Publication:

Practicing pediatrician’s perspective on the immunization schedules: a short survey

Background The practicing pediatrician is left in a dilemma regarding the need for the newer vaccines and conflicting scientific data from vaccine manufacturers. This study is aimed at evaluating the pediatrician’s perspective regarding the immunization schedule.

Methods A brief questionnaire was framed to bring out the most common issues faced by the pediatrician in immunization schedules.

Results About 77 percent of respondents felt that our National Immunization is inadequate. About 37 percent and 28 percent of respondents felt that the next vaccine that is to be introduced in the National Immunization Schedule is Pneumococcal vaccine and Rotavirus vaccine respectively. Nearly half of the respondents trusted IAP as the single most important influencing factor in choosing a newer vaccine. About 76 percent of respondents felt that the immunization schedules are influenced by vaccine makersConclusions: The practicing pediatrician who had always looked at IAP Immunization schedule as his bible in office practice is now beginning to doubt its authenticity. The threat of not having a consensus on Immunization is detrimental. It is the duty of IAP to clear the air regarding the controversies it had faced in the immunization schedule.