Dr. Jessica Taaffe
@jessicataaffe.bsky.social
RENAISSANCE WOMAN:Biomed PhD|Singer|Global Health Scientist| 1/2 Paraguayan|Dancing 💃🏽👸🏻| @IfThenSheCan Ambassador|Couture lover|🐕🐈⬛👶🏻 mom|Gypset
Here to get the scoop & expert take and to add what useful perspective I have; Representing only my views
Here to get the scoop & expert take and to add what useful perspective I have; Representing only my views
Pinned
An overview of influenza H5 vaccines
Pandemic influenza remains a significant global health threat, as signalled by the
circulation and cross-species transmission of avian influenza A(H5N1) viruses from
the clade 2.3.4.4b, including amon...
www.thelancet.com
Thrilled to share this #birdflu #vaccines overview in @lancetrespirmed.bsky.social: www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...!
We review the characteristics of 20+ H5 #influenza vaccines approved across regions in context w other considerations for effective and equitable #pandemicpreparedness & response.
We review the characteristics of 20+ H5 #influenza vaccines approved across regions in context w other considerations for effective and equitable #pandemicpreparedness & response.
Loving everything about this halftime show. Proud to be Latina! #SuperBowlLX #BadBunny
February 9, 2026 at 1:30 AM
Loving everything about this halftime show. Proud to be Latina! #SuperBowlLX #BadBunny
👏🏼
But what’s up with the sunglasses?
But what’s up with the sunglasses?
“We do prefer respect to bullies, We do prefer science to politicism and we prefer rule of law to brutality"
President Macron👏
President Macron👏
January 20, 2026 at 8:02 PM
👏🏼
But what’s up with the sunglasses?
But what’s up with the sunglasses?
Reposted by Dr. Jessica Taaffe
We’re following the America First Global Health Strategy, the $11bil replacement for USAID, which Trump called “neocolonial”. KFF has a tracker that looks at public agreements in place so far. These direct agreements have more than a whiff of control hanging around them.
What could this mean? 🧵/10
What could this mean? 🧵/10
January 14, 2026 at 6:30 PM
We’re following the America First Global Health Strategy, the $11bil replacement for USAID, which Trump called “neocolonial”. KFF has a tracker that looks at public agreements in place so far. These direct agreements have more than a whiff of control hanging around them.
What could this mean? 🧵/10
What could this mean? 🧵/10
This makes me REALLY uncomfortable, not just because it goes against multilateralism and a way of treating other countries with respect as equal partners.
I have some issues with transactional global health, but it’s more than that. This feels exploitative.
www.telegraph.co.uk/global-healt...
I have some issues with transactional global health, but it’s more than that. This feels exploitative.
www.telegraph.co.uk/global-healt...
Copper for HIV drugs: Inside Trump’s new aid trade
At least 14 new country-to-country deals have been signed in an ‘America First’ reboot of Washington’s huge international aid spending
www.telegraph.co.uk
January 14, 2026 at 2:42 PM
This makes me REALLY uncomfortable, not just because it goes against multilateralism and a way of treating other countries with respect as equal partners.
I have some issues with transactional global health, but it’s more than that. This feels exploitative.
www.telegraph.co.uk/global-healt...
I have some issues with transactional global health, but it’s more than that. This feels exploitative.
www.telegraph.co.uk/global-healt...
I’m at least heartened by the push back from regional and state health alliances. I expect that those who want the vaccine will be able to get it in those places.
Still, the credibility and strength of national public health has been eroded.
Still, the credibility and strength of national public health has been eroded.
Bill Cassidy — who voted to confirm RFK Jr — says his move to roll back vaccine recommendations “will make America sicker.”
January 6, 2026 at 3:36 AM
I’m at least heartened by the push back from regional and state health alliances. I expect that those who want the vaccine will be able to get it in those places.
Still, the credibility and strength of national public health has been eroded.
Still, the credibility and strength of national public health has been eroded.
2026 has started out terribly in the US.
January 6, 2026 at 3:30 AM
2026 has started out terribly in the US.
