Boston, MA – Pediatricians across Massachusetts are increasingly dedicating significant time and effort to address growing vaccine hesitancy among parents, going beyond routine checkups to engage in detailed conversations and address concerns, according to recent reports. The efforts come as public health officials continue to emphasize the importance of vaccination in protecting children from preventable diseases.
Dr. Brenda Anders Pring, president of the Massachusetts chapter of the american Academy of Pediatrics, recounted spending a recent Friday night working late with a family hesitant about the hepatitis B vaccine for their newborn. Despite providing a list of ingredients, the parents ultimately decided against the vaccination that day.
“I got home pretty late,” Pring said. “But I thought, ‘I’m doing it for this baby.'”
The reasons behind vaccine hesitancy are varied. Some parents express distrust in the science, while others are uncomfortable with the temporary discomfort a shot may cause their child.Conflicting information from various sources – doctors, government officials, social media – also contributes to confusion.
However, not all parents are hesitant. Karla Haney, a critical care nurse and mother of two from Malden, proactively requested her 9-month-old daughter, Elena, receive the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine ahead of schedule due to upcoming international travel. “I trust the data and I believe in the protection it offers,” Haney stated.
The standard pediatric vaccine schedule, recommended by public health officials, begins at birth with follow-up doses at 2 months, 4 months, and throughout the first years of life. While some parents request spaced-out vaccinations, pediatricians advise against this practice due to the increased number of office visits required. They emphasize that adhering to the schedule, even if imperfectly, is preferable to skipping vaccines altogether.
Dr. nisha Thakrar, medical director at South Boston Community Health Center, has begun scheduling telemedicine appointments specifically to address parental concerns about vaccines.She shares her personal experience, telling parents, “I vaccinated my children, and my goal is to provide your children with the same quality care that I gave mine.”
Despite some practices choosing not to accept unvaccinated patients,Dr. Thakrar believes it’s crucial to continue serving these families, viewing each interaction as an prospect to educate and advocate for vaccination.
“Doctors, don’t want to feel like the enemy. We want to be allies in raising people’s children,” she noted.
