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The Food and Drug Administration’s top vaccine regulator asserted in an email to staff sent Friday that the Covid-19 vaccine caused at least 10 deaths in children and called for changes to the way the agency regulates vaccines. But experts told STAT they are skeptical of the memo’s “extraordinary” claim because it was not presented with detailed data. (Herper and Branswell, 11/29)

On flu, bird flu, measles, and covid —

For decades, the flu virus in the shots you’re offered every fall has been grown in chicken eggs. While that may sound odd, the tried-and-true technology has been around since the 1940s. Now, scientists are trying more modern methods of developing vaccines. (Zafar, 11/29)

Two wild Hawaiian monk seals, an endangered species, have become the first of their kind to receive vaccines for bird flu, part of a new effort to protect the animals from a virus that has been ravaging marine mammal populations around the world. The vaccinations represent the next phase of a small study that began this summer in northern elephant seals, which are not endangered. The vaccine appeared to be safe for elephant seals, the researchers found, and prompted the marine mammals to begin making antibodies against the virus, which is known as H5N1. (Anthes, 12/1)

Researchers discovered why bird flu can survive temperatures that stop human flu in its tracks. A key gene, PB1, gives avian viruses the ability to replicate even at fever-level heat. Mice experiments confirmed that fever cripples human-origin flu but not avian strains, especially those with avian-like PB1. These findings highlight how gene swapping could fuel future pandemics. (11/28)

For decades, measles vaccination has been a global success story. Deaths from measles dropped 88% around the world from 2000 to 2024, according to a new report from the World Health Organization, with an estimated 58 million lives saved in that time. But now, with vaccine coverage well below the level needed to stop transmission, cases are surging. (Koda, 11/28)

A large, case-control study from Sweden finds that people with long COVID have higher rates of depression, anxiety, fatigue, and headache both before and after diagnosis. The findings, published last week in BMC Medicine, draw on medical records from more than 53,000 adults and suggest a link between long COVID and preexisting conditions. (Bergeson, 11/26)

On malaria and mosquitoes —

Amy Bei, a professor of epidemiology at Yale University, received the cancellation notice from the federal government on May 1. The $300,000 grant from the National Institutes of Health was for the first phase of research into a method for tracking malaria spread through communities. Bei had been finishing up that first phase when the notice came through. (Otte, 11/28)

Some high-flying tropical mosquitoes carry disease-causing pathogens long distances, study finds. In the first study of its kind, mosquitoes captured high above Mali and Ghana were found to be infected with arboviruses, protozoans, and parasitic worms that cause human diseases such as dengue, malaria, and the disfiguring illness lymphatic filariasis, researchers reported yesterday in PNAS. They also note that the vectors could spread diseases many miles away. (Van Beusekom, 11/26)

Members of the New York City Fire Department and union leaders held an emergency rally in Manhattan [last] Monday afternoon over the discovery of previously undisclosed records about ground zero. They are demanding answers after it was revealed that first responders were exposed to toxins on 9/11 that the city knew about but never shared. Officials say 68 previously undisclosed boxes containing information on the 9/11 toxins were found after legislation was ordered demanding a probe into what and when the city knew about toxins at ground zero. (11/25)

James J. Riches, a retired deputy chief for the New York City Fire Department who spent months in the wreckage of the World Trade Center searching for the remains of his firefighter son and others who were killed in the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, died on Thursday at his home in Brooklyn. He was 74. The death was confirmed by Thomas Riches, his youngest son, who attributed it to exposure to toxic dust at ground zero. “He had a long list of World Trade Center ailments from his time down there,” he said in a phone interview, “and it finally took its last toll on him.” (Rosenberg, 11/30)

In other health and wellness news —

Mild dilatation of the main pancreatic duct, even without an obvious mass, is a risk factor for pancreatic cancer in high-risk individuals, according to data from a prospective cohort study. (Fuerst, 11/28)

A flavorful spice used in many dishes and even medicine has also shown promising results in other areas of health. Researchers at Osaka Metropolitan University led a clinical trial with 22 adults who had five grams of black cumin seed powder each day for eight weeks, and they showed a decrease in bad cholesterol and an increase in good cholesterol, showing the same outcomes as cholesterol-lowering medications. The 20 adults in the control group with no cumin showed no changes in cholesterol. (Perkins, 11/29)

