• About
  • Masthead
  • License Content
  • Advertise
  • Submit Press Release
  • RSS/Email List
  • Write for us
  • Contact us
2 Minute Medicine
No Result
View All Result

No products in the cart.

SUBSCRIBE
  • Specialties
    • Cardiology
    • Chronic Disease
    • Dermatology
    • Emergency
    • Endocrinology
    • Gastroenterology
    • Imaging and Intervention
    • Infectious Disease
    • Nephrology
    • Neurology
    • Obstetrics
    • Oncology
    • Ophthalmology
    • Pediatrics
    • Preclinical
    • Psychiatry
    • Public Health
    • Pulmonology
    • Rheumatology
    • Surgery
  • Wellness
  • Classics™
    • 2MM+ Online Access
    • Paperback and Ebook
  • Rewinds
  • Visual
  • Partners
    • License Content
    • Submit Press Release
    • Advertise with Us
  • AccountLog-in/out
    • Subscribe
    • Sign-in
    • My account
2 Minute Medicine
  • Specialties
    • Cardiology
    • Chronic Disease
    • Dermatology
    • Emergency
    • Endocrinology
    • Gastroenterology
    • Imaging and Intervention
    • Infectious Disease
    • Nephrology
    • Neurology
    • Obstetrics
    • Oncology
    • Ophthalmology
    • Pediatrics
    • Preclinical
    • Psychiatry
    • Public Health
    • Pulmonology
    • Rheumatology
    • Surgery
  • Wellness
  • Classics™
    • 2MM+ Online Access
    • Paperback and Ebook
  • Rewinds
  • Visual
  • Partners
    • License Content
    • Submit Press Release
    • Advertise with Us
  • AccountLog-in/out
    • Subscribe
    • Sign-in
    • My account
SUBSCRIBE
2 Minute Medicine
Subscribe
Home All Specialties Infectious Disease

Medical vaccine exemptions increase after elimination of nonmedical exemptions

byMichael DinhandLeah Carr, MD
October 29, 2018
in Infectious Disease, Pediatrics, Public Health
Reading Time: 3 mins read
0
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

1. After California eliminated nonmedical exemptions from school-entry vaccinations in 2015, the proportion of kindergarten students who received all required vaccines rose from 92.8% to 95.1%, but the rates of medical exemptions increased 250%.

2. Interviews with local health officers had common themes of frustration by lack of authority to approve or disapprove medical exemptions and concerns regarding physicians charging fees for medical exemptions.

Study Rundown: In 2015, California Senate Bill 227 eliminated nonmedical exemptions from school-entry vaccinations. Following this legislative change, while overall vaccination rates were noted to rise among kindergarten students, a 250% increase in rates of medical exemptions was also appreciated. In this qualitative study, researchers interviewed health officers and immunization staff representing local health jurisdictions in California about the roles of stakeholders, medical exemptions received by schools, and frustrations and concerns over medical exemptions. Themes that were commonly encountered included concerns regarding questionable contraindications for immunization, physicians charging fees for a medical exemption, and physicians who do not normally treat children endorsing medical exemptions. Health officials also expressed frustration regarding the lack of authority to approve or disapprove medical exemptions, and possible legal repercussions for actively tracking medical exemptions.

These findings are limited by recall and selection biases. Of note, the local health departments that participated in this study tended to be located in jurisdictions with higher median household incomes. Nonetheless, this work details in-depth interviews across a wide range of localities. For providers, these findings highlight important considerations when planning, implementing, and advocating for health policy to improve vaccination rates.

 Click to read the study, published today in Pediatrics

Relevant reading: Change in Medical Exemptions From Immunization in California After Elimination of Personal Belief Exemptions

Study author, Salini Mohanty, DrPH, MPH, speaks to 2 Minute Medicine: University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing.

RELATED REPORTS

Inactivated, adjuvant enterovirus 71 vaccine is safe and effective against fatal enterovirus infections in children aged 2-71 months

Vaccination leads to a small absolute risk for shoulder conditions

#VisualAbstract: Adequate antibody response to mRNA-1273 COVID-19 vaccine occurs in patients with cancer

“During the first year of Senate Bill 277 implementation some physicians in California took advantage of the law to write medical exemptions for vaccine-hesitant parents by charging a fee in exchange for granting a medical exemption request.

California experienced two major immunization changes within a relatively short period of time and previous studies have shown that physicians often report not feeling confident or familiar with important health policy legislation. In our study we found that few local health departments were in communication with physicians in their jurisdiction regarding Senate Bill 277. Increased outreach to physicians from local health departments and professional organizations is needed when new legislation is introduced —especially when this legislation impacts how physicians practice medicine.”

