Vaccine Hesitant Parents

Question 0

List the 5 main points to effectively counsel vaccine hesitant parents.

Answer 0

1. Understand the specific parental concern.
2. Clearly present evidence of benefits and risks of vaccines.
3. Discuss rigours of vaccine safety.
4. Address issues of pain with immunizations.
5. Don’t dismiss patients from your practice because of vaccine referral.

Question 1

What is the estimate of the percentage of children receiving routine immunizations?

Answer 1

Over 80%.

Question 2

Why shouldn’t you discharge vaccine hesitant patients from your practice?

Answer 2

Often change their mind, each visit is an opportunity.

Question 3

List 4 strategies for reducing pain during immunizations.

Answer 3

IM shots, don’t aspirate.
Sit in parents lap, give painful vaccines last (MMR).
Breast feed during or sucrose before.
Deep breathing and/or distraction techniques can help.

Question 4

Are vaccines held to higher or lower safety protocols than drugs? Do vaccines tend to be administered in Canada before or after other countries?

Answer 4

Higher, after. (Both advocate for safety of vaccines)

Question 5

Who are most effected by vaccine-preventable diseases? Why doesn’t herd immunity always work?

Answer 5

Children > adults, non-vaccinated because of +++ social networks. Herd doesn’t work for some infections (tetanus) which isn’t spread only person to person.

Question 6

Why can’t children just receive vaccines when an outbreak is present?

Answer 6

Many don’t gain immunity until 2-3 wks after, many require repeat vaccinations to become effective.