Survey finds most moms do not keep kids up to date with vaccinations

NEW YORK A new survey released last week reports that most moms know their children need additional vaccines beyond those received when they were infants or small children. But according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates, most pre-teens and teens do not have all the vaccinations that the agency recommends.

The survey, conducted by Harris Interactive, with support from Merck, found that 4-out-of-5 moms of pre-teens and teenagers agree that pre-teens and teenagers need additional vaccines beyond those they received when they were younger.

“These results mirror what I see in my own practice — a lot of adolescents not up to date on their vaccines, in spite of their parents awareness of the need for them,” stated Lolita McDavid, a pediatrician practicing at Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital in Cleveland, Ohio. “Taking your kids — including pre-teens and teens — for an annual check-up should be as routine as buying them school supplies. I encourage all moms to schedule an appointment with their child’s health care professional today and to visit www.cdc.gov to learn more about the vaccines recommended for pre-teens and teens.”