Tuesday, December 30, 2025

Your Local Epidemiologist 12-30-25: Public Health Wins in 2025

Hannah Totte, MPH and Katelyn Jetelina at Your Local Epidemiologist have assembled this list of public health victories in 2025:

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20 public health wins in 2025: We have your back.

Phew, what a year. Amid relentless political, financial, and rhetorical pressures on public health, science, and health care, real harm landed on clinics, communities, and people trying to stay healthy.

The public health sector did everything it could to mitigate the impact and continue protecting Americans’ health in meaningful, lifesaving ways. Although the blows are becoming increasingly difficult to absorb, outbreaks were still prevented, harm was still reduced, and people were still kept safe.

As we head into the new year, here are 20 wins in 2025 that made our world healthier! Something we can all celebrate.

(Disclaimers: These are in no particular order, and we surely missed many, but thank you to everyone who shared their ideas. Please keep sharing your stories; they show the true power of local public health.)

Triumphs in the field

Over 3,500 local health departments keep your invisible shield intact and strong. Here are a few (of many) wins this year:

Fifty measles outbreaks were contained. This success reflects tireless work by local public health teams and strong community responses, including vaccination. For example, early uptake of the MMR vaccine increased rapidly among Texas infants after the state’s measles outbreak began in January.
Infant botulism outbreak contained. Experts in California, the only group worldwide with access to the antidote, BabyBIG, identified a highly unusual signal in baby formula, triggering rapid notifications to CDC, manufacturers, and suppliers saving infant lives.
Leading on climate adaptation. Maricopa County cut heat-related deaths by nearly 40% in 2025 (the second year of decline on record) even as extreme heat days increased, thanks to expanded cooling centers, hydration stations, and outreach to vulnerable residents.

Turning the tide

Food allergies in kids dropped dramatically. This year, we got news that childhood food allergies dropped 36%, driven by a 43% drop in peanut allergy. This success traces back to the 2015 LEAP study, which showed that early introduction of potential allergens prevents allergy—changing guidelines and, now, lives. More kids can safely reach for a PB&J.

Source: Gabryszewski et al. (2025), annotated by YLE

Huntington’s disease was slowed for the first time. A targeted gene therapy delivered during brain surgery slowed disease progression by ~75%. Disease progression that usually happens in one year took four years instead, which is an extraordinary breakthrough for families facing a devastating disease.
Obesity rates continued to decline. GLP-1 medications likely played a role, but they’re not the whole story. While we don’t yet fully understand the drivers, the direction matters, and it’s good news.
Outreach initiatives improved cancer screening and reduced disparities. A study released this year showed that in a Northern California health system, colorectal cancer screenings doubled over the past 13 years, and deaths due to colorectal cancer dropped by 50% among Black patients.

Policy at play

Menopause hormone therapy (MHT) has become more accessible, with the removal of its black box warning. After 85 years of conflicting research and confusing guidelines, there is hope for women suffering preventable menopause symptoms.
New Mexico guaranteed free child care for all families. No income limits or copays required. A rare, bold move with real public health impact, including economic benefits.
Red flag gun laws expanded. Maine voters passed one, bringing the total to 22 states + D.C. These laws reduce gun deaths—now the work is awareness and implementation.
Maryland made adult vaccines free. A first-of-its-kind program was launched to provide recommended vaccines at no cost for uninsured and underinsured adults. Public health nurses have begun delivering them.
Schools kept kids fed during federal shutdowns. For example, New Hampshire districts expanded free meals amid SNAP disruptions, preventing hunger when families needed support most.

International successes

86 million girls in high-risk countries have received the HPV vaccine. That’s an estimated 1.4 million lives saved. By year’s end, countries that bear 89% of the global burden of cervical cancer will have access to the HPV vaccine.
HIV prevention shots became affordable. Lenacapavir—nearly 100% effective—will cost $40/year in 120 low- and middle-income countries by 2027, down from $42,000.
PEPFAR survived. $400 million in global HIV and AIDS funding was preserved. Since 2003, this bipartisan program has saved 26 million lives and enabled 7.8 million HIV-free births.
The first-ever malaria treatment for newborns was approved, filling a deadly treatment gap. It will be distributed by a nonprofit starting in eight African countries.

Standing up for science

This year, our field showed remarkable resilience more than ever before. Here are a few highlights.

New coalitions formed nationwide, filling gaps, staying rooted in evidence, and working to ensure Americans feel confident and protected.
1. The Vaccine Integrity Project gives Americans independent, third-party confirmation that vaccines are safe and effective.
2. Northeast and Western state public health coalitions now coordinate health guidance so residents get clear, consistent recommendations.
3. GovAct is helping governors protect Americans’ health freedoms through coordinated action.
4. Grandparents for Vaccines, a grassroots group, is sharing real-life stories of how vaccines have protected children and families.
5. The Evidence Collective, cofounded by YLE, is uniting researchers, communicators, and practitioners to turn rigorous science into clear, actionable guidance that people can use.
Lawsuits defended evidence-informed processes.
1. The American Academy of Pediatrics and other medical societies sued HHS over unilateral changes to vaccine policy and the restructuring of CDC advisory processes.
2. Coalitions of clinicians and public health organizations filed lawsuits to stop the removal of federal public health data and clinical resources.
3. Researchers and public health groups sued the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and HHS to challenge the cancellation of peer-reviewed research grants.
Epidemiologists entered politics. Scientists entered the arena and are running for office, breaking long-standing silos and bringing evidence into policymaking, where it’s desperately needed.
Courage at CDC, NIH, and beyond. CDC leaders resigned to take a stand against what their leadership was asking them to do. NIH employees wrote a declaration. Federal, state, and local public health workers continue to take silent and public stands every day through their work.

Source: Courage at the CDC

YLE wins—because community matters

This year was intense for YLE, but you helped us grow and build like never before. This year we:

Launched a California newsletter with Dr. Matt Willis.
Hosted our first in-person event (yes, at a comedy club) with YLE New York’s Marisa Donnelly.
Welcomed incredible teammates: Celeste (COO), Nat (Data Innovation Lead), and Hannah (Community Manager).
Built unlikely collaborations rooted in shared values, like with MAHA and mom influencers.
Launched Project Stethoscope and The Evidence Collective.
Published more than 120 newsletters and hosted 4 webinars.

Above all, we built a community with nearly 415,000 subscribers. (Tell a friend and help us reach that milestone this year!)

Bottom line

Public health has your back.

This field will be challenged like never before in 2026, but I’m confident it can navigate this terrain with relentless dedication, innovation, partnership, and listening.

Here’s to 2026. Happy New Year!

Love, YLE

Monday, December 29, 2025

Force of Infection, 12-28-25

Here's the latest Force of Infection newsletter by Dr Caitlin Rivers:

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Widespread flu activity overshadows holiday season. News you can use for the New Year
Dec 28, 2025

Respiratory Diseases

Regional editions will go out mid-week. Due to the holidays, most of the data I use for these reports has not been released yet. In the meantime, I’ve pulled together a brief update based on information from states that released data last week.