Reposted by Dr. Jessica Taaffe
#HHS unveiled a new childhood vaccination schedule today. The pared-down schedule was developed in secret, not using the normal public science-based process. With the change, the US recommends fewer vaccines than Germany, Israel, Spain, China, & many other countries. www.statnews.com/2026/01/05/c...
Federal health officials slash recommended childhood vaccinations under Trump’s directive
The number of recommended childhood shots drops from 17 to 11.
www.statnews.com
January 6, 2026 at 2:23 AM
#HHS unveiled a new childhood vaccination schedule today. The pared-down schedule was developed in secret, not using the normal public science-based process. With the change, the US recommends fewer vaccines than Germany, Israel, Spain, China, & many other countries. www.statnews.com/2026/01/05/c...
Reposted by Dr. Jessica Taaffe
Bill Cassidy MD owns the child sickness, suffering & deaths that will result from RFK Jr’s anti-vaccine policies
Dr Cassidy cast the deciding vote in the Senate Finance Committee to confirm RFK Jr as HHS Sec—yet he knew full well that RFK Jr is the world’s most extreme, dangerous anti-vaxx activist
Dr Cassidy cast the deciding vote in the Senate Finance Committee to confirm RFK Jr as HHS Sec—yet he knew full well that RFK Jr is the world’s most extreme, dangerous anti-vaxx activist
Bill Cassidy — who voted to confirm RFK Jr — says his move to roll back vaccine recommendations “will make America sicker.”
January 5, 2026 at 8:56 PM
Bill Cassidy MD owns the child sickness, suffering & deaths that will result from RFK Jr’s anti-vaccine policies
Dr Cassidy cast the deciding vote in the Senate Finance Committee to confirm RFK Jr as HHS Sec—yet he knew full well that RFK Jr is the world’s most extreme, dangerous anti-vaxx activist
Dr Cassidy cast the deciding vote in the Senate Finance Committee to confirm RFK Jr as HHS Sec—yet he knew full well that RFK Jr is the world’s most extreme, dangerous anti-vaxx activist
So glad to see this out again!
Each Friday, I write a debrief on what happened to science & higher education this week.
For 2026, three themes I’m bracing myself for:
- research interference
- financial pressure
- institutional betrayal
It’s a lot! Horrible, yes, but far from hopeless.
buttondown.com/liminalcreat...
For 2026, three themes I’m bracing myself for:
- research interference
- financial pressure
- institutional betrayal
It’s a lot! Horrible, yes, but far from hopeless.
buttondown.com/liminalcreat...
Year 2, Week 1
Dec 29, 2025 - Jan 2, 2026
we begin again
buttondown.com
January 4, 2026 at 12:22 AM
So glad to see this out again!
Reposted by Dr. Jessica Taaffe
I don’t know who needs to hear this but the CDC is being eviscerated right now. America is not going to have any kind of outbreak response capacity after tonight. Americans’ health data is no longer secure. Say goodbye to federal public health in any capacity. It’s a disaster. We won’t recover.
October 11, 2025 at 3:05 AM
I don’t know who needs to hear this but the CDC is being eviscerated right now. America is not going to have any kind of outbreak response capacity after tonight. Americans’ health data is no longer secure. Say goodbye to federal public health in any capacity. It’s a disaster. We won’t recover.
Wow, this is even worse than needle sharing. So so soooo risky for contracting blood borne infections!
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/08/w...
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/08/w...
‘Bluetoothing’: Blood-Sharing Drug Trend Fuels Alarming Global H.I.V. Surge
www.nytimes.com
October 9, 2025 at 12:33 PM
Wow, this is even worse than needle sharing. So so soooo risky for contracting blood borne infections!
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/08/w...
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/08/w...
Reposted by Dr. Jessica Taaffe
A video journalist was injured on Tuesday during a tumultuous scene involving federal agents at a Manhattan immigration courthouse less than a week after another officer was captured on video shoving a woman in a confrontation. nyti.ms/4nxXAY2
October 1, 2025 at 12:00 AM
A video journalist was injured on Tuesday during a tumultuous scene involving federal agents at a Manhattan immigration courthouse less than a week after another officer was captured on video shoving a woman in a confrontation. nyti.ms/4nxXAY2
Reposted by Dr. Jessica Taaffe
This is what democracy looks like! A people united will never be defeated. We want federal forces out of DC NOW! #WeAreAllDC #FreeDC
September 6, 2025 at 5:16 PM
This is what democracy looks like! A people united will never be defeated. We want federal forces out of DC NOW! #WeAreAllDC #FreeDC
Reposted by Dr. Jessica Taaffe
The average American got 7 out of 11 questions correct on this @pewresearch.org science 🧪 quiz. Let us know how you compare!
