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Tumultuous FDA upends regulations on vaccines and medications
As most experienced, knowledgeable leaders leave or are pushed out of the FDA, Trump appointees are quietly changing the way vaccines and medications are regulated. I’ve been following vaccine regulations and recommendations closely, and I’m concerned about the future of vaccines — and certain politicized medications — in the United States. Today, I wanted to…
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When Trump targets the homeless, we’re all at risk
Americans are losing affordable housing under Trump. And his new executive order goes even further. Before he began deploying federal agents, the National Guard, and the D.C. police to clear urban camping sites, Trump issued a new executive order on homelessness. It made immediate waves among people focused on housing, but otherwise it’s not gotten…
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Measles-stricken children in Texas had “intense” symptoms, anti-vaxxers say
“It was, like, quite intense, those little babies with those sort of almost whooping coughs.” One of the most prominent anti-vaccine activists in the U.S., Brian Hooker, says he caught measles in West Texas and traveled back home. That means either: I wrote about this for the Guardian today, and I hope you’re able to click and…
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How RFK Jr. made millions from vaccine lawsuits
His actions as health secretary could lead to widespread vaccine shortages, illness, death — and personal enrichment. My editor at the New Republic recently asked me what I thought of the latest news on vaccines. He was referring to the decision by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., secretary of health and human services, to fire 17…
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RFK Jr. recommends new vaccines after months of delay
With no official or acting CDC director, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is in charge of the CDC — and recommending vaccines is the one job he can’t delegate. Who is in charge at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention? I reported on this last week for the Guardian — and the answer was…
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Why does John Green think everything is tuberculosis?
A resurgence of the deadliest infectious disease could be on the horizon. But increased funding could end it for good. I wrote recently for the Guardian about TBFighters, a group of people who are trying to end tuberculosis. The entire piece was a delight to write; I really enjoyed meeting everyone I interviewed, and I’m…
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What gives me hope
As the Trump administration attacks science and expertise, and a measles outbreak is already testing its laidback approach to health, ordinary people are fighting back. There’s a good/infuriating article about anti-vaccine sentiment in West Texas during the growing measles outbreak there. It’s really illuminating and I recommend reading it, if you’re able. This line has…
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Should I be worried about measles?
Here’s the lowdown on measles in the U.S., and whether you should get a measles booster. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has only been health secretary for a few weeks, but already he’s facing a test that reveals his approach to infectious diseases. A measles outbreak is spiraling in the American Southwest, with a total of…
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What RFK Jr. and other nominees will mean for our health
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a decades-long vaccine conspiracist and AIDS denialist, was confirmed as head of Health and Human Services yesterday. Other nominees are still waiting for their hearings. First, we’re going to talk about RFK Jr. and what all this means. But then I want to talk about the nominations for other health agencies…
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It’s time to become a public health superfan
If you’re looking for ways to take action, try getting involved with local and state public health. I wrote for The New Republic today about what Donald Trump’s victory means for public health. There’s a lot to unpack about what will likely happen, but I wanted to highlight what we can do about it. In…
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RFK Jr doesn’t need a Trump admin job to control public health
The two most influential anti-vaxxers in the U.S.—Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Donald Trump—are teaming up, which could give Kennedy control over health agencies. At his Madison Square Garden rally last week, Donald Trump talked about his new (or, at least, newly public) partnership with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., one of the most powerful anti-vaxxers…
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Respiratory virus season is here
But vaccination rates for Covid, flu, and RSV remain low, worrying healthcare providers. Welcome to Not a Doctor. I’m Melody Schreiber, a journalist and the editor of What We Didn’t Expect: Personal Stories About Premature Birth. I’m not a doctor, or a scientist, or really an expert of any kind. I just like to ask questions and try to find…
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