The COVID-19 mRNA-based vaccines that saved 2.5 million lives globally during the pandemic could help spark the immune system to fight cancer. This is the surprising takeaway of a new…
Tag: COVID-19
2 experts explain the true role of slavery and racism in the history of public health policy – and the growing threat ignorance poses today
On Sept. 3, 2025, Florida announced its plans to be the first state to eliminate vaccine mandates for its citizens, including those for children to attend school. Current Florida law…
Pneumonia vaccines for adults are now recommended starting at age 50 – a geriatrician explains the change
Autumn brings a chill in the air – and the start of another season of respiratory illnesses, which can be especially hard for older adults. Although vaccine recommendations have been…
Vaccine death and side effects database relies on unverified reports – and Trump officials and right-wing media are applying it out of context
Trump officials intend to link 25 child deaths to COVID-19 vaccines, according to reporting from The Washington Post. These findings will reportedly be discussed during the Sept. 18-19, 2025, meeting…
How RFK Jr.’s misguided science on mRNA vaccines is shaping policy − a vaccine expert examines the false claims
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…
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…
