Googling for Information About Alternative Vaccination Schedules

The purpose of this study was to explore and describe the information a parent may find when Googling for information about alternative vaccination schedules.

The data collection tool included evaluation of Web site quality and vaccine-specific content on the 12 sites that met the inclusion criteria.

Seven of the Web sites had a bias toward vaccination, three sites were anti-vaccine, and two sites were neutral in their stance. Three of the four Web sites authored by physicians had an antivaccine bias. Only three sites included 50% or more of the vaccine-specific content. Fewer than half of the Web sites recommended that vaccine concerns be discussed with a health care provider. Three alternate vaccine schedules were found in the study sample.

Although the majority of the Web sites indicated that vaccines are important and acknowledged that parents may have legitimate concerns regarding vaccinations, few addressed parental fears surrounding vaccine safety. It would be challenging for a parent to decide what vaccine information constitutes "science" and which site is "right" when there are "expert" physicians on both sides of an intense debate. It is important for parents to bring in the vaccine information they find to facilitate an open dialogue and build trust with their health care provider.