Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Alt CDC (they/them)

@altcdc.altgov.info

150K followers 750 following 7.7K posts

Public health experts resisting harmful policies, fighting disinformation, and defending public health from within. Not official CDC—but close enough for transmission. Proudly #AltGov Tips? signal altCDC.99, email [email protected] or DM

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Pinned

Alt CDC (they/them) @altcdc.altgov.info · 8d

We stand with federal employees and families bearing the weight of the shutdown, and those feeling effects at every level of our government. You deserve better.

That said, we all know that this shutdown is a GOP distraction and self-own. Never interrupt your opponent when they’re making a mistake.

22 270 1.3K

Alt CDC (they/them) @altcdc.altgov.info · 3h

Hey friends! We're almost through another week.

Have you had enough water today? Fruits and veggies? Did you get a moment to relax and just... be?

Take a moment to take care of yourself before you hit the hay. We'll be doing the same.

GN 💚

12 22 250

Alt CDC (they/them) @altcdc.altgov.info · 6h

Everything is connected

US government cuts ➡ international public health ➡ US health security

Climate change ➡ disease in new areas

Air pollution ➡ long-term health

But yes, let's slash foreign aid, ignore climate change, and gut EPA regulations. While pretending to care about Americans' health

Healthbeat @healthbeat.org · 8h

Your Global Health Checkup: The chikungunya virus is spreading beyond the tropics, including in New York. People are dying of malaria after U.S. cuts in Cameroon aid. Some good news for elephants - and more.

People are dying of malaria after U.S. cuts in Cameroon aid. Here's what else to know in global public health this week.

bit.ly

4 44 130

Alt CDC (they/them) @altcdc.altgov.info · 8h

Seems like the IRS is trying to dirty delete the email saying all employees would receive backpay once the shutdown was over.

You want a fight? You've found it.

We're not backing down, and we know the attempts to deny furloughed feds backpay is illegal.

federalnewsnetwork.com/government-s...

IRS backtracks on back pay guarantee for furloughed employees

An IRS employee told Federal News Network that earlier guidance emailed to employees on Wednesday was automatically deleted from their inboxes by Thursday.

federalnewsnetwork.com

9 130 440

Alt CDC (they/them) @altcdc.altgov.info · 8h

Just to be on the safe side, also make sure that it's scheduled after noon

Alt CDC (they/them) @altcdc.altgov.info · 9h

AS THE PREMIER US ALT HEALTH AGENCY AND IN LIGHT OF THE POTENTIAL COMPLICATIONS FROM EARLY CIRCUMCISIONS, WE RECOMMEND THAT CIRCUMCISION PROCEDURES ONLY BE SCHEDULED AFTER 12PM LOCAL TIME TO ENSURE ALL HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS ARE SUFFICIENTLY CAFFEINATED

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER!

a man in a white shirt and suspenders is holding a pair of scissors in front of a tree .

Alt: Edward Scissorhands, a pale man with black hair and scissors for hands, is furiously trimming something off screen while wearing a white shirt and black suspenders. A neatly maintained topiary is in the background.

media.tenor.com

13 24 200

Alt CDC (they/them) @altcdc.altgov.info · 12h

Usually, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices uses the GRADE system to assign a body of evidence as high, moderate, low, or very low quality.

Now, however, they appear to be using a different system as outlined in this figure.

*credit: yes, this is the Bristol Stool Chart

Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices Evidence Grading

Type 1: Hard lumps or small pebbles

Type 2: Lumpy, hard, and sausage-shaped

Type 3: Sausage-shaped with cracks along the surface

Type 4: Resembles a thin sausage or snake

Type 5: Soft blobs with clear edges

Type 6: Mushy and fluffy with ragged edges

Type 7: Entirely liquid

17 21 97

Alt CDC (they/them) @altcdc.altgov.info · 13h

🖥️Most CDC data dashboards are not being updated during the shutdown. Go to your state (or local/county) health department for up to date information on respiratory viruses, food borne outbreaks, and other health information.

7 140 350

Alt CDC (they/them) @altcdc.altgov.info · 14h

RSV immunization is recommended for babies under 8 months whose mothers did not get RSV vaccine during pregnancy and for babies 8-19 months with certain risk factors for severe illness.

www.cdc.gov/rsv/vaccines...

3 25

Alt CDC (they/them) @altcdc.altgov.info · 14h

RSV vaccine is recommended for pregnant people who are 32-36 weeks pregnant September through January to protect babies born during RSV season. www.cdc.gov/rsv/hcp/vacc...

1 5 29

Alt CDC (they/them) @altcdc.altgov.info · 14h

RSV infections are particularly dangerous in young babies, the elderly, and people with lung disease like asthma or COPD.

RSV vaccine is recommended for adults 75+ and adults 50-74 with risk factors for severe infection. Check if vaccine is recommended for you www.cdc.gov/rsv/hcp/vacc...

1 4 18

Alt CDC (they/them) @altcdc.altgov.info · 14h

💉🧵Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) season starts soon. Now is the time to get vaccinated if vaccine is recommended for you.

