Dr. Lori Breaux with Brentwood PediatricsNASHVILLE, Tenn. -
Some pediatricians in Middle Tennessee said they are noticing what they call an "alarming trend" as more parents are refusing to vaccinate their children.
Dr. Lori Breaux with Brentwood Pediatrics said the increase is small, but noticeable.
According to the pediatrician, some of the reasons parents give for not wanting their kids to have the vaccines include religion, fear they may be harmful or belief that the diseases the vaccines are intended to fight no longer exist.
"A lot of those illnesses would start coming back [if children are not vaccinated]. An example is whooping cough, which has occasional outbreaks and can be extremely devastating for a young infant," Dr. Breaux explained.
Dr. Breaux told Nashville's News 2 some doctors around the country are dropping unvaccinated patients.
"They are doing this for a couple of different reasons. One, it can be a liability for the physician and their medical practice. The other is that their child could potentially be exposing another infant or baby who has not quite received all of their primary vaccines. They could be exposed even in the waiting room," she said.
While Dr. Breaux has not dismissed any patients yet, Brentwood Pediatrics is taking extra steps to educate parents about vaccines by passing out additional literature in the office and taking time to talk to parents one-on-one about immunizations.
"We try to educate those parents as far as the true scientific and researched reasons why they should vaccinate their children," she said.
According to Dr. Breaux, vaccinations are the best way parents can protect their children.
Dr. Breaux is just now beginning to see cases of the flu this season.
She said in every single positive case so far, the child did not receive the flu shot.
