A new survey shows that three-quarters of new mothers plan to follow doctor recommendations on vaccines for their children.
That means they're going to give their kids what the doctor recommends, when the doctor recommends it.
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But it found a troublingly large group of women are uncommitted to following the doctor's orders–10.5 percent planned to spread out the recommended vaccination schedule, 4 percent said their child would only get some of the recommended vaccines, and 10.5 percent were undecided.
The survey intentionally excluded mothers who have stated plans to not give their baby any vaccines.
That group is believed to represent about 1 percent of mothers, said the study.
The study, conducted by Glen Nowak, director of the Center for Health and Risk Communication at the University of Georgia and the Centers for Disease Control, surveyed 200 pregnant American women who are expecting a child for the first time.
A mom's vaccination plans for her kid appears to be largely shaped by her source (or lack thereof) of information on vaccines.
"(M)others who weren't planning on following the schedule were relying primarily on Internet sources and family or friends for information, so finding ways to reach them with information from pediatricians or family physicians could be very helpful," said Nowak in a University of Georgia news release on the study.
Even mothers who are receiving educational messages on vaccines might not necessarily understand or believe them, the study found.
"Along with suggesting that providing OB-GYNs with ways to connect first-time expectant mothers with vaccination information from health care providers, the findings indicate pediatricians and family physicians should be careful when it comes to assuming how familiar new parents are about childhood vaccines," Nowak said. "Some new moms may have a high level of knowledge, but most probably do not–and some of the things they are not aware of may help increase their vaccine-related confidence."
Public health advocates have been troubled in recent years by parents who are choosing not to vaccinate their kids.
Previously a problem associated with low-income families without access to health care, the recent trend against vaccines includes many well-to-do parents who have bought into unsubstantiated theories that vaccines are harmful.
The increasing skepticism of vaccines was displayed in a Gallup poll earlier this year, which showed that 10 percent fewer Americans believe vaccines are a critical part of U.S. health care than 14 years ago.
Another Gallup poll showed that younger Americans are far less likely to believe vaccines should be required by law.
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