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Good morning and happy Friday! As this week winds down, I hope you’re gearing up for a rejuvenating weekend ahead. Just one more day of the ACIP meeting before we can relax.
Recap of ACIP Day One
The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) kicked off its two-day meeting in a dramatic fashion. Committee chair Martin Kulldorff issued a challenge to nine former CDC directors, inviting them to engage in a “live public debate” over vaccines. He argued that if they decline, their trustworthiness is in question. This theatrical opening was captured in detail by STAT’s Matt Herper and Chelsea Cirruzzo, who discussed the implications of Kulldorff’s provocative remarks.
Moving on to a serious agenda, the committee voted 8-3 (with one abstention) to recommend that children under four years old receive the measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine and the varicella vaccine separately instead of the combined MMRV vaccine. The CDC has indicated a preference for this approach due to a slight elevation in seizure risk when administering the combined vaccine as the initial dose.
Furthermore, the panel deliberated on whether to recommend postponing the first hepatitis B vaccine, currently administered at birth, by at least a month for newborns whose mothers test negative for the virus. Several members expressed skepticism over this reevaluation of a long-standing practice, despite presentations from CDC staff affirming the vaccine’s safety and efficacy. For an in-depth analysis of these discussions and the hepatitis B vote, check out additional reporting from our STAT team.
31 of 38: The Current Ebola Outbreak
As the new Ebola outbreak in southern Congo continues, the situation has become increasingly dire. Reports indicate that 31 out of 38 confirmed Ebola cases have resulted in fatalities, marking a sharp rise in the casualty rate. In response, a vaccination campaign was initiated in the affected areas earlier this week.
For ongoing updates, refer to our coverage here.
FDA Targets GLP-1 Compounding Practices
Over recent years, numerous telehealth companies and medical spas have emerged, providing compounded versions of popular GLP-1 medications aimed at obesity while branded counterparts faced shortages. In a significant regulatory move, the FDA issued nearly 60 warning letters last week to these entities, citing misleading claims about their compounded products.
Reshma Ramachandran, a physician and co-author of a recent study, noted that 37% of websites marketing compounded GLP-1s inaccurately implied FDA approval. While this crackdown may signal positive change, experts remain cautious about the potential impact. For detailed insights on this issue, read the full report from STAT’s Katie Palmer.
The Sentiment Within Federal Agencies: A Protest Letter
A group of nearly 900 federal employees from over 50 different agencies recently co-signed a protest letter criticizing the Trump administration’s overreach and pleading with Congress for intervention. This letter is part of a series highlighting discontent with the administration’s handling of agency missions. Despite initial hopes for more signatures, concerns about job security and personal safety have dampened enthusiasm among potential signatories.
As organizer Jenna Norton noted, many employees are currently feeling unsafe, not just at work but in public. This sentiment has been exacerbated by past incidents where dissenting voices at the EPA faced severe repercussions, including suspensions and terminations. To delve deeper into this movement and its implications, read our full coverage here.
HHS Moves to Decertify Miami Organ Transplant Agency
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is taking steps to decertify a prominent organ procurement organization in Miami due to unsafe practices, inadequate training, and various administrative failures. The Life Alliance Organ Recovery Agency, part of the University of Miami Health System, has the opportunity to appeal this decision. If enacted, it would mark a significant precedent as the first decertification of an OPO.
This decision follows a startling report highlighting negligence by another Kentucky OPO, raising concerns about the broader organ transplant system. HHS is framing this decertification move as part of a larger reform initiative initiated after the troubling findings from July. For further details, refer to our additional articles here.
Fresh Federal Data on Suicide Rates
Recent analyses from the CDC reveal that the U.S. suicide rate in 2023 remains consistent at approximately 14 per 100,000, similar to figures from previous years, though variations are observed across different racial groups.
Suicide rates have surged among Black individuals by 25% and by 10% among Hispanic individuals from 2018 to 2023, while rates among white individuals saw a slight decrease of 3%. Notably, American Indian or Alaska Native individuals continue to face the highest suicide rates, though those numbers declined by 15% within that time frame.
These findings echo earlier reports on the early pandemic phase, indicating a troubling trend in suicide rates among non-white youth. For a comprehensive overview, refer to the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
What We’re Reading
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Harvard Medical School Plans to Cut Research Budgets by 20 Percent, announces Dean, Boston Globe
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Raising Trans Children in Trump’s Political Landscape: A Personal Account, The 19th
- I’m a doctor — and I introduce myself by my first name, STAT
- Tick Migration and Disease Risks: A Growing Concern, KFF Health News
- Opinion: The Reason Behind Pharma Companies Halting Investments in the UK, STAT