Influenza-like illness

Flu is spreading widely right now, with steep growth curves in many places. We’re seeing doubling and tripling of indicators (e.g., emergency department visits for influenza) from the prior week.

West

Colorado is in the thick of it: ED visits for flu are rising, accounting for 7.1% of all ED visits this past week, surpassing last year’s peak of 4.99%. Hospitalizations are also about to surpass last year’s peak. The hospitalization rate is now at 8.5 per 100,000 people. Last year, it peaked at 8.6. In Alaska, ED visits for influenza-like illness (ILI) are at 8.8%, which surpasses last year’s peak of 8.2%. And rates are still going up: lab-confirmed diagnoses of flu doubled between the week of December 13 and December 20.

It looks like we are nearing peak in Hawaii. Test positivity is leveling off around 28%. ED visits are at 9.4%, above last year’s peak of 7.8%. Hospitalizations for flu are elevated, but dipped slightly this past week, to 4.6% of all hospital admissions.

A few states are still at lower levels but are ramping up. In Arizona, ED visits for flu doubled in a week, from 1% to 2%, and confirmed flu cases also nearly doubled. Hospitalizations remain low, but are also increasing. In Nevada, outpatient visits for ILI1 are at 4.7% and rising.

Midwest

Flu activity is high in Minnesota. Flu activity more than doubled to 8.3% of ED visits and hospitalizations combined. The hospitalization rate has sharply increased to 9.0 hospitalizations per 100,000 people. In Illinois, flu activity is moderate and rising, with 4.5% of ED visits due to flu. Test positivity doubled this past week (to 20.5%), as did hospitalizations (to 2.3% of all admissions).

Activity in MINNESOTA. Source.

In Kansas, and Iowa rates are still a bit lower but are increasing rapidly. In Kansas, ED visits tripled this past week to 3.2% of all ED visits. And in Iowa, outpatient visits for ILI have increased sharply to 2.5%.

South

Influenza-like illness is high in Maryland, with ~6% of outpatient visits for ILI and nearly 1 in 3 samples testing positive for flu. A startling 43% of all outpatient ILI visits were children and young adults aged 5 to 24. In Alabama, ED visits for flu more than doubled this past week, to 6.3%. Tennessee is in similar territory, with 6.8% of ED visits due to flu.

Activity in TENNESSEE. Source.

In Virginia and Kentucky, activity is still a bit lower, but is rising: visits to the ED roughly doubled this past week, to 4.9% and 4%, respectively.

Northeast

In Massachusetts, outpatient visits for ILI increased to 7.5%, and ED visits for flu increased to an estimated 6%. Hospitalizations are moderate and rising, doubling this past week to 4.8% of all hospitalizations.

In New Jersey, ED visits for flu ballooned from 0.8% to 8.0% over the a span of 3 weeks. One in three samples are coming back positive for flu. Outpatient visits for ILI are now at 11%, equivalent to last season’s peak, which did not occur until February. Severe illness is also rising rapidly, with hospitalizations doubling in the past week (to 1.6% of all hospitalizations).

Activity in NEW JERSEY. Source.

In New York, excluding New York City, nearly 14% of outpatient visits were for ILI, and roughly 7% of ED visits were for flu. Flu is also very high and rising in New York City, where 8.8% of ED visits and 4.9% of hospitalizations were for flu.

COVID-19

Covid-19 activity remains pretty low (thankfully, given what’s going on with flu!), but is increasing in several states.

In Kansas, ED visits have increased to 1%, which is where they peaked during the small end-of-summer wave, and just a bit shy of last winter’s peak (of 1.4%). Similarly, in Minnesota, Covid-19 is at 0.9% of all ED visits and hospitalizations, which is also where it peaked at the end of the summer/early fall.

In Alabama, Massachusetts, and Maryland, Covid-19 is low but ED visits have increased slightly for each of the past three weeks. Similarly, Covid-19 is low but increasing in Iowa. ED visits in the state have increased over the past month from a low of <0.5% to 1.1%, and test positivity has been creeping upward as well. New York is also seeing a rise in Covid-19, with the rate of ED visits doubling since the end of October, to 0.9%.

Despite these increases, Covid-19 remains stable in many states. In Alaska, Covid-19 is low and steady, with ~50-60 new reported cases each week for the past several weeks. Similarly, Covid-19 held low and steady in Arizona and Colorado, accounting for 0.4% and 0.6% of ED visits, respectively. And in Illinois, Covid-19 remains low at 1.1% of ED visits, and 1% of all hospitalizations. Rates also also low and stable in Hawaii, Nevada, Virginia, New Jersey, and New York City.

RSV & Other Bugs

RSV: RSV continues to slowly rise. In Alaska, RSV remains below average for this time of year. However, the number of confirmed RSV cases has been steadily rising over the past month, and was 75 this past week, up from 53 the week before. Similarly, in Arizona, RSV moved up to 132 confirmed cases, from 102 the week before. And in Iowa, RSV has bumped up a bit in the past couple weeks, from 0.1% of ED visits to 0.3% of ED visits, though this remains very low overall. In Minnesota, test positivity has been slowly increasing for the past two months, but remains about half of where it was this time last year. RSV remains low but rising in Massachusetts and New York.

In Alabama, RSV has been steadily climbing and is now at 0.7% of ED visits, which is above the Covid-19 rate in the state right now. Similarly, in New Jersey, visits to the ED for RSV are tied with Covid-19, at 0.5%, and test positivity is moderate and steady at 5%.

In Kansas, after several weeks of increasing ED visits for children under the age of 13, rates dipped slightly this past week to 0.9%. RSV has held steady at ~0.3-0.4% of ED visits for the past month in Hawaii, and rates remain similarly low and flat in Nevada, Virginia. In Colorado, ED visits remain extremely low at just 0.1%.

Other bugs:

Rhinoviruses/enteroviruses are still circulating widely. Test positivity is at 23% in Iowa, 12.1% in Illinois, and 10% in New York City.
Adenovirus, human metapneumovirus, and mycoplasma are all also causing respiratory infections right now.

Norovirus

Wastewater activity moderate and rising nationally. In the Midwest and Northeast, wastewater activity is high and rising. It is moderate and rising in the West, but moderate and falling in the South.

The best protection against noro is frequently washing your hands and high-touch surfaces with soap and water, and avoiding touching your face.

