The Republican party and President-elect Donald Trump have a long list of changes they want to make to public health agencies after years of being sidelined by a Democratic majority. Some key priorities include questioning vaccines, restructuring health and science agencies, and pandemic preparedness.
On the topic of vaccines, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and others in Trump’s orbit have questioned vaccines publicly. Possible actions by the government could include slowing approvals and filling advisory committee slots with skeptics. The spreading of unfounded doubt over vaccine safety and efficacy is also a possibility.
If Republicans take control of both the House and the Senate, reforms like restructuring NIH, cutting CDC funds, and eliminating “duplicative” programs could be on the table. Trump has also promised to disband the White House Office of Pandemic Preparedness and Response, although this would require congressional action.
In other news, two new studies on reproductive care were published in JAMA Network Open. One study found that pregnant women and those in the first year after pregnancy are at higher risk of being killed in states where laws prohibit finalizing a divorce during pregnancy. Another study revealed that 42% of people seeking abortions incur “catastrophic health expenditures.”
Children’s Hospital Los Angeles is piloting a program that uses AI to translate discharge notes into Spanish for Spanish-speaking patients. This program aims to provide important instructions to patients in their preferred language quickly and accurately.
Sickle cell disease patient Tammy Clemons shared her experience with the disease, including the pain and heartbreak it has caused her over the years. A new study presented at the American Heart Association’s Resuscitation Science Symposium found that the gender disparity in receiving CPR from bystanders is eliminated when guided by a 911 operator.
Lastly, new research highlights disparities in cardiac care for different socioeconomic groups. Studies found that cardiac care before delivery helped white but not Black mothers with preeclampsia, Black veterans were less likely to be prescribed weight loss drugs, social needs hinder heart failure patients from receiving optimal therapy, and cardiology fellows have mixed reviews on DEI efforts.
These studies will be presented at the AHA scientific sessions later this week. For more information on these topics and other healthcare news, check out the articles referenced in the post.
