Young mums in vaccine info shock

18 December 2003

BRUSSELS – Half of all young mothers do not receive adequate information on the vaccination of young babies, according to a study by the Belgian Society of Paediatrics.

The study interviewed 600 young mothers with at least one child under the age of two. Findings showed that although a majority were aware of the need for obligatory vaccinations, many ignored recommended vaccines.

A total of 84 percent of women questioned believed vaccines were essential, almost half of these mothers however were unaware that polio vaccine was obligatory.

Almost 40 percent thought wrongly that their children were vaccinated against TB, and 24 percent believed their babies were vaccinated against type B meningitis when a vaccine doesn’t even exist.

Vaccinating babies has become a health priority, with many diseases in resurgence, such as measles in Ireland and mumps in the Netherlands.

From 1 January, a new hexavalent vaccine will be introduced, providing vaccination against polio, diphtheria, tetanus, mumps, meningitis and hepatitis in a single injection.

Subject: Belgian news