Characteristics and Beliefs of Vaccine-Concerned Parents

Abstract

Parents who delay or refuse vaccination tend to share common characteristics such as maternal age over 30, white race, higher income levels, and higher educational levels. These parents are also more likely to report distrust in their medical provider and more likely to seek care from a complementary and alternative medical (CAM) professional. Parents who delayed or refused vaccines are significantly less likely to believe vaccines are safe and effective. In addition, they are more likely to report misconceptions about vaccines such as beliefs about dangerous side effects, overload to the immune system, excessive number of doses, and causation of developmental disorders. In order to appropriately tailor vaccine education, it is important to understand the characteristics and beliefs of parents with strong vaccine concerns.