Next Week in Public Health, December 4, 2025

By the time you read this, we’ll be in Qatar for a gathering of the Global Implementation Society. If you haven’t noticed, you can now convert this website to Arabic, along with several other languages.
También sé hablar español, así que esto es de gran ayuda.

If we have one value, it’s that:

La ciencia es un bien público.

المعرفة منفعة عامة.

Here’s what’s in the research and in the news.

Kennedy’s handpicked CDC advisers to weigh major change to childhood vaccine schedule

CDC vaccine advisers are considering altering the hepatitis B vaccination schedule for newborns, potentially delaying the first dose by up to several years. Experts warn that such a change could lead to increased hepatitis B infections and deaths, undermining decades of progress in disease prevention.

Meet CDC’s new lead vaccine advisor who thinks shots cause heart disease

Martin Kulldorff is stepping down as chair of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, which has faced controversy over changes influenced by anti-vaccine groups. He will be replaced by Kirk Milhoan, a pediatric oncologist with a history of spreading COVID-19 misinformation. The committee, now chaired by Milhoan, plans to vote on removing the recommendation to vaccinate newborns against hepatitis B, despite evidence of its safety and effectiveness in preventing chronic infection.

Tattoo Ink Can Harm Immune System

A recent study highlights that certain tattoo inks can negatively affect the immune system, potentially leading to long-term health issues. This finding raises concerns about the widespread, often casual use of tattooing practices and underscores the need to regulate tattoo ink components.