Statistics on Dr's who don't vaccinate their own kids?

[Maidelach]

Hi there! I'm new here, this is my first post.

I'm wondering if anyone knows if there are statistics of how many medical professionals opt not to vaccinate their own children (while continuing to urge their patients to vaccinate)?

Thanks!

[momofmine]

Originally Posted by Maidelach

Hi there! I'm new here, this is my first post.

I'm wondering if anyone knows if there are statistics of how many medical professionals opt not to vaccinate their own children (while continuing to urge their patients to vaccinate)?

Thanks!

I have no idea, but I think that would be a great study. They always say there is no way to get reliable info on nonvaxed children, well they could easily contact most all MDs through their certifying agencies and ask them to complete an anonymous survey. In fact, they would probably like to do that because I would wager a guess that most do. However, it would be great to see how many don't, because I know of a few myself that don't vax at all. They don't, however, encourage their patients to either, they are open to choice.

[k9sarchik]

Welcome to MDC!

I don't know if that stat exists anywhere, but I suspect that most allopathic physicians vaccinate their kids.
Now I know that there is a recent article somewhere that states that doctors don't give themselves the flu shot, but dish it out to their patients.

I think that it is more common for Chiropractors to not vaccinate their children.

[annjo]

I'm one!! I don't administer vaccines as a part of my practice but I am an MD. I doubt there is any published statistic of this sort. I don't share this information with MD colleagues. I think they would mostly think I'm crazy and I don't want to be a pariah! Most MDs, except perhaps those who have done more of their own investigation, have a near religious faith in vaccination. I am confident in my choice though (usually)!

[Mirzam]

Not vaccines, but there was a Canadian study -- not sure "study" is the correct term, maybe questionnaire is better -- that asked oncologists if they would take or give their family a standard chemotherapy treatment if they had cancer, and 75% of those who responded said they wouldn't.

[Sileree]

I know 60-70% of doctors and nurses refuse the flu shot.

[annjo]

I'm not sure I would say that such a high number "refuse" the flu shot. I don't think that many of them actually sign some kind of waiver. Now, however, there is a very big push to make it mandatory for all docs/nurses to get the flu shot. I work in a large hospital and this year there was a lot of pressure for everyone to get it.

[Marnica]

I think they would mostly think I'm crazy and I don't want to be a pariah!

I think there are many more of you but they all fear this same thing. I get it, but at the same time I feel that this is why nothing will ever change (at least not anytime soon) in this country when it comes to this issue. MD's NEED to speak out and voice their concerns. When this starts happening more, things will start to change, until then...who knows???

[Maidelach]

thanks everyone for all your input! i actually read that study about docs not wanting the flu shot.

[annjo]

Originally Posted by Marnica

I think there are many more of you but they all fear this same thing. I get it, but at the same time I feel that this is why nothing will ever change (at least not anytime soon) in this country when it comes to this issue. MD's NEED to speak out and voice their concerns. When this starts happening more, things will start to change, until then...who knows???

I agree with you. I think it's hard for us to find one another. I don't know of any other MD who doesn't vax, though I have heard of "someone who knows someone.....". It's a very scary prospect and one that involves significant risk to jobs, families, etc.

[Arduinna]

I can't speak for the medical community since I'm not a member of it, I do wonder how many people would trust that such a survey was actually anonymous. I know I wouldn't.

[applejuice]

I do not know any of any such surveys, but having grown up with a DC father whose colleagues became DOs and MDs, I knew of many, but they never told anyone. It was all hush.

They saw too many reactions in their patients early in their careers, and had been primarily trained in other disciplines.

How would you do a study of that nature if the doctors forged the vaccine records of their own children? How would a record of that nature be done?

[hhurd]

My family MD has an unvaccinated son, for what it's worth!

[cadejaxellamom]

Concerning the flu vaccine, I work at a 500 bed hospital (and have for 8 years) and this is the first year that I had to sign a waiver and explaine why i was not receiving the flu shot. There is a HUGE campaign at work with posters everywhere saying "GET VACCINATED, DON'T BE THE CAUSE OF A FLU EPIDEMIC" ::: I want to rip them all down. Anyways, on our online newsletter there is a chart and it says that only 64% of hospital employees have received the flu shot, so I guess I'm not the only one who thinks it's crap!

[melissabb]

My hubby is a DC and we obviously don't vax. But, I wanted to add that alot of docs probably are hush hush about it because they aren't allowed to talk about it. Take DC's (chiropractors) for example....nearly every DC I know would never vax their child. But, because vax is "not within the scope of practice" most states and provinces actually prohibit them from saying anything pro or con toward vax. It's sad really because here we have DC's who have five years of post-graduate, doctoral studies in all things human body (much like MD studies actually) and they are the professionals ANTI vax but they are not allowed to inform the public. Funny how this happens. The 'college of chiropractic' of each state/province is a government body that polices chiropractors and sets the standards. And, we all know that government is hugely funded by big pharm. Not trying to get into any conspiracy theory here but it is alarming to me the choke hold they have on certain professionals. But, then MD's can go on and on and on about PRO vax. Doesn't seem fair. And then there are the MD's for whom it is not 'professionally acceptable' to be Anti vax. Either way, it seems the only legal advice available out there by a professional is PRO vax. Those who are anti-vax are banned from speaking about it.

[nichole]

Originally Posted by annjo

I'm one!! I don't administer vaccines as a part of my practice but I am an MD. I doubt there is any published statistic of this sort. I don't share this information with MD colleagues. I think they would mostly think I'm crazy and I don't want to be a pariah! Most MDs, except perhaps those who have done more of their own investigation, have a near religious faith in vaccination. I am confident in my choice though (usually)!

you.are.awesome.