This is one in an occasional series about children’s health issues. We know that many of our readers are grandparents keenly interested in the health and well-being of grandchildren. We hope this series will provide useful health information you can share with your family.
In spite of the overwhelming evidence of the effectiveness and safety of vaccines administered according to a specific schedule, a recent study revealed that 93 percent of doctors have been asked by parents to postpone vaccinations, and that most of them reluctantly comply.
This is thanks in part to non-experts like ex-Playboy playmate Jenny McCarthy pronouncing, to a large and gullible audience, that certain vaccinations (specifically MMR—measles, mumps, and rubella) can cause autism.
Maggie Creelman, Community Wellness Manager for Vero Beach’s Visiting Nurse Association (VNA) says that celebrities like McCarthy have caused unnecessary confusion and distress among parents and grandparents.
A look at the facts:
Vaccines are why we rarely hear about many potentially fatal childhood diseases. Measles, meningitis, diphtheria, polio, and tetanus (among other diseases) have all been virtually eradicated due to vaccines.
There’s a price to pay for natural immunity. A natural infection often provides more complete immunity than a series of vaccinations, but the infection could lead to serious complications. For instance, a natural polio infection could cause permanent paralysis.
Sorry, Jenny McCarthy; vaccines don’t cause autism. The 1998 study that started the debate about the link between the MMR vaccine and autism has been discredited and retracted. Subsequent research has found no connection.
Vaccines are much safer than the diseases they prevent. Any side effect is understandably a concern to parents and grandparents, but most vaccine side effects are minor – typically soreness, redness, or swelling at the injection site or a low-grade fever. If the child has a known allergy to specific vaccine components, that vaccine will not be given.
The suggested immunization schedule exists for a reason. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) say that there are 14 vaccinations children should receive between birth and 6 years. Certain vaccines need to be administered at specific ages in order to boost their effectiveness.
Dr. Allison Kempe, professor of pediatrics at University of Colorado and Children’s Hospital Colorado, is the lead author of the study about parental pressure on doctors. She says, “Doctors are feeling really conflicted because they overwhelmingly think this is the wrong thing to do, and is putting children at risk, but at the same time, they want to build trust with their patients and meet people halfway.”
The study findings were published in the journal Pediatrics. The members of the research team say their findings raise concerns, noting that delaying or spreading out childhood vaccines increases rates of under-vaccination, putting children and other vulnerable populations, such as the elderly, at increased risk of contracting diseases that are highly preventable.
A survey was sent to a nationally representative sample of pediatricians and family doctors, with 534 responding. The majority of healthcare providers either “often/always” or “sometimes” agreed to alter vaccination schedules, despite 87 percent of the doctors saying they believed such requests were putting children at risk of preventable diseases and 84 percent saying they believed bringing children back for separate injections caused them more pain.
According to the doctors who responded, reasons parents gave for requesting a delay in vaccinations included concerns about complications (both short- and long-term), concerns that vaccines may increase the risk of their child developing autism, and the belief that their child is unlikely to contract a vaccine-preventable disease.
Why did the doctors agree to the requests if they thought they had no merit, and might in fact cause harm?
Around 82 percent of respondents said they believed that agreeing to the request would help them build trust with families, while 80 percent believed families might leave their practices if they refused such requests. Most of the doctors said they tried a number of strategies to encourage parents to stick to the recommended vaccination schedules, but such strategies were largely ineffective.
Dr. Kempe and her team say that education of parents about the safety and effectiveness of vaccines needs to begin in early pregnancy, with increased utilization of social networks and public messaging to help parents make informed decisions.
Another recent article discussed immunizations and made the point vaccinations are just as important for adults as they are for kids. In addition, adult vaccinations can have a direct benefit on children’s health. Creelman shared a story which indicates there may be a growing awareness of the link between adult vaccinations and the health of small children.
“My son and daughter-in-law are expecting a baby in January,” Creelman said. “My son made it clear that anyone who visits the baby must first have a flu shot and a DTaP.” A DTaP is a vaccine that helps young children develop immunity to three serious bacterial diseases – diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (more commonly called whooping cough). “Everyone understands what a good idea that is, and they have been happy to comply. His friends have been posting pictures of themselves on Instagram, Band-Aid and all, to show him they have gotten the shots. What a great use of social media!”
The VNA is a community-based nonprofit organization offering medical, social, and support services to Indian River and surrounding counties. It is located at 1110 35th Lane in Vero Beach; the toll-free number is 800-749-5760. VNA provides flu shots, but not childhood vaccines; Creelman says those are best given by a child’s pediatrician.
