—To determine whether children attending our local health
department clinics were being immunized in a timely manner, and
to investigate the reasons for children not being immunized on
schedule. —Cross-sectional research design. —Five Salt Lake
City/County Health Department immunization clinics in Utah. —All
patients presenting to the clinics for immunization from
November 1990 to March 1991 when minor illness is prevalent.
—Data were gathered through interview and questionnaire.
—Children were mostly white; they came from two-parent
households with reasonably high incomes and high parental
education level. Only four children were denied vaccination, all
for inappropriate timing. None were denied for illness. More
than 75% had postponed bringing their children in for
immunization. The most common reason given for delay was minor
illness in the child. —Even in this "low-risk" population,
parental misperception regarding immunizations is a significant,
contributing factor to low immunization rates. Public educa