Several Factors Contribute to Parents Missing Their Children's Immunization Visits

They have insurance, a health-care provider, and an appointment -- but many parents still regularly miss their children's immunization visits.

A new study from Columbia University Medical Center and NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital claims that there are several factors contributing to these slipups -- for example, parents are nearly four times as likely to miss an appointment that they've rescheduled, and nearly three times as likely to miss an appointment if they have difficulty communicating with their child's health-care provider.

But according to lead investigator Melissa Stockwell, MD, MPH, there's plenty that can be done to remedy the situation: "What we have identified are small steps that health care providers can take to improve keeping immunization appointments -- such as talking with parents about the importance of immunizations, having open lines of communication with them, and making it easier for parents to schedule/reschedule appointments."