Nearly 3 out of every 4 of those parents surveyed said they'd consider removing their kids from a day care center if just 1 in 4 children there lacked up-to-date shots—a level of compliance that researchers picked because it is around what is seen nationally year to year.
"I am surprised" with that result, said Sarah Clark, associate director of the C.S. Mott Children's Hospital, in an interview with CNBC.com.
"Being a parent myself, I know that changing day care is not something that people take on lightly," Clark said.
But parents clearly are concerned with the possibility of their kids getting sick from another child in day care.That worry was reflected in the fact that 66 percent of those polled said they should be told by their day care center just how many kids there are not up to date with their shots.
And if a kid isn't up to date, 41 percent of parents favor banning the kid from the day care until they are thoroughly vaccinated.
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Clark said the findings suggest that day care providers could benefit financially from requiring all kids to be up to date with their vaccines.
"That might be a good business decision by day cares, to assure parents that they are providers who are looking out for their kids' health and safety," she said.
Clark noted that all states have minimum vaccination standards for licensed day care providers. But, she added, there are differences both in the minimum vaccinations that states require and how often those vaccinations are required to be updated.
"There's quite a wide range," she said.