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Reposted by Steven Pergam, MD, MPH

Kathleen Bachynski @bachynski.bsky.social · 3h

A study of nearly 300,000 people published today in the New England Journal of Medicine found “that last season’s 2024–2025 mRNA COVID vaccines reduced people’s risk of emergency department visits by 29 percent, their risk of hospitalizations by 39 percent and their risk of death by 64 percent.”

Annual COVID Vaccines Save Lives, New Study Shows

A new study shows that receiving an updated COVID vaccine reduced people’s risk of severe disease and death in all age groups, regardless of immunity from prior infection or vaccination

www.scientificamerican.com

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Steven Pergam, MD, MPH @pergamic.bsky.social · 5d

Just awful

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Steven Pergam, MD, MPH @pergamic.bsky.social · 8d

Don’t become numb to these events

Mississippi Free Press @mississippifreepress.org · 8d

A baby in Mississippi has died of whooping cough for the first time since 2012.

The infant was less than two months old and was not old enough to receive the pertussis vaccine.

buff.ly/8epl2QS

Mississippi Baby Dies of Whooping Cough Amid Rising Cases

A baby in Mississippi has died of whooping cough for the first time since 2012. The baby was less than two months old—too young for vaccination.

www.mississippifreepress.org

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Reposted by Steven Pergam, MD, MPH

BK. Titanji @boghuma.bsky.social · 9d

Without robust uptake of effective vaccines, children will continue to suffer and die needlessly. A large measles outbreak in Indonesia resulted in 2000 infections and 17 children dying. Mass vaccination campaign now underway.
This was avoidable!
www-pbs-org.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/www.pbs....

After 17 die in measles outbreak, Indonesia launches vaccination campaign

Indonesian authorities have rolled out a vaccination campaign in response to an outbreak that has caused 17 deaths.

www-pbs-org.cdn.ampproject.org

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Steven Pergam, MD, MPH @pergamic.bsky.social · 9d

Important update that CMV still is the Troll of transplantation

Cytomegalovirus Viral Load Continues to Predict Poor Outcomes in Adults and Children Despite Improved Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation Success url: academic.oup.com/ofid/article...

Cytomegalovirus Viral Load Continues to Predict Poor Outcomes in Adults and Children Despite Improved Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation Success

AbstractBackground. Recent advances of graft-versus-host disease prevention strategies have led to improved overall survival after hematopoietic cell trans

academic.oup.com

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Reposted by Steven Pergam, MD, MPH

Ferric Fang, MD @fangferric.bsky.social · 14d

The situation is even worse than the article indicates. Aztreonam-avibactam & cefiderocol are the only beta-lactams active against NDM+ bacteria, but strains with PBP3 insertions conferring resistance to aztreonam-avibactam & cefiderocol are already circulating.

academic.oup.com/jac/article-...

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Steven Pergam, MD, MPH @pergamic.bsky.social · 16d

Wish I could read the entire article, but we all know this is a major issue nationally. The major downside of pay-for-performance policies.

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Steven Pergam, MD, MPH @pergamic.bsky.social · 19d

😳

Dimitri Drekonja, MD, MS @dimitridrekonja.bsky.social · 19d

Checking on on ACIP; "at what point should low uptake factor into out decisions" (from one of the new ACIP members working hard to drive that COVID vaccination rate lower. Self-fulfilling prophecy)

Reposted by Steven Pergam, MD, MPH

Shematologist, MD @shematologist.medsky.social · 19d

In case you’re wondering, it’s barely fall & our children’s hospital is already almost always full with kids boarding in the ER.

And the pediatric workforce is stretched thin.

Our system does not have the capacity to care for the influx of vaccine preventable diseases that is coming.

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Steven Pergam, MD, MPH @pergamic.bsky.social · 20d

And the use of the word autochthonous: (of a disease) originating in the geographical area where the patient lives.

Layman's term: Locally acquired

A word that will become even more relevant over the next few years (e.g. measles)

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Steven Pergam, MD, MPH @pergamic.bsky.social · 20d

Need to be more prepared as Chagas continues to expand its range to the southern states. Consequences of climate change.

wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/...

Chagas Disease, an Endemic Disease in the United States

wwwnc.cdc.gov

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Reposted by Steven Pergam, MD, MPH

Dr. Lucky Tran @luckytran.com · 21d

Here are the first vaccine recommendations issued by the West Coast Health Alliance, which includes California, Washington, Oregon, and Hawaii:

Consensus WCHA 2025-2026 Respiratory Virus Season
Immunization Recommendations
Age/Condition COVID-19 Influenza RSV
Children • All 6-23 months
• All 2-18 years with risk fa tors
or never va inated against
COVID-19
• All who are in lose onta t with
others with risk fa tors1
• All who hoose prote tion1
• All 6 months and older • All younger than 8 months2
• All 8-19 months with risk fa tors
Pregnancy • All who are planning pregnan y,
pregnant, postpartum or
la tating
• All who are planning pregnan y,
pregnant, postpartum or
la tating
• 32-36 weeks gestational age2
Adults • All 65 years and older
• All younger than 65 years with
risk fa tors
• All who are in lose onta t with
others with risk fa tors
• All who hoose prote tion
• All • All 75 years and older
• All 50-74 years with risk fa tors
1. COVID-19 va ine is available for persons 6 months and older.
2. Prote t infants with either prenatal RSV va ine or infant dose of nirsevimab or lesrovimab.

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Reposted by Steven Pergam, MD, MPH

CIDRAP @cidrap.bsky.social · 21d

Insurance trade group says COVID, flu vaccines covered through 2026

AHIP's statement says all ACIP-recommended immunizations as of September 1, 2025 will be covered.

www.cidrap.umn.edu/c...

