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Many medical residents need to be educated about the importance of vaccinating children. In a survey of 227 pediatric residents, only 57% made sure a child was completely vaccinated by the 15-month visit. Only 58% said they would vaccinate a child who was brought to the doctor because of illness and a fever. About one-fourth believed the parents would not return for well-child visits if the child was vaccinated during an illness. Others did not have the time to vaccinate or believed that vaccination during illness would cause discomfort for the child.

Physicians may need to be persuaded that immunizing sick children during doctor visits will not compromise routine well child visits. Researchers surveyed 174 pediatricians and family practice doctors at one children's medical center to determine their knowledge about vaccine contraindications and their actual immunization practices. Over two-thirds of doctors used sick child visits for immunization if children did not have a fever, but less than 30% immunized sick children with fevers. Just 11% of doctors immunized during the 15-month well baby visit. Only 15% of doctors could identify that a yeast allergy is a contraindication to the hepatitis B vaccine. Personal preference, rather than lack of knowledge, determined doctors' decisions about whether to immunize sick children.