Food recalls

The following foods are being recalled because they are contaminated. Please check your cupboards and throw out any of these items:

New:

There is a big recall of hundreds of products — from Airhead candies to meat to Splenda packets — that passed through a single distributor and were sold to over 50 stores, primarily in Minnesota and Indiana. I strongly urge you to check out the list of affected stores (here) and if you’ve shopped at one of them recently, check out the much longer list of items that are being recalled (here)
Country Vet Biscuits & Heartland Harvest Dog Biscuits [for dogs] are being recalled for potential contamination with Salmonella. Salmonella can sicken both pets who consume the treats, and humans who handle the products (or who touch surfaces the items touched). (more info)
Forward Farms Grass-Fed Ground Beef (more info)

Previously Reported:

Frozen raw shrimp sold under the Market 32 and Waterfront Bistro brand names, due to possible cesium-137 contamination (more info)
Mild Cheddar Cheese under the Charlevoix Cheese Company label, sold in Michigan (more info)
Tamales, various flavors, in 4 count packs, sold by Primavera Nueva Inc. (more info)
Salted Caramel Cluster Non-Dairy Frozen Dessert sold under the So Delicious label (more info)
Town Food Service Equipment Co. Aluminum Saucepans, due to potential lead contamination (more info)
Lucky Foods cinnamon powder, due to potential lead contamination (more info)
ByHeart Infant Formula due to potential botulism contamination (more info)

In other news

South Carolina measles outbreak grows. 9 new cases were reported between December 19 and 23 in the state, bringing the total for the year to 156. Nearly 250 people are in quarantine following exposures, and 7 are in isolation. Out of the 156 cases, only 1 was known to be fully vaccinated (145 were unvaccinated, 3 were partially vaccinated, and 4 had unknown vaccination status). Nationwide, the number of reported measles cases was 2,012 as of December 23. This is by far the highest number of reported cases since the virus was declared eliminated in 2000.
Salmonella outbreak linked to raw oysters. At least 64 people in 22 states were infected between June 21 and November 28 of this year. Given that most people do not seek medical care for Salmonella infection, and many are not tested even if they do, the numbers of affected individuals is likely much larger. Most of the cases interviewed have reported eating raw oysters, and samples taken from patients appear to be the same strain. The CDC and FDA are still investigating the source of the outbreak and trying to trace it to specific sources of oysters.
Measles epidemic in Darfur. More than 1,300 cases of measles have been reported in the Darfur region of Sudan since September, according to Doctors Without Borders. The outbreak is occurring amid ongoing internal conflict and displacement of civilian populations. The fighting, which has involved deadly attacks on healthcare facilities, has significantly disrupted healthcare provision and led to plummeting vaccination rates. Measles vaccination coverage of children has dropped from 74% in 2019 to 36% this year, leaving millions of young children at high risk of severe illness.

Islamic Terrorists Seek To Destroy Israel

I have always said the same thing that this article's title says. Netanyahu should make copies and hand them out at the meeting today at Mar-a-Lago.

For Israel and for the Jewish people to live without constant fear of more October 7ths, the only solution is to kill Hamas and the other terrorists, and to destroy Iran's weapons -- period.

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No Peace Plan Will Stop the Terrorists' Jihad Against Israel
By Khaled Abu Toameh
Gatestone Institute, December 29, 2025 at 5:00 am

Since the announcement of Trump's plan, Hamas... has dismissed the idea of laying down its weapons. It has also made it clear that the role of any international force should be limited just to monitoring the implementation of the ceasefire with Israel. According to Hamas, the proposed International Stabilization Force should be stationed at the borders of the Gaza Strip, and not in areas controlled by the terror group.
"The Palestinian people have the right to all resistance [meaning: terrorism against Israel]." — Hamas statement, palinfo.com, December 12, 2025.
These statements by Hamas and the other Palestinian terror groups show that they have no intention of honoring Trump's plan. They view the Trump plan as nothing more than a temporary ceasefire that allows them to regroup, rearm, and pursue their Jihad to annihilate Israel.
It is simply nonsensical to believe that any peace plan would end the terrorists' Jihad against Israel. Unfortunately, there is no alternative to a total defeat and eradication of Hamas and its allies.

"More than two months after the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip went into effect, the Iran-backed Hamas terror group seems more determined than ever to stay in power and continue its armed struggle to destroy Israel.

"On December 14, Hamas marked the 38th anniversary of its founding by praising its October 7, 2023 invasion of Israel's southern communities as a "gigantic milestone and landmark in the struggle for freedom and independence and the defeat and elimination of the occupation [Israel]." On that day, more than 1,200 Israelis and foreign nationals were murdered, and thousands wounded. Another 251 Israelis and foreign nationals were kidnapped to the Gaza Strip, where Hamas is still holding the remains of one hostage.

"Hamas has no regrets over the massacre it committed on October 7 and the ensuing war, which claimed the lives of thousands of Palestinians and destroyed large parts of the Gaza Strip. Instead of apologizing to the Palestinians for bringing death and destruction on them, the terror group issued a statement offering "greetings to the Palestinians for their legendary steadfastness."

"Hamas seized the opportunity to repeat its "categorical rejection of any form of trusteeship or mandate over the Gaza Strip."

"This is a reference to US President Donald J. Trump's plan for peace in the Gaza Strip. The plan calls for the establishment of an international body, the "Board of Peace," to help with the administration, reconstruction, and economic recovery of the Gaza Strip in the aftermath of the war. The plan, in addition, calls for the deployment of an "International Stabilization Force" (ISF) and the demilitarization of the Gaza Strip.

"Since the announcement of Trump's plan, Hamas has repeatedly expressed its opposition to the presence of a non-Palestinian governing body in the Gaza Strip. Moreover, the terror group has dismissed the idea of laying down its weapons. It has also made it clear that the role of any international force should be limited just to monitoring the implementation of the ceasefire with Israel. According to Hamas, the proposed International Stabilization Force should be stationed at the borders of the Gaza Strip, and not in areas controlled by the terror group.

"Hamas said in its latest statement:

"The Palestinian people alone decide who governs them, and they have the legitimate right to resist, liberate their land, and establish their independent state with Jerusalem as its capital... Hamas affirms its commitment to its principles since its inception and its loyalty to the blood of the martyrs and the sacrifices of the prisoners, until liberation and the return [of Palestinian refugees and their descendants to their former homes inside Israel].... Jerusalem and the al-Aqsa Mosque will remain the focus of the conflict. The Palestinian people have the right to all resistance [meaning: terrorism against Israel]."

"When Hamas says that it remains committed to its principles, it is referring to its 1988 charter, which quotes Imam Hassan al-Banna, founder of the Muslim Brotherhood organization, as saying: "Israel will exist and continue to exist until Islam will obliterate it, just as it obliterated others before it." Hamas describes itself as "one of the wings of Muslim Brotherhood in Palestine" and states that "initiatives, and so-called peaceful solutions and international conferences, are in contradiction to the principles of the Islamic Resistance Movement [Hamas]."

"Hamas, in other words, has not given up its dream of eliminating Israel.

"Khalil al-Hayya, a senior Hamas official living comfortably in Qatar, said in a speech marking the anniversary of the founding of his group that "the Palestinian people's resistance is still alive, and [the Hamas] leadership is steadfast and firm." Al-Hayya argued that the two-year war in the Gaza Strip has "proven that [Israel] can be defeated and that the liberation of Palestine is possible if it is based on careful planning and unified efforts." He praised the October 7 massacre as a "model of what could happen if the [Muslim] nation's efforts were combined" against Israel.

"The Hamas leader boasted that the war "complicated and set back" efforts by the US to normalize relations between Israel and some Arab and Islamic countries, including Saudi Arabia.

"Al-Hayya emphasized Hamas's rejection of "all forms of guardianship or mandate over the Palestinian people" and said that the mission of Trump's "Board of Peace" should be limited to overseeing the implementation of the ceasefire, funding, and supervising the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip.

