title: Addressing immunization barriers, benefits, and risks.
abstract: Vaccines have been highly effective in eliminating or significantly decreasing the occurrence of many once-common diseases. Barriers to immunization are a significant factor in the rising incidence rates of some vaccine-preventable diseases. Cost, reduced accessibility to immunizations, increasingly complex childhood and adolescent/adult immunization schedules, and increasing focus on the potential adverse effects of vaccines all contribute to difficulty in meeting the 2010 immunization goals. Physicians must not only be knowledgeable about vaccines but they must incorporate systems in their offices to record, remind, and recall patients for vaccinations. They must also clearly communicate vaccine benefits and risks while understanding those factors that affect an individual's acceptance and perception of those benefits and risks.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, University of Toledo College of Medicine, Toledo, OH, USA.
authors.forename: Sanford R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Kimmel
authors.forename: Ilene Timko
authors.initials: IT
authors.lastname: Burns
authors.forename: Robert M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Wolfe
authors.forename: Richard Kent
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Zimmerman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003144:Communication Barriers; D000075202:Contraindications; D018563:Disease Notification; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000191:economics*; D006801:Humans; D017589:Immunization Programs / Q000458:organization & administration*; D007115:Immunization Schedule; D016233:Immunotherapy, Active / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000458:organization & administration*; D017010:Reminder Systems; D018570:Risk Assessment; D014481:United States; D014612:Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D014612:Vaccines