Parents’ reported reasons for avoiding MMR vaccination

Figures & data

Table I.  Reasons given by parents for not vaccinating their child with MMR vaccine.

	Total		Postpone		Abstain
	(n = 173)		(n = 103)		(n = 70)		Difference
	(n)	%	(n)	%	(n)	%	%	95%; CI
Fear of side effects	(94)	54	(49)	48	(45)	64	− 16	−30.8; −1.2
Small risk of disease	(14)	8	(8)	8	(6)	9	−1	− 9.5;  7.5
Better with natural immunity	(54)	31	(19)	18	(35)	50	− 32	−45.8; −18.1
Let the child mature more	(57)	33	(57)	55	–	–
Adjuvant	(11)	6	–	–	(11)	16

First column = total number, the two following show those who had postponed vaccination and those who had decided to abstain (more than one reason could be reported).

Table II.  Sources of information on MMR vaccination¹.

	Total		Postpone		Abstain
	(n = 173)		(n = 103)		(n = 70)		Difference
	(n)	%	(n)	%	(n)	%	%	95%; CI
Friends/relatives	(45)	26	(23)	22	(22)	31	−9	−22.5; 4.5
Media	(141)	82	(87)	84	(56)	80	4	−7.7; 15.7
Internet	(36)	21	(18)	17	(18)	25	−8	−14.4; 4.4
CHC	(50)	29	(36)	35	(14)	20	15	1.9; 28.1
Anthroposophist	(26)	15	(4)	3	(22)	31	−28	−39.3; −16.7

¹More than one source could be reported by an interviewee.