As people’s bodies change due to GLP-1s, so does their spending across industries including fashion, restaurants, gyms and travel. (Peiser, 12/1)

New research from the University of Portsmouth reveals how overlooked menstrual health is in the workplace, highlighting its significant impact on women's well-being, attendance, productivity and inclusion. Published in Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, the study is the first to systematically examine the impact of severe menstrual symptoms at work, uncovering a major research gap and underscoring the need for inclusive policies to better support employees. (11/30)

The Food and Drug Administration has withdrawn a proposed rule that would have required makeup manufacturers to test talcum powder and cosmetics made with talc for traces of asbestos, a highly carcinogenic contaminant. The unexpected move was a blow to public health advocates who have worked for decades to curb or eliminate asbestos, which can be found in talc and causes deadly cancers like mesothelioma and lung and ovarian cancer, and for which there is no safe level of exposure. (Caryn Rabin, 11/26)

More news from the Trump administration —

Civil rights and weapons experts cite the consequences of federal agents’ use of crowd control weapons: religious leaders shot with pepper balls and noxious chemicals. A nurse nearly blinded by tear gas. Protestors trapped, struggling to breathe. (Thompson and McSwane, 11/25)

Approximately $3.6 billion in delayed funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, or LIHEAP, was released Friday to states and tribes, according to the National Energy Assistance Directors Association. The federal funding for LIHEAP, which helps millions of low-income households pay to heat and cool their homes, has been held up during the beginning of the cold-weather season because of the federal government shutdown, which ended Nov. 12. (Haigh, 11/28)

A coalition of public health, conservation, and farmworker advocacy groups this week filed a petition urging the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to ban use of pesticides that can promote resistance to medically important antibiotics and antifungals. The petition, filed by the Center for Biological Diversity on behalf of nine other groups, calls for the EPA to ban pesticides containing oxytetracycline and streptomycin, the two most commonly used antibiotics in pesticides. (Dall, 11/26)

The production lines at Indeed Brewing moved quickly, the cans filling not with beer, but with THC-infused seltzer. The product, which features the compound that gets cannabis users high, has been a lifeline at Indeed and other craft breweries as alcohol sales have fallen in recent years. But that boom looks set to come to a crashing halt. Buried in the bill that ended the federal government shutdown this month was a provision to ban those drinks, along with other impairing beverages and snacks made from hemp, which have proliferated across the country in recent years. (Karnowski and Johnson, 11/28)

For many children, the experience of getting their first pair of glasses is an inevitable milestone, the first in a lifetime of visits to the eye doctor. But what if those lenses could actually help preserve the child’s vision and reduce the chances for more serious eye problems in adulthood? That’s the promise of a new type of lens approved by the Food and Drug Administration in September. While the technology has previously been available in Europe, Asia and other parts of the world, it’s now rolling out in the U.S. (Perrone, 12/1)

Also —

President Donald Trump said Sunday that he would release the results of his MRI test that he received in October. “If you want to have it released, I’ll release it,” the president said during an exchange with reporters as he traveled back to Washington from Florida. He said the results of the MRI were “perfect.” The White House has so far declined to detail why Trump had an MRI during his physical last month, or on what part of his body. (11/30)

Congress returns to session Monday and kicks off a December sprint to address expiring Affordable Care Act subsidies and prevent health insurance premium hikes for millions of Americans. Members of both parties acknowledge success hangs on one question: Will President Donald Trump ever figure out what he wants? (Carney, 12/1)

GOP strategist Karl Rove said Republicans need to have a health care agenda ahead of the midterm elections or they’ll be in “deep trouble” with their voters. In an interview Saturday on Fox News’s “Journal Editorial Report,” Rove said Republicans need to have a health care plan to share with voters next year, along with a clear economic message that addresses constituents’ concerns. (Fortinsky, 11/30)

Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) predicted Sunday that the Senate will hold a vote on extending subsidies offered under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) this year. “That vote will happen. And whether it will pass is in the hands of Donald Trump and the Republicans,” Klobuchar told host Dana Bash on CNN’s “State of the Union.” (Rego, 11/30)

