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The number of families who decline some or all vaccinations is growing, and healthcare providers must make decisions about continuing to care for these families. The American Academy of Pediatrics does not endorse dismissing nonvaccinating families, but this practice is thought to be relatively common and was reported to be as high as 39% in one study (NEJM JW Pediatr Adolesc Med Feb 2006 and Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 2005; 159:929).
To determine how often parents refuse vaccinations for their children and how often physicians dismiss nonvaccinating families from their practices, investigators surveyed a random sample of 400 U.S. pediatricians and family physicians during a 6-month period in 2012. The researchers also sought to better underst…