In-Depth: Researchers conducted 34, semi-structured phone interviews with 40 health officers and immunization staff who represented 35 of the 61 local health jurisdictions in California in 2017. Thematic codes were developed using a priori codes informed by literature. Participating jurisdictions had slightly lower average kindergarten person belief exemptions (27% vs. 20%) and higher median household incomes.

Four major themes were identified: (1) the role of stakeholders, (2) reviewing medical exemptions received by schools, (3) medical exemptions that were perceived as problematic, and (4) frustrations and concerns over medical exemptions. The health officers outlined the roles of physicians, schools, local and state health departments, and the California Medical Board in overseeing exemptions. They discussed their methods for verifying and actively tracking medical exemptions; in some cases, local health jurisdictions faced lawsuits, hate mail, and threats when actively tracking exemptions, which deterred other jurisdictions. Problematic medical exemptions identified included physicians charging monetary fees for medical exemptions and exemptions being signed by non-MD/DO providers or physicians who do not normally see children in primary care (e.g. dermatologists, surgeons). Health officers also expressed frustration regarding lack of authority, burdens on school staff to manage exemptions, and increases in medical exemptions after California Senate Bill 227.

Image: PD

©2018 2 Minute Medicine, Inc. All rights reserved. No works may be reproduced without expressed written consent from 2 Minute Medicine, Inc. Inquire about licensing here. No article should be construed as medical advice and is not intended as such by the authors or by 2 Minute Medicine, Inc.

Tags: exemptionimmunizationvaccination
Previous Post

Quick Take: Efficacy and cost-effectiveness of nurse-led care involving education and engagement of patients and a treat-to-target urate-lowering strategy versus usual care for gout

Next Post

2 Minute Medicine Rewind October 29, 2018

RelatedReports

Preterm infants responsive to PCV13 vaccine
Infectious Disease

Inactivated, adjuvant enterovirus 71 vaccine is safe and effective against fatal enterovirus infections in children aged 2-71 months

May 10, 2022
Medical vaccine exemptions increase after elimination of nonmedical exemptions
Chronic Disease

Vaccination leads to a small absolute risk for shoulder conditions

April 22, 2022
#VisualAbstract: Adequate antibody response to mRNA-1273 COVID-19 vaccine occurs in patients with cancer
StudyGraphics

#VisualAbstract: Adequate antibody response to mRNA-1273 COVID-19 vaccine occurs in patients with cancer

November 26, 2021
Compliance-linked incentives increase infant immunizations rates in rural India
Infectious Disease

Compared to prior infection, prior vaccination is associated with greater neutralization capacity against all COVID-19 variants

November 3, 2021
Next Post
APOL1 variants linked to increased risk of renal disease among black patients

2 Minute Medicine Rewind October 29, 2018

AAP supports mindfulness of children’s media consumption

Public underestimates the relative frequency of firearm-related violent deaths

A quarter of youths with assault injury own a gun

American College of Physicians updates policy recommendations for reducing gun-related injuries and deaths in the U.S.

License Our Award-Winning Physician-Written Medical News and Visual Abstracts

2 Minute Medicine is the leading authoritative medical news licensing service, and the only with reports written by practicing doctors.

LICENSE CONTENT

Get 2MM+ Premium Access

No ads & unlimited access to all current reports, over 9000 searchable archived reports, visual abstracts, Weekly Rewinds, and the online edition of The Classics Series™ textbook.

Subscription Options
2 Minute Medicine

2 Minute Medicine® is an award winning, physician-run, expert medical media company. Our content is curated, written and edited by practicing health professionals who have clinical and scientific expertise in their field of reporting. Our editorial management team is comprised of highly-trained MD physicians. Join numerous brands, companies, and hospitals who trust our licensed content.

Recent Reports

  • Imiquimod noninferior to surgery in management of vulvar high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions
  • Endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair may be associated with higher overall mortality and complications compared to open repair
  • Meditation may provide medical benefit for various health outcomes
License Content
Terms of Use | Disclaimer
Cookie Policy
Privacy Statement (EU)
Disclaimer

© 2021 2 Minute Medicine, Inc. - Physician-written medical news.

  • Specialties
    • Cardiology
    • Chronic Disease
    • Dermatology
    • Emergency
    • Endocrinology
    • Gastroenterology
    • Imaging and Intervention
    • Infectious Disease
    • Nephrology
    • Neurology
    • Obstetrics
    • Oncology
    • Ophthalmology
    • Pediatrics
    • Preclinical
    • Psychiatry
    • Public Health
    • Pulmonology
    • Rheumatology
    • Surgery
  • Wellness
  • Classics™
    • 2MM+ Online Access
    • Paperback and Ebook
  • Rewinds
  • Visual
  • Partners
    • License Content
    • Submit Press Release
    • Advertise with Us
  • Account
    • Subscribe
    • Sign-in
    • My account

© 2021 2 Minute Medicine, Inc. - Physician-written medical news.