This week's briefing: COVlD/respiratory surveillance data & telehealth access disrupted due to government shutdown; measles outbreak rages on as the Americas set to lose elimination status; CDC recommendations get further from science & reason. Watch 👇🏾

This week's public health update reviews current covid & measles status, a recent measles-related death, and updates from states stepping up to mitigate the harm to health being caused at the federal level. Grateful for those bright spots! 🙏🏾

Don't get me wrong, I frequently disagreed with things I heard in prior ACIP meetings, but at least we were all working with data and facts. Watching unqualified people make decisions for the country based on feelings, hunches, vibes & ideology is an excruciating waste of time.

"The ACIP is no longer a scientific committee. It is an ideology machine."
I can't even bring myself to watch their meetings. Instead, I'm cheering for states and medical associations working to mitigate the damage and fill gaps. But the damage being done is immeasurable.

The US is willingly relinquishing its role as a global leader in science & innovation. Others will step in.

“Our government is building a resilient, forward-looking economy that positions Canada as a global leader in scientific research and innovation...”

Smart move! 1st made-in-Canada mRNA vaccines.
"By supporting the production of vaccines here at home, we are supporting our economy while strengthening Canada’s ability to respond quickly and effectively to future public health emergencies." -Canadian Minister of Health

I think it's a bit more complicated than that. Homelessness is typically a regional issue, and there are often insufficient low-barrier points of access to compassionate, effective care.

A new low! Reports out of SF suggest people are spraying non-overdosing homeless individuals with Narcan to induce painful withdrawal symptoms to get them to move. Another symptom of our society becoming more callous, polarized, and violent by the day.
abc7news.com/post/san-fra...

When is the most optimal time to get the Covid vaccine? It depends! But if you haven't had covid in the last 5 months and live in the Northern hemisphere, the best time is right about now. I walk through the evidence in this week's People's Health Briefing 👇🏾

Horrific. SSPE, a late complication of measles, is a progressive brain disorder that develops 2-10 yrs after seeming recovery from initial infection. Gradual, worsening loss of all neurological function, 100% fatal, no cure, occurs in ~1 in 600 who get measles as an infant.
abc7.com/post/child-d...

Excellent! The moment I've been waiting for. California, Oregon & Washington will work together on vaccine guidance since we no longer have a credible CDC. Many questions on the authority the alliance will have, but still, a strong and necessary move!

Physicians: Continue supporting patients with sound guidance & empathy

"...And each of us must do what public health does best: look out for one another." 🙏🏾

🚨Calls to Action🚨
Congress: exercise oversight authority over HHS
State & local government: fill funding gaps
Philanthropy & private sector: step up community investment Medical groups: Continue standing up for science & truth

"...we did not always agree with our leaders, but they never gave us reason to doubt that they would rely on data-driven insights for our protection or that they would support public health workers." They cited Operation Warp Speed as a "shining example" of what HHS can do.

Warning & Call to Action from 9 former CDC Directors/Acting Directors serving under Presidents from Carter to Trump: US lives are being endangered due to a political agenda. Worthy scientists are being pushed out when they won't rubber stamp the insanity.

HHS initial cuts canceled nearly 700 CDC grants worth about $11 billion. Now, of the 5 states with the most canceled grants, 4 are republican-led: Texas, Georgia, Oklahoma, and Ohio.

CDC grant cancellations initially hit blue & red states pretty evenly, and 4 of the 5 jurisdictions with the most terminated grants were led by Democrats (CA, DC, Illinois & Mass). Now, ~80% of the cuts have been restored to blue states, compared with <5% in red states.

www.cnn.com/2025/08/26/h...

US public health in crisis: infrastructure being gutted, vaccine access being limited, eliminated virus (measles) making a resurgence, falling childhood vax rates making many vulnerable to vax-preventable illness, infant & maternal mortality rates rising & healthcare safety net being cut via HR1.
👇🏾

New Mexico issues public health order to mitigate challenges with c19 vaccine access. Hoping other states will follow suit.

“It is about the systematic dismantling of public health institutions, the silencing of experts, and the dangerous politicization of science. The attack on Dr. Monarez is a warning to every American: our evidence-based systems are being undermined from within.”

CDC Director and other top officials are out.

“...Secretary Kennedy and HHS have set their sights on weaponizing public health for political gain and putting millions of American lives at risk”

I'd say it's both

Devastating. Mom with sepsis, lost her unborn child and lucky to be alive herself, toddler w/possible hemolytic uremic syndrome, had surgery for intussusception still under care - all due to raw milk consumption which is being touted by our highest level health "leaders."

I was overjoyed when 600K people were added to Medicaid rosters in North Carolina knowing that county safety nets could finally accommodate people that were not eligible. Now it’s going to crash harder than ever. I don’t know if I have enough steam to continue in community health nursing.