CDC Public Health Grand Rounds to Explore Vaccine Effectiveness Methodologies
CDC’s upcoming Public Health Grand Rounds will examine practical approaches to measuring vaccine effectiveness and the implications for public health practice.
Scheduled for June 10, 2026, from 1:00–2:30 p.m. ET, the virtual Zoom session will explore how different study designs and analytical methods are applied across settings, highlighting their strengths and limitations.
Experts i…
Pain in the Nation 2026: the Epidemics of Alcohol, Drug, and Suicide Deaths
The Trust for America’s Health report “Pain in the Nation 2026” finds that after peaking in 2021, the combined age-adjusted death rate from alcohol, drug, and suicide causes declined by 16% in 2024, continuing a 4% decline in 2023.
Drug overdose deaths fell 26%, alcohol-induced deaths 4%, and suicide deaths 3%, with broad declines across most demographic groups and regions. Despite this progr…
Uninsurance Rate Holds Flat in 2025: CDC
CDC preliminary data indicate that in 2025, 8.3% of Americans—about 28 million people—were uninsured, essentially flat compared with 8.2% in 2024. Uninsurance was highest among adults aged 18–64 at 11.6%, compared with 5.6% of children and 0.7% of seniors, with no significant year-over-year changes across age groups.
Longer-term trends show declines, including a drop among adults from 13…
5 Ways to Reduce Everyday Exposure to 'Forever Chemicals'
PFAS are widespread in drinking water, food, and consumer products, with nearly all U.S. residents showing measurable blood levels. About half of U.S. tap water contains detectable PFAS, making drinking water a key exposure pathway.
Evidence suggests that reducing exposure can lower body concentrations over time. Recommended actions include checking local or private well water testing results…
Blood Test Added to Colorectal Cancer Screening Options by Cancer Group
The American Cancer Society has added the FDA-approved Shield blood test to its colorectal cancer screening recommendations, aiming to increase screening uptake among the roughly one-third of Americans who are not current with screening guidelines.
The test, which detects tumor DNA fragments in blood, was shown to identify 83% of colorectal cancers but is less effective at detecting early-sta…
UnitedHealthcare Removing Prior Approval for Most Pediatric Services
UnitedHealthcare announced it will eliminate approximately two-thirds of prior authorization requirements for members under age 18 by the end of 2026, removing preapproval requirements for many diagnostic services, routine surgical procedures, and specialty care across pediatric fields including cardiology, neurology, pulmonology, and orthopedics.
The insurer said authorization will still be…
Americans Exposed to Ebola Won't Immediately Return to U.S.
Senior U.S. administration officials said Americans exposed to Ebola in Africa will be quarantined in Kenya and, if they test positive, transferred to treatment facilities in Europe rather than returning directly to the United States.
Officials said the approach is intended to expedite access to care while CDC and the State Department identify appropriate high-level treatment sites. A 50-bed…