Caring for the Vaccine-Hesitant Family: Evidence-Based Alternatives to Dismissal

Abstract

Vaccine hesitancy is a growing public health threat. Recent data suggest that only one-half of children in the US are up-to-date for all recommended vaccines by 19-35 months, and more than one-third of children are on alternative or shot-limiting vaccine schedules.1 Measles infected 1282 Americans in 2019—the most cases since 1992—and the US nearly lost its measles elimination status.2 One in 40 kindergartners attends school with a nonmedical vaccine exemption, and many more kindergartners attend school underimmunized without plans to catch up.