�����鶹��ƷHealth News: Watch: Trump Considers Extending Obamacare Subsidies
Amanda Seitz, �����鶹��ƷHealth News’ Washington health policy reporter, appeared on NewsNation’s NewsNation Live With Connell McShane on Nov. 24 to discuss President Donald Trump’s latest health proposal. Seitz noted that the plan — which has not been formally unveiled — could extend the expiring, more generous subsidies that help many Americans pay their share of Affordable Care Act premiums. But that extension would likely impose limitations sought by Republicans, including changes to eligibility for the enhanced assistance, she said. (Seitz, 12/1)

In related news —

President Trump on Saturday touted that drug prices have fallen under his administration, signaling that it will be a winning issue for Republicans in the 2026 midterm elections. “Because I have invoked FAVORED NATIONS STATUS FOR THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, DRUG PRICES ARE FALLING AT LEVELS NEVER SEEN BEFORE, 500%, 600%, 700%, and more,” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social. (Mancini, 11/29)

Charities that help people cover their medical bills say they’re seeing an alarming increase in requests for help. Worse yet, they say, it’s coming even before cuts to Medicaid in President Donald Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act take effect and the potential expiration of Obamacare subsidies at year’s end. The charities are warning of exploding medical debt and lower survival rates for diseases like cancer if Congress doesn’t act. (Chu, 11/27)

�����鶹��ƷHealth News: Medicaid Work Rules Exempt The ‘Medically Frail.’ Deciding Who Qualifies Is Tricky
Eliza Brader worries she soon will need to prove she’s working to continue receiving Medicaid health coverage. She doesn’t think she should have to. The 27-year-old resident of Bloomington, Indiana, has a pacemaker and a painful joint disease. She also has fused vertebrae in her neck from a spinal injury, preventing her from turning her head. Indiana’s Medicaid agency currently considers Brader “medically frail,” giving her access to an expanded set of benefits, such as physical therapy. (Liss and Whitehead, 12/1)

�����鶹��ƷHealth News: New Work Requirement Adds Red Tape To Missouri’s Snarled Food Aid System
Distributing food stamps soon could get even harder for Missouri’s food aid system, which a federal judge has already called “broken and inaccessible.” States depend heavily on federal funds to operate their food stamp programs, which help feed about 42 million people nationwide. But a new federal law has restructured the nation’s food assistance, requiring more people to work to qualify for aid and shifting more of the program’s cost onto states over the next decade. Meanwhile, many Americans are struggling to afford groceries, and state governments are straining to help them. (Liss, 12/1)

Medicare Advantage insurers scored a Thanksgiving gift, as President Trump’s Medicare agency added back a bonus system that rewards health plans with consistently high marks. (Herman, 11/28)

A new Medicare policy on complex surgical procedures could drive a deluge of patients to outpatient facilities. But while some view the change as a win for beneficiaries and taxpayers, others see clinical risks. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services will phase out the Medicare Inpatient-Only List over the next three years under the Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System final rule for 2026, which it published Friday. (Early, 11/26)

In news about rural health care —

North Carolina is seeking $1 billion from the federal government for a wide-ranging plan that could reshape rural health care across the state. (Baxley, 12/1)

Rural hospitals nationwide have been evaluating the future since the One Big, Beautiful Bill became law in July. Changes to Medicaid that will impact their revenue have led some medical facilities to cancel planned programs or projects, seeking savings before the changes take effect in 2027. Garrett Regional Medical Center is doing the opposite, hoping to expand its services despite the current health care landscape uncertainty. (Mause, 11/30)

As the final hues of autumn linger in the Blue Ridge Mountains, the 200-person community of Churchville, Virginia, is grappling with the loss of its health clinic. Gone are the days of seniors walking down the road from their house to see the town doctor. (McKend, 11/30)

More health care industry developments —

As the first anniversary of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson’s killing looms this week, the man charged in his death will be in court fighting to prevent prosecutors from using evidence they say links him to the crime. Luigi Mangione, 27, is set for hearings starting Monday on his bid to block the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office from showing or telling jurors about items seized during his arrest at a yet-unscheduled state murder trial. (Sisak, 12/1)

