Kate Bubar
@katebubar.bsky.social
Postdoc | Infectious disease modeling | Stanford School of Medicine
Views are my own
Views are my own
Reposted by Kate Bubar
Increasingly moving science to the footnotes (or eliminating data and evidence entirely) and elevating anti-science, misleading health information, and false claims to the center stage of messaging and practice within HHS & CDC.
The agency this week quietly changed its official language to suggest vaccines may cause autism, a claim that scientists say has no basis in evidence
CDC Vaccine Website Promotes Anti-Science Claims of Autism Ties
The agency this week quietly changed its official language to suggest vaccines may cause autism, a claim that scientists say has no basis in evidence
www.scientificamerican.com
November 21, 2025 at 5:36 PM
Increasingly moving science to the footnotes (or eliminating data and evidence entirely) and elevating anti-science, misleading health information, and false claims to the center stage of messaging and practice within HHS & CDC.
Reposted by Kate Bubar
Remember when several high-ranking #CDC officials resigned after #RFKJr refused to follow scientific evidence & federal procedures in #vaccines & #publichealth policy? Here's a chance to hear from three of them on Nov 19 w @healthjournalism.org
Register here!
healthjournalism.org/event/trust-...
Register here!
healthjournalism.org/event/trust-...
Trust, public health reporting and the CDC: Insider perspectives
In this webinar, we'll talk with former CDC officials on where to go for reliable reporting resources after the dismantling of the agency.
healthjournalism.org
November 11, 2025 at 9:29 PM
Remember when several high-ranking #CDC officials resigned after #RFKJr refused to follow scientific evidence & federal procedures in #vaccines & #publichealth policy? Here's a chance to hear from three of them on Nov 19 w @healthjournalism.org
Register here!
healthjournalism.org/event/trust-...
Register here!
healthjournalism.org/event/trust-...
Reposted by Kate Bubar
I saved this slide from a ACIP presentation by Dr. Shimabukuro. He showed it every time he talked about VAERS.
September 4, 2025 at 7:24 PM
I saved this slide from a ACIP presentation by Dr. Shimabukuro. He showed it every time he talked about VAERS.
Reposted by Kate Bubar
Ever read a paper & think, "wow 🤩 that was well written"?
Learn how to write your own *wow* paper with @midas-network.bsky.social trainees on Thurs 9/25 @ noon ET.
We'll hear from @jdrakephd.bsky.social on strategies for crafting & communicating a good story.
🔗 georgetown.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
Learn how to write your own *wow* paper with @midas-network.bsky.social trainees on Thurs 9/25 @ noon ET.
We'll hear from @jdrakephd.bsky.social on strategies for crafting & communicating a good story.
🔗 georgetown.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
September 11, 2025 at 6:03 PM
Ever read a paper & think, "wow 🤩 that was well written"?
Learn how to write your own *wow* paper with @midas-network.bsky.social trainees on Thurs 9/25 @ noon ET.
We'll hear from @jdrakephd.bsky.social on strategies for crafting & communicating a good story.
🔗 georgetown.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
Learn how to write your own *wow* paper with @midas-network.bsky.social trainees on Thurs 9/25 @ noon ET.
We'll hear from @jdrakephd.bsky.social on strategies for crafting & communicating a good story.
🔗 georgetown.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
Reposted by Kate Bubar
Critical point: all of this has been well-documented, for years.
This study on reemergence of vaccine-eliminated diseases was published in JAMA in April. Ample time for the Florida surgeon general to take stock of the consequences and avoid an avoidable mistake.
jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
This study on reemergence of vaccine-eliminated diseases was published in JAMA in April. Ample time for the Florida surgeon general to take stock of the consequences and avoid an avoidable mistake.
jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
September 9, 2025 at 2:28 PM
Critical point: all of this has been well-documented, for years.
This study on reemergence of vaccine-eliminated diseases was published in JAMA in April. Ample time for the Florida surgeon general to take stock of the consequences and avoid an avoidable mistake.
jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
This study on reemergence of vaccine-eliminated diseases was published in JAMA in April. Ample time for the Florida surgeon general to take stock of the consequences and avoid an avoidable mistake.
jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
Reposted by Kate Bubar
📢 Important update! Join the Vaccine Integrity Project live stream TOMORROW 8/19 at 2pm ET.
