Immunization practices of Washington State pediatricians--1989
J. A. Wright and E. K. Marcuse
Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital & Medical Center, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle.
Administration of immunizations has become complicated by issues about
consent, cost, and liability. To determine if these issues have changed the
immunization practices of pediatricians, we surveyed pediatricians in
private practice in Washington State. The survey results show that about
one half of vaccines administered in pediatricians' offices are provided by
the Washington State Health Department. The mean charge for administration
of each parenteral vaccine was $7.02. Respondents strongly agreed that they
would administer vaccine supplied by the Washington State Health Department
if it was available. They also agreed that they referred patients to Health
Department clinics for vaccination because of inability to pay and not
because of concern about liability.
