People, networks may sway parents’ vaccine choices

The people and information sources parents surround themselves with may influence their choice to vaccinate their children or not, according to a survey from one county in Washington state. Of almost 200 parents who took the survey, almost all said they had groups of people offering advice on vaccination, but those who chose not to fully vaccinate their children were more likely to have larger social groups and to turn to other sources, such as books, pamphlets and the Internet, for guidance. “The take-home message from this is that the social networks for the majority of parents are extremely important in affecting vaccination decisions,” said Emily Brunson, the study’s author from Texas State University in San Marcos. “Especially the people in the parents’ networks suggesting nonconformity is greater than anything else – including the parents’ own beliefs on vaccination,” she added. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends young children under...