We'll review flu, COVID & RSV vaccine data—focused on safety & efficacy during pregnancy, and for kids & the immunocompromised.
Watch here:
We'll review flu, COVID & RSV vaccine data—focused on safety & efficacy during pregnancy, and for kids & the immunocompromised.
Watch here:
From Data to Decisions: The Evidence Base for 2025 Fall/Winter Immunizations
Join the Vaccine Integrity Project for an expert presentation on the latest publicly available data regarding the safety and efficacy of flu, COVID-19, and RSV vaccines. In this recorded live stream, the scientific research team will highlight key findings on the effectiveness and safety of COVID-19
www.youtube.com
August 18, 2025 at 8:56 PM
📢 Important update! Join the Vaccine Integrity Project live stream TOMORROW 8/19 at 2pm ET.
We'll review flu, COVID & RSV vaccine data—focused on safety & efficacy during pregnancy, and for kids & the immunocompromised.
Watch here:
We'll review flu, COVID & RSV vaccine data—focused on safety & efficacy during pregnancy, and for kids & the immunocompromised.
Watch here:
Reposted by Kate Bubar
I am so pleased to see that numerous medical and public health organizations are suing RFK Jr. and his minions for the latter’s grotesque actions to undermine vaccination programs in the U.S.
Will it work? I don’t know.
But we need to do everything in our power to defend public health.
Will it work? I don’t know.
But we need to do everything in our power to defend public health.
RFK Jr. sued by pediatricians, other medical groups over Covid vaccines
Kennedy's track record of undermining vaccine safety and effectiveness prompted the lawsuit. "We've had enough," one public health expert said.
www.nbcnews.com
July 8, 2025 at 1:54 PM
I am so pleased to see that numerous medical and public health organizations are suing RFK Jr. and his minions for the latter’s grotesque actions to undermine vaccination programs in the U.S.
Will it work? I don’t know.
But we need to do everything in our power to defend public health.
Will it work? I don’t know.
But we need to do everything in our power to defend public health.
Reposted by Kate Bubar
Saying an AI is ‘lying’ is a bit like saying a virus ‘wants’ to infect people. In both cases, it can be tempting to project human-like intent onto an outcome - but ultimately these are just probabilistic or algorithmic processes interacting with their environments.
Sigh. LLMs don't lie, because they don't know anything. What all LLMs do, including the latest models, is produce statistically plausible outputs that sometimes resemble the truth and sometimes resemble falsehoods. That's all the tech *can* do www.ft.com/content/2b3c...
‘Godfather’ of AI Yoshua Bengio says latest models lie to users
Turing Award winner warns recent models display dangerous characteristics as he launches LawZero non-profit for safer AI
www.ft.com
June 3, 2025 at 6:45 AM
Saying an AI is ‘lying’ is a bit like saying a virus ‘wants’ to infect people. In both cases, it can be tempting to project human-like intent onto an outcome - but ultimately these are just probabilistic or algorithmic processes interacting with their environments.
Reposted by Kate Bubar
Important modification... from the FAQ, it seems that students who are beginning their PhDs in Fall 2025 can apply (as long as matriculation date is August 1, 2025 or after). Awards start in Fall 2026.
www.simonsfoundation.org/grant/simons...
www.simonsfoundation.org/grant/simons...
June 2, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Important modification... from the FAQ, it seems that students who are beginning their PhDs in Fall 2025 can apply (as long as matriculation date is August 1, 2025 or after). Awards start in Fall 2026.
www.simonsfoundation.org/grant/simons...
www.simonsfoundation.org/grant/simons...
Reposted by Kate Bubar
Please consider a comment today if you are in the US. See the advice (shared from an email I received) in the follow-up posts below this one. Tomorrow is the deadline. This is an important part of scientific freedom in this country.
Time Sensitive: Public comment on Schedule F (removing civil service protections for many federal employees INCLUDING THOSE WITH AUTHORITY OVER GRANTS) ends tomorrow. Notice is here: www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/... . Comment here (green button) www.federalregister.gov/documents/20... .
www.govinfo.gov
May 22, 2025 at 2:50 PM
Please consider a comment today if you are in the US. See the advice (shared from an email I received) in the follow-up posts below this one. Tomorrow is the deadline. This is an important part of scientific freedom in this country.
