Covid deaths undercounted, U.S. scientists in peril

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If you’re unable to participate, stay updated by frequently checking the STAT homepage for comprehensive coverage throughout the day.

The precarious state of U.S. science

A survey by STAT involving nearly 1,000 federally funded researchers shows that many in academia are struggling since President Trump returned to the White House. Researchers are significantly reducing the scope of their projects, and some laboratories have entirely ceased operations.

The survey highlights that over 25% of the respondents have had to lay off lab members, while more than 40% have canceled planned research projects. Additionally, two-thirds have advised students to explore career paths outside of academia. Despite some grant terminations being overturned by courts and Congress blocking attempts to cut the NIH budget, only 35% of those whose grants were cut or delayed have seen their funding fully reinstated by the end of 2025. One researcher likened the situation to “the Titanic hitting the iceberg.”

The extent of the impact is quite shocking. The main story by Jonathan Wosen delves into the survey’s findings, supported by interviews with 30 of the researchers involved. Jonathan and Anil Oza have also collaborated on a second story that sheds light on the challenges faced by three specific researchers.

What we take for granted about vaccines (plus WHO news)

Following the Covid-19 pandemic, there has been backlash, fueled by health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., with vaccine critics emphasizing individual autonomy and “medical freedom” in choosing vaccinations. However, as STAT’s Helen Branswell points out, these issues have broad public health implications that affect us all.

Many vaccines offer indirect health benefits when widely administered, benefiting both recipients and society. For instance, when a vaccine was introduced for pneumococcal disease in children, the disease rate declined across all age groups, especially in older adults. Similarly, children vaccinated against chickenpox are far less likely to develop shingles later, and vaccinating girls against HPV has also provided protection to boys against certain cancers. Read more from Helen on the societal benefits that may be overlooked when the focus is solely on individual choice.

The World Health Organization has updated its guidance on Covid vaccines. Officials recommend that high-risk groups, such as older adults, receive two shots a year, spaced six months apart. Other adults and children should receive routine Covid vaccinations annually. Healthy children aged 6 months to 23 months should only receive routine vaccinations if there is a significant illness burden in that age group, according to WHO.

The Trump administration is aiming to tackle health care fraud, but this initiative could lead to cutting essential services for people with disabilities.

In January, federal officials threatened to withhold about $2 billion in funding for 14 Medicaid services in Minnesota for the upcoming year and imposed a moratorium on new durable medical equipment suppliers. States like Florida have been notified that they will be investigated for fraud.

Advocates are concerned that broadly targeting state Medicaid funding and other health care services may endanger lives, especially since over a quarter of Americans have a disability, and the administration’s tax bill from last year reduced Medicaid funding by $1 trillion over a decade.

What are disability advocates saying about the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services’ recent initiatives? Read more from me here.

Premature menopause raises heart disease risk

Ending menstrual periods before age 40 may lead to a substantially increased risk of coronary heart disease, according to a new JAMA Cardiology study. The reasons remain unclear, but the findings are particularly concerning for Black women, who are three times more likely than white women to experience premature menopause.

Previous research has linked premature menopause to short-term heart disease risks, but this new study analyzed six ongoing studies involving more than 10,000 women without coronary heart disease, tracked from 1964 to 2018. Of the 3,522 Black women in the study, 15.5% experienced premature menopause, compared to 4.8% of the 6,514 white women.

While the exact cause of the increased disease risk remains unknown, scientists are exploring potential explanations. Read more from STAT’s Elizabeth Cooney on what is known and what remains uncertain about premature menopause.

Latest update on hepatitis B trial in Guinea-Bissau

The status of the controversial clinical trial for the hepatitis B vaccine birth dose, which the CDC has agreed to fund in Guinea-Bissau, remains uncertain.

Reports earlier this week indicated that the University of Southern Denmark has placed the trial, proposed by some of its researchers, on hold. The dean of health sciences stated that a WHO research ethics committee agreed to review the protocol.

However, on Wednesday, Kate O’Brien, head of WHO’s immunization and vaccinations program, clarified that although the university made the request, the global health agency has yet to respond. O’Brien emphasized that ensuring a proposed study’s protocol is ethical is the responsibility of funders and the researchers’ home institutions. — Helen Branswell

Did we undercount Covid deaths by 155,000?

The official U.S. death toll during the initial phase of the Covid-19 pandemic might be significantly higher than previously recorded.

Death certificates reported about 840,000 Covid-19 deaths in 2020 and 2021. However, researchers using AI estimate that there may have been as many as 155,000 additional unrecognized deaths during that time, likely occurring outside hospitals. This suggests that roughly 16% of relevant deaths were missed.

If such a large number of deaths went unrecorded, which groups were most affected? The findings indicate that primarily Hispanic people and other people of color in the South and Southwest were missed. Read more about the research findings.

What we’re reading

• The FDA withdraws 2015 proposal to prohibit minors from tanning beds, Medscape 
• Can the keto diet really improve mental health? New York Times
• Clearing tumors in mice, Azalea Therapeutics advances dream of in vivo CAR-T therapy, STAT
• Is the medical industry sick? Why Maryland doctors burn out, Baltimore Sun
• Evidence shows ACA’s mandated benefits alone don’t drive up costs. The debate continues. KFF Health News

What’s the word? Test your knowledge with today’s STAT Mini crossword.