"Regarding the International Stabilization Force, al-Hayya stressed that its role should be limited to maintaining the ceasefire without any interference in the internal affairs of the Gaza Strip. The weapons of Hamas and other Palestinian terror groups, he added, are "a legitimate right guaranteed by international laws, and this right is linked to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state."

"Another senior Hamas official, Hossam Badran, said that his group "will continue its struggle and Jihad in confronting the Zionist project in Palestine," adding:

"Since its founding, Hamas has waged direct military battles against the [Israeli] enemy. We need to combine efforts and unite all energies for the greater role of liberating Palestine."

"Liberating Palestine" is a euphemism for destroying Israel and replacing it with an Islamist state.

"It is worth noting that several Palestinian terror groups, including Palestinian Islamic Jihad, "congratulated" Hamas on the 38th anniversary of its founding and vowed to support the Jihad against Israel. Needless to say, the terror groups also voiced support for the October 7 atrocities.

"These statements by Hamas and the other Palestinian terror groups show that they have no intention of honoring Trump's plan. They view the Trump plan as nothing more than a temporary ceasefire that allows them to regroup, rearm, and pursue their Jihad to annihilate Israel.

"It is simply nonsensical to believe that any peace plan would end the terrorists' Jihad against Israel. Unfortunately, there is no alternative to a total defeat and eradication of Hamas and its allies."

Khaled Abu Toameh is an award-winning journalist based in Jerusalem.

Saturday, December 27, 2025

How's This For Gall? Illegal Alien Truckers Sue California Over CDLs

What nerve! These are illegal aliens who have no right to be here. Illegal aliens shouldn't have been given fraudulent drivers' licenses; they can't read or speak English; they have already killed Americans on the roads. And now they expect the public to sympathize with the fact that their livelihoods may be impacted? Sorry -- if you want to work as a trucker, go back to your home country. You're not America's responsibility.

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Fox News 12-25-25

Migrant truckers sue California DMV over canceled commercial drivers' licenses. DMV sent cancellation notices citing expiration date errors on non-domiciled commercial driver's licenses

"The California DMV is facing a lawsuit brought on behalf of nearly 20,000 immigrant truckers over the state's plans to revoke their commercial drivers' licenses (CDLs).

"The Asian Law Caucus and the Sikh Coalition, along with the law firm Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP, filed the lawsuit on Tuesday in an effort to stop the California DMV from canceling the CDLs, which thecomplaint says would "result in mass work stoppages" starting Jan 5, 2026.

"This class-action lawsuit is brought on behalf of the Jakara Movement and five commercial drivers who have been deprived of their rights and livelihoods," a joint statement from the Asian Law Caucus and Sikh Coalition said. "According to reports from the San Francisco Chronicle and KQED, California state officials communicated they would begin reissuing licenses on December 17. Despite these public assurances, the state has neither reissued any of the contested licenses nor created a process to remedy the date issue with no indication that it plans to do so before January 5."

"The lawsuit alleges that on Nov. 6, the California DMV notified 17,299 immigrant drivers and business owners that their non-domiciled CDLs would be canceled on Jan. 5, 2026, due to an error with the expiration date of the licenses. A similar letter was sent to an additional 2,700 drivers in December, informing them that their licenses would be canceled in mid-February.

"DMV is required to set the expiration date for a CDL given to an immigrant on either the same day or before the expiration of the driver's work authorization or legal presence documents, according to the lawsuit. However, the lawsuit alleges that the DMV letters violated California procedure, which would require the department to either cancel the license without prejudice or change the expiration date.

"For all 19,999 immigrants, the DMV intends to cancel their commercial licenses without affording any opportunity to obtain a corrected license or to contest the cancellation," the lawsuit reads.

.....

"The lawsuit notes that the cancellation of the CDLs has a far-reaching impact beyond the drivers themselves, saying that the drivers "play an indispensable role in our local and national economies, providing essential services that communities rely on every day, including transporting food, driving children to school and delivering manufactured goods."

"The sudden loss of their ability to work threatens not only their livelihoods but also the stability of our supply chains and services on which the public depends. Neither the individuals nor our communities can sustain the harm that will occur if these drivers lose their licenses, careers, and economic stability," the lawsuit reads."

Thursday, December 25, 2025

Open Season On Jews

I would change the title to "RUNNING Toward Open Season on Jews", because these ugly antisemites and Islamic terrorists have become so brazenly enthusiastic and open about attacking and killing Jews, and destroying anything Jewish.

Victor Davis Hanson asks, "Where does it all end?" The answer is, "It doesn't." We've always been the scapegoat, like we were for Hitler.

But at least now we can fight back.

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From Townhall:

Slouching Toward Open Season on Jews
Victor Davis Hanson | Dec 25, 2025

"Jews celebrating Hanukkah were just slaughtered by Muslim gunmen on an Australian beach, in an imitation of the October 7 massacres.

"An inert Europe is canceling Christmas celebrations out of fear of threats of violence from Muslim minorities. In the West, when an Islamist shoots a Jew, politicians often offer two bizarre remedies: gun control or a task force to tackle Islamophobia.

"Yet, our political class rarely offers data on the overwhelming preponderance of targeting Jews rather than Muslims, much less the vast disparity in Jewish-on-Muslim versus Muslim-on-Jewish violence.

"To catalog all the recent violence against Jews in the Western world would fill a book."

"We know the causes. Anemic Western leaders – politicians, college presidents, media grandees, and celebrities – fear Muslim terrorism, growing Muslim voters, and their own growing antisemitic campus constituencies.

"So, they never call out antisemitic violence other than with nauseating nothings like, "Such violence has no place here." Or "We condemn such violence in the utmost terms." Or "This is not who we are."

"The prime minister of Australia – a country that produced some of the most heroic soldiers of World War I and II and still is a bulwark of the West in the Pacific – goes through a series of linguistic contortions daily to avoid identifying the threat to Jews and how to stop it. He talks as if guns were animate and murdered Jews without the aid of radical Islamic killers.

"So nothing much follows in the West, and Jews are becoming the hunted. The attacks will increase because there is no foreseeable force to combat them.

"Just a few years ago, it used to be that antisemitism was mostly on the Left and repugnantly identifiable and condemnable by most.

"In 2009, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright grew angry against his former favorite parishioner, then newly elected President Barack Obama, and scoffed in anger, "Them Jews ain't going to let him talk to me."'

"Many leftist icons used to voice blatant antisemitism, such as Jesse Jackson ("Hymietown"), Al Sharpton ("If the Jews want to get it on, tell them to pin their yarmulkes back and come over to my house"), or Louis Farrakhan ("your gutter religion").

"Do we remember the utterances of once White House press corps liberal icon Helen Thomas ("Jews should get the hell out of Palestine. They should go home to Poland, Germany, America, and everywhere else.")?

"Their left-wing legacy is now amplified by Rep. Ilhan Omar ("It's all about the Benjamins, baby"). The so-called Squad, New York Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, the "The Democratic Socialists of America," and the legions of campus protestors never disown the slogan, "Palestine will be free from the river to the sea" – a call to destroy the current state of Israel and everyone in it – because they either all believe in it or assume their clueless followers have no idea what it means.

