Next Week in Public Health, September 26, 2025
Everyone stockpiling their Tylenol?
Actually, I don’t mind research. I don’t mind replication studies. Scientists should NOT be afraid of testing linkage and relationships and causation over and over and over again. Science can and should take all comers.
What I do mind is when the government pretends that people have not been studying this for decades, and all of that research should be discounted because of political jockeying for power. It’s so fucking stupid.
My friends with kids of the spectrum are worried, rightfully so. The people running our health infrastructure are ghouls, and the sooner we push back and recommit to the tough, slow, laborious process of actual science, the better.
Well, here’s what’s been in the science.
Any what’s in the news
Psychosocial burden, vaccination status and preventive information options for seafarers during the COVID-19 pandemic
A study conducted in March 2022 highlighted that COVID-19 vaccination rates among seafarers were significantly lower compared to shore-based workers, compounded by high levels of anxiety and psychosocial burdens due to the pandemic. This discrepancy is critical because seafarers, classified as key workers essential to global trade and supply chains, faced additional challenges, including uneven access to vaccines and greater fears of health and financial consequences, underscoring the need for improved communication strategies and support systems for seafaring personnel in future health crises.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-025-20616-3
FDA Begins Crackdown on Direct-to-Consumer Pharmaceutical Advertising
On September 9, 2025, President Trump instructed the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to enhance transparency in prescription drug advertising, with a focus on disclosing associated risks. This directive aims to address misleading direct-to-consumer ads, with FDA planning to use AI to monitor advertisements and enforce regulations more strictly, potentially altering the advertising landscape significantly by necessitating more comprehensive safety disclosures. This change matters as it seeks to protect consumers from deceptive practices and ensure they have adequate information to make informed health decisions, but it could also impose significant challenges and costs for the pharmaceutical industry in complying with these enhanced advertising requirements.
CDC advisory panel recommends keeping COVID-19 vaccine prescription-free
The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has recommended two key changes regarding COVID-19 vaccines: updating CDC language to better communicate risks and uncertainties, and advising healthcare providers to discuss risks on a personal basis with patients. These recommendations, which await CDC approval, could enhance patient understanding and trust in the vaccination process. Additionally, the committee decided against requiring prescriptions for COVID-19 vaccinations, citing potential access barriers, and instead shifted to allow individuals to make their own vaccination decisions, rather than recommending a universal vaccine for adults. This change reflects ongoing debates about vaccine safety, accessibility, and informed consent.
FDA Food and Beverage Safety Updates
The FDA is taking significant steps to enhance food safety and consumer awareness, including hosting a public meeting on allergen thresholds, revoking outdated food dye authorizations, and revising regulations for vitamin D3 use in cultured dairy products. These actions highlight a broader effort to improve the safety and transparency of the U.S. food supply and align with initiatives like the Administration for a Healthy America (AHA). Additionally, the FDA’s engagement with industry stakeholders and public feedback underscores its commitment to addressing contemporary food safety and labeling challenges.
