American Journal of Public Health
Volume 106, Issue 2 (February 2016)
http://ajph.aphapublications.org/toc/ajph/current

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AJPH PERSPECTIVES
Protecting Personally Identifiable Information When Using Online Geographic Tools for Public Health Research
American Journal of Public Health: February 2016, Vol. 106, No. 2: 206–208.
Michael D. M. Bader, Stephen J. Mooney, Andrew G. Rundle
[No abstract]

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Integrating Systems Science and Community-Based Participatory Research to Achieve Health Equity
American Journal of Public Health: February 2016, Vol. 106, No. 2: 215–222.
Leah Frerichs, Kristen Hassmiller Lich, Gaurav Dave, Giselle Corbie-Smith
ABSTRACT
Unanswered questions about racial and socioeconomic health disparities may be addressed using community-based participatory research and systems science. Community-based participatory research is an orientation to research that prioritizes developing capacity, improving trust, and translating knowledge to action. Systems science provides research methods to study dynamic and interrelated forces that shape health disparities. Community-based participatory research and systems science are complementary, but their integration requires more research. We discuss paradigmatic, socioecological, capacity-building, colearning, and translational synergies that help advance progress toward health equity.

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AJPH POLICY
Use of Fees to Discourage Nonmedical Exemptions to School Immunization Laws in US States
American Journal of Public Health: February 2016, Vol. 106, No. 2: 269–270.
John K. Billington, Saad B. Omer
Abstract
Recent outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases in the United States have renewed public discourse about state vaccine mandates for children entering schools. With acknowledgment of the challenge of eliminating religious and philosophical exemptions in most states, some have proposed instead to impose additional administrative burdens for parents seeking such exemptions. We review the use of taxes, fines, and fees as financial disincentives in public health. We argue that adding processing fees to a comprehensive set of administrative requirements for obtaining exemptions will avoid the use of taxpayer funding for exemption processing and will help tilt the balance of convenience in favor of vaccination.

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AJPH LAW AND ETHICS
Ethics and Childhood Vaccination Policy in the United States
American Journal of Public Health: February 2016, Vol. 106, No. 2: 273–278.
Kristin S. Hendrix, Lynne A. Sturm, Gregory D. Zimet, Eric M. Meslin
Abstract
Childhood immunization involves a balance between parents’ autonomy in deciding whether to immunize their children and the benefits to public health from mandating vaccines. Ethical concerns about pediatric vaccination span several public health domains, including those of policymakers, clinicians, and other professionals.

In light of ongoing developments and debates, we discuss several key ethical issues concerning childhood immunization in the United States and describe how they affect policy development and clinical practice. We focus on ethical considerations pertaining to herd immunity as a community good, vaccine communication, dismissal of vaccine-refusing families from practice, and vaccine mandates.

Clinicians and policymakers need to consider the nature and timing of vaccine-related discussions and invoke deliberative approaches to policymaking.