N.I.H. Director Will Temporarily Run C.D.C. in Leadership Shake-Up
Sheryl Gay Stolberg / nytimes - Dr. Jay Bhattacharya will serve as acting director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention until President Trump appoints a permanent director.
AI Summary: Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, currently NIH director, has been appointed acting director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, stepping into leadership amid recent departures. He will oversee CDC operations until a permanent nominee is confirmed, inheriting immediate pandemic and preparedness responsibilities — because who doesn’t love an unexpected federal acting role?
F.D.A. Reverses Decision and Agrees to Review Moderna’s Flu Vaccine
Christina Jewett and Rebecca Robbins / nytimes - Moderna said it had held further discussions with regulators and announced that the agency would accept the company’s application for approval of its flu vaccine that uses mRNA technology.
AI Summary: After renewed discussions with the company, the FDA reversed its earlier stance and agreed to accept Moderna’s amended application for an mRNA seasonal influenza vaccine. Regulators will now evaluate the submitted safety and efficacy data to determine whether the shot meets approval standards — a regulatory about-face that will keep flu-watchers and investors awake.
Ama launches independent vaccine review after CDC criticism
medicalxpress - Two major medical groups will begin reviewing vaccine safety and effectiveness after major changes at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have raised alarms among experts.
AI Summary: The American Medical Association announced an independent review of vaccine safety and effectiveness in response to recent CDC changes and criticism, partnering with external researchers to evaluate evidence and restore public trust. The panel aims to provide transparent, expert analysis free of political noise.
Public Health Department confirms first 2026 measles case in Los Angeles County
medicalxpress - The Department of Public Health has confirmed the first measles case this year in Los Angeles County. Officials say the person who tested positive for measles had recently traveled outside the country. The department is now working to identify people who …
AI Summary: Los Angeles County health officials confirmed the first measles case of 2026 even as nationwide data reveal that only one month into the year, case numbers have already reached 25% of 2025’s total. Experts warn that if vaccination rates do not improve promptly, an early outbreak could expand and stress public health systems.
US reports 168 new measles cases with outbreak in South Carolina
medicalxpress - The U.S. measles outbreak that drove cases to a 34-year high in 2025 shows no signs of slowing, as 168 more people have become infected since the start of the new year.
AI Summary: Multiple reports indicate a concerning surge in measles cases in South Carolina. One update cites 168 new cases, another confirms 124 new cases, while further news describes the outbreak spreading into neighboring states such as North Carolina and Ohio. Health officials are urging prompt vaccination and coordinated public health interventions to curb the outbreak.
RFK Jr.'s CDC whacks 6 vaccines from childhood recommendation list after opaque monthlong review
fiercehealthcare - The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has upended the immunization schedule for children in the United States, eliminating six of the 17 vaccines that were previously recommended to protect them from disease.
AI Summary: In an unexpected twist to the longstanding immunization program, the CDC has eliminated six previously universal childhood vaccines following a monthlong review—sparking debates and eyebrow raises among healthcare officials. The policy change now tailors recommendations to higher-risk groups while shifting away from a one‐size‐fits‐all approach.
Sanofi buys hepatitis B vaccine maker Dynavax for $2.2B; gets CRL for MS drug
Elizabeth Cairns / endpoints - Sanofi is set to supplement its vaccine offering with the acquisition of Dynavax Technologies for $2.2 billion in cash, the companies said Wednesday. Separately, Sanofi said the ...
AI Summary: Two separate reports confirm that Sanofi has completed a $2.2 billion deal to acquire Dynavax Technologies. This strategic move strengthens Sanofi’s vaccine lineup by adding a commercially proven hepatitis B vaccine and a clinical‐stage shingles candidate, positioning the company for enhanced market competitiveness amid global pressures.
Pakistan begins last anti-polio vaccination drive of the year after surge in new cases
medicalxpress - Pakistani authorities on Monday launched the final nationwide anti-polio vaccination campaign of the year, aiming to protect 45 million children after more than two dozen cases of the potentially paralyzing disease were reported, officials said.
AI Summary: Pakistani authorities have launched the final nationwide anti‐polio vaccination campaign of 2025, aiming to protect 45 million children after a recent surge in cases. Despite longstanding debates about booster efforts, officials insist it’s high time to stamp out the poliovirus once and for all.