Quiz: How much do you know about science?
Test your knowledge of science facts and applications of scientific principles by taking our 11-question quiz, then compare your answers to the average American and across demographic groups.
www.pewresearch.org
September 5, 2025 at 8:18 PM
The average American got 7 out of 11 questions correct on this @pewresearch.org science 🧪 quiz. Let us know how you compare!
Reposted by Dr. Jessica Taaffe
BREAKING: New York Governor Kathy Hochul is set to sign an executive order allowing pharmacists to prescribe and administer Covid-19 vaccines to anyone who requests them, regardless of age or underlying conditions.
September 4, 2025 at 10:36 PM
BREAKING: New York Governor Kathy Hochul is set to sign an executive order allowing pharmacists to prescribe and administer Covid-19 vaccines to anyone who requests them, regardless of age or underlying conditions.
Reposted by Dr. Jessica Taaffe
We need a Secretary of Health and Human Services.
Not a Secretary of Conspiracies.
Not a Secretary of Measles and Food Poisoning.
Not a Secretary of Cancelled Research and Chemtrail Nonsense.
RFK Jr. is burning down our public health system from the inside.
Fire him.
Not a Secretary of Conspiracies.
Not a Secretary of Measles and Food Poisoning.
Not a Secretary of Cancelled Research and Chemtrail Nonsense.
RFK Jr. is burning down our public health system from the inside.
Fire him.
September 4, 2025 at 9:32 PM
We need a Secretary of Health and Human Services.
Not a Secretary of Conspiracies.
Not a Secretary of Measles and Food Poisoning.
Not a Secretary of Cancelled Research and Chemtrail Nonsense.
RFK Jr. is burning down our public health system from the inside.
Fire him.
Not a Secretary of Conspiracies.
Not a Secretary of Measles and Food Poisoning.
Not a Secretary of Cancelled Research and Chemtrail Nonsense.
RFK Jr. is burning down our public health system from the inside.
Fire him.
Reposted by Dr. Jessica Taaffe
🧵 I know it's ridiculous, but when he's talking mitochondrial challenges & inflammation, he's again referring to his idea of vaccine-induced autism. Let me explain.
via @acyn.bsky.social
RFK JR: I’m looking at kids as I walk through the airports today...and I see these kids that are just overburdened with mitochondrial challenges, inflammation—you can tell from their faces, movements, and lack of social connection
RFK JR: I’m looking at kids as I walk through the airports today...and I see these kids that are just overburdened with mitochondrial challenges, inflammation—you can tell from their faces, movements, and lack of social connection
August 28, 2025 at 2:35 PM
🧵 I know it's ridiculous, but when he's talking mitochondrial challenges & inflammation, he's again referring to his idea of vaccine-induced autism. Let me explain.
I worry about having to deal with this each day taking my kids to and from school and daycare.
Mount Pleasant – “On their third day of classes.” www.popville.com/2025/08/moun...
Mount Pleasant – “On their third day of classes.” - PoPville
photo courtesy Brad Johnson, photographer anonymous Thanks to Brad for sharing this very powerful photo (from an anonymous photographer, used with permission): "from the highly militarized school-morn...
www.popville.com
August 29, 2025 at 5:01 PM
I worry about having to deal with this each day taking my kids to and from school and daycare.
Reposted by Dr. Jessica Taaffe
Mount Pleasant – “On their third day of classes.” www.popville.com/2025/08/moun...
Mount Pleasant – “On their third day of classes.” - PoPville
photo courtesy Brad Johnson, photographer anonymous Thanks to Brad for sharing this very powerful photo (from an anonymous photographer, used with permission): "from the highly militarized school-morn...
www.popville.com
August 29, 2025 at 2:01 PM
Mount Pleasant – “On their third day of classes.” www.popville.com/2025/08/moun...
