1. Communicating Effectively with Parents about Immunizations
Mary Beth Koslap-Petraco MS, CPNP
Suffolk County Dept. of Health Services, NY
Richard Judelsohn, MD
Erie County Department of Health

2. Background
Children may receive up to 20 injections by the 24 month birthday
Vaccines prevent 11 different diseases
Information is available from
Health care professionals
Print media
Television
Internet
Friends and family

3. Vaccine Information Many sources are not always accurate
Information may carry negative message
Parental concerns can be raised
Parents look to HCPs for information
Terminology may be foreign to parents
Result may be parental uncertainty

4. Objective
HCPs need to communicate in clear and easy to comprehend language

5. Method
Vaccine Information Statements (VIS) may be difficult for some parents to comprehend
Words used for patient education should be in vernacular
Address concerns of parent
Ask parent if there are any questions

6. Some Examples of Terms Adjuvants
Ingredients which help vaccines work better
Antigen
Ingredient
Meningitis
Brain and spinal cord infection
Paralysis
Inability to move muscles
Epiglotitis
Infection causing swelling of tissue in the throat making it hard to breathe

7. Some Examples of Terms Septicemia Pertussis Hepatits B Varicella
Blood infection
Pertussis
Whooping cough
Hepatits B
Infection of liver caused by virus
Varicella
Chickenpox
Immune system
Body’s defense system against viruses and bacteria
Virus
Germ which causes diseases and cannot be killed by antibiotics

8. Some Examples of Terms Bacteria Autism Multiple Sclerosis
Germ which causes disease and can be killed by antibiotics
Autism
Makes children unable to relate to others
Multiple Sclerosis
Muscle weakness most commonly seen in adults which gets worse over time
SV40 virus
Contamination in Polio vaccine during late 50’s and early 60’s
Thought to cause cancer

9. Other Issues
Discussion of how scientific study is conducted and what is means
If something IS responsible can say so with certainty
If something seems NOT responsible cannot say so with certainty
ALWAYS ASK IF THERE ARE ANY MORE QUESTIONS!!!

10. Result Effective communication in easy to identify terms
Decreases rejection of immunizations
Appropriately immunized children
Dramatically decrease morbidity and mortality for vaccine preventable diseases

11. Conclusion
HCPs need to tailor immunization teaching to the individual parent/guardian
Parent centered terminology improves immunization rates
Fewer children will go unimmunized
Vaccine preventable diseases will be kept in check

12. Conclusion
Unscientifically supported information will have less influence on parental decisions regarding immunizations
Questions