All 50 states in the U.S. allow exemptions from vaccination for students who have medical issues, and most allow religious exemptions.  Researchers from the Rollins School of Public Health compared vaccination policies and rates of exemption from school-based immunizations in the U.S. and found that non-medical exemptions increased at a heightened rate from 2005 to 2011. Their study findings are published in a letter in the September 20 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. Lead author for the study is Saad B. Omer, PhD assistant professor of global health, epidemiology and pediatrics at Rollins and Emory's School of Medicine.

Press release >

The U.S. health care system wasted $750 billion on unnecessary and overpriced medical tests and treatments, administrative fees, medical fraud and missed prevention opportunities in 2009, according to a new report released by the Institute of Medicine. The report suggested the money squandered on services that failed to improve Americans’ health could have provided health insurance for more than 150 million workers. “I hope our policy makers read this report closely. It should serve as the foundation going forward for how to fix our health care system,” said Kenneth E. Thorpe, PhD, professor and chair of the Health Policy and Management department at Rollins.

Read the ABC News article >

Rollins is gearing up for its annual alumni weekend of events during Emory Homecoming 2012. On September 29, the Alumni Awards Ceremony will honor Stan Foster, MD, '82 MPH, with the distinguished achievement award for lifetime achievement in public health. Rosemarie Kobau, '00 MPH will be honored with the Matthew Lee Girvin Award for early career contributions to the field of public health.

To register for awards ceremony >