CDC Ends Universal Hepatitis B Newborn Vaccination
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has officially rescinded its long‐standing recommendation for universal hepatitis B vaccination at birth. The change reflects new evidence and a shift toward individualized risk‐based immunization protocols, prompting hospitals and pediatricians nationwide to adjust their preventive strategies accordingly.
Ronan Kelly: Christine Handy’s Award-Winning Breast Cancer Film Premieres in Dallas
oncodaily - Ronan Kelly, Director of Precision Medicine and Scientific Discovery at Baylor University Medical Center, shared a post on LinkedIn: “It was a privilege to meet Christine Handy, executive producer of […]
AI Summary: A recent CDC analysis has reinforced the benefits of COVID-19 vaccination in pediatric care, demonstrating a significant reduction in emergency department and urgent care visits among vaccinated children during the first six months post-vaccination. These findings underscore the critical role of vaccines in safeguarding child health and supporting public health policy.
A single shot of HPV vaccine may be enough to fight cervical cancer, study finds
go - A new study suggests a single HPV vaccination appears just as effective as two doses at preventing the viral infection that causes cervical cancer
AI Summary: A new study finds that a single dose of the HPV vaccine offers comparable protection against cervical cancer as the traditional two‐dose regimen, potentially simplifying vaccine delivery and increasing immunization rates in public health initiatives.
Will All Newborns Still Receive Hepatitis B Shots? A Committee’s Vote Will Tell.
Apoorva Mandavilli / nytimes - The federal vaccine panel appointed by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is likely to decide on Thursday that the shots should be delayed for infants whose mothers test negative for the virus.
AI Summary: Multiple posts detail a contentious re‐evaluation of the newborn hepatitis B vaccination schedule. As a federal committee prepares for a key vote, figures such as RFK Jr. warn that delaying routine vaccination may leave infants less protected, sparking heated debate across the healthcare community.
ACIP drops universal hepatitis B birth dose recommendation
Max Bayer / endpoints - A panel of CDC vaccine advisors has stopped recommending that all children receive the hepatitis B vaccine at birth, overruling scientific consensus and public health officials who pleaded that there was no grounded rationale for ...
AI Summary: A panel of CDC vaccine advisors has upended decades‑old practice by halting the universal administration of hepatitis B vaccine at birth. Citing evolving scientific evidence, the change aims to more precisely target high‑risk infants and re‐calibrate newborn immunization protocols, representing a significant policy pivot in pediatric healthcare.
A dozen former FDA commissioners blast Prasad's proposed vaccine policy changes
fiercehealthcare - Drastic overhauls of U.S. vaccine regulations proposed by top FDA official Vinay Prasad, M.D., have drawn harsh pushback from 12 former commissioners of the agency.
AI Summary: A dozen former FDA commissioners have fiercely criticized the proposed overhaul of U.S. vaccine regulations spearheaded by FDA official Vinay Prasad, warning it could undermine decades‐old safety standards and erode public trust in immunization.
New Flu Strain and Low Vaccination Rates Could Mean Aggressive Flu Season Ahead
discovermagazine - Starting in 2025, this year’s flu season is spreading early, and with vaccination rates low and a novel virus strain, health experts are warning that it could be a rough one.
AI Summary: Early indicators for this year’s U.S. flu season reveal a paradox—while overall flu activity remains low, the emergence of a new virus strain combined with declining vaccination rates is prompting health experts to warn of a potentially aggressive surge later in the season. Immediate vigilance and ramped‐up vaccination are urged.
WHO declares end of Indonesia's poliovirus outbreak following yearslong vaccination campaign
medicalxpress - The World Health Organization has declared Indonesia's polio outbreak officially over, following nearly three years of intensive response efforts, officials said Friday.
AI Summary: The World Health Organization has officially declared Indonesia’s poliovirus outbreak over after nearly three years of intensive vaccination campaigns and public health efforts. Officials emphasize that sustained immunisation and surveillance remain essential to preserve this hard‐won success.
Healthcare groups decry CDC messaging change on autism and vaccines
Mackenzie Bean / beckershospitalreview - Healthcare associations are raising concerns after the CDC this week removed messaging from its website stating that vaccines do not cause autism. The agency updated its webpage on vaccines and autism Nov. 19. Previously, the page said research has shown …
AI Summary: Recent modifications to the CDC’s online vaccine safety pages have alarmed healthcare groups, who contend that altered messaging risks bolstering discredited claims linking vaccines and autism. Critics warn that the move may destabilize public confidence in decades of robust, evidence‐based vaccine research.