Next Week in Public Health, September 5, 2025
Yesterday was gruesome, no doubt about it.
This particular White House statement on RFK grew my particular ire (and relevant to this site)
The phrase, “Gold Standard Science,” is doing some heavy lifting there. What defines the gold standard? I assume there aren’t many methodologists in the White House, so is he saying we should only rely on RCTs? Like all of the work we do, the methods should follow the questions. The appropriate method to answer the question “Do vaccines cause autism?” has already been answered through a combination of quasi-experiments, natural history, and of course, freaking meta-analysis.
Anyway, here is what is rising in the research.
And a news round up for ya’.
RFK Jr. faces heated questions on CDC turmoil, vaccine changes at Senate hearing
In a tense Senate hearing, Health and Human Services Secretary Kennedy faced intense scrutiny over his handling of long COVID, vaccine policies, and management changes at the CDC. He was criticized for potentially limiting access to vaccines, undermining trust in public health agencies, and facing accusations of promoting anti-science agendas, with some senators demanding his resignation. This matters as it highlights tensions in public health leadership affecting vaccine availability and trust, amid ongoing COVID-19 challenges and structural changes in health agencies.
Native Americans want to avoid past Medicaid enrollment snafus as work requirements loom
Jonnell Wieder’s experience highlights the challenges encountered by Native Americans during the Medicaid unwinding process, which led to widespread procedural disenrollments, leaving many without coverage due to systemic inefficiencies. The ongoing concerns are exacerbated by new federal Medicaid work and eligibility requirements to be implemented by 2027, a change expected to significantly increase the uninsured population, especially impacting vulnerable communities reliant on Medicaid, including Native Americans. The situation underscores a pressing need for improved federal oversight and tailored policies to protect healthcare access amid administrative complexities, as emphasized by health experts and tribal leaders.
People can’t get COVID vaccines as cases surge. Anger is building against Trump
New federal guidelines have introduced additional hurdles to accessing updated COVID-19 vaccines, especially for adults under 65 and children, by requiring consultations with healthcare professionals or attestations of underlying medical conditions. This has caused confusion and frustration nationwide as experts warn that these barriers could discourage vaccination uptake amid rising COVID-19 cases, potentially leading to increased hospitalizations and deaths, especially among vulnerable populations. The changes, influenced by a vaccine-skeptic leadership at the Department of Health and Human Services, have sparked concern among healthcare providers about the politicization of healthcare and its implications for public health.
West Virginia has the best kindergarten vaccination rates in the nation. A legal fight backed by RFK Jr. could threaten that
West Virginia, despite its economic challenges and high obesity rates, has achieved a remarkable 98% childhood vaccination rate, leading the nation and preventing outbreaks of diseases like measles and pertussis. This success, driven by strict vaccine laws allowing only medical exemptions, is now threatened by a legal battle over a governor’s executive order permitting religious exemptions, which could undermine public health efforts. This issue matters as it highlights the tension between public health policies and individual rights, with potential implications for the health of vulnerable children and the state’s continued federal funding.
