Search

Long-COVID patients more likely to report psychiatric symptoms, cost barriers to therapy

… treated if they received counseling or psychiatric medications for their symptoms. The median participant age …
Mary Van Beusekom
Depressed young man

US flu and COVID levels climb higher as RSV remains elevated

Though COVID wastewater and test positivity are higher than last year at this time, medical encounters are trending lower.

Lisa Schnirring
woman fever kleenex

USDA shares recent H5N1 avian flu sequences amid more dairy herd outbreaks

In other developments, antiviral susceptibility testing shows that H5N1 is susceptible to neuraminidase inhibitor antiviral drugs.

Lisa Schnirring
woman in milking parlor

COVID may have eroded doctors' belief that they are obligated to treat infectious patients

Reasons cited for accepting the option of refusing treatment included unreasonable risk to physicians and their families and labor rights and worker protection.

Mary Van Beusekom
Exhausted healthcare worker wearing N95

Paper strip test can identify flu subtypes, may have other applications, scientists say

… Teaser image Teaser text The results may guide choice of medications and aid surveillance efforts, the authors say. …
Mary Van Beusekom
About to perform nasal swab

VA study finds diagnostic uncertainty is common with pneumonia

In more than half of Veterans Affairs patients hospitalized for pneumonia over 8 years, the diagnosis of pneumonia changed between initial presentation and hospital discharge.

Chris Dall
Doctor listening to patient breathing with stethoscope

Report: Flu vaccine over 50% effective against severe illness among US children from 2015 to 2020

Vaccine effectiveness was similar across disease severity levels.

Mary Van Beusekom
Hospitalized child with flu

US travel clinics don't offer many patients pneumococcal or flu vaccines, study suggests

In most cases, the provider didn't think the vaccine was indicated for the traveler's itinerary. 

Mary Van Beusekom
Mt. Fuji

Trial supports shorter antibiotic treatment for bloodstream infections

… a 7-day treatment strategy requires no new expensive medications or technologies, could lead to large savings in … a 7-day treatment strategy requires no new expensive medications or technologies, could lead to large savings in …
Chris Dall
Bloodstream infection illustration

Study finds few outpatient antibiotic prescriptions for kids are optimal

Researchers found that less than one-third of outpatient antibiotics prescribed for children in Tennessee were consistent with guidelines for antibiotic choice and duration.

Chris Dall
Doctor examining child's ears

Kennedy confirmed as US health secretary

Despite a history of anti-vaccine advocacy, Kennedy was confirmed as Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services by a 52-48 vote.

Chris Dall
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Former NIH officials file whistleblower complaint

The officials say they were removed from leadership positions over their objections to the Trump administration's hostility toward vaccines and suspension of funding for clinical trials and foreign research.

Chris Dall
National Institutes of Health building

1 in 5 COVID survivors still have symptoms 3 years after severe infection, analysis estimates

Neurologic, pulmonary, and cardiovascular manifestations were most prevalent.

Mary Van Beusekom
Older man in park with shortness of breath

Adults largely don't need tetanus, diphtheria vaccine boosters, researchers say

Childhood vaccination has ensured that diphtheria and tetanus are "incredibly rare," the authors say.

Mary Van Beusekom
Arm being vaccinated
E
190

Episode 190: Courage Over Fear

In "Courage Over Fear," Dr. Osterholm and Chris Dall discuss the critical Vaccine Integrity Project respiratory virus immunization meeting, recent federal actions to sow disinformation on vaccines, and encourage public servants, including those at CDC, who are facing fear amidst violence. Dr. Osterholm also covers the latest COVID data and reviews a new pre-print study on H5N1 avian influenza transmission. 

CIDRAP Vaccine Integrity Project Respiratory Virus Vaccine Meeting

Statement: CIDRAP stands behind public health officials after attack on CDC (CIDRAP)

 

Resources for vaccine and public health advocacy:

Voices for Vaccines

Families Fighting Flu

Vaccinate Your Family

Shot@Life

Medical Reserve Corps

Learn more about the Vaccine Integrity Project

MORE EPISODES      

SUPPORT THIS PODCAST

August 21, 2025
E
151

Episode 151: Harm Reduction

In this episode, Dr. Osterholm and Chris Dall discuss COVID isolation guidelines, the BA.2.87.1 variant, and the importance of measles and other rare public health threats. 

February 22, 2024
E
148

Episode 148: No Time to Quit

In "No Time to Quit," Dr. Osterholm and Chris Dall discuss the JN.1 variant, Paxlovid uptake, and COVID-19 vaccine disinformation. Dr. Osterholm also provides an update on influenza and RSV transmission and shares the latest "This Week in Public Health History" segment. 

    Opinion: The U.S. is facing the biggest COVID wave since Omicron. Why are we still playing make-believe? (Eric Topol, LA Times)
    Paxlovid Cuts Covid Death Risk. But Those Who Need It Are Not Taking It (Christina Jewett, New York Times)
    COMMENTARY: What can masks do? Part 1: The science behind COVID-19 protection (Brosseau et al., CIDRAP)
January 11, 2024

Only 1% of immune-impaired US adults have gotten the recommended 5 COVID vaccine doses

… high-dose corticosteroids versus patients not taking these medications (HR, 0.88). Some types of immunocompromising conditions and medications were tied to a higher probability of fourth-dose …
Mary Van Beusekom
Woman receiving a shot

CDC advisers recommend RSV vaccine for pregnant women to protect newborns

Though the group welcomed new tools for cutting RSV in infants, they acknowledged complex practice challenges ahead.

Lisa Schnirring
pregnant vax

Antibiotic pipeline not active enough to fight deadliest bacteria, WHO says

… bacteria, WHO says Teaser image Teaser text Gaps include medications for children, convenient oral formulations for … category. The antibiotic-development pipeline is lacking medications for children, convenient oral formulations for …
Mary Van Beusekom
Global antimicrobial resistance

Women twice as likely as men to report local flu, COVID vaccine side effects, data suggest

… their family and  were more likely to use over-the-counter medications (24.% vs 15.6% of men) and to schedule COVID-19 …
Mary Van Beusekom
Vaccinating a woman

Study, report highlight threat of antimicrobial resistance in refugees

Conflict and humanitarian crises are creating conditions that could potentially expose millions of displaced people to the threat of AMR.

Chris Dall
Refugee camp in Turkey

Paxlovid cuts COVID hospitalization, death risk and speeds symptom relief, studies find

The antiviral drug was also found to lead to a reduction in the use of healthcare resources.

Mary Van Beusekom
Paxlovid box and pills

Trial data show ensitrelvir has potent antiviral activity against COVID-19

… for COVID-19. While Paxlovid has become one of the primary medications for mild-to-moderate illness from COVID, it's … antiviral for immune-compromised patients who take medications that interact with ritonavir. They also note that …
Chris Dall
Person with pill in hand

Surveys find strong confidence in childhood vaccines but deepening partisan divides; most adults reject COVID shot

Overall, 63% of Americans say they are extremely or very confident that routine childhood vaccines are effective at preventing serious illness. 

Laine Bergeson
baby at doctor's office

Our underwriters