All articles tagged with #vaccinations
An opinion piece arguing that eroding vaccine trust and policy shifts risk the United States losing its measles elimination status, with rising cases and outbreaks prompting warnings that measles could become endemic again unless vaccination coverage and institutional trust are restored, underscoring the need for evidence-based guidance and physician‑led conversations.
Moderna is launching a large-scale human trial of an mRNA vaccine for H5N1 bird flu after the Department of Health and Human Services canceled hundreds of millions in funding for vaccine development, signaling a shift in U.S. pandemic preparedness.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the U.S. military will drop the universal annual flu vaccine mandate, allowing troops to opt in if they choose. He framed the move as ending an overly broad requirement to strengthen war-fighting capabilities, while public health experts warn it could weaken readiness by increasing flu cases, missed duty days and costs.
Health Secretary RFK Jr. will be grilled in a marathon congressional hearing over his vaccine policies, leadership changes at the agency, and the department’s budget, as vaccines debates and midterm politics shape the questions.
The Washington Post’s The Post's View argues that RFK Jr.’s push to loosen peptide regulations contradicts FDA scientists’ warnings that many peptides are ineffective and potentially dangerous, accusing him of hypocrisy for promoting an experimental wellness trend while doubting vaccines.
Pfizer and Valneva report that their four-dose experimental Lyme disease vaccine reduced infections by more than 70% in a 9,400-person trial and plan to seek regulatory approval, potentially becoming the first widely available Lyme vaccine; a previous vaccine, LYMErix, drew controversy despite no proven harm.
Washington Post health writer Fenit Nirappil reflects on the COVID-19 era—the toll on hospitals, masking and lockdowns, and how vaccine messaging and politics shifted public perception—arguing that four core truths have become clouded over time.
The CDC has updated its travel advisory, highlighting about 30 polio-circulating countries (including the UK, Germany and Pakistan) and urging travelers to ensure timely polio vaccination. Polio remains a global risk even though the U.S. has been polio-free since 1979; vaccines (like IPV) provide long-term protection, so travelers should verify their vaccination status and consult CDC country notices before trips.
In a Washington Post Ask a Vet column, Dr. Jane Sykes outlines the five core vaccines dogs need, explains why they protect against serious diseases like leptospirosis and parvo, and discusses why annual vaccination is increasingly emphasized over the older three‑year cycle to safeguard both canine and public health.
Vinay Prasad, the FDA’s controversial head of vaccines and complex therapies, will step down at the end of April after a tenure marked by divisive drug and vaccine decisions and a push to tighten vaccine approvals; his tenure included a prior brief removal and quick reinstatement in 2025.
GP Dr Philippa Kaye explains COPD is a chronic, incurable lung condition often linked to smoking; while not curable, symptoms can be markedly improved by quitting smoking (the single most important step), engaging in supervised exercise via a pulmonary rehabilitation program, using inhalers correctly, maintaining a healthy weight, and staying up to date with vaccines (flu, pneumococcal, RSV). Seek GP help if breathlessness or coughing worsens.
Surgeon general nominee Casey Means faced questions from the Senate Health Committee about her views on vaccines, pesticides, and RFK Jr.’s vaccine stance, while lawmakers scrutinized her past business ties and potential conflicts of interest as they weigh her nomination.
The Washington Post notes that with the U.S. seeing more than 900 measles cases so far this year (per CDC), measles is a “canary in the coal mine” for public health. Experts warn that if vaccination rates keep falling, nine other vaccine-preventable diseases could re-emerge, including rubella, meningitis and hepatitis, underscoring the need to maintain high vaccination coverage to prevent larger outbreaks.
The Washington Post reports that RFK Jr., depicted as health secretary, has long campaigned against vaccines and has tied his own voice-change to the flu vaccine—an assertion medical experts say lacks scientific support. Amid a severe flu season, federal guidance was revised to no longer routinely recommend flu vaccines for children and adolescents, and Kennedy ordered an end to a government flu-vaccine ad campaign, signaling a notable shift in public health policy.
The FDA reversed its earlier decision and will review Moderna’s first mRNA-based influenza vaccine after Moderna agreed to conduct additional studies in older adults under a revised review process.