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

No products in the cart.

SUBSCRIBE
  • Specialties
    • All Specialties, All Recent Reports
    • Cardiology
    • Chronic Disease
    • Dermatology
    • Emergency
    • Endocrinology
    • Gastroenterology
    • Imaging and Intervention
    • Infectious Disease
    • Nephrology
    • Neurology
    • Obstetrics
    • Oncology
    • Ophthalmology
    • Pediatrics
    • Pharma
    • Preclinical
    • Psychiatry
    • Public Health
    • Pulmonology
    • Rheumatology
    • Surgery
  • AI Roundup
  • Pharma
  • The Scan+
  • Classics™+
    • 2MM+ Online Access
    • Paperback and Ebook
  • Rewinds
  • Visual
  • Podcasts
  • Partners
    • License Content
    • Submit Press Release
    • Advertise with Us
  • Account
    • Subscribe
    • Sign-in
    • My account
2 Minute Medicine
  • Specialties
    • All Specialties, All Recent Reports
    • Cardiology
    • Chronic Disease
    • Dermatology
    • Emergency
    • Endocrinology
    • Gastroenterology
    • Imaging and Intervention
    • Infectious Disease
    • Nephrology
    • Neurology
    • Obstetrics
    • Oncology
    • Ophthalmology
    • Pediatrics
    • Pharma
    • Preclinical
    • Psychiatry
    • Public Health
    • Pulmonology
    • Rheumatology
    • Surgery
  • AI Roundup
  • Pharma
  • The Scan+
  • Classics™+
    • 2MM+ Online Access
    • Paperback and Ebook
  • Rewinds
  • Visual
  • Podcasts
  • Partners
    • License Content
    • Submit Press Release
    • Advertise with Us
  • Account
    • 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

RELATED REPORTS

The 2 Minute Medicine Podcast Episode 54

Reduced pneumococcal vaccine schedules non-inferior to WHO recommendations

COVID-19 vaccination and infection not associated with increased risk of congenital anomalies

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

“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

The 2 Minute Medicine Podcast Episode 15
2MM Podcast

The 2 Minute Medicine Podcast Episode 54

March 21, 2025
Compliance-linked incentives increase infant immunizations rates in rural India
Public Health

Reduced pneumococcal vaccine schedules non-inferior to WHO recommendations

December 11, 2024
Risk of autism in offspring linked to maternal pregestational diabetes and severe obesity
Infectious Disease

COVID-19 vaccination and infection not associated with increased risk of congenital anomalies

July 26, 2024
The Scan by 2 Minute Medicine®:  Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc, Taylor Swift, NBA rookie Chet Holmgren and Magic Mushrooms!
The Scan by 2 Minute Medicine®

The Scan by 2 Minute Medicine®: Kate Middleton’s Hair: Chemo Mysteries, MRI Screening: Is It Useful?, Biden’s COVID Amid Variant Surge, Avoiding Microplastics

July 23, 2024
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.

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

  • 2 Minute Medicine Rewind July 14, 2025
  • New obesity framework may reclassify over half of overweight individuals as people with obesity
  • Digital health apps may have limited role in reduction of migraine symptoms
License Content
Terms of Use | Disclaimer
Cookie Policy
Privacy Statement (EU)
Disclaimer

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

  • Specialties
    • All Specialties, All Recent Reports
    • Cardiology
    • Chronic Disease
    • Dermatology
    • Emergency
    • Endocrinology
    • Gastroenterology
    • Imaging and Intervention
    • Infectious Disease
    • Nephrology
    • Neurology
    • Obstetrics
    • Oncology
    • Ophthalmology
    • Pediatrics
    • Pharma
    • Preclinical
    • Psychiatry
    • Public Health
    • Pulmonology
    • Rheumatology
    • Surgery
  • AI Roundup
  • Pharma
  • The Scan
  • Classics™
    • 2MM+ Online Access
    • Paperback and Ebook
  • Rewinds
  • Visual
  • Podcasts
  • Partners
    • License Content
    • Submit Press Release
    • Advertise with Us
  • Account
    • Subscribe
    • Sign-in
    • My account
No Result
View All Result

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