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Good morning. Yesterday I noticed a press launch with the headline “Seabirds solely poop whereas flying” and thought — wow, science is wonderful. Anyway, we’ve bought three bits of vaccine/virus information to begin you off this morning, plus extra on oblique analysis prices, contraception, and wildfires.
Main pediatric group makes its personal vaccine recs
The American Academy of Pediatrics launched its personal immunization schedule for viruses together with influenza, RSV, and Covid-19 this morning. The AAP recommends the covid shot for all youngsters 6 months to virtually 2 years of age, in addition to older children who’re at greater threat for extreme illness. This diverts from the FDA’s vaccine framework, which limits entry to Covid vaccines to folks 65 and older, plus others who’re at excessive threat of changing into severely in poor health if they’re contaminated.
“The AAP will proceed to supply suggestions for immunizations which are rooted in science and are in one of the best curiosity of the well being of infants, youngsters and adolescents,” AAP President Susan J. Kressly stated in a press release. It’s unclear what is going to occur now, because the AAP has been in sync with the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices for many years. Learn extra from STAT’s Anil Oza on what’s forward.
Texas declares measles outbreak over
The Texas Division of State Well being Providers declared yesterday that the measles outbreak centered within the western a part of the state is over after greater than 42 days with out a new case. In complete, 762 folks had been reported sick because of the outbreak and two youngsters died.
To place that in context: Midway by means of the yr, the U.S. reported extra confirmed measles instances for 2025 than any yr in over a quarter-century. There have been a minimum of 27 outbreaks throughout the nation, however the one in West Texas has been the biggest, accounting for a majority of instances. Some specialists have been involved that the U.S. would lose its official measles elimination standing.
“Definitely, given the proportion of children within the nation who aren’t vaccinated in opposition to measles, it appears fairly doable that if it doesn’t occur this yr, it’d occur someday quickly,” STAT’s Helen Branswell stated final month in a video on the outbreak. The AP has extra on the tip of the outbreak in Texas.
About these conflicts of curiosity RFK Jr. talked about …
One final piece of vaccine information for you: Conflicts of curiosity on CDC and FDA vaccine panels have declined to “traditionally low ranges” lately, in line with a examine revealed yesterday in JAMA. The findings are prone to enhance debate over a contentious challenge pushed by well being secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who fired each member of the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices in June.
“A clear sweep is required to re-establish public confidence in vaccine science,” Kennedy wrote in regards to the resolution in a Wall Avenue Journal op-ed. However between the years 2000 and 2024, the speed of conflicts on ACIP dropped from practically 43% to five%, researchers discovered. And on the FDA’s Vaccines and Associated Organic Merchandise Advisory Committee, the speed fell from 11% to 0. Learn extra on the information from STAT’s Ed Silverman.
Can this man fend off cuts to science funding?
Kelvin Droegemeier (above) is one thing of an endangered species as of late — he’s a scientist with credibility each inside academia and in conservative circles. He ran the White Home Workplace of Science and Expertise Coverage for a part of President Trump’s first time period and has, over time, solid an in depth community of relationships with policymakers and researchers to deal with thorny problems with nationwide significance. Now, these abilities are being put to the check as billions of {dollars} dangle within the stability.
Droegemeier is main an effort by a coalition of educational teams hoping to supply a viable various to the Trump administration’s plan for reshaping analysis funding, notably on the subject of oblique prices. “It’s crucial, however it’s actually troublesome. And folks have been speaking about doing this for many years,” stated Neal Lane, who led OSTP underneath President Clinton. “Kelvin is basically fearless.”
Learn extra from STAT’s Jonathan Wosen about Droegemeier’s function on this high-stakes, politically charged, and wonky struggle. And in case you look again within the STAT archives, you’ll see this isn’t the primary time we’ve requested if this man can do what looks like an inconceivable activity.
Early information on over-the-counter contraception
After receiving FDA approval in 2023, the primary over-the-counter contraception drugs within the U.S. hit cabinets final spring. A examine revealed yesterday in JAMA Community Open discovered that individuals who bought the tablet OTC had been extra possible than those that had prescriptions to be uninsured, underneath the age of 20, and dwelling in rural areas.
Researchers surveyed near 1,000 folks at bodily and digital pharmacies to get a greater understanding of how entry to the treatment might have modified. In addition they discovered that OTC customers had been about 32% extra prone to have beforehand used no contraception strategies, and 41% extra prone to be shifting from much less efficient strategies.
Whereas it’s a small examine, the outcomes point out that OTC entry can enhance the uptake of efficient contraception, the authors wrote. The tablet, which is a progestin-only treatment, prices about $50 for a three-month provide. However there’s nonetheless room for enchancment: only a quarter of reproductive-age girls have heard of the OTC product, in line with a KFF survey from Sept. 2024.
The hidden neurological toll of wildfires
As wildfires grow to be extra widespread, there’s a rising physique of analysis exploring the deleterious well being results confronted by individuals who dwell by means of them. One latest examine discovered that long-term publicity to particulates from wildfire smoke is linked to a better threat of growing dementia. It’s a part of a disturbing sample, the place a number of the most extreme results on mind growth, well being, and performance don’t manifest till months to years after publicity, with some impacts not totally obvious for a era.
In a brand new First Opinion essay, a neuroscientist and a knowledge reporter clarify how unprepared our present catastrophe response programs are to handle the neurological well being impacts of fires. “As local weather disasters grow to be extra frequent and extreme, defending neurological well being should grow to be a central part of emergency preparedness and restoration efforts,” they write. Learn extra on how the authors assume we will change our strategy.
What we’re studying
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What my daughter instructed ChatGPT earlier than she took her life, New York Instances
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Non-public-equity backed jail well being firms proceed regardless of decade of alleged constitutional violations, The Guardian
- Why direct-to-consumer gross sales are unlikely to considerably decrease drug prices, STAT
- Vaccine exemption requests in Texas spike in July, as some specialists worry extra households will decide out, Texas Tribune
- First Opinion: Examine saying month-to-month money received’t assist youngsters’s well being is extremely deceptive — even irresponsible, STAT
