IMMUNIZING PRESCHOOL-CHILDREN - BELIEFS AND PRACTICES OF PEDIATRIC RESIDENTS

Immunization practices and knowledge of vaccine contraindications amon g pediatric residents were assessed at five pediatric training facilit ies by surveying 227 pediatric residents. Residents administer vaccine s even in the presence of an afebrile minor illness. They are less lik ely to vaccinate if a fever (<102 degrees F) is present. Only 57% of r esidents report administering vaccines at the 15-month well-child chec ks, Many residents had difficulty recognizing true and false contraind ications, though third-year residents did better than first-year resid ents. Failure during residency to utilize 15-month well visits and ill visits in the presence of a fever and the lack of knowledge of true a nd false vaccine contraindications may be causes of missed opportuniti es to vaccinate among residents. Immunization practices resulting in m issed opportunites to vaccinate seen during during residency may influ ence later immunization practices.