Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Updated 2025 fall vaccine guide

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Eric Topol @erictopol.bsky.social · 3h

Waning immunity. A significant Covid wave in England. No new variant.
Thanks Prof Pagel for highlighting and contextualizing

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Robert Califf @robcaliff.bsky.social · 2d

useful summary of the current state of things

open.substack.com/pub/yourloca...

Your guide, frequently asked questions, webinar recording and resources

A MAHA Win? Beginning to close the GRAS loophole. - Food Politics by Marion Nestle

Robert Califf @robcaliff.bsky.social · 2d

Glad to see this happening. It won't work unless there are systems and people to be responsive, so I hope the resource and people issues will be successfully engineered.

www.foodpolitics.com/2025/10/a-ma...

In what looks like a MAHA win, the FDA is starting the regulatory process to close the GRAS Loophole.

www.foodpolitics.com

Robert Califf @robcaliff.bsky.social · 2d

Doggone it. Wachter just wrote a lot of stuff i was planning to write.

open.substack.com/pub/robertwa...

Will AI Rescue Primary Care?

Eventually, But Not Yet

Opinion | Six surgeons general: It’s our duty to warn the nation about RFK Jr.

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Deb Houry @drdebhoury.bsky.social · 3d

From the 6 Surgeon Generals who served across administrations since President Bush: "Secretary Kennedy is entitled to his views. But he is not entitled to put people’s health at risk. He has rejected science, misled the public and compromised the health of Americans."

We took an oath to declare dangers when we found them. We’re doing that again today.

www.washingtonpost.com

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Robert Califf @robcaliff.bsky.social · 3d

Serious perspective.

www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...

Opinion | Six surgeons general: It’s our duty to warn the nation about RFK Jr.

We took an oath to declare dangers when we found them. We’re doing that again today.

www.washingtonpost.com

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Robert Califf @robcaliff.bsky.social · 3d

YLE update with some helpful informaion:

open.substack.com/pub/yourloca...

The shutdown's impact on health, RSV is stirring, Covid-19 vaccines finally given green light, deadly pasta outbreak, and lots of good news!

The Dose (October 6)

Tom Frieden & Eric Topol - Discuss the Formula for Better Health Book

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Robert Califf @robcaliff.bsky.social · 8d

Good discussion of the basics of healthy lifestyle.

erictopol.substack.com/p/tom-friede...

A recording from Eric Topol's live video

erictopol.substack.com

Routine vaccinations, sanitation, and a look back at history

Robert Califf @robcaliff.bsky.social · 8d

Another good discussion of issues that I believe are frequently confused.

open.substack.com/pub/yourloca...

Sanitation vs. vaccine impact, requirements, universal recommendations, Hep B and more

Exclusive: ex-CDC director talks about why she was fired

Eric Topol @erictopol.bsky.social · 8d

New @nature.com
www.nature.com/articles/d41...

“I would never do that, as a scientist,” Susan Monarez says of being asked to approve changes to vaccine recommendations without knowing the details.

www.nature.com

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Robert Califf @robcaliff.bsky.social · 9d

Dr Wachter gives a good summary of the evolving issues in LLM, textbooks, digital tools and decision support.

open.substack.com/pub/robertwa...

Medicine’s AI Knowledge War Heats Up

The Battlegrounds May Surprise You

Measles outbreak growing and common cold surging, hunger survey is stopping, abortion pill watch, why we can't split up MMR, and some great news!

Robert Califf @robcaliff.bsky.social · 9d

Some good, mostly not good news from YLE.

open.substack.com/pub/yourloca...

The Dose (September 30)

Opinion | How Moms Got Caught in Trump’s Cross Hairs

Robert Califf @robcaliff.bsky.social · 12d

Some real wisdom here: "It’s far easier to focus on individual mothers, and the unproven promise of miracle drugs, than to create a system that supports us all."

www.nytimes.com/2025/09/27/o...

www.nytimes.com

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Robert Califf @robcaliff.bsky.social · 14d

important book. Sobering in terms of pointing out that the issue is mostly the food environment, heavily subsidized by our tax money. Redirecting it will require both will to change and regulation. California has started.

www.foodpolitics.com?lctg=333222006

Food Politics by Marion Nestle

www.foodpolitics.com

Robert Califf @robcaliff.bsky.social · 14d

There are reasons that California's health status is better than most of U.S. Other states could learn from this.

