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Reasons Identified by Meszaros et al for Why Some Parents Do Not Have Their Children Vaccinated Against Pertussis

Description

Meszaros et al identified a number of reasons for why parents may not immunize their children against pertussis. These factors can help identify starting points for discussing the pros and cons of vaccination with these parents. The authors are from Temple University and the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.


 

Factors why some parents to not vaccinate their children against pertussis:

(1) perceive the vaccine to be harmful or dangerous

(2) believe that the infection is less dangerous than it actually is

(3) do not believe that the vaccine works

(4) believe that they can control the child' s susceptibility to becoming infected and/or the course of the disease so that the risk to the child is low

(5) rely on vaccination in other children to minimize the risk to their child (which may work provided others do not have the same idea)

(6) preference for an error of omission over an error of commission (hate the idea that harm came from something that they did more than if harm came from something that they did not do)

(7) believe doctors are overestimating the risks to the child

 


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