"Protecting public trust in immunization"

That's the title of an article in the current issue of Pediatrics (Vol. 122, No. 1, 149-153), a timely one given the ever-increasing rate of public attention to confirmed or alleged vaccine-related safety concerns. The authors present a persuasive account of the factors that are driving contemporary controversies as well as why they seem to have commanded greater attention in recent years.

The authors offer a set of policy recommendations aimed at preserving (and, in some cases, improving) public trust, suggesting improvements in public information and public engagement regarding new vaccines and vaccination programs. In particular, the authors call for increased attention and funding to the science of immunization safety, particularly by strengthening coordination efforts at the top levels of the Department of Health & Human Services.

It's a very interesting paper that offers an even-handed assessment of the successes, challenges, and present shortcomings of national vaccination efforts.