"Again, when the elite say, "River to the sea," does that mean they will erase all the Jews in Israel but spare its two-million-Arab citizenry, about the only Arabs in the entire Middle East who vote in free and fair elections and enjoy constitutional rights?

"Of course, no left-wing Westerner visiting the Middle East would wish to publicly express his free speech, atheism, or pro-gay/trans support either in the West Bank or in Gaza.

"The combination of providing DEI exemptions to biased minority activists, the anti-Israel and antisemitic indoctrination in universities, and no-borders immigration has turned the Democratic Party into the natural home of those who dislike Israel in particular and feel free to demonize Jews in general.

"Indeed, most polls show that 60 percent of Democrats favor the Palestinians over the Israelis. Translated, that means they prefer a terrorist autocracy over a Western liberal constitutional government.

"The Right used to be a unified corrective to left-wing antisemitism. It still polls nearly 70 percent in favor of Israel. For a while longer, it is far more likely to condemn antisemitic violence than the Left.

"But recently, its own base, in varying degrees, has come full circle and joined the Left in its distaste for Israel and Jews in general.

"The new anti-Israel Right despises Israel and the U.S. support of it, either in terms that are commercial (there are more Arabs, with more money and oil), cowardly (trashing Jews does not earn terrorist reprisals; rebuking Muslims can), political (Jews more often vote Democratic), or simply antisemitic (cabals of Jews control Wall Street, Hollywood, the media, etc.).

"Once-fringe antisemites like Nick Fuentes are now welcomed to air their views openly, but mostly the conspiracy venom is of the more insidious sort, like "I'm just throwing this out there..." or "Here is something to consider..."

"In the last few weeks, we have been told – without any evidence – by right-wing influencers that the Jews may well have had a hand in killing Charlie Kirk, in bombing an Iranian nuclear facility, in pressuring the Maduro kleptocracy, and in the 9/11 slaughter.

"One hallmark of the new right-wing furor against Jews and Israel is the strange symbiosis they employ. Formerly edgy podcasters become vicarious hosts of virulent antisemites. The partnerships are a way of not directly owning up to their toxicity but just "putting it out there."

"Candace Owens initially championed Kanye West ("I'm a bit sleepy tonight but when I wake up, I'm going death con 3 On JEWISH PEOPLE.").

"Then she graduated to expressing her own old antisemitic tropes: "There is just a very small ring of specific people who are using the fact that they are Jewish to shield themselves from any criticism. ... All Americans should want answers because this appears to be something that is quite sinister."

"Tucker Carlson hosted critics of the U.S. effort against Hitler in World War II and Israel-behind-it conspiracists before escalating to inviting Nick Fuentes on in a mostly friendly manner – which might be attributed to his interview format, except he has attacked fellow conservatives far more than has odious Fuentes.

"But now Carlson himself too throws out story-line hints about just maybe Jews' involvement in Charlie Kirk's death, or a sort of/kind of Jewish effort behind 9/11, or perhaps it was those Jews eating humus, not the Roman prefect of Judea who ordered Jesus killed for supposed sedition – a common fate of any provincial residents who even appeared to defy the absolute authority of the Roman imperial state.

"Carlson strangely categorized Israel as an "insignificant" country. But is not Israel a democratic Western outpost in a sea of Middle East autocracy, the most technically advanced and scientifically sophisticated nation for its size in the world, and the ancient home of the Judeo-Christian tradition

"Somehow, many on the Right forgot who funds the virulently anti-American mouthpiece Al-Jazeera, or where the 9/11 murderers came from, or who has killed Americans in Syria, Lebanon, and on the Red Sea, and or whom the Muslim Brotherhood, ISIS, and theocratic Iran have vowed to destroy.

"And as for October 7 and what followed, Israel waited in vain for nearly three weeks for Hamas to give up the 3,000 terrorists who murdered 1,219 Jews, wounded 3,400, and took 254 hostages before mounting a full invasion of Gaza.

"Where does it all end?

"Either there will be an 11th-hour Western intolerance of antisemitism, a limit of student visas and immigration from the illiberal nations of the Middle East, a return to melting pot assimilation, an end to DEI tribalism, and a reform of the weaponized university curricula, or we will see more images of gunmen shooting Jews as if they were mere animals."

Patton's Christmas Prayer

I remember this from the great film "Patton", and it's still appropriate today. Alex Kershaw also wrote a book about it called "Patton's Prayer: A True Story of Courage, Faith, and Victory in World War II".

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By C. Douglas Golden at The Western Journal, 12/25/25

Trump Would Have Loved This Christmas Card Gen. Patton Sent His Troops in 1944 Asking for Their Prayers

"It was not the best of Christmas seasons for Gen. George Patton in December of 1944.

"Yes, the general’s Third Army was marching through Europe toward Berlin. Yes, the Nazis were less than a year away from defeat. So, too, were the Japanese. But as Patton’s tank division approached Bastogne, a southern Belgium stronghold occupied by 15,000 U.S. troops and besieged by 50,000 German troops encircling it, he had a problem.

"Rain. Lots of it.

“There is about four inches of liquid mud over everything,” Patton told his wife in a letter, “and it rains all the time, not hard but steadily.” What’s worse, he didn’t have the air cover to relieve the brave Americans holding off the Germans.

"According to the Friends of the National World War II Memorial, Patton realized he needed more than just hope. He realized he needed God.

"So, Patton placed a Dec. 8, 1944 call to the Third Army’s chief chaplain, Fr. James O’Neill.

“Do you have a good prayer for weather?” Patton asked O’Neill. “We must do something about those rains if we are to win the war.”

"O’Neill promised the general he would look for one. Finding none that was suitable, he instead wrote his own. He presented it to Patton.

"The general’s order in response? “Have 250,000 copies printed,” he said, “and see to it that every man in the Third Army gets one.”

"The Christmas card would enter Patton lore and is still talked about today.

“Almighty and most merciful Father, we humbly beseech Thee, of Thy great goodness, to restrain these immoderate rains with which we have had to contend,” it read.

“Grant us fair weather for Battle. Graciously hearken to us as soldiers who call Thee that, armed with Thy power, we may advance from victory to victory, and crush the oppression and wickedness of our enemies, and establish Thy justice among men and nations. Amen.”

"On the reverse side, Patton wrote, “To each officer and soldier in the Third United States Army, I wish a Merry Christmas. I have full confidence in your courage, devotion to duty, and skill in battle. We march in our might to complete victory. May God’s blessings rest upon each of you on this Christmas Day. – G.S. Patton, Jr., Lt. Gen. Commanding, Third United States Army.”

"We know, of course, that Pattons’ prayer worked. The following day, the weather cleared and the Third Army made its way to Bastogne to relieve the 101st Airborne. The Battle of the Bulge, the last major German offensive, was repulsed by the end of January, and the war moved toward its inexorable end.

