Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Josh Michaud

Jen Kates @jenkatesdc.bsky.social · 17d

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

1 12 16

Reposted by Josh Michaud

KFF @kff.org · 18d

As some states form alliances on vaccine policy, others bar vaccine mandates, and ACIP pulls back on recommendations for certain vaccines, we provide a snapshot of what states are doing on vaccine policy.

Dive in: https://on.kff.org/3IhxRnr

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, tracking which states have instituted changes in resp...

on.kff.org

4 6

Josh Michaud @joshmich.bsky.social · Sep 5

@audreykearney.bsky.social summarizes this data and explains what it means here
www.kff.org/quick-take/m...

Most Parents Nationally and in Florida Want Schools to Require Vaccines

As Florida moves to end its mandates, early release findings from a new KFF-Washington Post survey show that parents overwhelmingly support current laws that require children to be vaccinated against ...

www.kff.org

2

Josh Michaud @joshmich.bsky.social · Sep 5

Only a small minority of parents oppose school vaccine requirements, nationally and in Florida specifically, according to new @kff.org @washingtonpost.com polling. The great majority of parents support these requirements.

Even 73% of self-described MAGA parents support these requirements

2 1 4

Reposted by Josh Michaud

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

9 12

Reposted by Josh Michaud

KFF @kff.org · Mar 19

⚡KFF’s @lindseydawson.bsky.social writes about the implications of a potential funding cut to the CDC’s HIV prevention budget. #QuickTake on.kff.org/4izGLZR

FF graphic featuring a quote from Lindsey Dawson, KFF Associate Director for HIV Policy. It says, “Eliminating [HIV prevention] funding could jeopardize recent successes in addressing the nation’s HIV epidemic, including those related to the Ending the HIV Epidemic Initiative, which the first Trump administration created... Diminished prevention efforts would likely lead to an increase in HIV incidence, with negative implications for individual well-being, public health, and health costs.”

19 24

Josh Michaud @joshmich.bsky.social · Mar 18

In two rulings in the last 8 days, judges have ruled against Trump Administration actions freezing USAID funding and shutting down the agency. These will continue to be fought in court.

From our @kff.org timeline of events on USAID:
www.kff.org/u-s-foreign-...

March 10 ruling granting preliminary injunction for Trump Administration to pay frozen funds
March 18 ruling ordering Trump Administration to halt actions related to USAID dissolution

2 9

Josh Michaud @joshmich.bsky.social · Mar 18

The Great Birdington Declaration

www.nytimes.com/2025/03/18/h...

RFK Jr.’s Prescription for Bird Flu on Farms: Let It Spread

The health secretary has suggested allowing the virus to spread, so as to identify birds that may be immune. Such an experiment would be disastrous, scientists say.

www.nytimes.com

1 4

Josh Michaud @joshmich.bsky.social · Mar 13

Dr. Dave Weldon "didn't have the votes" to be confirmed as CDC Director, according to a source. His confirmation hearing this morning was cancelled.

Interesting to note that the CDC Director position only became Senate confirmed as of this year.
www.wsj.com/politics/pol...

White House to Withdraw Weldon as CDC Nominee

A Republican familiar with the nomination said Dr. Dave Weldon didn’t have the votes in the Senate to be confirmed.

www.wsj.com

2

Reposted by Josh Michaud

Michael Piccorossi @michaelooch.bsky.social · Mar 11

Excellent timeline of events from @kff.org chronicling Trump/Musk actions to freeze all U.S. foreign aid and dissolve #USAID

U.S. Foreign Aid Freeze & Dissolution of USAID: Timeline of Events | KFF

This timeline provides a detailed overview of actions, including counter-actions, related to the administration’s efforts to freeze all U.S. foreign aid and dissolve the U.S. Agency for International…

buff.ly

2 2

Josh Michaud @joshmich.bsky.social · Mar 10

Utah Governor Cox signs a fluoride ban into law. A remarkable new development in the saga of fluoride in the U.S., as Utah is the first state ever to impose such a ban.
www.wsj.com/us-news/utah...

1 3

Josh Michaud @joshmich.bsky.social · Mar 6

There is no secret about why measles is cropping up more frequently - a decline in vaccination rates.
www.kff.org/quick-take/u...

U.S. Measles Outbreaks: A New Abnormal in a Time of Vaccine Hesitancy

Given the current trends and embrace of vaccine skepticism on the part of the administration, and potential changes to federal policy around childhood vaccines, we might continue to witness more and l...

www.kff.org

4 12

Josh Michaud @joshmich.bsky.social · Mar 6

Reports of a second measles death now in the growing measles outbreak. Apparently Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was prescient when he initially mentioned two measles deaths last week. Another unvaccinated individual.
www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...

