To address vaccine hesitancy in a well-child visit, CDC recommendations include which action?

To address vaccine hesitancy in a well-child visit, CDC recommendations include which action?

• A. Having the parents sign a refusal to vaccinate form
• B. Reporting the family to public health authorities
• C. Canceling the well-child visit
• D. Proceeding with vaccines without consent

Answer: (A)

When vaccine hesitancy arises, the best approach is to engage in open, respectful counseling and document the family’s decision-making process. Having parents sign a refusal to vaccinate form provides a formal record that they were informed about the risks and benefits, which vaccines were discussed, and that they chose to decline. This supports informed consent, clarifies what was offered, and helps ensure appropriate follow-up and future catch-up planning. It also protects the clinician with a clear documentation trail of the decision. The other actions aren’t appropriate in this context: reporting vaccine refusal to public health isn’t a routine requirement, canceling the well-child visit deprives the child of preventive care, and administering vaccines without consent is unethical and illegal.

When vaccine hesitancy arises, the best approach is to engage in open, respectful counseling and document the family’s decision-making process. Having parents sign a refusal to vaccinate form provides a formal record that they were informed about the risks and benefits, which vaccines were discussed, and that they chose to decline. This supports informed consent, clarifies what was offered, and helps ensure appropriate follow-up and future catch-up planning. It also protects the clinician with a clear documentation trail of the decision.

The other actions aren’t appropriate in this context: reporting vaccine refusal to public health isn’t a routine requirement, canceling the well-child visit deprives the child of preventive care, and administering vaccines without consent is unethical and illegal.