Tom Sandora, MD MPH
@tomsandora.bsky.social
2K followers 1.4K following 110 posts
Hospital Epidemiologist at Boston Children's Hospital, pediatric infectious diseases physician. Duke U & Harvard Med alum. Musician, traveler. Views mine. #MedEd
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tomsandora.bsky.social
The RFK Jr-induced chaos is making things harder for parents to do what they want to protect their children from infection. It doesn't have to be this way.
Seeking Covid Shots for Their Children, Some Parents Hit a Wall
www.nytimes.com
Reposted by Tom Sandora, MD MPH
drtomfrieden.bsky.social
9-month-old Mohamat died of malaria in Cameroon. Before U.S. aid cuts, he likely would have survived. Malaria deaths are rising after years of progress. Abrupt and irresponsible budget cuts can have deadly consequences.
Babies' deaths in Cameroon show how US aid cuts curtail malaria fight
Nine-month-old baby Mohamat burned with fever for three days before his family took him to the closest health centre in northern Cameroon, but it was too late. He died of malaria that day.
www.reuters.com
tomsandora.bsky.social
Double vaccinated against flu and COVID-19 today! Feeling great and very thankful to the scientists, investigators, physicians, and clinical trial participants who made it possible. Give a shout if you’re vaccinated too.
a man wearing a beanie and a sweater says we will be stronger than ever
ALT: a man wearing a beanie and a sweater says we will be stronger than ever
media.tenor.com
tomsandora.bsky.social
This is a truly remarkable finding: 17 years after introduction of the HPV vaccine, there was a decreased prevalence of HPV infection (and therefore decreased cancer risk) in both vaccinated AND unvaccinated individuals. Cancer prevention through herd immunity!!!
Population-Level Effectiveness and Herd Protection 17 Years After HPV Vaccine
This cross-sectional study investigates population-level effectiveness and herd protection in the first 17 years after human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination among adolescent girls and young women at ...
jamanetwork.com
Reposted by Tom Sandora, MD MPH
drtomfrieden.bsky.social
More kids died from flu last season than in any non-pandemic season since monitored began 20 years ago. Almost 90% were unvaccinated. Parents: talk to your doctor about getting your kids vaccinated. www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes...
tomsandora.bsky.social
Even healthy children can get extremely sick from the flu, and vaccination reduces the risk of severe illness and death. We recommend that all kids 6 months and older receive a flu vaccine every year (because the circulating viruses change little bit each season).
More kids are severely ill or dying from the flu, CDC reports
As fewer children get their flu shots, cases of a rare, severe complication are rising. Last season, the U.S. experienced the highest number of pediatric flu deaths in 15 years.
www.nbcnews.com
Reposted by Tom Sandora, MD MPH
tomsandora.bsky.social
Despite absolutely no new data, and already-existing recommendations that were working very well, RFK Jr's new group just voted to reduce parental choice about (and access to) the MMRV vaccine for their children. Sadly, this is likely the first step of many to widely block access to vaccines. Awful.
Kennedy's advisory panel recommends new restrictions on MMRV vaccines
U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s vaccine advisory committee is recommending new restrictions on the MMRV vaccine.
apnews.com
tomsandora.bsky.social
This.
boghuma.bsky.social
Newborn lives are on the line. The hepatitis B birth dose is safe, effective, and lifesaving yet it’s under attack at ACIP this week. Weakening this policy would be a grave mistake.
Read why we must defend it.
open.substack.com/pub/bktitanj...
The Hepatitis B Vaccine: Why the Birth Dose Matters and Why We Must Defend It
Defending science, saving newborn lives, and keeping the world on track to end Hepatitis B
open.substack.com
Reposted by Tom Sandora, MD MPH
boghuma.bsky.social
We have 2 vaccines that prevent cancer, the HBV vaccine that prevents hepatitis B related liver cancer and the HPV vaccine that prevents cervical cancer and other HPV associated cancers.
On Thursday, RFK.JR's ACIP will attack one of these vaccines (HBV) and restrict access to it.
Let that sink in!
Reposted by Tom Sandora, MD MPH
carlzimmer.com
A deep dive into the destruction of US cancer research by @jonathanmahler.bsky.social “It’s an absolutely unmitigated disaster,” a former top official at NIH told him. “It will take decades to recover from this, if we ever do.” Gift link: nyti.ms/48iH3Cr
nyti.ms
tomsandora.bsky.social
The active surveillance program to look for multiple causes of foodborne illness is being actively dismantled by the current administration, increasing the risk for all Americans.
Cuts to the Food Safety System Threaten Americans’ Health
www.nytimes.com
tomsandora.bsky.social
In Florida, a 15% decline in measles vaccinations over 25 yrs --> 1 million cases and ~1,000 preventable deaths. If US childhood vaccinations drop by half --> estimated 51,200 cases of brain damage from measles, 5,400 cases of post-polio paralysis, 10.3 million hospitalizations, and 159,200 deaths.
Florida’s surgeon general said he didn’t calculate the costs of ending vaccine mandates in the state. But scientists have. | CNN
Florida’s surgeon general said Sunday that he had not weighed the cost – in terms of infections, hospitalizations or deaths – of ending vaccine mandates in the state. But scientists who have done thos...
www.cnn.com
Reposted by Tom Sandora, MD MPH
thecovidinfoguy.bsky.social
USA: Massachusetts Grandfather Denied COVID Vaccine.

