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Jen Kates @jenkatesdc.bsky.social · 10h

10 year old: "you can't understand my social dynamics because you are from the 20th century” 🤦👀

Jen Kates @jenkatesdc.bsky.social · 13d

Ohio had already made changes awhile back (not related to the start of this administration, which is what we were tracking). In Ohio, you can get a flu or COVID-19 vaccine without a prescription:https://www.pharmacy.ohio.gov/documents/pubs/messages/2024-09-25%20e-news%20september%202024.pdf

www.pharmacy.ohio.gov

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Jen Kates @jenkatesdc.bsky.social · 13d

26 states have moved to allow pharmacists to administer COVID-19 vaccines without an Rx (5 do so for other vaccines).

13 states require state-regulated insurers to cover COVID-19 vaccines at no cost (4 for other vaccines).

22 states rely on non-federal sources for vaccine guidelines.

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Jen Kates @jenkatesdc.bsky.social · 13d

NEW: We analyzed recent state actions on vaccine policy, given narrowing federal guidelines. Overall, 26 states have taken some action; of these, 23 have Democratic governors, signaling a growing red/blue divide in vaccine access. @kff.org Key findings in next post ⬇️
www.kff.org/covid-19/tra...

Tracking State Actions on Vaccine Policy and Access | KFF

With recent federal actions to curtail vaccine access, many states have announced actions intended to maintain broader access. This issue brief provides a snapshot of this rapidly changing landscape, ...

www.kff.org

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Reposted by Jen Kates

HELLody SchreiBOO @melodyschreiber.com · 17d

The pressure is increasingly falling on states to navigate recommendations and new federal rules.

Before, "in general, it didn’t matter where you lived,” said @jenkatesdc.bsky.social. “Now it does.” www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

States rally to offset fracturing of federal healthcare agencies: ‘Diseases don’t see state lines’

Changes to regulatory or information environments will help states decouple from federal health recommendations

www.theguardian.com

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Reposted by Jen Kates

KFF @kff.org · Jun 13

Currently, private insurers, Medicare, and Medicaid require no-cost coverage of vaccines, which is connected to recommendations made by ACIP and CDC.

If these recommendations are removed, people could face out-of-pocket costs.

We explain:

ACIP, CDC, and Insurance Coverage of Vaccines in the United States | KFF

This brief provides an overview of vaccine coverage requirements by payer or program, as they relate to ACIP and the CDC.

on.kff.org

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Jen Kates @jenkatesdc.bsky.social · Jun 13

With federal changes to vaccine policy & recommendations underway, here's our overview of insurance coverage requirements for vaccines by payer, as linked to ACIP/CDC. As we show, federal changes mean consumers could lose access to free vaccines.
www.kff.org/other/issue-...

ACIP, CDC, and Insurance Coverage of Vaccines in the United States | KFF

This brief provides an overview of vaccine coverage requirements by payer or program, as they relate to ACIP and the CDC.

www.kff.org

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Jen Kates @jenkatesdc.bsky.social · Jun 11

Based on our analysis of the current status of PEPFAR programming, it's hard to see how the 85% could be reached. www.kff.org/global-healt...

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Jen Kates @jenkatesdc.bsky.social · Jun 11

From 6/10 @StateDept press briefing on the PEPFAR 85%: it's an estimated 85% of beneficiaries who 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 be receiving lifesaving treatment & PMTC services based on 𝘧𝘶𝘭𝘭 𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘤𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘤𝘪𝘵𝘺 of 𝘢𝘭𝘭 operational active awards.
www.state.gov/briefings/de...

Department Press Briefing - June 10, 2025 - United States Department of State

2:21 p.m. EDT MS BRUCE: Good, there’s air conditioning in here. (Laughter.) Very good it’s air conditioned. Beautiful June day. Hi, everybody. QUESTION: Hello. QUESTION: Hi. MS BRUCE: Fox – those folk...

www.state.gov

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Jen Kates @jenkatesdc.bsky.social · Jun 10

Re the ACIP "purge" to "restore public trust". As many have noted, ACIP members are independent, vetted, & follow strict COI rules.
Those dismissed? Almost all are MDs & specialists in pediatrics, infectious diseases, epi, and others head primary care centers.

