title: Nurses as primary advocates for immunization adherence.
abstract: Immunizations, one of the greatest public health achievements, are at times hindered by a history of powerful biological, social, and cultural reactions from the public. State laws require immunizations for school entry, however some parents choose a nonmedical exemption for their children. Although many vaccine-preventable diseases are practically extinct in the United States, nurses have a unique role in increasing parents' understanding that herd immunity may not protect their unimmunized children. By listening to and addressing parents' concerns about immunizations, nurses can dispel misconceptions and help change parents' perceptions about the risks associated with immunizations.
authors.affiliation: Gail Holland Wade is an Associate Professor, School of Nursing, University of Delaware, Newark, DE. The author can be reached via e-mail at ghwade@udel.edu.
authors.forename: Gail
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Holland Wade
mesh_terms: D001294:Attitude to Health; D006801:Humans; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009726:Nurses; D010290:Parents / Q000193:education; D011634:Public Health / Q000193:education*; D014611:Vaccination / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*