Reposted by Kate Bubar
What the hell is wrong with @nejm.org? Do they think this is sound public policy? It's not just letting Prasad and Makary speak because they are now federal officials. It's giving them the cover of publication in one of our nation's oldest medical journals. www.nejm.org/doi/full/10....
An Evidence-Based Approach to Covid-19 Vaccination | NEJM
This article from the FDA compares broad U.S. recommendations on Covid vaccination with those from other countries and announces the adoption of an evidence-based approach to such recommendations.
www.nejm.org
May 20, 2025 at 3:57 PM
What the hell is wrong with @nejm.org? Do they think this is sound public policy? It's not just letting Prasad and Makary speak because they are now federal officials. It's giving them the cover of publication in one of our nation's oldest medical journals. www.nejm.org/doi/full/10....
Reposted by Kate Bubar
Random thread: In middle school, I met a UCSD PhD student at a family friend's dinner party—very smart, super nice, and I asked him where I could learn more about biology. He suggested reading Scientific American and I was like "I'm too poor for that" so he gave me an old issue he had lying around.
May 16, 2025 at 4:53 PM
Random thread: In middle school, I met a UCSD PhD student at a family friend's dinner party—very smart, super nice, and I asked him where I could learn more about biology. He suggested reading Scientific American and I was like "I'm too poor for that" so he gave me an old issue he had lying around.
Reposted by Kate Bubar
My ongoing request:
If your NSF or NIH grant was terminated--whether at Harvard or elsewhere--please report it here.
NSF: grant-watch.us/submit-nsf.h...
NIH: grant-watch.us/submit-nih.h...
Our trackers are actively used in lawsuits and are often the only record that terminations ever occurred.
If your NSF or NIH grant was terminated--whether at Harvard or elsewhere--please report it here.
NSF: grant-watch.us/submit-nsf.h...
NIH: grant-watch.us/submit-nih.h...
Our trackers are actively used in lawsuits and are often the only record that terminations ever occurred.
NSF appears to be terminating hundreds of its grants to Harvard, per internal sources at NSF and at Harvard. At least one division has had all its grants cut.
May 14, 2025 at 2:22 PM
My ongoing request:
If your NSF or NIH grant was terminated--whether at Harvard or elsewhere--please report it here.
NSF: grant-watch.us/submit-nsf.h...
NIH: grant-watch.us/submit-nih.h...
Our trackers are actively used in lawsuits and are often the only record that terminations ever occurred.
If your NSF or NIH grant was terminated--whether at Harvard or elsewhere--please report it here.
NSF: grant-watch.us/submit-nsf.h...
NIH: grant-watch.us/submit-nih.h...
Our trackers are actively used in lawsuits and are often the only record that terminations ever occurred.
Reposted by Kate Bubar
Republicans have just proposed defunding Planned Parenthood nationwide.
In doing so, they are telling women and people across the country that our healthcare doesn’t matter and that we are undeserving of care.
It’s time to stop this bill in its tracks.
In doing so, they are telling women and people across the country that our healthcare doesn’t matter and that we are undeserving of care.
It’s time to stop this bill in its tracks.
May 14, 2025 at 7:21 PM
Republicans have just proposed defunding Planned Parenthood nationwide.
In doing so, they are telling women and people across the country that our healthcare doesn’t matter and that we are undeserving of care.
It’s time to stop this bill in its tracks.
In doing so, they are telling women and people across the country that our healthcare doesn’t matter and that we are undeserving of care.
It’s time to stop this bill in its tracks.
