"It is going to get so much worse."
For the first of two end-of-the-year episodes of @pandemia.bsky.social, I talked to @drdemetre.bsky.social about what happened in 2025 at the CDC and how he thinks about the future of vaccines and public health in the US.
A quick 🧪🧵
This is a policy choice. As Dr. Gottlieb recently put the issue on CNBC: if we substantially reduce vaccination rates, "we're going to have to build new pediatric hospitals." www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8CJ...
“The anti-vaccine movement is not a spontaneous expression of grassroots concern. It’s an industry.”
Very well-deserved congrats, @bridgetdooling.bsky.social, but an even bigger congrats to Ohio State for snagging such a superstar scholar, teacher, and colleague in the first place! We're lucky to have you.
(And I-O!)
Summarizing the current state of pricing and coverage for GLP1s in the US with @rachelsachs.bsky.social in @nejm.org this week!
Read it before things change (again)!
www.nejm.org/doi/full/10....
The right answer for marijuana is to legalize and regulate. Instead, we’re going to keep the ridiculous Wild West patchwork gray market we have now for THC (worse w/the new restricted definition of hemp) & both subsidize *and* underregulate CBD, assimilating it to pro-supplement woo.
Vaccines cause adults
Since 2020, our team has iterated on a model for “rapid research” to help surface, analyze, & resolve rumors about election administration. This work demonstrates an innovative role for researchers to support public sensemaking during rapidly unfolding events.
uw.pressbooks.pub/rapidresearc...
Regulating DTC #microbiome tests academic.oup.com/jlb/article/...
"...often misleading to consumers..."
"...the tests lack analytical and clinical validity."
"...may have many 'false positive' or 'false negatives' and can harm consumers."
Needed: more stringent regulation!
"One agency source said at least one division is having to pour all of its resources into reviewing drugs that received a voucher, taking time away from other medical products."
The Trump administration’s agreements regarding glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists
could reduce prices and improve access for some patients — and lead to substantial
additional spending.
Abstract. This article offers a thorough analysis of an important public health issue–the lack of regulation of companies selling direct-to-consumer (DTC)
academic.oup.com
A framework for university-based rapid research of elections, crisis events, and beyond
Well done and important to digest. There is plenty of human failing in any human endeavor, but the narrative and the reality in this specific situation needs sunlight.
substack.com/home/post/p-...
Shifting many pediatric vaccines into the category of shared clinical decision-making means in many red states governors and legislators will be pressured to strip them from school-entry requirements. Vaccination rates could fall sharply with stark regional differences in protection against disease
Folks! I am delighted to share that my @ohiostatelaw.bsky.social colleagues voted to support my application for tenure!
The process will take the rest of this academic year but for now I say thank you thank you to everyone who helped me and I take none of this for granted!!!! O-H!
Trump is expected to announce today that Medicare will begin reimbursing some older Americans for CBD treatments
The pilot program is part of Trump’s bigger announcement on easing restrictions around marijuana
w @davidovalle.bsky.social @jacobbogage.bsky.social
COVID vaccines slashed ER visits by 76% in kids 9 mos-4 yrs, and 56% in older kids, CDC's latest MMWR report found (reposting with story): www.scientificamerican.com/article/covi...
NEW: I dug deep into new top drug regulator Tracy Beth Høeg's record at the FDA so far, talked to agency staff, and even found some old and interesting blog posts, to get a sense of how she'll lead the drug center. TLDR, staff are worried. More here:
www.statnews.com/2025/12/11/t...
Robert Califf
Scott Gottlieb, MD
Bridget Dooling
The number of recommended childhood shots drops from 17 to 11.
