from sources supporting and opposing vaccines. We found that even parents favourable to vaccination can be confused by the ongoing debate, leading them to question their choices. Many parents lack basic knowledge of how vaccines work, and do not find the standard information provided to them to be particularly helpful in explaining it. Those with the greatest need to know about vaccination seem most vulnerable to confusing information. Opportunities for education may be missed if paediatricians do not appreciate parents' specific information needs.

Addressing Parental Vaccine Hesitancy towards Childhood Vaccines in the United States: A Systematic Literature Review of Communication Interventions and Strategies

Vaccines

Parental vaccine hesitancy is becoming an increasingly important public health concern in the United States. In March 2020, an assessment of the latest CDC National Immunization Survey data found that more than one-third of U.S. children between the ages of 19 and 35 months were not following the recommended early childhood immunization schedule. Furthermore, a 2019 national survey found that approximately 1 in 4 parents reported serious concerns towards vaccinating their children. Vaccine hesitancy is now associated with a decrease in vaccine coverage and an increase in vaccine-preventable disease outbreaks and epidemics in the United States. Many studies have focused on understanding and defining the new socio-medical term, vaccine hesitancy; few have attempted to summarize past and current health communication interventions and strategies that have been successful or unsuccessful in tackling this growing phenomenon. This systematic literature review will attempt to aid public hea...