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Jen Kates @jenkatesdc.bsky.social · Jun 5

The Trump administration released its FY 2026 budget request on May 30. Here's our read-out on how global health programs fare. From what is known thus far, there's a more than $6 billion proposed cut (plus more in the rescission package)
www.kff.org/global-healt...

Administration Releases Additional Details of Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Request | KFF

On May 30, 2025, the administration released additional details of its Fiscal Year 2026 budget request, including more specific information on funding for global health activities at the State Departm...

www.kff.org

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Jen Kates @jenkatesdc.bsky.social · Jun 4

With changes in vaccine policy underway, @joshmich.bsky.social and I just published a brief on the key independent vaccine advisory bodies that, in the past, were typically consulted before most federal vaccine decisions: VRBPAC, ACIP, NVAC, and ACCV.
www.kff.org/other/issue-...

Federal Vaccine Advisory Committees: Roles and Current Issues | KFF

This brief describes four key federal vaccine advisory committees and discusses policy issues and questions they currently face. The four committees are the Vaccines and Related Biological Products Ad...

www.kff.org

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Jen Kates @jenkatesdc.bsky.social · May 30

hopefully! Though w/o a specific rec, I think it is not necessarily guaranteed? Or at least could be challenged as such.

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Jen Kates @jenkatesdc.bsky.social · May 30

The CDC vaccine schedule is now updated; COVID-19 vaccine is no longer recommended for healthy pregnant woman. This means there will no longer be mandated insurance coverage, even if a decision were to be made by a pregnant woman and her doctor that getting vaccinated was important.

Alexander Tin @alexander-a-tin.bsky.social · May 30

For pregnant women, CDC now lists COVID-19 vaccines during pregnancy as "No Guidance/Not Applicable"

www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp...

A screenshot of a table that reads: "Ages 19 Years or Older Legend Recommended vaccination for adults who meet age requirement, lack documentation of vaccination, or lack evidence of immunity Recommended vaccination for adults with an additional risk factor or another indication Recommended vaccination based on shared clinical decision-making No Guidance/Not Applicable Vaccine Pregnancy Immuno-compromised (excluding HIV infection) HIV infection CD4 percentage and count Men who have sex with men Asplenia, complement deficiency Heart or lung disease Kidney failure, End-stage renal disease or on dialysis Chronic liver disease; alcoholisma Diabetes Health care Personnelb <15% or <200/mm3 ≥15% and ≥200/mm3 COVID-19 more info icon. See Notes"

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Jen Kates @jenkatesdc.bsky.social · Apr 29

If you're interested in the status of U.S. global health programs, given the foreign aid review and funding cuts, here are our resources.
www.kff.org/tag/global-h...

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Jen Kates @jenkatesdc.bsky.social · Apr 24

MCC compacts with countries follow international treaty law, so ending these compacts is akin to breaking treaties.
www.gao.gov/assets/b-327...

www.gao.gov

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Jen Kates @jenkatesdc.bsky.social · Apr 24

Have to admit, shuttering MCC wasn't (yet) on my bingo card. MCC has been the one U.S. development agency many pointed to as having the approach and accountability mechanisms the rest of the U.S. development enterprise should emulate.

www.politico.com/news/2025/04...

DOGE is shutting down foreign aid agency Millennium Challenge Corporation

The agency is offering voluntary early retirement or deferred resignations to its 320 employees and planning to terminate grants to developing countries around the world.

www.politico.com

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Reposted by Jen Kates

The Middle with Jeremy Hobson @listentothemiddle.bsky.social · Apr 23

“Treatment is being interrupted in Africa because of this, and…it could also create the spread of a drug-resistant virus.”

