(Reuters) The number of pediatricians reporting vaccine refusals increased significantly, with the most common reason given is the belief that vaccines are unnecessary, according to a small survey of pediatricians conducted by the American Academy of Pediatrics.
In 2013, 87% of pediatricians reported experiencing a vaccine refusal — a significant increase compared to 2006 (74.5%), reported Catherine Hough-Telford, MD, of University of Alabama at Birmingham, and colleagues.
The percentage of pediatricians who reported that parents refused vaccines because they considered them unnecessary was also up dramatically from 2006 (73.1% versus 63.4%, respectively).
They added that other studies have suggested that the “relative rarity” of vaccine-preventable diseases has caused parents to perceive vaccines as “less crucial” to the health of their children. The AAP also argued that non-medical exemptions for vaccinations are not appropriate for children entering school or a community child care facility, in a separate statement from several AAP committees.
