Parents' Vaccine Beliefs: A Study of Experiences and Attitudes Among Parents of Children in Private Pre-Schools

Even among highly vaccinated populations such as Rhode Island (RI), there exists a vulnerability to disease outbreaks. This is the basis for requiring proof of immunization for enrollment into school. Although RI grants medical, temporary, and religious vaccination exemptions, little is known about the beliefs of RI parents who seek exemptions for their children. The purpose of this small-scale, cross-sectional, Web-based survey is to describe the vaccine behaviors and beliefs of parents of children attending private pre-school in Providence, RI. In spite of limitations, the results provided the intended baseline assessment of the target population. While such findings should be interpreted with caution, they can be used as the foundation for future research and interventions.