Journal roundup: Racial disparities and school requirements, Parental comprehension, MMR media coverage, and more

As we do periodically, here are some papers of note published recently in the medical literature. (Most require a subscription in order to view the full text.)

• "Effect of a School-Entry Vaccination Requirement on Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Hepatitis B Immunization Coverage Levels Among Public School Students" (Pediatrics, Vol. 121, No. 3); Included in an issue with several papers on vaccination, this study analyzes racial/ethnic differences in Hepatitis B vaccination status among adolescents in Illinois before and after the establishment of a school-entry requirement. The authors conclude, "There was a dramatic decrease in the disparity of hepatitis B vaccination coverage between white and black or Hispanic students. School-entry requirements effectively increased hepatitis B vaccination coverage levels regardless of race or ethnicity and should be considered for other recently recommended adolescent vaccines."

• "Parents' vaccination comprehension and decisions" (Vaccine, Vol. 26, No. 12, 1595-1607); Based on a series of in-depth interviews with parents, the researchers report on the attitudes and mental frameworks that shape feelings about vaccination. They conclude that the parents were generally favorably toward vaccination, but "many had limited understanding of how [vaccination] works, making them potentially vulnerable to misinformation (or disinformation)."

• "Media Coverage of the Measles-Mumps-Rubella Vaccine and Autism Controversy and Its Relationship to MMR Immunization Rates in the United States" (Pediatrics, Vol. 121, No. 4); This paper published by our colleagues at Penn and The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia examines changes in U.S. vaccination rates in the wake of papers published in the scientific literature suggesting a link between MMR vaccine and autism compared to mainstream media coverage of the same controversy. The authors conclude, "There was a significant increase in selective MMR nonreceipt that was temporally associated with the publication of the original scientific literature, suggesting a link between MMR and autism, which preceded media coverage of the MMR-autism controversy."

• "On message, off target: Official advice on vaccination is too often poorly transmitted" (Nature, Vol. 452, No. 128); An editorial published in response to press reports noting presumptive Republican presidential nominee John McCain's sympathy toward arguments suggesting a link between vaccines and autism. The editors argue that new, enhanced communication strategies from CDC and other agencies are necessary to counter allegations of vaccine safety concerns.