@jenkatesdc.bsky.social on our latest episode of One Thing Trump Did, about halting some AIDS relief funding around the world.

podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...

podcasts.apple.com

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Jen Kates @jenkatesdc.bsky.social · Apr 21

Interested in knowing how the Trump administration's #foreignaid review is affecting PEPFAR and other U.S. global health programs? We have a series of new program impact fact sheets (more to come).
www.kff.org/global-healt...

The Trump Administration's Foreign Aid Review: Status of PEPFAR | KFF

Fact sheet examining actions taken by the Trump administration and their impact on PEPFAR.

www.kff.org

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Reposted by Jen Kates

KFF @kff.org · Apr 17

⚡ KFF’s @jenkatesdc.bsky.social writes about how the fate of the nation’s HIV prevention response is unclear given the Trump administration’s proposed budget changes and planned restructuring. #QuickTake on.kff.org/4jDAddk

KFF graphic featuring a quote from Jennifer Kates, KFF Senior Vice President and Director of Global Health & HIV Policy. It says, “Taken together, if approved, these proposed budget cuts and other changes would fundamentally alter the nation’s HIV response which, along with the many other changes being proposed at HHS, does not bode well for making further gains in the fight against HIV.”

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Jen Kates @jenkatesdc.bsky.social · Apr 17

ICYMI: Due to the Trump administration's cuts to PEPFAR, leading to ARV shortages and stock-outs, the @who.int had to issue guidance on how to handle HIV treatment interruptions.
www.who.int/news-room/qu...

Guidance on handling interruptions in antiretroviral treatment due to HIV service disruptions, drug shortages, or stockouts

A key priority is preventing the interruption of current HIV treatment and prevention medicines. This Q&A outlines advice when this is not possible.

www.who.int

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Jen Kates @jenkatesdc.bsky.social · Apr 15

Global health funding would be cut by 55%. This cut is twice as steep as the first budget request from Trump in 2017. Back then, Congress rejected his proposed cuts....

Adam Taylor @mradamtaylor.bsky.social · Apr 14

SCOOP w/ @johnphudson.bsky.social : We got a look at Trump OMB proposals for cuts to State/USAID budget. Among them:

- 48% total budget cut
- Humanitarian assistance cut by 54%, Global health 55 %
- Funding for UN, NATO cut
- Fulbright eliminated

www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...

Trump plan would slash State Dept. funding by nearly half, memo says

An internal document reviewed by The Post targets spending on humanitarian assistance, global health and international organizations such as the U.N. and NATO.

www.washingtonpost.com

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Jen Kates @jenkatesdc.bsky.social · Apr 11

"Children Seeking Cholera Care Die After U.S. Cuts Aid, Charity Says"
www.nytimes.com/2025/04/11/w...

Children Seeking Cholera Care Die After U.S. Cuts Aid, Charity Says

The victims died on a grueling three-hour walk in scorching heat as they tried to reach the nearest remaining health facility, officials of Save the Children said.

www.nytimes.com

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Reposted by Jen Kates

Lindsey Dawson (she/her) @lindseydawson.bsky.social · Apr 8

Today we released a new piece that consolidates information on recent HIV related HHS staff reductions, office closures, & other restructuring initiatives. These actions come on top of NIH grant cuts & threats to CDC's prevention funding. w/
@jenkatesdc.bsky.social www.kff.org/policy-watch...

What Do Federal Staffing Cuts and HHS Restructuring Mean for the Nation’s HIV Response? | KFF

This policy watch examines the impact of federal staff cuts and HHS restructuring on the nation's HIV response.

www.kff.org

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Jen Kates @jenkatesdc.bsky.social · Apr 2

NEW: "The USAID List of Terminated Global Health Awards – What Does it Tell Us?"

www.kff.org/policy-watch...

The USAID List of Terminated Global Health Awards – What Does it Tell Us? | KFF

This policy watch examines the USAID list of terminated awards, recently sent Congress, to examine the implications for global health programs and outstanding questions.

www.kff.org

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