Tara C. Smith
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aetiology.bsky.social
Tara C. Smith
@aetiology.bsky.social
33K followers 2.8K following 5.2K posts

Collector of social media sites. Infectious disease epidemiologist. Writes about vaccine hesitancy, science misinfo, zombies. Probably somewhere on a trail. Views own etc.

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The Smith special counsel investigation was a special counsel investigation that was opened by U.S. attorney general Merrick Garland on November 18, 2022, three days after Donald Trump announced his campaign for the 2024 United States presidential election. The investigation was created to continue two investigations initiated by the Justice Department (DOJ) regarding former U.S. president Donald Trump. Garland appointed Jack Smith, a longtime federal prosecutor, to lead the independent investigations. Smith was tasked with investigating Trump's role in the January 6 United States Capitol attack and Trump's mishandling of government records, including classified documents. .. more

Political science 39%
Economics 19%
Posts Replies Media Videos

aetiology.bsky.social
Tara C. Smith @aetiology.bsky.social · 2h
Adorable. Have you checked out @gparents4vaccines.bsky.social ?

aetiology.bsky.social
Tara C. Smith @aetiology.bsky.social · 3h
Yes, especially under 2 months they are fully vulnerable, hence maternal vaccination. 0 of 3 had that. Unclear ages so can't know if they were eligible for their own yet.

aetiology.bsky.social
Tara C. Smith @aetiology.bsky.social · 3h
They've the ones who suffer though. Except COVID, flu etc, parents were usually vaccinated as children.

aetiology.bsky.social
Tara C. Smith @aetiology.bsky.social · 3h
It's awful. A friend broke ribs when she had it.

aetiology.bsky.social
Tara C. Smith @aetiology.bsky.social · 11h
I'm not a lawyer but haven't seen many cases like that where there wasn't some other factor (malnutrition, other neglect etc).

aetiology.bsky.social
Tara C. Smith @aetiology.bsky.social · 12h
These are BABIES. They didn't choose their parents. Jesus have some humanity.

aetiology.bsky.social
Tara C. Smith @aetiology.bsky.social · 12h
Book on this out 2027!

aetiology.bsky.social
Tara C. Smith @aetiology.bsky.social · 12h
Variants schmariants am I rite?

aetiology.bsky.social
Tara C. Smith @aetiology.bsky.social · 12h
Yeah I'm an ok cook and have never attempted. Turkey is way easier. Lucky doggo.

aetiology.bsky.social
Tara C. Smith @aetiology.bsky.social · 13h
... what

Reposted by Joshua S. Weitz, Smith, Timothy D. McBride

drdebhoury.bsky.social
Deb Houry @drdebhoury.bsky.social · 13h
Appreciate @nationalacademies.org speaking up about the RFK jr directed changes to CDC website and pointing out that the science cited did not include the greater context or full body of research. Where is the “radical transparency”?
National Academies - Statement on CDC’s Updated Vaccine Guidance
National Academies respond to CDC’s updated vaccine guidance, offering scientific context and clarity on vaccine safety.
www.nationalacademies.org

Reposted by Magda Teter

aetiology.bsky.social
Tara C. Smith @aetiology.bsky.social · 13h
3 infant #pertussis deaths this year in Kentucky. "Of the three infant deaths reported over the past 12 months, all three were not vaccinated, nor were their mothers."

We first tested maternal vaccination for whooping cough over 80 years ago. It's safe & effective & might have saved these babies.
www.wowktv.com

aetiology.bsky.social
Tara C. Smith @aetiology.bsky.social · 13h
Ohio is too, at least what I grew up with.

Reposted by Lisa W. Fazio, Jason Mittell, Jed A. Fuhrman , and 6 more

punkrockscience.bsky.social
Dr. Stephanie @punkrockscience.bsky.social · 15h
Today’s xkcd made me cry.

In a good way.

xkcd.com/3172/

Reposted by Smith

jibarrondo.bsky.social
Javi Ibarrondo @jibarrondo.bsky.social · 20h
Exclusive: CDC to end all monkey research | Science | AAAS www.science.org/content/arti... 🧪
Exclusive: CDC to end all monkey research
Studies related to HIV and other infectious diseases will be phased out, sources say; fate of the agency's animals remains unclear
www.science.org

aetiology.bsky.social
Tara C. Smith @aetiology.bsky.social · 20h
The Atlantic did a ton of damage during the height of the COVID pandemic as well, platforming folks who claimed it wasn't dangerous etc. Ended my subscription then.

Reposted by Lisa W. Fazio, David Lazer, Brendan Nyhan , and 7 more

katestarbird.bsky.social
Kate Starbird @katestarbird.bsky.social · 20h
The UW Center for an Informed Public is looking for postdocs (for 2026-2028) from across diverse disciplines whose research sheds light on the challenges of our modern information environment, promotes civic health, and/or helps people/communities navigate online spaces: apply.interfolio.com/177901
Apply - Interfolio {{$ctrl.$state.data.pageTitle}} - Apply - Interfolio
apply.interfolio.com

aetiology.bsky.social
Tara C. Smith @aetiology.bsky.social · 21h
ACIP comments are due today! Focus of the meeting will be HepB vaccine and "vaccine schedule" which is vague and ominous. If a guide/template is helpful, you can find it here: hepb.sharepoint.com/:w:/g/EXzaiD...
drjudystone.bsky.social Judy Stone @drjudystone.bsky.social · 3d
If you haven't yet done so, Pls submit a brief comment for the #ACIP meeting to www.regulations.gov/document/CDC...
Due by Mon pm. At a min, say something like, "CDC ACIP advisors should support access to ALL vaccines on the current child and adolescent vaccine schedules.

