Caring for the Vaccine-Hesitant Family: Evidence-Based Alternatives to Dismissal

Abstract

accine hesitancy is a growing public health threat. Recent data suggest that only one-half of children in the US are up-to-date for all recommended vaccines by 19-35 months, and more than one-third of children are on alternative or shot-limiting vaccine schedules. 1 Measles infected 1282 Americans in 2019-the most cases since 1992and the US nearly lost its measles elimination status. 2 One in 40 kindergartners attends school with a nonmedical vaccine exemption, and many more kindergartners attend school underimmunized without plans to catch up. 3 Antivaccination groups spread doubt about vaccines through film and social media outlets. 4 From 2011 to 2017, elected officials introduced antivaccination bills into state legislatures more often than provaccination bills. 5 Even a few physicians promote nonrecommended vaccination schedules and exempt children from vaccines without medical cause. 6

Vaccine hesitancy and reported non-vaccination in an Irish pediatric outpatient population

“…Communication is based on a mutual understanding that both parents and healthcare professionals are acting in what they consider to be the best interests of the child [42] It is crucial to engage with specific concerns raised by parents about specific vaccines for their child, and recognise that having concerns is a natural, even healthy response [43].Evidencebased methods for vaccine promotion amongst parents include using a presumptive, rather than a participatory, approach to vaccine discussion, to make vaccine acceptance rather . CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license It is made available under a is the author/funder, who has granted medRxiv a license to display the preprint in perpetuity.…”

Vaccine hesitancy and non-vaccination in an Irish paediatric outpatient population

“…The provision of information about the safety of vaccines and the dangers of vaccine preventable diseases, while important, may not alone be sufficient to reduce hesitancy, change minds and increase vaccine uptake [41]. Communication is based on a mutual understanding that both parents and healthcare professionals are acting in what they consider to be the best interests of the child [42] It is crucial to engage with specific concerns raised by parents about specific vaccines for their child, and recognise that having concerns is a natural, even healthy response [43]. Evidence-based methods for vaccine promotion amongst parents include using a presumptive, rather than a participatory, approach to vaccine discussion, to make vaccine acceptance rather than refusal the default position [44].…”

Therapist disclosure to combat COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy: a narrative review

“…While some studies have found this method to be effective (e.g., Braun & O'Leary, 2020 ), other research suggest that this approach can backfire (Helps et al, 2019 ). Another frequently discussed intervention is the threat or actual dismissal of a patient or family from a provider’s practice if they do not adhere to vaccination recommendations, although this strategy also is controversial and has limited research support (Schwartz, 2013 ; Williams et al, 2020 ). Notably, much research on vaccine hesitancy is done within pediatrics, as this population has a high number of recommended vaccines.…”