Photo: govonortomwolf/ Flickr cc

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Reposted by Steven Pergam, MD, MPH

Rolling Stone @rollingstone.com · 23d

The Pitt won Outstanding Drama Series at the #Emmys, and R. Scott Gemmill dedicated the award to healthcare workers:

"Respect them. Protect them. Trust them.”

🏆 www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv...

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Reposted by Steven Pergam, MD, MPH

BK. Titanji @boghuma.bsky.social · 27d

Rolling the dice on a vaccine preventable illness is never the better option. Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis is a rare and fatal complication of measles that can occur several years after the original infection. This is sad, this is avoidable. Vaccinate kids!
www.nbcnews.com/health/healt...

Los Angeles child dies from rare measles complication years after recovery

The county health department said the death is a "painful reminder" of how dangerous measles can be in unvaccinated people.

www.nbcnews.com

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Reposted by Steven Pergam, MD, MPH

Alex Sundermann, DrPH @sundermannaj.bsky.social · 27d

@mirandayaver.bsky.social and I have an op-ed out today in The Hill on why cutting AHRQ is a dangerous move.

From its work in patient safety and HAIs to funding research grants and to its support of the USPSTF - AHRQ has repeatedly shown its value
thehill.com/opinion/heal...

thehill.com

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Steven Pergam, MD, MPH @pergamic.bsky.social · 27d

Looking for a job as an Infection Preventionist? Interesting in joining a dynamic group that focuses on protecting cancer patients?

Join our team in the beautiful PNW!

careers-fhcrc.icims.com/jobs/29716/i...

Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center

Fred Hutch is dedicated to the elimination of cancer and related diseases as causes of human suffering and death.

careers-fhcrc.icims.com

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Steven Pergam, MD, MPH @pergamic.bsky.social · Sep 5

Gold standard science? colleagues @uwdeptmedicine.bsky.social and @fredhutch.bsky.social describe why immunobridging remains so important to assessing updated COVID-19 vaccines

www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Improving the evidence base for COVID-19 vaccines - Nature Medicine

Nature Medicine - Improving the evidence base for COVID-19 vaccines

www.nature.com

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Reposted by Steven Pergam, MD, MPH

Voices for Vaccines @voices4vaccines.bsky.social · Sep 3

Elijah is four years old and had a liver transplant not long ago. He is immunocompromised and has trouble with viruses that would give the rest of us the cold.

People like him are why we should all vaccinate. www.voicesforvaccines.org/kids-w-trans...

Kids With Transplants Need Community Immunity

My son is now almost three-and-a-half years old. His life shouldn’t be about us trying to dodge diseases.

www.voicesforvaccines.org

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Steven Pergam, MD, MPH @pergamic.bsky.social · Sep 3

The real question is do other states follow suit?

The real tragedy is children and those at risk in Florida who will suffer due to this move. The negative outcomes likely won't be immediate, but will reverberate for years to come.

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Reposted by Steven Pergam, MD, MPH

Gregg Gonsalves @gregggonsalves.bsky.social · Sep 3

@annesosin.bsky.social is right on target. Keep your focus on people doing the harm. Everyone else deserves our compassion, respect and to be seen as potential allies down the line. (And I'll add, RFK Jr. is a bad person, but punching down on people who use drugs is wrong).

Anne Sosin @annesosin.bsky.social · Sep 3

A kind reminder that a "politics of you deserved this" (cancer, vaccine-preventable disease, natural disaster, etc) has no place in public health. We can hold bad actors to account without punching down on the groups most harmed by their actions and/or resorting to shame, blame, and stigma.

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Reposted by Steven Pergam, MD, MPH

KUOW Public Radio @kuow.org · Sep 3

The democratic governors of Oregon, Washington and California are forming a new public health partnership aimed at preserving access to vaccines.

Oregon, Washington, California form health care alliance to protect vaccine access

The democratic governors of Oregon, Washington and California are forming a new public health partnership aimed at preserving access to vaccines.

www.kuow.org

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Steven Pergam, MD, MPH @pergamic.bsky.social · Sep 3

This is where we are?

Sadly, yes. We vilify that which protects our children. Truly dystopian.

apple.news/AljZtI59wQ8S...

Florida moves to end all school vaccine mandates, first in nation to do so — The Washington Post

Florida Surgeon General Joseph A. Ladapo criticized school vaccine mandates, which every state has, and likened them to slavery.

apple.news

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Reposted by Steven Pergam, MD, MPH

Helen Branswell 🇨🇦 @helenbranswell.bsky.social · Aug 31

#CDC was alerted to 3 more #flu deaths in kids, bringing the total for the 2024-25 season (so far) to 278 — only 10 fewer than during the 2009 H1N1 pandemic. About 90% of those kids weren't vaccinated against flu. So tragic.
Kids should be vaccinated against flu.
www.cdc.gov/fluview/surv...

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Reposted by Steven Pergam, MD, MPH

JAMA @jama.com · Aug 30

Editorial: Recent advancements and clinical trials emphasize the importance of recognizing #RSV as a health threat in older adults, with vaccines offering protection against severe disease and potentially broader cardiopulmonary benefits.

#ESCCongress #WCCardio

ja.ma/4n4umz8

A JAMA editorial from August 30, 2025, titled: "Shot Through the Heart—Can RSV Vaccination Reduce Risk of Cardiovascular Outcomes?" by Helen Y. Chu, MD, MPH; Alastair F. Murray, MD. The article discusses RSV's impact on older adults with heart conditions.

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