Reposted by Kate Bubar
RFK Jr.’s hearing has ended, so I’ll leave you with Senator Alsobrook’s statement to him, delivered in a calm and steady voice:
“Sir, you are the wrong person for this job”. 🔥
“Sir, you are the wrong person for this job”. 🔥
May 14, 2025 at 8:31 PM
RFK Jr.’s hearing has ended, so I’ll leave you with Senator Alsobrook’s statement to him, delivered in a calm and steady voice:
“Sir, you are the wrong person for this job”. 🔥
“Sir, you are the wrong person for this job”. 🔥
Reposted by Kate Bubar
RFK Jr. said multiple times during his house and senate hearings today that no scientists have been fired from federal agencies. Our reporting has shown that hundreds, if not thousands, of scientists have been let go from NIH/CDC/FDA
May 15, 2025 at 12:11 AM
RFK Jr. said multiple times during his house and senate hearings today that no scientists have been fired from federal agencies. Our reporting has shown that hundreds, if not thousands, of scientists have been let go from NIH/CDC/FDA
Reposted by Kate Bubar
🧵1/N New study published in @jama.com on re-emergence of vaccine-eliminated infectious diseases under declining vaccination in the US. We model long-term risk and conditions for return to endemicity for measles, rubella, polio, & diphtheria. Collab w/ @Mathewkiang.com jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
April 24, 2025 at 3:40 PM
🧵1/N New study published in @jama.com on re-emergence of vaccine-eliminated infectious diseases under declining vaccination in the US. We model long-term risk and conditions for return to endemicity for measles, rubella, polio, & diphtheria. Collab w/ @Mathewkiang.com jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
Reposted by Kate Bubar
As someone directly affected by this, let me be clear:
I'd rather lose my job because Harvard chose to fight than keep my job and see a generation of white supremacists parade its corpse around like a war trophy.
I'd rather lose my job because Harvard chose to fight than keep my job and see a generation of white supremacists parade its corpse around like a war trophy.
Researchers at Harvard and its affiliates appreciate that the university resisted the Trump Administration's demands, but worry about what happens next.
At Harvard, scientists worry over the consequences of resisting the Trump administration: $2.2B in grants frozen
Researchers at Harvard and its affiliates appreciate that the university resisted the Trump Administration's demands, but worry about what happens next.
buff.ly
April 15, 2025 at 4:29 PM
As someone directly affected by this, let me be clear:
I'd rather lose my job because Harvard chose to fight than keep my job and see a generation of white supremacists parade its corpse around like a war trophy.
I'd rather lose my job because Harvard chose to fight than keep my job and see a generation of white supremacists parade its corpse around like a war trophy.
Reposted by Kate Bubar
Harvard redid its whole homepage to push back against the administration’s demands. I mean, this is just a website but I think it’s kind of a great PR move: www.harvard.edu
Harvard University
Harvard University is devoted to excellence in teaching, learning, and research, and to developing leaders who make a difference globally.
www.harvard.edu
April 14, 2025 at 7:10 PM
Harvard redid its whole homepage to push back against the administration’s demands. I mean, this is just a website but I think it’s kind of a great PR move: www.harvard.edu
Reposted by Kate Bubar
Today the NY Times posted an interview with Chris Rufo that anyone associated with universities — or anyone who benefits from advances in health care or any other aspect of the research taking place there — should listen to or read in transcript.
www.nytimes.com/2025/04/11/p...?
www.nytimes.com/2025/04/11/p...?
The Conservative Activist Pushing Trump to Attack U.S. Colleges
Christopher Rufo has helped inspire Republican messaging and bills on hot-button issues.
www.nytimes.com
April 11, 2025 at 7:38 PM
Today the NY Times posted an interview with Chris Rufo that anyone associated with universities — or anyone who benefits from advances in health care or any other aspect of the research taking place there — should listen to or read in transcript.
www.nytimes.com/2025/04/11/p...?
www.nytimes.com/2025/04/11/p...?
Check out this great new work by @caseymiddleton.bsky.social and @danlarremore.bsky.social!
(also a new preprint out AND a successful thesis defense all in the same day?! amazing @caseymiddleton.bsky.social 🤩)
(also a new preprint out AND a successful thesis defense all in the same day?! amazing @caseymiddleton.bsky.social 🤩)
Interesting new pre-print on test-negative designs and implications for estimating correlates of protection: www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1...
April 10, 2025 at 5:21 PM
Check out this great new work by @caseymiddleton.bsky.social and @danlarremore.bsky.social!
(also a new preprint out AND a successful thesis defense all in the same day?! amazing @caseymiddleton.bsky.social 🤩)
(also a new preprint out AND a successful thesis defense all in the same day?! amazing @caseymiddleton.bsky.social 🤩)