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Georgia parents show strong confidence in childhood vaccines as federal guidance shifts

Staff file photo by Matt Hamilton / Pharmacist Phil Smith holds a dose of the measles vaccine at Access Family Pharmacy. Nearly 90% of Georgia parents believe childhood vaccines are safe, according to a recent survey.
Staff file photo by Matt Hamilton / Pharmacist Phil Smith holds a dose of the measles vaccine at Access Family Pharmacy. Nearly 90% of Georgia parents believe childhood vaccines are safe, according to a recent survey. Staff file photo by Matt Hamilton / Pharmacist Phil Smith holds a dose of the measles vaccine at Access Family Pharmacy. Nearly 90% of Georgia parents believe childhood vaccines are safe, according to a recent survey.

By Rebecca Grapevine / Healthbeat Atlanta 6 min read

This article was originally published by Healthbeat, a nonprofit newsroom covering public health published by Civic News Company and KFF Health News.

At a time when federal health officials are questioning or even abandoning long-held childhood vaccine recommendations, nearly 90% of Georgia parents believe the vaccines are safe, and more than 93% trust their pediatricians to guide them, according to a new survey.

Data was released this month from the Emory University Center for Child Policy from an online survey of 1,002 parents conducted by polling firm Ipsos between Oct. 30 and Nov. 24. Results found that 87.9% believe routine childhood vaccinations are safe.

Researchers released the data earlier than planned in the wake of the recent decision by a federal immunization advisory panel to reverse a recommendation that all newborns be vaccinated against hepatitis B.

Lead author Dr. Stephen Patrick, a neonatalogist, said he was reassured that so many Georgia parents still support the vaccines.