“Chaplain, I am a strong believer in prayer,” Patton told the chaplain before the prayer went out. “A good soldier is not made merely by making him think and work. There is something in every soldier that goes deeper than thinking or working — it’s his ‘guts.’ It is something that he has built in there: It is a world of truth and power that is higher than himself.”

"It’s a reminder that even Patton — a man who had pagan leanings, as anyone who’s watched the biopic can tell you — still knew the importance of Christian prayer. So, too, did anyone who served before the 1960s. Now, we’re just a few years removed from the days when Lloyd Austin ran the Pentagon under Joe Biden. Things have changed a bit under Donald Trump and Pete Hegseth, but it’ll still take a long way to get back to being a God-fearing nation.

"We are not liberating occupied Europe this Christmas, nor will many of us ever undertake something that parlous or important in our lives. But the reason for the season remains: our Savior, and prayers we offer to Him. If Gen. Patton can remember that while looking down the most urgent mission a man can undertake for his country, certainly we — and the president — can, as well."

Wednesday, December 24, 2025

A Terrorist Attack Against Jews Thwarted -- This Time

And the world yawns.

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From PJ Media:

Cops Avert the ‘Deadliest Terrorist Attack in UK History’ — Guess Who the Target Was

By Robert Spencer | 3:02 PM on December 23, 2025

"Walid Saadaoui and Amar Hussein had big plans — so big that children in the United Kingdom would have read about them in their history books and memorized their names, whether they would have been lionized as heroes or excoriated as villains. To their everlasting disappointment, however, their rendezvous with destiny never happened. Their big plans ended up being disrupted before they had a chance to carry out what has been called “the deadliest terrorist attack in UK history.”

"Sky News reported Tuesday that Saadaoui, 38, and Hussein, 52, have just been found guilty of plotting a jihad massacre with the Jews of Manchester, England as its target. The plot had gone well beyond the talking stage: “They had bought assault rifles, handguns and ammunition for the suicide attack they planned on Jewish targets. They saw any Christian victims ‘as a bonus.’” The pair was hoping that victim count would be high: Greater Manchester Police Assistant Chief Constable Rob Potts said that if Saadaoui and Hussein had succeeded in carrying out their jihad massacre plans unhindered, they would have pulled off "the deadliest terrorist attack in UK history,” with “catastrophic” consequences.

"Remember, Islamic jihadis murdered 52 people and injured another 770 in the notorious Islamic jihad attack of July 7, 2005, so clearly the pair had very big plans. Their hero was a man who had killed well over twice that number: Saadaoui, “the former owner of an Italian restaurant in a Norfolk seaside town, ‘hero-worshipped’ Abdelhamid Abaaoud, the mastermind of the Paris attacks of 2015, and wanted to replicate the attacks in which 130 people were killed.”

"A man such as Abdelhamid Abaaoud could only be a hero in the context of the Qur’an’s promise of a place in paradise to those who “kill and are killed” for Allah (9:111). As Saadaoui and Hussein were planning a suicide attack, they clearly hoped to claim this promise for themselves as well, so as to enjoy for all eternity the favors of the “large-breasted women of equal age” the Qur’an (78:32-3) promises to the blessed. These are the famous virgins of paradise: “Indeed, we have created them a special creation and made them virgins, lovers, friends” (Qur’an 56:35-7).

"In pursuit of this lofty goal, Saadaoui sold his house and used part of the money he received for it “as an initial payment for four AK-47 assault rifles, two handguns and 1,200 rounds of ammunition as he planned a marauding gun attack in revenge for Israeli attacks on Gaza.” He planned to strike in “the same area of Manchester where terrorist Jihad al Shamie later stabbed a worshipper to death outside a synagogue on 2 October.”

"Having nothing but contempt for the legal system of the people whom the Qur’an describes as “the most vile of created beings” (98:6), Hussein disdained even to show up for most of the court proceedings against him. This is not surprising; when he was arrested, he told police “I’m proud, be terrorist here, I’m proud. It's not from us, God sent to us. We are army from God.”

"How could this fellow think he was part of an army from God? Easily. The Qur'an tells Muslims that they are the instruments of Allah's wrath, through whom he punishes the unbelievers: “Fight them, and Allah will punish them by your hands, and he will lay them low and give you victory over them, and he will heal the hearts of people who are believers. And he will remove the anger of their hearts.” (Qur’an 9:14-5) That ensures that there will be much, much more of this.

"This wasn’t a one-off. Saadaoui and Hussein got caught, but others will not be. And as Saadaoui himself said: “If we were to carry out this operation, we target the Jews. We start with the Jews and if there any Christians caught in the act, that is a bonus, but we start with the Jews.”

"As the old jihadi axiom goes, “First the Saturday people, then the Sunday people.” The people of Britain, and of all the countries of the West, will see many more plots targeting Christians as well as Jews. Meanwhile, all objections to continued mass Muslim migration into Britain, and the West in general, will continue to be silenced as “Islamophobia.”

Tuesday, December 23, 2025

COVID Forecast For 2026

By Jasmine Laws at Newsweek 12-23-25:

What Will Happen to COVID-19 in 2026? Experts Explain

"It has been almost six years since the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic in 2020, and while it is no longer considered a public health emergency, it can still make more vulnerable people very unwell.

"As the virus is currently on the rise in the United States, which is typical in the winter months, Newsweek has spoken to experts about how COVID-19 will change in 2026, what symptoms to look out for, and whether Americans should be concerned about the virus.

Why It Matters

"While some people can have mild symptoms when infected with COVID-19, others can have much more severe symptoms, potentially resulting in hospitalization and even death.

"Some may also go on to develop long COVID. Long COVID has become one of the most common chronic conditions among America's children.

"The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) previously estimated that between October 1, 2024, and September 27, 2025, there would be between 14.1 million and 20.7 million COVID-19 illnesses, 390,000 and 550,000 hospitalizations, and 45,000 and 64,000 deaths. As of June 1, 2024, nearly 1.2 million people have died of COVID-19 in the U.S.

What Variant, Symptoms Will Be Around In 2026?

"There are many different variants of COVID-19 - some reports say more than 20 - but experts believe that the Omicron variants will be circulating the most in 2026.

"The currently circulating COVID variants all are part of the Omicron family that has been with us for several years now," Dr. William Schaffner, a professor of preventive medicine and of medicine at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center, told Newsweek.

"The most recent variant, descended from the Omicron family, is called XFG, or Stratus, Dr Thomas Russo, a professor and chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases at the University of Buffalo, told Newsweek.

"It appears to be more immune evasive than its processors, thereby enabling it to become dominant since immunity from prior infection or vaccination was imperfect," he said.

"XFG is therefore currently "driving cases," Russo said, but he added that a "new variant is due to emerge," although the timing is uncertain.

"COVID-19 can result in a wide range of symptoms, such as fevers, chills, cough, shortness of breath, congestion, sore throat, loss of taste or smell, fatigue, body aches, headache, and many others, according to the CDC.

"It is likely that symptoms will continue to be the same in 2026, "ranging from a sore throat and mild cold symptoms to severe disease and death depending on the host," Russo said.

