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May 13, 2005 at 08:00 PM
Parents who believe vaccines really work are more likely than other parents to be willing to pay extra for comprehensive vaccine coverage.[@@]
Matthew Davis and Kathryn Fant, pediatrics researchers at the University of Michigan, have published data supporting that conclusion in a report on a survey of 496 U.S. households with children.
The report appears in the May-June issue of the journal Health Affairs, which includes a package of studies dealing with the U.S. and world immunization systems.
Members of the survey team offered parents a choice of 3 hypothetical health plans. The first, basic plan cost $179 per month and included only basic vaccine coverage for children. The second plan cost $182 per month and provided comprehensive coverage for extra, newly recommended vaccines for children as well as for the older, basic childhood vaccines. The richest plan cost $185 per month and provided coverage for adult vaccines along with comprehensive coverage for older and newer vaccines for children.
The survey team asked parents to choose between the 3 plans, then gave some parents a brief discussion about the personal health and economic benefits of vaccines. The team told other parents about what vaccines could do to improve the health of society as a whole.
