A national survey of parents of young children found more than 1 in 10 use an alternative vaccination schedule, and a large proportion of parents using the recommended schedule seem to be "at risk" for switching to an alternative schedule.
In the study, "Alternative Vaccination Schedule Preferences Among Parents of Young Children," published in the November 2011 issue of Pediatrics (published online Oct. 3), researchers at the University of Michigan surveyed 771 parents of children ages 6 months to 6 years. Among this group, surveyed in May 2010, 13 percent reported using some type of alternative vaccination schedule, though only 2 percent refused all vaccines.
Most of the parents using an alternative schedule said they themselves (41 percent) or a friend (15 percent) developed the schedule, and only 8 percent reported using a well-known alternative schedule.
Using an alternative vaccine schedule was strongly associated with not having a regular health care provider for the child. The vaccines most commonly delayed were the measles-mumps-rubella (45 percent) and diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis (43 percent) vaccines.
A large minority (30 percent) of parents using an alternative schedule said they had initially followed the recommended vaccination schedule; most said they switched because it "seemed safer." Additionally, 1 in 5 parents who followed the regular vaccination schedule thought that delaying vaccine doses was safer.
Study authors conclude this highlights the need to develop strategies to prevent the spread of attitudes and beliefs that counter vaccination.