TL;DR: Who should get RSV immunization?

💉Adults 75+ or 50-74 with certain conditions
💉Some pregnant people
💉Babies <8mo (if no vax during pregnancy)
💉Some babies 8-19mo

7 86 170

Alt CDC (they/them) @altcdc.altgov.info · 16h

🔬10 out of 8 scientists agree RFKJ should be fired 🧪

This can happen when your incompetence is so large it generates mass.

12 61 440

Alt CDC (they/them) @altcdc.altgov.info · 17h

It’s day 9 of the government shutdown and day 262 of government dismantling.

If you wish to help support fired or furloughed cdc workers 👉 www.cdcresourceportal.org

Feds, check out CDC mutual aid’s shutdown survival guide for info on places providing shutdown loans. Some are interest free👇

1 30 83

Alt CDC (they/them) @altcdc.altgov.info · 18h

Good morning friends,

Today there is some good news: Israel and Hamas have reached a ceasefire deal. It is our fervent hope this holds, the aid blockade is lifted, the hostages come home, and negotiations continue without further killing.

apnews.com/live/israel-...

10 8 120

Alt CDC (they/them) @altcdc.altgov.info · 1d

Laughter is medicine. G’night all

Dr. Lucky Tran @luckytran.com · 1d

🎵 They did the Monster Slash 😭 @ellecordova.bsky.social

11 120 420

Reposted by Alt CDC (they/them)

Philippa Matthews @pippa-matt.bsky.social · 1d

The impact of cutting #ClinicalTrials - yes this is certainly very bad for investigators & #patients… but also for #biotech, drug development, #academia, training & scientific progress, global collaboration, economic health, and so, in fact, all of our futures. 🧪 #MedSky @naturemedicine.bsky.social

‘When clinical trials are suddenly halted… there are repercussions for investigators and patients, and they do not stop at borders’

2 32 88

Alt CDC (they/them) @altcdc.altgov.info · 1d

Among the many reasons we need competent PH officials: a listeria outbreak has killed 4.

Now officials think 2 additional ready-to-eat meals contain contaminated spinach, but are not related to the ongoing outbreak.

Translation: competing listeria outbreaks.

www.nbcnews.com/health/recal...

What to know about the listeria outbreak tied to precooked pasta

The outbreak has been linked to pasta from food supplier Nate's Fine Foods.

www.nbcnews.com

8 80 200

Reposted by Alt CDC (they/them)

Ron Filipkowski @ronfilipkowski.bsky.social · 2d

Update from the war zone in Portland.

980 4.7K 16K

Alt CDC (they/them) @altcdc.altgov.info · 1d

They not like us by Kendrick Lamar 💅

2 21

Reposted by Alt CDC (they/them)

Senator Ed Markey @markey.senate.gov · 2d

RFK Jr. vowed that he wouldn’t take away anybody’s vaccines.

Now, the CDC has adopted new guidance from his hand-picked vaccine skeptics—making it harder for families to protect their children from diseases like measles and chickenpox.

RFK is putting children’s lives at risk.

24 110 430

Alt CDC (they/them) @altcdc.altgov.info · 1d

Oh look, vaccines work.

Scientific American @sciam.bsky.social · 1d

A new study shows that receiving an updated COVID vaccine reduced people’s risk of severe disease and death in all age groups, regardless of immunity from prior infection or vaccination

Annual COVID Vaccines Save Lives, New Study Shows

A new study shows that receiving an updated COVID vaccine reduced people’s risk of severe disease and death in all age groups, regardless of immunity from prior infection or vaccination

www.scientificamerican.com

14 190 680

Reposted by Alt CDC (they/them)

J. Offir, PhD @joffirphd.bsky.social · 2d

Thanks to RFK, parents are encountering all sorts of obstacles when trying to find pediatric covid shots, inc. for infants and toddlers younger than 2, who are at higher risk - we knew this would happen.

Some of the problems:

🔹️Many pediatricians and...

🧵1/7

www.nytimes.com/2025/10/07/w...

Seeking Covid Shots for Their Children, Some Parents Hit a Wall

www.nytimes.com

4 49 100

Reposted by Alt CDC (they/them)

The Tennessee Holler @thetnholler.bsky.social · 1d

Imagine that.

www.wsj.com/health/pharm...

450 2.4K 6.1K

Reposted by Alt CDC (they/them)

Physicians for a Healthy Democracy @physiciandemocracy.medsky.social · 1d

@drneilstone.bsky.social

This is an iron lung for polio victims. Remember these? Me neither, it’s now in a museum where it should stay. Why? Because vaccines work.

12 120 460

Alt CDC (they/them) @altcdc.altgov.info · 1d

Starving children screaming. Elon Musk must be so proud.

jamelle @jamellebouie.net · 1d

i desperately want everyone involved in the destruction of USAID to have to, st the very least, answer to the american people for the suffering and misery they have caused apnews.com/article/myan...

Starving children screaming for food as US aid cuts unleash devastation and death across Myanmar

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has repeatedly said “no one has died" because of his government’s decision to gut its foreign aid program.

apnews.com

8 53 160