On Sept. 4, 2025, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is scheduled to testify before the Senate Finance Committee, where he is expected to face questions about…
Tag: COVID-19
Most air cleaning devices have not been tested on people − and little is known about their potential harms, new study finds
Portable air cleaners aimed at curbing indoor spread of infections are rarely tested for how well they protect people – and very few studies evaluate their potentially harmful effects. That’s…
COVID-19 vaccines for kids are mired in uncertainty amid conflicting federal guidance
It’s August, and parents and caregivers are frantically preparing their kids for a new school year by buying supplies, filling out forms and meeting teachers. This year, many parents also…
Shingles vaccination rates rose during the COVID-19 pandemic, but major gaps remain for underserved groups
Vaccination against shingles increased among adults age 50 and older in the U.S. during the COVID-19 pandemic, but not equally across all population groups. That’s the key finding from a…
RFK Jr. says annual COVID-19 shots no longer advised for healthy children and pregnant women – a public health expert explains the new guidance
On May 27, 2025, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will no longer include the COVID-19 vaccine on…
WHO is finalizing a new treaty that prepares for the next pandemic − but the US isn’t signing
On March 20, 2025, members of the World Health Organization adopted the world’s first pandemic agreement, following three years of “intensive negotiations launched by governments in response to the devastating…
FDA limits access to COVID-19 vaccine to older adults and other high-risk groups – a public health expert explains the new rules
On May 20, 2025, the Food and Drug Administration announced a new stance on who should receive the COVID-19 vaccine. The agency said it would approve new versions of the…
FDA will approve COVID-19 vaccine only for older adults and high-risk groups – a public health expert explains the new rules
On May 20, 2025, the Food and Drug Administration announced a new stance on who should receive the COVID-19 vaccine. The agency said it would approve new versions of the…
Whooping cough is making a comeback, but the vaccine provides powerful protection
Whooping cough, a bacterial infection that can be especially dangerous for babies and young children, is on the rise. Already in 2025 the U.S. has recorded 8,485 cases. That’s compared…
The sudden dismissal of public records staff at health agencies threatens government accountability
Mass layoffs at the Department of Health and Human Services are continuing as the agency makes good on its intention, announced on March 27, 2025, to shrink its workforce by…
