All articles tagged with #vaccines
A new study in The Lancet Oncology finds that 2.3 million cancer cases in 2024, or 12% of the global total, were caused by infections. Helicobacter pylori and HPV are the leading drivers, but vaccines and treatments exist for most of these cases. Low- and middle-income countries bear 77% of this burden due to limited access to prevention.
A new World Health Organization study published in The Lancet Oncology finds that 12% of global cancer cases in 2024, totaling 2.3 million, were caused by infections. Five pathogens account for nearly all cases, with Helicobacter pylori and HPV leading. The research highlights that many of these cancers are preventable through vaccination and treatment, though access remains limited in low-income regions.
As respiratory virus season begins, flu, COVID-19, and RSV vaccines are available. Due to changes in the CDC's advisory committee, independent medical groups issued 2026-27 recommendations. Early flu activity is rising in the West, and insurers are covering these shots.
A study in The Lancet Oncology estimates that infections caused 2.3 million new cancer cases worldwide in 2024, representing 12% of all diagnoses. Helicobacter pylori and HPV were the leading causes, each responsible for 4% of cases. While vaccines and treatments exist for many of these pathogens, access remains uneven, with 75% of cases occurring in low- and middle-income countries.
Updated COVID-19 vaccines targeting the XFG variant are now available in the US, with the FDA approving four formulations in late August. While medical groups broadly recommend vaccination to prevent severe illness, public uptake remains mixed due to lingering skepticism. A new JAMA review confirms that updated shots significantly reduce hospitalizations and deaths, particularly for older adults, though no specific data exists yet for the 2026-2027 formula.
Heidi Overton, the nominee for FDA commissioner, testified before the Senate Health Committee on Thursday, affirming the safety of vaccines while avoiding direct confrontation with President Trump’s claims. Her confirmation faces uncertainty due to divided Republican support and ongoing reviews of abortion pill regulations.
FDA nominee Heidi Overton’s confirmation path is complicated by conflicting testimony on abortion pills and vaccines, drawing criticism from both sides of the aisle.
Heidi Overton, President Trump’s nominee for FDA commissioner, faced a contentious Senate confirmation hearing on September 24, 2026. Her path to confirmation is complicated by conflicting stances on mifepristone and vaccines, drawing criticism from both Democrats and moderate Republicans. While she affirmed the safety of the measles vaccine, contradicting the President, her ambiguous stance on abortion pills and lack of agency leadership experience have raised doubts among key committee members.
Dr. Heidi Overton faces a contentious Senate confirmation hearing for FDA commissioner, where she must navigate conflicting demands from Republican senators regarding abortion pill access and vaccine safety, while biotech industry leaders await clarity on regulatory stability.
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is preparing to fundamentally alter how childhood vaccines are categorized and recommended, a move that has triggered urgent warnings from public health experts, legal advocates, and state governors. The changes stem from an August 2026 executive order by President Donald Trump, which mandated a reevaluation of the childhood vaccine schedule and the revival of a defunct vaccine task force. HHS recently concluded a public comment period on a Request for Information (RFI) that questions the current three-tier recommendation system: routine/universal, risk-based, and shared clinical decision-making (SCDM). While HHS frames the review around 'individual autonomy' and 'religious freedom,' critics argue the proposed new categories lack scientific basis and will cause widespread confusion. This debate unfolds against a backdrop of a severe measles resurgence, with the U.S. experiencing its worst year since 1991, including 792 cases and four deaths in Pennsylvania alone. State officials and legal groups are urging HHS to maintain a stable, evidence-based framework to prevent a collapse in vaccination rates and a return of preventable diseases.
Local doctors in the Chicago area report an uptick in common respiratory viruses as schools reopen and urge flu and COVID-19 vaccination ahead of fall. At the same time, outlets report a nationwide rise in measles — more than 3,400 cases this year, with nine confirmed in Tennessee — prompting renewed calls to check MMR status.
Trump teased splitting childhood vaccines into five '20% doses' every six months to reshape the vaccine schedule, claiming it would massively reduce autism—a claim debunked by science. Experts warned such dosing could render vaccines ineffective, while Merck defended evidence-based immunization policies. The idea follows earlier executive orders and court battles over changes to the ACIP-recommended schedule that regulators have sought to adjust but which have faced legal challenges.
Doctors expect a busy fall/winter sick season with flu (A earlier, B later) spreading alongside COVID-19 and RSV, especially in indoor settings. Flu season typically runs from September/October through March/April, peaking in December–January, and national activity is already slowly rising. The southern hemisphere had a typical season this year, offering limited reassurance. Vaccination remains crucial to reduce severe illness, though flu vaccination rates remain below the 70% target and in some groups have dropped since the pandemic.
Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy urged President Trump to publicly affirm vaccine safety amid a rising measles outbreak, warning that questioning immunization could lead to more illness and deaths; he criticized the idea of splitting MMR into separate doses, emphasized vaccines' safety and proper timing, and called for a clear, evidence-based government message as the administration weighs vaccine policy and nods to FDA and surgeon general nominees.
Sen. Bill Cassidy urged the FDA's nomination for Heidi Overton to publicly reject Donald Trump’s claim that the measles vaccine is lethal, saying such statements are absurd and that Overton should be honest about vaccine safety if confirmed as head of the FDA. The Senate HELP Committee is set to review Overton’s nomination this week, with Cassidy contrasting this stance with vaccine-supportive testimony from other officials.