From the Guidelines
When parents disagree about child immunization, they should first educate themselves together by consulting with their child's pediatrician to discuss vaccine benefits, risks, and the diseases they prevent, as this approach has been shown to have a positive influence on parents' decisions to vaccinate 1. This conversation should address specific concerns and misconceptions while reviewing the recommended vaccination schedule.
- Parents should listen respectfully to each other's viewpoints and try to identify the core concerns behind any hesitation.
- If disagreement persists, consider involving a neutral third party such as a family counselor or mediator who can facilitate productive discussion.
- In some cases, legal mediation may be necessary if consensus cannot be reached, particularly in divorced or separated families where custody agreements may dictate medical decision-making authority. Throughout this process, parents should prioritize their child's health and well-being, recognizing that standard immunizations are recommended by medical organizations worldwide because their benefits significantly outweigh risks, as emphasized in a study on practical approaches to optimize adolescent immunization 1. Delaying this decision can leave children vulnerable to preventable diseases, so working toward timely resolution is important for the child's health protection.
- Health care providers play a crucial role in addressing parental concerns and misconceptions about vaccines, and their efforts can significantly influence parents' decisions to vaccinate, as highlighted in a study on countering vaccine hesitancy 1.
- The use of nonstandard schedules is a common issue when encountering the vaccine-hesitant parent, and health care providers should explain that the national vaccine schedule protects children, adolescents, and adults against diseases at the youngest age at which a given vaccine’s safety and effectiveness have been shown 1.
From the FDA Drug Label
The FDA drug label does not answer the question.
From the Research
Parental Disagreement on Child Immunization
- When parents disagree on child immunization, it can be a challenging situation for healthcare providers to navigate 2.
- Studies have shown that parental concerns about vaccine safety have increased as the threat of disease has decreased, leading to a significant minority of parents refusing vaccination 3.
- Healthcare providers can play a crucial role in addressing these concerns by providing clear and accurate information about the risks and benefits of immunization, and by building trust with parents 4.
Understanding Parental Decision-Making
- Parents' understanding of immunizations and vaccine-preventable diseases can be influenced by various factors, including their level of education and income 5.
- A study found that 25% of parents believed that their child's immune system could become weakened as a result of too many immunizations, and 23% believed that children get more immunizations than are good for them 5.
- Parents who refuse immunization often cite concerns about side effects and may feel that they have made an informed decision based on an assessment of the risks and benefits 6.
Healthcare Providers' Response
- Healthcare providers should listen carefully to parents' concerns, respond honestly, and provide clear information about the risks and benefits of immunization 4.
- By considering the ethical principles of autonomy, beneficence, and non-maleficence, healthcare providers can work with parents to decide what treatment is best for the child 4.
- Providing truthful information to parents and utilizing public awareness through recent discussions in the media and on the Internet may be able to obviate many of the concerns of parents, which may be getting in the way of universal immunization 4.