In "Serious Challenges Ahead: RFK Jr and a New HHS," Dr. Osterholm and Chris Dall discuss the recent nomination of RFK Jr. as Secretary of Health and Human Services. They also discuss the latest COVID data, a global increase in measles cases, and a decline in STI incidence in the United States.
CIDRAP Superbugs & You Podcast
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Physicians say a federal advisory panel's proposed restrictions on hepatitis B vaccine are part of a broad assault on vaccine access.
In "Flu Takes Charge" Dr. Osterholm and Chris Dall give us an update on the emerging flu season, Dr. Osterholm covers a new poll that shows fewer Americans are willing to recommend the MMR vaccine, and we'll hear about the Vaccine Integrity Project's latest video.
Protecting Vaccine Integrity in 2025: Evidence, Access, and Public TrustResources 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
We all look forward to summer, that time of year when we can spend more time outside and less time worrying about things like colds and flu. However, the warm summer months can bring their own infectious disease threats, whether it's ticks, mosquitoes, or foodborne parasites. This week, hosts Chris Dall and Dr. Michael Osterholm discuss some of these summertime infectious disease threats, from the growing cyclospora outbreak in the US, to new research that suggests the tickborne allergy alpha-gal syndrome may be under-recognized. They'll also bring you the latest on the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and answer a question about the World Cup.
Links:Workers at an Ebola treatment center in Congo strike over unpaid salaries and bonuses (The Associated Press)What we truly know about the huge US Cyclospora outbreak—and what we don’t (CIDRAP)1 in 4 adults in tick-heavy states test positive for alpha-gal antibodies (CIDRAP)
Resources for vaccine and public health advocacy:
Music:
"Beauty Flow" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
In "Remembering Darkness, Sharing Light: Five Years Later" Dr. Osterholm and Chris Dall reflect on the COVID-19 pandemic's 5-year anniversary, examine the latest federal actions affecting public health, and provide an update on the measles outbreak in Texas. Dr. Osterholm also answers an ID query on the current recommendations for COVID-19 vaccines and reviews national trends in respiratory illnesses.
In "A Tunnel of Uncertainty," Dr. Osterholm and Chris Dall discuss several of Trump's recent HHS nominations, the latest respiratory virus data, and two recent studies on long COVID. Dr. Osterholm also provides an update on the unfolding H5N1 situation and shares another "This Week in Public Health History" segment.
The effect of pre-COVID and post-COVID vaccination on long COVID: a systematic review and meta-analysis (Chow et al., Journal of Infection)
Association of messenger RNA coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination and reductions in post COVID conditions following severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection in a US prospective cohort of essential workers (Mak et al., Journal of Infectious Diseases)
Photos of Dr. Osterholm in Wicked
In "Our Light, Our Fight," Dr. Osterholm and Chris Dall discuss the remaking of the CDC's vaccine advisory group, ACIP, provide a updates on measles, H5N1, COVID-19, and mpox. Dr. Osterholm also shares a list of resources on how to get involved and "organize" around vaccine policy.
Viewpoint: RFK's reckless firing of CDC vaccine advisors not supported by evidence (Vaccine Integrity Project Staff and Advisers)
CIDRAP mpox news updates (CIDRAP)
Resources to take action:
In this special update, Dr. Osterholm and Chris Dall recap the events of last week's ACIP meeting and what it means for COVID, MMRV, and hepatitis B vaccine availability.
