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Apoorva Mandavilli

@apoorvanyt.bsky.social

32K followers 380 following 420 posts

Science and global health reporter for The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/by/apoorva-mandavilli Signal: amnyt.91

www.nytimes.com

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Apoorva Mandavilli @apoorvanyt.bsky.social · Aug 29

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s assault may have dealt lasting damage to the CDC, experts fear, with harsh consequences for public health.
(Gift article)

www.nytimes.com/2025/08/29/h...

Will the C.D.C. Survive?

www.nytimes.com

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Reposted by Apoorva Mandavilli

The New York Times @nytimes.com · 2d

On a Saturday in 2023, Sam Terblanche, a junior at Columbia University, told friends he felt lousy on the way to a soccer match. On Sunday, he went to the emergency room complaining of headache and chills. On Monday, sicker, he went again. On both visits, Sam was discharged. Days later, he died.

It’s Just a Virus, the E.R. Told Him. Days Later, He Was Dead.

Sam Terblanche was just 20 years old. Can a busy E.R. handle the hardest cases?

nyti.ms

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Reposted by Apoorva Mandavilli

FactCheck.org @factcheck.org · 4d

A substantial body of evidence supports the safety of the COVID-19 vaccines during pregnancy, contrary to the suggestions of some members of the CDC’s vaccine advisory committee. HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. recently reconstituted the committee.

www.factcheck.org/2025/10/vacc...

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Apoorva Mandavilli @apoorvanyt.bsky.social · 14d

A drug that provides near-perfect protection against HIV with shots just twice a year will be made available at $40 per patient annually in low- and middle-income countries, offering new hope for ending the HIV epidemic.

www.nytimes.com/2025/09/24/h...

Philanthropies Strike a Promising Deal to Turn Back H.I.V.

www.nytimes.com

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Apoorva Mandavilli @apoorvanyt.bsky.social · 15d

Icymi the first time this ran, here’s a refresher: Vaccines today are more efficient and contain far fewer stimulants to the immune system than some used decades ago

www.nytimes.com/2024/12/14/h...

Are Childhood Vaccines ‘Overloading’ the Immune System? No.

www.nytimes.com

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Apoorva Mandavilli @apoorvanyt.bsky.social · 18d

The federal vaccine committee appointed by RFK Jr. voted unanimously to further limit access to Covid vaccines, recommending that adults 65 and older receive the shots only after discussing the potential benefits and risks with a health care provider.

www.nytimes.com/2025/09/19/h...

Kennedy’s Vaccine Panel Votes to Limit Access to Covid Shots

www.nytimes.com

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Apoorva Mandavilli @apoorvanyt.bsky.social · 18d

The chaos from the first day of a meeting of the federal vaccine committee appointed by RFK Jr. bled into the second day, as the panel reversed one decision and indefinitely postponed a vote on a hepatitis B vaccine they had already deferred once.

www.nytimes.com/2025/09/19/h...

Vaccine Panel Postpones One Vote and Reverses Another Amid Confusion

www.nytimes.com

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Apoorva Mandavilli @apoorvanyt.bsky.social · 19d

In a meeting that devolved into confusion and near chaos, federal advisers on Thursday voted 8 to 3 against vaccinating children under four years old with a combination shot that protects against measles, mumps, rubella and chickenpox.

www.nytimes.com/2025/09/18/h...

Kennedy’s Advisory Panel Votes to Limit M.M.R.V. Vaccine for Children Under 4

www.nytimes.com

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Apoorva Mandavilli @apoorvanyt.bsky.social · 21d

Members of a federal vaccine committee, appointed by health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., may revise the longstanding recommendation to immunize all newborns against Hepatitis B

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

C.D.C. Vaccine Advisers May Limit Hepatitis B Shots for Newborns

www.nytimes.com

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Apoorva Mandavilli @apoorvanyt.bsky.social · 22d

Breaking: RFK Jr adds five new members to the federal committee that decides which shots Americans should get and when

www.nytimes.com/2025/09/15/h...

Kennedy Adds Five New Members to Vaccine Committee

www.nytimes.com

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Apoorva Mandavilli @apoorvanyt.bsky.social · 23d

Thought to affect 200 million people globally, schistosomiasis is considered one of the most important parasitic infections worldwide, second only to malaria. Yet it attracts nowhere near the funding or the attention that killers like malaria do.

www.nytimes.com/2025/09/15/h...

When a Simple Swim Carries a Risk of Dangerous Illness

www.nytimes.com

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Apoorva Mandavilli @apoorvanyt.bsky.social · 26d

At next week’s meeting of the federal vaccine committee, the FDA plans to present data linking birth defects and deaths in children to the Covid vaccine
With @by-cjewett.bsky.social
(Gift article)

www.nytimes.com/2025/09/12/h...

F.D.A. Reviews Cases of Covid Vaccine Deaths

www.nytimes.com

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Apoorva Mandavilli @apoorvanyt.bsky.social · 26d

On Dec. 18, Olivia Li turned 4. Barely five weeks later, she slipped into unconsciousness, a rare and unexpected consequence of a flu infection.

www.nytimes.com/2025/09/12/h...