Advocate Health CEO Gene Woods’ compensation surged to $25.8 million in 2024, a 49 percent jump from the $17.3 million he earned the previous year, according to a recent tax filing. (Crouch, 11/28)

Jennifer Capasso had endured multiple tumors. She wondered what might be said during her next cancer surgery. So, she hit record on her phone. (Goldstein, 12/1)

Researchers found higher rates of depression, poor sleep and obesity among tweens who had early access to a cellphone. (Pearson, 12/1)

Australia will soon ban its youth from popular services like TikTok and Instagram, becoming the world’s first democracy to carry out such a crackdown in response to growing concerns about social media’s harms. It’s likely to be the first of many. ... The measures are spurring an increasing number of governments to seek to hold social media firms to account for toxic content and cyberbullying. (Purnell, Whitley and Wass, 11/30)

More on mental health, Parkinson's, dementia, and aging —

Digital mental health companies raised record-breaking capital during the coronavirus pandemic, offering therapy and medication to people desperate for help during lockdown. Now, some of the largest providers in that space, including Talkspace and Lyra Health, face a new challenge: integrating generative AI chatbots into their clinical portfolios. (Broderick, 12/1)

In a recent large analysis published in The Lancet in November, researchers at King’s College London found that physical side effects, including quick weight gain, significantly increased heart rate or elevated blood pressure, may be more common than once thought, depending on the drug. The review analyzed results from 151 clinical trials and 17 reports from the Food and Drug Administration, involving about 30 different prescription drugs used to treat depression, anxiety, and bipolar and panic disorders. (Cox, 11/30)

Could pedaling a bike rewire the brain of someone with Parkinson’s disease, easing the tremors and muscle stiffness caused by the neurological condition? Past research studies suggested that exercise causes animal and human brains to forge new neurological connections. A local study jointly conducted by University Hospitals and the VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System wanted to find out if the same was true for Parkinson’s patients. (Washington, 12/1)

A recently recognized form of dementia is changing the understanding of cognitive decline, improving the ability to diagnose patients and underscoring the need for a wider array of treatments. Patients are increasingly being diagnosed with the condition, known as LATE, and guidelines advising doctors how to identify it were published this year. LATE is now estimated to affect about a third of people 85 and older and 10 percent of those 65 and older, according to those guidelines. Some patients who have been told they have Alzheimer’s may actually have LATE, dementia experts say. (Belluck, 11/28)

A new survey of centenarians finds people who make it to 100 are not letting the grass grow under their feet. Many have taken up habits that younger people may find surprising. According to a survey of 100 centenarians from UnitedHealthcare, nearly half do some form of strength training at least once a week to keep muscles strong, 36% participate in stress relief activities such as meditation, 67% say they eat a healthy diet, and 42% report walking or hiking on a regular basis. About 30% say they still like to work in their garden. (Aubrey, 12/1)

Three years ago, the Maryland Hospital Association issued a dire warning: Maryland needs more nurses. The COVID-19 pandemic had aggravated a growing shortage of both registered nurses and licensed practical nurses. There was already a deficit of 5,000 or more full-time-equivalent nursing professionals across the state, experts noted, but burnout was making matters worse. If left unchecked, the nursing shortage was expected to reach 13,800, which would leave supply only able to meet 80% of demand as an aging population demands more health care services. (11/30)

I’m a vaccine researcher. And I’m terrified of needles. It’s not something I’m proud to admit, especially in front of my colleagues, but when I roll up my sleeve for flu shots or blood draws, I look away. My heart races, my palms sweat, and I hold my breath until the quick jab is done. (Benjamin L. Sievers, 12/1)

My father didn’t know it, but by the time his urine had turned dark, the color of tea, he had only a month or so to live. Until then, he had seemed fine, at most a little tired in the weeks before. This didn’t seem unusual for a young father of two kids — me, a toddler, and my brother, a kindergartner. (Dr. Helen Ouyang, 12/1)

The GOP should advance proposals that put patients back in charge of our health care system. (Lanhee J. Chen and Daniel L. Heil, 12/1)

“Silence = Death.” That was the mantra of determined AIDS activists who quickly concluded the U.S. government was not doing enough to combat the then-emergent AIDS epidemic, which first hit the headlines in 1981. (Gavin Hart, 11/29)