WISCONSIN MEDICAL JOURNAL parental vaccine refusal in Wisconsin: a case-control Study

Author Affiliations: Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Md (Salmon, Pan, Omer, Halsey); Division of Public Health, Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services, Madison, Wis (Sotir, Berg, Hopfensperger, Davis); Institute for Vaccine Safety, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Md (Omer, Halsey); National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Ga (Stokley). Corresponding Author: Neal A. Halsey, MD, Institute for Vaccine Safety and Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N Wolfe St, W5041, Baltimore, MD, 21205; e-mail [email protected]. abStract Introduction: Successful immunization programs have diminished parental fear of diseases and increased fear of vaccines. Children with nonmedical exemptions to school immunization requirements are at increased risk of acquiring and transmitting disease. We explored differences in vaccine attitudes, beliefs, and information sources among parents of exempt and vaccinated children.