Jesus. This is exactly what I’m worried about having to deal with while walking around my kids.
This morning: MPD and ATF conducted a massive paramilitary operation, with officers in masks and camo, in the Mt. Pleasant neighborhood of DC within 500 yards of an elementary school while neighborhood children were heading to school.
On their third day of classes.
On their third day of classes.
August 28, 2025 at 1:13 PM
Jesus. This is exactly what I’m worried about having to deal with while walking around my kids.
Wow, this amazing. Respectfully scathing.
It’s the strongest and best public criticism of RFK Jr and this administration with regard to public health I’ve seen from any leadership this far. It’s enlivening!
It’s the strongest and best public criticism of RFK Jr and this administration with regard to public health I’ve seen from any leadership this far. It’s enlivening!
It won’t fit in screen shots but linking here the full letter of resignation posted by one of the departing CDC officials, Dr. Demetre Daskalakis, who ran the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases and led efforts to fight COVID, monkeypox, and bird flu
x.com/dr_demetre/s...
x.com/dr_demetre/s...
August 28, 2025 at 1:13 AM
Wow, this amazing. Respectfully scathing.
It’s the strongest and best public criticism of RFK Jr and this administration with regard to public health I’ve seen from any leadership this far. It’s enlivening!
It’s the strongest and best public criticism of RFK Jr and this administration with regard to public health I’ve seen from any leadership this far. It’s enlivening!
Reposted by Dr. Jessica Taaffe
For all the Elon Musk coverage, it's kinda shocking how little scrutiny there is of the world's *second* richest person.
Larry Ellison is spending hundreds of millions of dollars on for-profit companies that he is calling his new charitable project.
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/12/b...
Larry Ellison is spending hundreds of millions of dollars on for-profit companies that he is calling his new charitable project.
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/12/b...
Larry Ellison Wants to Do Good, Do Research and Make a Profit
www.nytimes.com
August 12, 2025 at 7:21 PM
For all the Elon Musk coverage, it's kinda shocking how little scrutiny there is of the world's *second* richest person.
Larry Ellison is spending hundreds of millions of dollars on for-profit companies that he is calling his new charitable project.
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/12/b...
Larry Ellison is spending hundreds of millions of dollars on for-profit companies that he is calling his new charitable project.
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/12/b...
🚨New peer-reviewed commentary that I co-authored with Chris Beyrer is now out in the journal Vaccine, gift link below
We show the ways in which the MAHA & MAGA guys—RFK Jr, Makary, Bhattacharya, Prasad—have dismantled the US vaccine regulatory framework
authors.elsevier.com/a/1lbDt,60n7...
1/5
We show the ways in which the MAHA & MAGA guys—RFK Jr, Makary, Bhattacharya, Prasad—have dismantled the US vaccine regulatory framework
authors.elsevier.com/a/1lbDt,60n7...
1/5
August 13, 2025 at 12:46 AM
Reposted by Dr. Jessica Taaffe
🚨New peer-reviewed commentary that I co-authored with Chris Beyrer is now out in the journal Vaccine, gift link below
We show the ways in which the MAHA & MAGA guys—RFK Jr, Makary, Bhattacharya, Prasad—have dismantled the US vaccine regulatory framework
authors.elsevier.com/a/1lbDt,60n7...
1/5
We show the ways in which the MAHA & MAGA guys—RFK Jr, Makary, Bhattacharya, Prasad—have dismantled the US vaccine regulatory framework
authors.elsevier.com/a/1lbDt,60n7...
1/5
August 12, 2025 at 7:46 PM
🚨New peer-reviewed commentary that I co-authored with Chris Beyrer is now out in the journal Vaccine, gift link below
We show the ways in which the MAHA & MAGA guys—RFK Jr, Makary, Bhattacharya, Prasad—have dismantled the US vaccine regulatory framework
authors.elsevier.com/a/1lbDt,60n7...
1/5
We show the ways in which the MAHA & MAGA guys—RFK Jr, Makary, Bhattacharya, Prasad—have dismantled the US vaccine regulatory framework
authors.elsevier.com/a/1lbDt,60n7...
1/5