Reposted by Smith, David Spurrett

mikenellis.bsky.social
Mike Nellis @mikenellis.bsky.social · 22h
DOGE is one of the greatest failures of the Trump administration. The next Democratic administration should pick up that issue and actually work to cut government waste, fraud, and abuse. I’d suggest starting by taking a look at Elon Musk’s government contracts.

Reposted by Smith

rustbeltrebel.bsky.social
🇲🇽🐸rustbelt rebel🐸🇲🇽 @rustbeltrebel.bsky.social · 22h
No herbal, acupuncture, massage, diet, magic lemon squeeze way for me to manage parts of my chronic illness. I need pills. Daily pills. When I get my daily pill, I have a very high quality of life and can live the way that feels best to me.

Reposted by Smith

rustbeltrebel.bsky.social
🇲🇽🐸rustbelt rebel🐸🇲🇽 @rustbeltrebel.bsky.social · 22h
People need to understand that RFK isn’t just going to kill people, he’s actively destroying people’s quality of life too. As somebody with chronic illness managed through medical establishment and alternative medicine like herbs and acupuncture, this is important to pay attn to. There is simply-

Reposted by Jocalyn Clark, Smith

brandyzadrozny.bsky.social
Brandy Zadrozny @brandyzadrozny.bsky.social · 22h
I watched him take a victory lap in Austin this month at an anti-vaccine conference for the Kennedy-founded Children's Health Defense.
My piece on how Wakefield’s comeback is taking shape: www.ms.now/news/the-ret...
The doctor who falsely tied vaccines to autism is enjoying a comeback
Andrew Wakefield, who was once cast out for his retracted study tying autism to the MMR vaccine, is making a comeback in the second term of President Donald Trump as an ally of Health and Human Servic...
www.ms.now

Reposted by Smith

brandyzadrozny.bsky.social
Brandy Zadrozny @brandyzadrozny.bsky.social · 22h
Trump wants the MMR split. Kennedy rewrote CDC vaccine–autism language. Sen. Ron Johnson says it’s “time to apologize to Dr. Wakefield.”

Across MAHA/MAGA media, the movement has fully adopted the anti-vaxx fiction of Wakefield as a martyr and is elevating him again.

Reposted by Smith, Thomas Masterson

brandyzadrozny.bsky.social
Brandy Zadrozny @brandyzadrozny.bsky.social · 22h
Remember Andrew Wakefield?
Here he is with his friend RFK Jr. in 2020.

Wakefield is the guy behind the fraudulent, retracted MMR–autism study. He lost his medical license for subjecting autistic children to unnecessary invasive procedures.

Now, with Kennedy in power, he’s getting a second act.

Reposted by Smith

chuckwendig.bsky.social
Chuck Wendig @chuckwendig.bsky.social · 1d
You know what, I'm just gonna re-up this post

aetiology.bsky.social
Tara C. Smith @aetiology.bsky.social · 1d
Thanks!

aetiology.bsky.social
Tara C. Smith @aetiology.bsky.social · 1d
Clouds looked almost fake on this afternoon's trail run. #RunDouchery
Ripples of clouds against a blue sky near sunset. Sun low between the trees. Golden hour with trees reflected in the lake.

Reposted by Smith

gregfolkers.bsky.social
Greg Folkers @gregfolkers.bsky.social · 1d
IDSA podcast -- From Darkness to Opportunity: Reimagining the Future of Public Health

Mati Hlatshwayo Davis + @drdemetre.bsky.social

bit.ly/3MkEyXa
From Darkness to Opportunity: Reimagining the Future of Public Health
Mati Hlatshwayo Davis, MD, MPH, FIDSA, and former CDC director Demetre Daskalakis MD, MPH, explore the current state of public health.
bit.ly

Reposted by Brendan Nyhan, Scott L. Greer, Smith , and 2 more

conradhackett.bsky.social
Conrad Hackett @conradhackett.bsky.social · 1d
Republicans increasingly oppose requiring healthy kids to get MMR vaccines to attend public schools
2016 19%
2019 20%
2023 42%
2025 47%
www.pewresearch.org/science/2025... 🧪
Chart showing that since 2016, a vast majority of U.S. adults have said healthy children should be required to get the vaccine to attend public school because of the potential risks for others when children are not vaccinated. But support for school MMR requirements dropped from 82% in 2019 to 69% in 2025. This decline is largely because of a steep slide in support among Republicans. In 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic, 79% of Republicans said healthy children should be required to get the MMR vaccine to attend school. This share sunk to 57% in 2023, then to 52% in 2025. In contrast, Democrats’ views on school MMR requirements have remained stable, with solid majority support.

Reposted by Jan W. Mueller, Christian Odendahl, Will Jennings , and 26 more

maxberger.bsky.social
Max Berger @maxberger.bsky.social · 1d
If I’m understanding this correctly, X is owned by a white nationalist who pays poor people of color in developing countries to pretend to be working class white Americans to scare other white Americans into being afraid poor people of color from developing countries are going to ruin America?