March of Dimes Convenes Vaccine Experts; Top Ways to Address Parents’ Concerns
WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., JUNE 18, 2002—Despite overwhelming scientific evidence that today’s vaccines are safe and effective, experts say health professionals and federal agencies have been slow to recognize that the safety concerns of some parents are here to stay.
Speaking at a recent March of Dimes National Communications Advisory Council editorial luncheon, Kathleen R. Stratton, Ph.D., senior study director in the Division of Health Promotion and Disease Prevention of the Institute of Medicine (IOM) of the National Academy of Sciences, and Samuel L. Katz, M.D., FAAP, co-developer of the measles vaccine and the Wilburt Cornell Davison Professor and chairman emeritus of pediatrics at Duke University Medical Center, told journalists about practical steps to increase immunization rates and answer the concerns of parents.
“Every therapeutic product has risks, but only vaccines—with rare exceptions—are mandatory,” said Dr. Stratton. “Children in the United States receive 20 doses of 7 vaccines to protect against 11 diseases by age 2. We shouldn’t underestimate the numbers of anxious parents.” She noted that some parents perceive required vaccines as a loss of control over their children or as unwarranted government intrusion into their lives.
Dr. Stratton urged that physicians and government:
- Prepare first time parents with information about vaccines before the baby is born.
- Admit that there are scientific uncertainties regarding risk while reminding young parents about the proven benefits of vaccines.
- Promote better math and science education to facilitate Americans’ understanding of risks vs. benefits.
Dr. Katz noted that immunization programs of the 20th century were so successful that many Americans have little or no experience with vaccine-preventable diseases. This may lead young parents to fear the theoretical risks of vaccines more than the very real risks and consequences of the diseases.
For example, small outbreaks of rubella (German measles) continue to occur in the U.S., and that potential for susceptible pregnant women to become infected continues to exist. Rubella is a mild childhood illness that poses a serious threat of birth defects to the fetus if the mother contracts the illness during pregnancy.
Dr. Katz noted that several diseases of unknown origin—such as autism—usually make their first appearance in early childhood, at approximately the same age that vaccines are routinely given. This may lead to confusion in some parents about cause-and-effect, he said. He urged more biomedical research into the underlying causes of autism and related disorders.
Dr. Katz also said the federal government must take an active role in promoting immunization in order to prevent serious disease outbreaks from occurring. He urged what he called the “Five As” :
- Availability—no vaccine shortages across the nation, making the vaccines more affordable
- Accessibility—convenience of hours and geography for parents
- Adjustability—creating a flexible system with computerized records to help parents and adult children keep track of their vaccinations
- Acceptability—combination vaccines and new approaches that make vaccines more acceptable to parents and children (such as oral versions)
- Advocacy—more patient education and positive media messages
Dr. Katz has been involved in studies of many diseases, including smallpox, rubella, influenza, pertussis (whooping cough), Haemophilus influenzae B conjugates, and HIV, and has participated in pediatric educational and research programs in 15 countries. He currently co-chairs the National Network for Immunization Information (NNii) of the Infectious Diseases Society of America. He is one of the authors of Infectious Diseases of Children, the standard textbook on the subject, and has frequently been sought as an expert source by the news media, including CBS-TV’s 60 Minutes. He is the co-developer with Dr. John J. Enders of the measles vaccine used worldwide.
Dr. Stratton is currently the study director supporting the Immunization Safety Review Committee at the IOM, which will issue 9 reports over the three-year study period of 2001-2003. Reports issued to date are: Measles-Mumps-Rubella Vaccine and Autism (2001), Thimerosal-Containing Vaccines and Neurodevelopmental Disorders (2001), Multiple Immunizations and Immune System Dysfunction (2002), and most recently, Hepatitis B Vaccine and Demyelinating Neurological Disorders (May 2002).
The March of Dimes National Communications Advisory Council consists of senior-level journalists and was created in 1980 to assist the March of Dimes in identifying topics important to the news media reaching women of childbearing age.
The March of Dimes is a national voluntary health agency whose mission is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects and infant mortality. Founded in 1938, the March of Dimes funds programs of research, community services, education, and advocacy to save babies. For more information, visit the March of Dimes Web site at www.marchofdimes.com, its Spanish Web site at www.nacersano.org, or call 1-888-MODIMES.
For more specific information on vaccines, see also the Web site for the National Immunization Program of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, http://www.cdc.gov/nip/ (also available in Spanish).
