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Mary Lou Thoms, RN, DrPH; Paul Z. Bodnar, MD; J. Crossan O'Donovan, MD; Elias G. Gouel, MD; J. Ronald Walcher, MD; Neal A. Halsey, MD

Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 1997;151(8):809-812.

Abstract
Background
Concern about the 8 to 10 cases per year of vaccine-associated paralytic poliomyelitis caused by the live oral poliovirus vaccine (OPV) has led to revised guidelines for immunization of children in the United States. The use of inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV) at 2 and 4 months of age could require administration of 3 injections per visit until combination products are available.

Objective
To determine parents' knowledge of poliovirus vaccines and the choices they would make between IPV and OPV.

Methods
Parents of 240 children aged 2 weeks to 18 months under the care of 10 private pediatricians in the Baltimore, Md, metropolitan area were interviewed prior to the announcement of revised advisory committee guidelines.

Results
The majority (62.5%) of respondents were not aware that 2 poliovirus vaccines are available. After reviewing standardized information about the vaccines and 2 alternate schedules, most (75%) parents would consult someone (primarily their physician) before making a final choice of a vaccine schedule. If parents made the choice without consulting anyone else, 61.3% would choose to have their child receive IPV and 3 injections per visit as compared with an all-OPV schedule and 2 injections per visit. Inactivated poliovirus vaccine was preferred by most parents because it would reduce the risk for vaccine-associated paralytic poliomyelitis. Oral poliovirus vaccine was preferred by 37.9% of parents primarily because it was given orally. If the number of injections at each visit was the same for both vaccines, 76.3% of parents would choose the IPV schedule, and if the number of injections was reduced to 2 by combining IPV with another vaccine, 87.9% of parents would choose IPV.

Conclusion
The number of injections per visit is an important issue, but a majority of parents would choose to have their children receive extra injections to prevent the low risk for vaccine-associated paralytic poliomyelitis.

Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 1997;151:809-812

Author Affiliations
From the Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health, Baltimore, Md (Drs Thorns and Halsey). Drs Bodnar, Gouel, and Walcher are in private practice in Towson, Md. Dr O'Donovan is in private practice in Baltimore.

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