High levels of neighborhood violence increase the risk of Latino and African American teens in Denver starting to use alcohol and tobacco, according to our recent study. In the U.S.,…
Tag: Public health
PFAS in pregnant women’s drinking water puts their babies at higher risk, study finds
When pregnant women drink water that comes from wells downstream of sites contaminated with PFAS, known as “forever chemicals,” the risks to their babies’ health substantially increase, a new study…
Vaccine committee votes to scrap universal hepatitis B shots for newborns despite outcry from children’s health experts
The committee advising the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on vaccine policy voted on Dec. 5, 2025, to stop recommending that all newborns be routinely vaccinated against the hepatitis…
FDA claims on COVID-19 vaccine safety are unsupported by reliable data – and could severely hinder vaccine access
The Food and Drug Administration is seeking to drastically change procedures for testing vaccine safety and approving vaccines, based on unproven claims that mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines caused the death of…
Off-label use of COVID-19 vaccines was once discouraged but has become common amid new guidelines
Following the federal government’s changes to COVID-19 vaccine eligibility and recommendations in 2025, many people are wondering whether they can get COVID-19 vaccines for themselves or their children. In May…
Making GLP-1 weight loss drugs cheaper isn’t enough to address America’s obesity problem – here’s why
The Trump administration is making a significant effort to reduce the cost of weight loss drugs. Its agreement with pharmaceutical giants, announced Nov. 6, 2025, will reduce the monthly prices…
SNAP benefits have been cut and disrupted – causing more kids to go without enough healthy food and harming child development
About 4 in 10 of the more than 42 million Americans who get Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits are children under 18. This food aid helps their families buy groceries…
Canada loses its official ‘measles-free’ status – and the US will follow soon, as vaccination rates fall
In the wake of a measles outbreak in Canada that has infected thousands of people over the past year, an international health agency revoked the country’s measles-free status on Nov.…
Health headlines can be confusing
Every week of 2025 seems to bring a new health headline, whether it’s about climbing autism rates, changing vaccination recommendations or unexpected cancer risks. For people trying to make informed…
How autism rates are rising – and why that could lead to more inclusive communities
I can say from personal experience that being diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder can feel very isolating. Increasingly, however, it’s not unusual. In the U.S., 1 in 31 children are…
