Refusal to have children vaccinated: A challenge to face

Vaccinations are a critical public health tool. However, a significant number of people decide not to get vaccinated or refuse to have their children immunized. Physicians who recommend people who have an indication for vaccination not to get vaccinated go against official immunization programs, contradict sound scientific evidence, and put themselves at medical/legal risks because of their prescriptions. Parents who decide not to have their children vaccinated make this decision based on ideological or religious beliefs, or because of fads or snobbism, among other reasons, and this behavior affects their children's epidemiological protection and makes them prone to getting the disease. Health effects of this kind are harmful for both those children and the community. Education and the adequate dissemination among the population, epidemiological and adverse event surveillance, a clear legal frame stating responsibilities, rights and obligations, and an informed consent for non vaccination, among other things, are tools that may help to eradicate such behavior. The best way to prevent vaccine-related adverse events is to eradicate disease so that vaccination is no longer necessary.