Rare but Serious Complication Shows Flu’s Potential Harm

www.nytimes.com

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Reposted by Apoorva Mandavilli

Mary Harris @maryharris.bsky.social · Sep 8

Today's show isn't just about vaccines (tho it is!), it's also about whether public health has jumped the shark. Not sure you're gonna like the answer slate.com/podcasts/wha... (🙏 @apoorvanyt.bsky.social )

Can You Get a COVID Vaccine?

Shot in the arm, but you’re RFK—you give the CDC a bad name.

slate.com

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Reposted by Apoorva Mandavilli

David Ho @davidho.bsky.social · Sep 5

Hawaii’s health insurers say they will cover COVID vaccinations for anyone older than six months, despite new FDA guidance that says children and healthy adults don’t need the shots.

Hawaii insurers hold firm on COVID vaccine policies

While public health advocates applaud the decision by Hawaii’s insurers, doctors and pharmacies are predicting a big drop in vaccinations.

www.hawaiinewsnow.com

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Apoorva Mandavilli @apoorvanyt.bsky.social · Sep 4

Pubbed last night: Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. plans to nominate seven new advisers to a scientific committee that recommends which vaccines Americans should take and when.

www.nytimes.com/2025/09/03/h...

Kennedy to Add New Members to Vaccine Advisory Panel

www.nytimes.com

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Reposted by Apoorva Mandavilli

Prof Peter Hotez MD PhD DSc(hon) @peterhotezmdphd.bsky.social · Sep 4

Being asked about crazy inflated numbers by antivaccine groups regarding how vaccines kids get. ANS: we went from vaccinating vs 8 diseases when I was a resident in the 1980s, to 16 diseases today. But of those 16, 11 diseases are combined into just two shots. Breakdowns below:

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Apoorva Mandavilli @apoorvanyt.bsky.social · Sep 4

New Ebola outbreak in DRC

Kai Kupferschmidt @kakape.bsky.social · Sep 4

And here’s confirmation from @WHO:

“Health authorities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo have declared an outbreak of Ebola virus disease in Kasai Province where 28 suspected cases and 15 deaths, including four health workers, have been reported as of 4 September 2025.”
#IDsky 🧪

Democratic Republic of the Congo declares Ebola virus disease outbreak in Kasai Province

Kinshasa – Health authorities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo have declared an outbreak of Ebola virus disease in Kasai Province where 28 suspected cases and 15 deaths, including four health w...

www.afro.who.int

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Apoorva Mandavilli @apoorvanyt.bsky.social · Sep 4

To everyone who is telling me that I am stupid, fat, evil, should be ashamed etc because of one partial screenshot, I welcome you to look at the three hours of fact checking my colleagues and I did in real time

www.nytimes.com/live/2025/09...

Live Updates: Kennedy Rejects Criticism, Data and Decorum in Contentious Hearing

www.nytimes.com

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Apoorva Mandavilli @apoorvanyt.bsky.social · Sep 4

Not at all. He is right that the virus is — at the moment — less dangerous and that the calculus is therefore more complicated. Many, many experts have told me the same thing. But I also note that his argument does not include groups at risk. I just used one powerful eg to make that point.

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Apoorva Mandavilli @apoorvanyt.bsky.social · Sep 4

Over three loud and contentious hours at his Senate hearing, RFK Jr. was remarkably combative and dismissive with senators, refusing to budge from his stance on vaccines, autism, Medicaid and the CDC.

www.nytimes.com/2025/09/04/h...

5 Takeaways From Kennedy’s Senate Hearing

www.nytimes.com

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Apoorva Mandavilli @apoorvanyt.bsky.social · Sep 3

Thanks very much

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Reposted by Apoorva Mandavilli

Carl Zimmer @carlzimmer.com · Sep 2

Yesterday the president demanded that evidence about Covid vaccines be shown to the public. Today @apoorvanyt.bsky.social & I run through some of the studies made public over the past 4+ years that show that the vaccines work. Gift link: nyti.ms/46k17Tq

nyti.ms

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Apoorva Mandavilli @apoorvanyt.bsky.social · Sep 2

In a post on Truth Social, the president suggested that the CDC was being “ripped apart” over a question that was answered long ago — whether Covid vaccines work.
(Gift article)

www.nytimes.com/2025/09/02/h...

Trump Wants Proof That Covid Vaccines Work. It’s Easy to Find.

www.nytimes.com

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Apoorva Mandavilli @apoorvanyt.bsky.social · Sep 2

Done!

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Reposted by Apoorva Mandavilli

Edward Wong @ewong.bsky.social · Aug 31

NEW: NEW: The Trump administration is barring Palestinian passport holders from getting visitors' visas for now. They can't enter the US for medical treatment, family visits and education. State Dept. ordered it in a global cable on Aug. 18. Our story: www.nytimes.com/2025/08/31/w...

U.S. Suspends Visas for Palestinian Passport Holders, Officials Say

www.nytimes.com

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