George Jenkins, a 70-year-old from Worcester, takes his health seriously with a balanced diet and daily tai chi. After battling COVID once, he sought protection but was denied the COVID vaccine.
Massachusetts grandfather denied COVID vaccine coverage despite Gov. Healey's order
A 70-year-old grandfather said he was denied coverage for a COVID shot by his insurance company.
www.cbsnews.com
Reposted by Tom Sandora, MD MPH
angierasmussen.bsky.social
If you’re wondering how much of what RFK Jr said yesterday about vaccines was true—almost none of it was.

@FullerLab_UW is one of the most accomplished vaccinologists out there and her article is required reading to separate truth from falsehoods.

theconversation.com/how-rfk-jr-s...
How RFK Jr.’s misguided science on mRNA vaccines is shaping policy − a vaccine expert examines the false claims
Chaos at the CDC and the sharp move away from mRNA vaccines has public health experts alarmed.
theconversation.com
Reposted by Tom Sandora, MD MPH
carlquintanilla.bsky.social
AXIOS: “.. Massachusetts is the first state to mandate insurance coverage of vaccines even if the federal government stops requiring it.”

@axios.com
www.axios.com/2025/09/04/m...
Reposted by Tom Sandora, MD MPH
luckytran.com
The “problem” with vaccines? They so effective at preventing deaths that they create generations of people that question whether disease was a problem in the first place because they have never experienced the horrors of a world without vaccines.
Reposted by Tom Sandora, MD MPH
boghuma.bsky.social
Dr. Offit co-invented the rotavirus vaccine, he is a pediatrician and a physician scientist who has dedicated his life to protecting children and advocating for vaccines. His term was due to end 2027 but of course his expertise was intolerable to RFK.Jr.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
RFK Jr critic Paul Offit removed from FDA vaccine advisory committee
Offit, long-serving vaccine scientist, says he was not given a reason for dismissal after initially being offered extension
www.theguardian.com
tomsandora.bsky.social
The anti-science administration has now canceled funding for pediatric brain cancer research. My heart breaks for these children and families.
Pediatric Brain Cancer Group to Lose Federal Funding
www.nytimes.com
Reposted by Tom Sandora, MD MPH
boghuma.bsky.social
mRNA vaccines prevented 20 million deaths from COVID. Without these vaccines the pandemic would have been even more devastating. These vaccines have an incredible safety profile w billions of doses administered globally.
Know the facts, spot the disinformation
www.thedailybeast.com/donald-trump...
Trump and RFK Jr. to Ban Covid-19 Vaccine ‘Within Months’
A close associate of the HHS secretary claims the U.S. government will soon pull COVID-19 mRNA jabs from the market.
www.thedailybeast.com