California legislature passes bill banning ultra-processed foods from schools-and defining them - Food Politics by Marion Nestle

Robert Califf @robcaliff.bsky.social · 14d

This is important--overall looks good, but my FDA friends have reminded me that there are a lot of nuances that could need adjustment. Eliminating food insecurity for children is enormous.

www.foodpolitics.com/2025/09/27888/

So many readers have sent me notices about California’s Senate having unanimously passed a bill banning ultra-processed foods from schools---and defining what they are---that I just have to write abou...

www.foodpolitics.com

Interventions for Low-Probability Events

Robert Califf @robcaliff.bsky.social · 16d

Something we need to talk about more in my view.

substack.com/@robcaliff27...

Recently, I have been struggling to understand why so few people have taken the updated COVID booster when the benefit-risk calculation seems so straightforward.

substack.com

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Robert Califf @robcaliff.bsky.social · 16d

This article highlights the lack of much needed evidence about potential benefits and risks of dietary supplements.

www.statnews.com/2025/09/23/l...

FDA’s leucovorin approval could be a boon for supplement makers

Parents may flock to a dietary supplement with the same key ingredient as leucovorin, which the FDA just approved for children with autism. But there are drawbacks.

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Robert Califf @robcaliff.bsky.social · 16d

Since its generic there are no deep pockets in industry to fund such a trial. Let's get the answers!

What Is Leucovorin, the Medicine Being Approved for Autism Treatment?

Robert Califf @robcaliff.bsky.social · 16d

Given the prominence this is being given from the top, i hope NIH or PCORI will fund an adequate sized, high quality clinical trial to define the benefit-risk profile of this intervention to treat autism.

www.nytimes.com/2025/09/22/w...

www.nytimes.com

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Robert Califf @robcaliff.bsky.social · 17d

Painful points.

open.substack.com/pub/insideme...

"I move to reconsider." Notes from Day 2 of the CDC's ACIP meeting.

Plus, legal expertise from Professor Dorit Reiss.

Interventions for Low-Probability Events

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Robert Califf @robcaliff.bsky.social · 18d

An opinion about the need to better understand the framing and decision making that impacts so much of preventive public health--"habits" and inconveniences to prevent low probability, but high impact future events in return for some up front risk.

substack.com/@robcaliff27...

Recently, I have been struggling to understand why so few people have taken the updated COVID booster when the benefit-risk calculation seems so straightforward.

substack.com

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Robert Califf @robcaliff.bsky.social · 19d

Academic institutions and professional organizations would be well-served to read this article.

carnegieendowment.org/research/202...

For Expertise to Matter, Nonpartisan Institutions Need New Communications Strategies

To avoid irrelevance when they are needed most, experts and nonpartisan analysts must rethink not just their channels of communication but also their theory of influence.

carnegieendowment.org

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Robert Califf @robcaliff.bsky.social · 20d

I hope this is widely read. It reflects the extraordinary diligence of CDC during the extreme stress of the pandemic. None of this information is secret--it was discussed and presented publicly.
www.statnews.com/2025/09/19/c...

Covid-19 vaccines protect children from severe disease. Here is the evidence

“Over and over again, Covid-19 has shown it can cause severe disease in children, disease that is preventable by a safe and effective vaccine,” writes former CDC Director Rochelle Walensky.

Cassidy, His Job in Peril, Scrutinizes Kennedy on Vaccines

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Eric Topol @erictopol.bsky.social · 20d

That's right. It could have been worse.
Brace for more to come.

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Robert Califf @robcaliff.bsky.social · 23d

"“I hope Dr. Cassidy shows up,” said Dr. Benjamin, “and not Senator Cassidy.”

www.nytimes.com/2025/09/16/u...

www.nytimes.com

I’m a former CDC director. I’m deeply concerned about the future of vaccines in the U.S.

Robert Califf @robcaliff.bsky.social · 23d

Can't say we weren't warned.

www.statnews.com/2025/09/16/r...

“I am deeply saddened for the agency I was honored to lead, for colleagues put in harm’s way, and for the quiet heroism of public health workers who are derided for political gain,” Rochelle Walensky ...