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Pediatricians Call For Action Against Parents Who Refuse Vaccination

A child with chicken pox - Photo from Wikipedia

Pediatricians across the country are fighting back against parents who are opposing vaccination for their kids, calling on states to stop the practice of giving waivers for non-medical objections, the Los Angeles Times reports.

The American Academy of Pediatrics issued a statement Monday saying that if parents insist on refusing to immunize their children even after being presented with reasonable arguments, it is “acceptable” for doctors to exclude them from their practices. The AAP is the largest organization of pediatricians in the United States.

Vaccination protects against a wide range of dangerous diseases, including measles, chickenpox, and rubella.

The statement is intended to guide US pediatricians in dealing with the increasing “hesitancy” of parents regarding vaccination.

Among doctors in the AAP, 87% said they had difficulties with parents who refused immunization — a rise from 75% in 2006.

Many pediatricians are reportedly getting more frustrated with parents who remain adamant on their personal anti-vaccination beliefs. In 2013, 12% of doctors regularly asked parents to look for another pediatrician if they did not want vaccinations, an increase from 6% in 2006.

The AAP likewise stated that doctors should start explaining the benefits of immunization to patients as early as prenatal check-ups, using scientific evidence to support vaccination. Pediatricians are also encouraged to “personalize” their messages on vaccines — a move backed by studies showing that reluctant parents are often more likely to agree when faced with their own child’s safety compared to public benefits.

While the AAP panel gave its nod for doctors to drop patients who refuse vaccination, the organization acknowledges how difficult the decision can be, especially for pediatricians who have worked for years with families.

These new guidelines come on the heels of a steady rise in local outbreaks of diseases that can be prevented by vaccines, such as measles and whooping cough. A 2015 measles outbreak in Disneyland made 147 people sick. Studies have shown that people who refuse to vaccinate themselves or their kids play a large part in causing such outbreaks.

All 50 states and the District of Columbia require students to be immunized, but most states allow parents a waiver if they have religious objections. 18 states allow “philosophical exemptions” for those who have personal biases. Doctors say that such exemptions put in danger the safety of families that do practice vaccination.

The Disneyland outbreak helped turn the tide in California. Last month, the state removed its exemption on personal beliefs, making it one of only three states that don’t have non-medical exemptions for vaccinations. West Virginia and Mississippi are the other two.

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