"Children under the age of 4, pregnant women, those older than 65, those who are immunocompromised and those who have underlying diseases are "more likely to have a bad outcome," he added.

Will There Be An Increase In Cases In 2026?

"Schaffner said he thought the current COVID-19 viruses would "continue to cause much mild disease this winter, but also severe disease." He said that there has been an "uptick in hospitalized cases" of COVID, indicating the start of the expected winter surge.

"At present, the COVID virus is "mutating steadily within the Omicron family," he said. "Fortunately, no dramatically new virus variant has emerged on the international scene for several years."

"However, Russo said he thought that at some point, perhaps this winter, a new variant will "arise that is either more infectious than XFG, or is better at evading pre-existing immunity, or some combination of the two."

"Aside from virus mutation, vaccination has an impact on COVID-19 hospitalization rates. Schaffner said amid the current increase in hospitalizations in relation to COVID-19, "virtually none are up-to-date with COVID vaccination."

"He said the COVID vaccine "continues to protect against severe disease and, sadly, continues to be underused in our population."

Should Americans Be Concerned About COVID-19 In 2026?

"Schaffner said he would "urge Americans to be aware and respect the seriousness of COVID disease." He added that especially those who are older or have chronic medical conditions, are immunocompromised or who are pregnant should "take advantage of the vaccine soon."

"We cannot be complacent with COVID," Russo said. It remains a "potentially lethal disease, particularly in high-risk individuals," he added.

"He said there is also a further risk of Americans developing long COVID, which he said can "occur in anyone and should be a particular concern for younger, healthy individuals that are at low risk for developing severe disease."

"Russo said the best way to minimize these risks is to "get vaccinated at least once a year - selected high-risk individuals may benefit from two shots a year."

"Although the COVID vaccine is imperfect against preventing infection, it is very good at decreasing your chances of being hospitalized or dying," he said.

"Recent data suggests that COVID cases may be increasing once again," he added. "Now is the time to get vaccinated to protect yourself and loved ones."

Monday, December 22, 2025

Outbreak Outlook, 12-22-25

Here is Dr. Caitlin Rivers' latest Outbreak Outlook from Force of Infection:

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Outbreak Outlook - National - Dec 22
Influenza continues its steep ascent. Covid-19 and RSV remain at low levels.

Respiratory Diseases

Influenza-like illness

Flu is going up, up, up. Activity is growing quickly for nearly every state.

At the national level, outpatient visits for influenza-like illness (ILI) increased to 4.1% and growth is picking up. (As a reminder, outpatient ILI is the percentage of visits to the doctor that are for fever and cough or sore throat.)

To put this in context, the past several years, the peak for outpatient ILI has been around 6-8%, so we likely still have a ways to go. Test positivity has also sharply risen in the past week, from 8.5% to 14.8%.

At the state level, more than a dozen states, primarily in the Midwest and West, are still at minimal or low activity, seven at moderate levels, and more than a dozen at high or very high levels. Remember that more state level data is available in the regional editions.

Children and young adults have had really steep increases in outpatient ILI visits this past week, as I forecasted in last week’s report. About 11.2% of outpatient visits for those aged 0-4 this past week were for ILI, as were about 7.6% for those aged 5-24. Outpatient visits are also increasing for older age groups, though not quite as steeply. If you need a reminder of how to prepare for and manage mild illness at home, I have a post I share every year with tips and tricks.

Severe illness is also rising. ED visits jumped to 2.8% this past week, with increases reported in all four regions. And hospitalizations have risen to 3.5 hospitalizations per 100,000 people.

Sadly, three children are reported to have died from influenza so far this year. Last season was particularly severe, with 288 pediatric deaths. For adults ages 65+, 54 deaths have been reported so far this season. The flu vaccine is the best way to protect against severe illness. If you have not gotten your shot yet, it is not too late.

COVID-19

Covid-19 remains low nationally, but is increasing. Wastewater activity held roughly steady nationally this past week after a few weeks of increases. ED visits increased slightly to 0.5%.

The Midwest is the only region that saw a (slight) increase in wastewater activity, which just tipped across the line from low to moderate activity. In the Northeast, activity dipped slightly this past week, dropping back out of moderate activity into low activity, and in the South, activity also decreased and remains very low. In the West wastewater remains very low, and after a slight increase last week is now lower than it has been at any point in 2025.

Hospitalizations remain low (at 1.3 hospitalizations per 100,000 people) but have increased slightly for the past few weeks.

RSV & Other Bugs

RSV: Activity continues to increase, slowly. However, it remains below-average for this time of year.

Test positivity increased this past week, to 3.4%. ED visits held steady at 0.3%. Emergency department visits have risen to 3% among the youngest children (aged 0-4), who are most seriously affected by RSV. The rate was more than double this at this time last year.

Hospitalizations held steady this past week at 0.7 hospitalizations per 100,000 people. For the 0-4 age group, hospitalizations also held roughly steady, at 6.4.

Other bugs:

Adenovirus and parainfluenza are both past peak, but remain elevated.
Human coronaviruses and human metapneumovirus remain fairly low, but are edging upward.
Rhinoviruses/enteroviruses have decreased to moderate levels.

Norovirus

Norovirus test positivity data was not updated this week. However, my back-up data source shows that norovirus wastewater activity is high, but decreasing slightly at the national level.

In the Midwest, Northeast, and South wastewater activity is high and increasing. In the West, wastewater activity is also high, but has dipped slightly.

Food recalls

The following foods are being recalled because they are contaminated. Please check your cupboards and throw out any of these items:

New:

Frozen raw shrimp sold under the Market 32 and Waterfront Bistro brand names, due to possible cesium-137 contamination (more info)
Tamales, various flavors, in 4 count packs, sold by Primavera Nueva Inc. (more info)
Salted Caramel Cluster Non-Dairy Frozen Dessert sold under the So Delicious label (more info)

Previously Reported:

Town Food Service Equipment Co. Aluminum Saucepans, due to potential lead contamination (more info)
Lucky Foods cinnamon powder, due to potential lead contamination (more info)
Wegmans Deluxe Mixed Nuts Unsalted (more info)
Grated Pecorino Romano cheese, sold under various labels, including Boar’s Head, Locatelli, Member’s Mark, Ambriola, and Pinna at major retailers, including Wegman’s (more info)
Prairie Farms Gallon Fat Free Milk (more info)
ByHeart Infant Formula due to potential botulism contamination (more info)

In other news

Major retailers continued to sell ByHeart infant formula after recall issued. The FDA has sent warning letters to several major retailers about failures to remove recalled ByHeart infant formula from their shelves. The products were linked to an infant botulism outbreak that has led to the hospitalizations of at least 51 infants in 19 states. FDA investigators visited retail locations and found that infant formula remained for sale in dozens of states for weeks, despite repeated contact with the companies. This included at Target stores in 30 states, Walmart stores in 21 states, Kroger stores in 10 states, Albertsons stores in 11 states.
Possible threats to vaccine schedule. Several media outlets, including Washington Post and CNN, reported that the Trump administration is considering changing the childhood vaccine schedule to more closely align with Denmark’s schedule, which has a narrower set of recommendations. This action would presumably happen outside the usual process at ACIP.
A year of change. In related news, I joined two colleagues for a conversation about the changes unfolding in public health, and what it means for the future. You can read our discussion in the New York Times (gift link). As always, I want to hear your thoughts and concerns and priorities. I’m particularly curious about what more I can do to be helpful during this time of change. Leave a comment or reply to this email to reach me.

