The Latest COVID Vaccines Come with New FDA Limits
The FDA has approved the latest COVID-19 vaccines but introduced new restrictions, limiting eligibility to individuals 65 and older or those with underlying health conditions. This marks a significant shift from earlier guidance that made vaccines widely available to nearly all age groups.
Public health experts caution that the change could create confusion and reduce access, particularly for…
CDC Warns of Huge COVID Spike Amid Internal Turmoil
The CDC reports a nationwide rise in COVID-19 activity as the Labor Day holiday approached, with test positivity rates nearing 10% and several states exceeding 15%. While deaths and hospitalizations remain stable, officials attribute the uptick to new variants, waning immunity, and seasonal gatherings. The agency noted that emergency department visits for COVID-19 are increasing across all age…
Who is Jim O’Neill, Trump’s New CDC Director?
The White House appointed Jim O’Neill as acting director of the CDC following the departure of Susan Monarez, sparking significant concern across the public health community. O’Neill, a longtime tech investor and HHS deputy, has no medical background but close ties to major political donors. His past statements advocating for reduced FDA oversight and freer health care markets have drawn scruti…
THC Vapes are Banned from Texas Retailers
Effective September 1, Texas has banned the sale of THC-laced disposable vapes in retail outlets, including smoke shops and gas stations, under Senate Bill 2024. The law targets products containing tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive component in cannabis, and also restricts vapes with parts manufactured in certain foreign countries. Retailers face substantial fines for noncompliance…
CDC Staff Reel from Shooting, Harassment, Vaccine Panel and Mass Layoffs
The CDC is navigating a period of unprecedented strain following a mass shooting at its Atlanta headquarters, harassment of staff, and the recent elimination of over 600 positions, including programs in maternal-child health, oral health, global HIV prevention, and violence prevention. Simultaneously, the agency announced a new panel to review COVID-19 mRNA vaccines, raising concerns among empl…
Mississippi Declares Public Health Emergency Over Rising Infant Mortality Rate
The Mississippi Department of Health has declared a public health emergency in response to alarming infant mortality rates, with 9.7 deaths per 1,000 births in 2024—the state’s highest rate in over a decade and more than 60% above the national average. Since 2014, more than 3,500 Mississippi infants have died before their first birthday.
State health officials outlined strategies including ex…
Will SNAP Junk Food Restrictions Help Make America Healthy Again?
Twelve states have gained federal approval to restrict purchases of soda, candy, and other unhealthy foods through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), sparking national debate on the best path to improve nutrition and reduce chronic disease.
Supporters argue restrictions could lower the $1.1 trillion annual cost of diet-related disease and reduce taxpayer burden, while criti…