Second death reported in growing measles outbreak

The death of a New Mexico adult comes eight days after a 6-year-old child succumbed to the disease in Texas last week.

www.washingtonpost.com

1 1

Josh Michaud @joshmich.bsky.social · Feb 26

Utah is on the verge of being the first state to ban use of fluoride in drinking water. It's up to the governor to veto (or not) the legislation approved by Republican lawmakers
www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2025/...

Utah could become the first state to ban fluoride in its drinking water

The Republican-controlled statehouse sent the bill to the desk of Gov. Spencer Cox (R) last week after it passed both chambers largely along party lines.

www.washingtonpost.com

Josh Michaud @joshmich.bsky.social · Feb 26

Report of the first death due to the TX measles outbreak.

124 cases of measles have been reported in the outbreak so far, almost all among unvaccinated children
apnews.com/article/meas...

First measles death is reported in the West Texas outbreak that's infected more than 120 people

A person who was hospitalized has died from measles in West Texas. It's the first since the outbreak began late last month.

apnews.com

Josh Michaud @joshmich.bsky.social · Feb 26

She says $500 million will go to increased biosecurity measures at farms, and an additional $400 million will be made available for "financial relief" for farmers whose flocks are affected by avian flu.

Josh Michaud @joshmich.bsky.social · Feb 26

Trump Administration Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins says USDA will invest "up to $1 billion" to address the avian flu crisis and bring down the price of eggs. Part of that investment, she writes in an op-ed, will come from DOGE savings.
www.wsj.com/opinion/agri...

1

Josh Michaud @joshmich.bsky.social · Feb 12

It appears there is little to no resistance from Senate Republicans to the nomination of RFK Jr. as HHS Secretary
www.nytimes.com/live/2025/02...

37 72 310

Josh Michaud @joshmich.bsky.social · Feb 7

Excellent article which (ahem) lays out biosecurity issues facing U.S. egg production in a time of uncontrolled H5N1 spread in poultry, and the growing risk for human health
kffhealthnews.org/news/article...

On the Front Lines Against Bird Flu, Egg Farmers Say They're Losing the Battle - KFF Health News

Tools used to contain previous bird flu outbreaks aren’t working this time, experts say. The virus has sickened at least 67 people in the U.S. and killed one, with egg producers begging for a new appr...

kffhealthnews.org

1 4

Reposted by Josh Michaud

Atul Gawande @agawande.bsky.social · Feb 6

Rubio claims that @USAID lifesaving assistance for health and humanitarian needs will continue. But his team just communicated that the entire agency will be imminently reduced from 14,000 to 294 people. Just 12 in Africa.

140 1.4K 2.8K

Reposted by Josh Michaud

Jen Kates @jenkatesdc.bsky.social · Feb 6

To my knowledge, USAID's President's #Malaria Initiative (PMI) is still subject to the #foreignaidfreeze. This means no bed nets, indoor residual spraying, seasonal preventive treatments, or medicines getting to people - mostly kids and pregnant women.

1 12 9

Josh Michaud @joshmich.bsky.social · Feb 6

Musk and his team are collecting lists of CDC employees with less than a year of service or in two-year probationary periods.

The concerted effort to hollow out the federal workforce continues, now coming for public health.
www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...

DOGE broadens sweep of federal agencies, gains access to health payment systems

Associates of Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency have fanned out across the federal government in recent days, alarming some career employees.

www.washingtonpost.com

Josh Michaud @joshmich.bsky.social · Feb 5

The stop work order on foreign assistance and media blackout from CDC is already hampering the response to an ongoing Ebola outbreak in Uganda
www.cbsnews.com/news/some-u-...

2

Josh Michaud @joshmich.bsky.social · Feb 5

We’re keeping an updated resource describing all global health related Executive Actions from the Trump Administration here:
www.kff.org/global-healt...

Overview of President Trump’s Executive Actions on Global Health | KFF

This guide provides an overview of executive orders and other executive actions made by the Trump Administration since January 21, 2025 that directly address or affect U.S. global health efforts. This...

www.kff.org

1

Josh Michaud @joshmich.bsky.social · Feb 5

Given that US provides ~20% of its global health support through international (multilateral) organizations & is party to numerous int'l agreements/treaties, this review could have important implications for US global health assistance
www.kff.org/interactive/...
www.kff.org/global-healt...

1 1