Laura M. Cascella, MA, CPHRM
Distrust of vaccines has an enduring and pronounced place in U.S. history. Long before the arrival of the COVID-19 vaccines, skepticism and doubt about vaccines for other diseases thwarted inoculation efforts and led to public health concerns. The United States is not alone in this struggle; even before the pandemic, the World Health Organization listed vaccine hesitancy as one of the 10 leading threats to global health.1
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Laura M. Cascella, MA, CPHRM
Vaccine hesitancy among parents stems from many different causes. Understanding parents' beliefs and concerns about vaccines is essential for determining how to foster open and honest dialogue while addressing their uncertainties.
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Laura M. Cascella, MA, CPHRM
The proliferation of misinformation and the confusion about vaccines often highlight the broader issue of health literacy and patient comprehension, or in the case of pediatrics, parent comprehension of health information.
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Laura M. Cascella, MA, CPHRM
Conducting appointments for pediatric patients who have vaccine-hesitant parents can cause stress and frustration for pediatricians and other pediatric providers. However, having a structured and practiced approach for communicating with these parents can help alleviate some of the anxiety associated with these encounters.
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Laura M. Cascella, MA, CPHRM
Discussing benefits and risks of proposed treatments, therapies, and medications — including vaccinations — is an essential part of educating parents and involving them in their children's care. Pediatric providers should make parents aware of the beneficial aspects of immunizations and their potential adverse outcomes (e.g., allergic reactions, fever, rash, soreness, headaches, tiredness, etc.).
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Laura M. Cascella, MA, CPHRM
Vaccine hesitancy arises for various reasons, many of which are rooted in a lack of understanding about vaccines. Much like poor health literacy impedes patient comprehension of medical concepts, inadequate science literacy is an obstacle when communicating with vaccine-hesitant parents of pediatric patients.
Read more Laura M. Cascella, MA, CPHRM
Despite best efforts at education and communication, pediatricians and other pediatric providers will continue to encounter parents who refuse some or all vaccinations for their children or who do not want to follow the recommended immunization schedule. When these situations occur, the following guidance can help pediatric providers promote ongoing collaboration with parents and reduce potential liability risks:
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The patient was a male in his mid-forties who suffered from chronic pain of unknown etiology. He was a long-time patient of Dr. B, a MedPro-insured family medicine physician. Dr. B referred the patient to an anesthesiologist, Dr. M, who subspecialized in pain management. Dr. M started the patient on a fentanyl patch (25 mcg/hour), and then gradually increased the patient's dose to 100 mcg/hour.
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