Your Local Epidemiologist:The Dose 12-22-25

Here's the latest newsletter from Your Local Epidemiologist:

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We dodged a vaccine disaster (for now). And a quick virus weather report before the break.
The Dose (December 22)
Katelyn Jetelina and Hannah Totte, MPH, Dec 22, 2025

Happy holidays! I have never needed a break more than I do after this year, so YLE will be off for the next two weeks.

Since it’s a holiday week, this Dose was supposed to be a light one, with a quick infectious disease “weather report” to help you navigate holiday gatherings. But alas, 2025 had one last surprise in store with a last-minute vaccine policy scare from RFK Jr. Thankfully, we dodged the bullet for now, but it’s worth understanding what happened.

So, here’s my attempt to bring you along for the ride. Let’s dig in!

A last-minute vaccine policy scare—and why it matters

Last Thursday, I was in a vaccine policy meeting talking about something that has become increasingly fragile: how to protect access to vaccines for Americans who want them, given increasing uncertainty and destruction from the federal government.

In the middle of the conversation, my phone started buzzing. Text after text said the same thing: tomorrow, RFK Jr. would move the U.S. childhood vaccination schedule to the Danish schedule. A press conference was scheduled for Friday at 4 p.m.

Over the next four hours, I was the most worried I have ever been about access to childhood vaccines in the United States. Introducing a completely different vaccine schedule into our system overnight would not have been a minor tweak; it would have been disastrous.

Then the press conference was canceled.

A few days later, Politico reported why: legal and political concerns. HHS was not confident that changing the childhood vaccine schedule to match Denmark’s would hold up in court, and it would be politically risky. (Duh. More than 80% of Americans support routine childhood vaccinations.)

So, for now, Americans dodged a bullet. But I have no doubt this idea will resurface in a different form, so it’s worth understanding what it was all about.

What is actually different about the U.S. and Danish schedules?

Denmark’s childhood vaccine schedule includes fewer vaccines than ours. They don’t routinely vaccinate children against chickenpox, RSV, rotavirus, hepatitis A or B, meningococcal, flu, or Covid-19.

This can look appealing to some. But what makes this work in Denmark is everything beneath the surface: universal healthcare, 46 weeks of paid parental leave, near-universal prenatal screening, centralized medical records, and reliable follow-up.

Because of this system, disease burden is low. Take the Hepatitis B infant dose. Denmark screens nearly 100% of pregnant women and follows up reliably to help prevent transmission. In the U.S., 12–18% of pregnant women aren’t tested, and only 35% of those who test positive complete follow-up care. Before the U.S. universal birth-dose recommendations, thousands of U.S. babies were infected annually by family members who didn't know they carried the virus.

Our broader recommendations exist precisely because our system has gaps. What is safe and effective in Denmark does not translate to the U.S. context. I’ve written about this before here.

Can RFK Jr. actually do this?

Possibly, but it sits in a legal gray area. An independent CDC advisory committee, the ACIP, has historically set vaccine policy. However, the HHS Secretary can issue a directive that changes the schedule without an ACIP vote. That happened earlier this year with Covid-19 vaccine guidance for kids and pregnancy.

That decision is now being challenged in court by the American Academy of Pediatrics. No injunction was issued, so the changes remained in place while the case progresses. In other words, this path exists, but it’s legally shaky.

Why would this be such a big deal?

The childhood vaccine schedule is not just a list of shots. It determines which vaccines kids need for school, what insurance must cover, and which vaccines families can get for free through Vaccines for Children—a program that pays for vaccines for more than half of U.S. children.

It also affects which vaccines are covered by the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP). This program was designed to compensate people who experience rare but real vaccine-related injuries, while sparing families from lengthy lawsuits against manufacturers or health care providers and safeguarding vaccine supply and access. If a vaccine is removed from the routine schedule, that safety net can disappear, liability risks increase, and manufacturers may discontinue production because it becomes too costly.

Taken together, changes like these could cause supply chain problems, leave states with massive unexpected bills (~$600 million to $2 billion), increase liability for doctors and hospitals, and create widespread confusion. And confusion alone is enough to lower vaccination rates.

What this means for you

For now, nothing. Thank goodness. All vaccines are still available to you. But it’s clear HHS intends to move dramatically on childhood vaccinations. There is significant mobilization behind the scenes to ensure this doesn’t move forward quietly. I will be sure to bring you up to date if anything changes

For those of you looking for more, together with the Evidence Collective, we pulled together a short briefing you can find HERE, which includes:

Background, including comparison of schedules, key context, and comparison of the country’s processes
What could realistically happen
Common misconceptions to be ready for

Infectious disease “weather report”

Influenza-like illnesses—coughs, fevers, and sore throats—are on the rise across the country, with particularly high levels in New York, New Jersey, Colorado, and Louisiana. Soon, much of the map will be lit up in red/purple with very high rates.

Source: CDC ILINet

This increase is mostly driven by the flu, which is already making the rounds. Unfortunately, two more pediatric flu deaths were reported this week.

Source: CDC

Covid-19 levels are still relatively low nationwide but are slowly creeping up, especially in the Northeast and Midwest. Based on patterns from the past five years, Covid usually peaks in the first week of January. This year, the wave may arrive a bit later than usual.

Source: NWSS

RSV is also rising, but the season appears to be milder than in previous years. According to the Center for Forecasting Analytics (CFA), hospitalizations from flu, Covid-19, and RSV combined are expected to be roughly the same as last year. The new flu variant may make this season feel heavier, but the mild RSV season and low Covid levels are good news.

What this means for you: There are a lot of sick people peppered throughout the nation. Travel and indoor gatherings will accelerate the spread of all viruses. So…

If you’re sick, stay home.
Consider wearing a mask in crowded indoor spaces, like airports.
It’s not too late to get your flu or Covid vaccines—protecting yourself now can prevent severe illness later.

Bottom line

We’re heading into a much-needed break (unless RFK Jr. pulls another fast one). For now, vaccine access remains intact, viruses are rising across the U.S., and the basics still matter: protect yourself, stay home if you’re sick, and get vaccinated if you haven’t yet.

Most of all, I hope you’re able to rest, unplug, and find some joy over the holidays.

Love, YLE

P.S. Some of you have been asking if Your Local Epidemiologist can accept donations as part of your year-end giving. Yes, and I am so grateful for you! YLE is a fiscally sponsored project of Social Good Fund, a California nonprofit corporation and registered 501(c)(3) organization, Tax ID (EIN) 46-1323531.

You can make a tax-deductible donation online here.

If you need to send a paper check instead, the following is important: make the check out to Social Good Fund and write Your Local Epidemiologist in the memo. You can mail the check to: Social Good Fund, PO Box 5473, Richmond, CA 94805-4021.