Vaccine Refusal Linked to Fewer Routine Visits

Families who are nonadherent to the routine vaccination schedule (RVS) are also less likely to present for routine pediatric visits, according to the findings of a recent study.

The researchers conducted a retrospective chart review that compared the number of visits over a 12-month period from 22 children who were 0 to 4 years of age and whose parents refused RVS with age-matched children whose parents adhered to the schedule.
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Among children identified as nonadherent to RVS, 68% had parents who requested alternative schedules and 32% had parents who refused all vaccination.

The researchers found that children who followed RSV had significantly more total visits compared with those who were nonadherent.

While there were no significant differences in the number of acute or emergency visits between groups, the researchers found that children from families who refused RVS made significantly fewer routine care visits within the 1-year follow-up period compared with those who adhered to RVS.

—Melissa Weiss

Reference:

Jones MU, Carter CG, Cameron KL, Smith TK. The impact of vaccine refusal on physician office visits during the subsequent 12 months. Mil Med. 2017;182 (9): 1810-1815. https://doi.org/10.7205/MILMED-D-16-00442.