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Sarah J. Clark
A national children's health survey conducted by C.S. Mott Children's Hospital showed that a significant number of parents choose not to vaccinate their children against influenza. The survey showed that around 40% of respondents had made their decision based on what they had read or heard about the vaccine. The researchers said that this resulted from an effect of "echo chamber" related to negative information.
In addition, one in five parents reported that their child's provider did not recommend the flu vaccine this year.
The CDC recommends that all persons 6 months of age and older be vaccinated against influenza each season and that FluMist or influenza vaccines (live attenuated influenza vaccine, AstraZeneca) be used. This year, the AAP has decided not to approve the nasal spray vaccine unless a child is otherwise vaccinated.
"Children's health care providers are a vital source of information to explain the reasons for the annual flu shot and to answer parents' questions about the safety and effectiveness of the flu shot," Sarah J. Clark, MPH, Associate researcher at the University of Michigan's School of Medicine in the Department of Pediatrics and Co-Director of the National Children's Health Survey of the C.S. Mott Children's Hospital, said in a press release. "In the absence of clear guidance from the provider, parents may be misinformed, such as the suggestion that the influenza vaccine causes the flu."
Four in ten parents reported basing their influenza vaccine decisions on what they read and heard. Those who use this main source of information are less likely to vaccinate their child than parents who follow the recommendations of their health care provider. Click to enlarge
Source: National Child Health Survey at the C.S. Mott Children's Hospital at the University of Michigan
The survey included 1,977 parents aged 18 and over randomly selected and having at least one child. About half (51%) reported that their child's provider strongly recommended vaccination, while 26% of their providers recommended vaccination most of the time. Nearly 25% of parents did not recall that their provider had made a recommendation and 2% indicated that their provider had suggested that their child not be vaccinated against influenza.
Just under half of parents (48%) said they followed the recommendations of their health care provider. If parents received a referral, they indicated that they were likely (87%) to have their child vaccinated this year.
According to the researchers, 38% of patients made their decisions based on what they had heard or read. More than half of these parents said they would not have their child vaccinated this year.
"There seems to be a room around the flu shot," Clark said. "Parents who do not choose influenza immunization for their child report hearing or reading opinions that question or oppose the vaccine. At the same time, parents who have decided that their child will be vaccinated against influenza share their opinions in favor of vaccination.
Clark and his colleagues said parents who chose not to vaccinate their child had seven times more sources of negative information about the vaccine. The most influential negative information included comments from family or close friends (45%) or other relatives (44%). Websites were also frequently cited as sources of negative information (40%), in addition to comments from their child's provider (35%), nurses or medical staff (32%) or books and magazines (32%).
In contrast, parents who planned to vaccinate their child had four times more positive sources, of which the most common comments included comments from their child's provider (67%), nursing and medical staff (59%), comments from family or close friends. (47%), other parents (42%) and books and magazines for parents (34%). About 33% of parents reported seeing influenza vaccination suggestions on the Internet.
"It's important to recognize that for some parents, child health providers are not the only influence, or even the primary influence, on influenza vaccine decisions," said Clark. "For these families, we need to explore other mechanisms to convey accurate information and allow parents to hear a more balanced view." – by Katherine Bortz
Reference:
CDC: influenza (flu). https://www.cdc.gov/flu/consumer/vaccinations.htm. Accessed November 20, 2018.
Disclosure: Infectious Diseases in Children has not been able to confirm the relevant financial information prior to publication.
Sarah J. Clark
A national children's health survey conducted by C.S. Mott Children's Hospital showed that a significant number of parents choose not to vaccinate their children against influenza. The survey showed that around 40% of respondents had made their decision based on what they had read or heard about the vaccine. The researchers said that this resulted from an effect of "echo chamber" related to negative information.
In addition, one in five parents reported that their child's provider did not recommend the flu vaccine this year.
The CDC recommends that all persons 6 months of age and older be vaccinated against influenza each season and that FluMist or influenza vaccines (live attenuated influenza vaccine, AstraZeneca) be used. This year, the AAP has decided not to approve the nasal spray vaccine unless a child is otherwise vaccinated.
"Children's health providers are a vital source of information to explain the reasons for the annual flu shot and to answer parents' questions about the safety and effectiveness of the flu shot," Sarah J. Clark, MPH, Associate researcher at the University of Michigan's School of Medicine in the Department of Pediatrics and Co-Director of the National Children's Health Survey of the C.S. Mott Children's Hospital, said in a press release. "In the absence of clear guidance from the provider, parents may be misinformed, such as the suggestion that the influenza vaccine causes the flu."
Four in ten parents reported basing their influenza vaccine decisions on what they read and heard. Those who use this main source of information are less likely to vaccinate their child than parents who follow the recommendations of their health care provider. Click to enlarge
Source: National Child Health Survey at the C.S. Mott Children's Hospital at the University of Michigan
The survey included 1,977 parents aged 18 and over randomly selected and having at least one child. About half (51%) reported that their child's provider strongly recommended vaccination, while 26% of their providers recommended vaccination most of the time. Nearly 25% of parents did not recall that their provider had made a recommendation and 2% indicated that their provider had suggested that their child not be vaccinated against influenza.
Just under half of parents (48%) said they followed the recommendations of their health care provider. If parents received a referral, they indicated that they were likely (87%) to have their child vaccinated this year.
According to the researchers, 38% of patients made their decisions based on what they had heard or read. More than half of these parents said they would not have their child vaccinated this year.
"There seems to be a room around the flu shot," Clark said. "Parents who do not choose influenza immunization for their child report hearing or reading opinions that question or oppose the vaccine. At the same time, parents who have decided that their child will be vaccinated against influenza share their opinions in favor of vaccination.
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Clark and his colleagues said parents who chose not to vaccinate their child had seven times more sources of negative information about the vaccine. The most influential negative information included comments from family or close friends (45%) or other relatives (44%). Websites were also frequently cited as sources of negative information (40%), in addition to comments from their child's provider (35%), nurses or medical staff (32%) or books and magazines (32%).
In contrast, parents who planned to vaccinate their child had four times more positive sources, of which the most common comments included comments from their child's provider (67%), nursing and medical staff (59%), comments from family or close friends. (47%), other parents (42%) and books and magazines for parents (34%). About 33% of parents reported seeing influenza vaccination suggestions on the Internet.
"It's important to recognize that for some parents, child health providers are not the only influence, or even the primary influence, on influenza vaccine decisions," said Clark. "For these families, we need to explore other mechanisms to convey accurate information and allow parents to hear a more balanced view." – by Katherine Bortz
Reference:
CDC: influenza (flu). https://www.cdc.gov/flu/consumer/vaccinations.htm. Accessed November 20, 2018.
Disclosure: Infectious Diseases in Children has not been able to confirm the relevant financial information prior to publication.
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