In the recent issue of Journal of American Medical Association, researchers have pointed out that there seems to be a growing trend in delaying the vaccination schedules of the children resulting in increase in risk of the vaccinated diseases affecting the children.
According to the latest study, most of the vaccines that need to be completed during the first two years of age in children often gets delayed due to a variety of reasons, most important being the ignorance or carelessness of the parents.Reports said that about 25% of children had delays in getting 4 or more of the 6 vaccines (DTP, polio virus, MMR, Haemophilus influenzae type b; hepatitis B; and varicella) in US alone. This increases the risk of the virus attack and that of an epidemic. Only 18% of the children in US receive all the vaccinations at recommended intervals, or near enough of the time.
The study brings into focus that even in a developed country like US, under-vaccination is causing rapid increase of risk in child health. This should act as a lesson in guiding parents and care givers of children to be aware of the vaccination needs of their children and complete the vaccination schedule on time.
Link:
http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/abstract/293/10/1204
