Researchers gathered responses from a nationally representative sample of pediatricians and family physicians via mail and e-mail from June 2012 through October 2012.
Even though 87 percent of the surveyed physicians believed these parents were putting their children at risk for disease by making such a request, most physicians still complied: 37 percent said they would “often/always” do so, and 37 percent said they would “sometimes” do so.
A smaller faction of physicians would often/always or sometimes dismiss families from their practice if they asked to spread out the series of vaccinations.
The current schedule of vaccines recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for children under two years old involves several doses of 10 different vaccines.
“Evidence-based interventions to increase timely immunization are needed to guide primary care and public health practice,” the study authors concluded.
More articles on vaccinations:
Poll: 78% of Americans favor mandatory vaccinations for children
Bill in Delaware would keep unvaccinated children home during outbreaks
Autism Speaks chief science officer: ‘Vaccines do not cause autism’
