RFK Jr, HHs & Public Health News | Measles outbreak, etc.

[CFordUNC]

Had a meeting about the new COVID guidelines. My company is developing a new vaccine, and previously FDA was adamant that it should be compared to the standard of care- either Pfizer’s or Moderna’s vaccine. Now they seem to be suggesting that any trial will require a placebo comparator which should theoretically make it easier/cheaper to demonstrate effectiveness (since less patients are needed to demonstrate a true difference in the number of cases of COVID with a placebo). I have a feeling they will ask us to enroll huge amounts of patients and follow them for long enough periods of time as to make development cost-prohibitive, but that’s speculation.

New vaccines being compared to a placebo control has been an anti-vax position for a long time. They seem to think that’s the only way we can really characterize the true extent of adverse reactions and/or that the side effects will look so much worse in comparison that it will discourage the public from taking it (or that the FDA can declare that it is not safe). They certainly seem to be implying that the current vaccines aren’t fit to serve as a comparator.

Will this negatively impact people's ability to get the annual COVID booster?

 

[lawtig02]

Will this negatively impact people's ability to get the annual COVID booster?

I'm no expert on this but I've been looking into it over the last couple of days and here's my guess --

1. It certainly doesn't help.
2. It could mean it's harder to find available shots.
3. The "high risk" categories are broad enough that anyone who wants a shot should still be able to get one. But you'll probably have to pay out of pocket for it.

 

[nrsair]

The MAHA commission also released a draft report on children’s health. Healthier food, limited use of technology and increased physical activity are things I wholeheartedly hope the government can encourage. They also talk about limiting exposure to environmental chemicals, which is certainly good but also at odds with, say, the EPA lifting limits on PFAS in drinking water.

There is a section on vaccines which reads to me like they will have an attempt at revising the childhood immunization schedule.

Read the Full ‘Make America Healthy Again’ Report

The White House released an expansive report that blames a crisis of chronic disease in children on ultraprocessed foods, chemical exposures, lack of physical activity, stress and excessive use of prescription drugs.

www.nytimes.com

 

[nrsair]

I'm no expert on this but I've been looking into it over the last couple of days and here's my guess --

1. It certainly doesn't help.
2. It could mean it's harder to find available shots.
3. The "high risk" categories are broad enough that anyone who wants a shot should still be able to get one. But you'll probably have to pay out of pocket for it.

This is my assessment as well. If you go to a pharmacy they won’t have any problem giving it to you, but insurances will likely look to restrict reimbursement for those within the new recommendations.

 

[StrangePackage]

The MAHA commission also released a draft report on children’s health. Healthier food, limited use of technology and increased physical activity are things I wholeheartedly hope the government can encourage. They also talk about limiting exposure to environmental chemicals, which is certainly good but also at odds with, say, the EPA lifting limits on PFAS in drinking water.

There is a section on vaccines which reads to me like they will have an attempt at revising the childhood immunization schedule.

Read the Full ‘Make America Healthy Again’ Report

The White House released an expansive report that blames a crisis of chronic disease in children on ultraprocessed foods, chemical exposures, lack of physical activity, stress and excessive use of prescription drugs.

www.nytimes.com

Schizophrenic approach. Brainworm approved.

 

[05C40]

I fully realized that (a) I gave this post (not the posted article) a "like" and (b) I am an old fart, but has the word "like" been accepted into formal English as an acceptable method of adding emphasis to a partcular part of a sentence.

The Urban Dictionary definition of "like": a meaningless word teenagers insert liberally into both colloquial and formal speech in order to maintain a steady stream of words

 

[Huh?]

Given that RFK Jr's original interest in vaccinations was the opportunity for litigation grift, I am starting to wonder how much of the anti-vax community is motivated / funded in order to develop deposable moments. I know that vaccine makers are generally indemnified by the government, but I wonder for how long...

 

[nycfan]

RFK Jr.’s report had a surprise target: Your doctor​

https://www.politico.com/news/2025/05/23/rfk-kennedy-report-maha-doctor-disease-00366718

“… Laced throughout the report from Kennedy’s Make America Healthy Again Commission are accusations against doctors — for reportedly being influenced by the pharmaceutical industry to overprescribe certain medications and for failing to treat the root causes of disease. The report, released Thursday, calls out the American Medical Association, the country’s leading physicians’ group, by name for adopting a policy the report claims discourages providers from deviating from standard practices and scientists from studying adverse vaccine reactions.

The surprise focus on physicians — softened in the report by calling them “well-intended” — comes after weeks of furious lobbying by the food, pharmaceutical and farming industries who feared being demonized by the review….”

 

[nycfan]

 

[05C40]

RFK Jr.’s report had a surprise target: Your doctor​

https://www.politico.com/news/2025/05/23/rfk-kennedy-report-maha-doctor-disease-00366718

". . ., and for failing to treat the root causes of disease. . . .."

I can't believe I'm saying this, but I sort of agree with RFK, Jr. We have a national crisis on our hands involving testosterone supplements contaminated with brain worms. And Big Pharma, the AMA, and all their lacky doctors are doing absolutely nothing about it. How many Americans have to be struck down and have their lives destroyed by worm-based delusions before something is done?

 

[altmin]

I can't believe I'm saying this, but I sort of agree with RFK, Jr. We have a national crisis on our hands involving testosterone supplements contaminated with brain worms. And Big Pharma, the AMA, and all their lacky doctors are doing absolutely nothing about it. How many Americans have to be struck down and have their lives destroyed by worm-based delusions before something is done?

Don't sell the steroid abuse crisis short, not that RFK would know anything about that....

 

[nycfan]

I am going to be pissed if his policies mean I can’t even elect to get the COVID vaccine if I so choose (in large part because I spend time with elderly relatives and will spend time with an infant niece/nephew at Xmas), but even worse if they make it difficult to impossible for parents to choose to vaccinate their kids and pregnant women to get vaccinated.

 

[farce©]

I am going to be pissed if his policies mean I can’t even elect to get the COVID vaccine if I so choose (in large part because I spend time with elderly relatives and will spend time with an infant niece/nephew at Xmas), but even worse if they make it difficult to impossible for parents to choose to vaccinate their kids and pregnant women to get vaccinated.

I suspect you'll be able to get it but your insurance likely won't pay for it. It will have to be out of pocket.

 

[nycfan]

I suspect you'll be able to get it but your insurance likely won't pay for it. It will have to be out of pocket.

I have read suggestions to the contrary, as well, but no one seems to know for sure.

 

[superrific]

I suspect that insurers don't have to pay for it. Will they? They could. They might think it cost-effective to cover COVID shots for people older than 50, given how much more expensive hospital stays are than vaccines.

 

[finesse]

I have read suggestions to the contrary, as well, but no one seems to know for sure.

No one's figured out how much the cost to the insurance for the vaccine vs. the cost of treating Covid under the new administration. When they've ironed out that clusterfuck, they'll go with whatever promises to save them money.

 

[Calheel]

I suspect that insurers don't have to pay for it. Will they? They could. They might think it cost-effective to cover COVID shots for people older than 50, given how much more expensive hospital stays are than vaccines.

Insurers typically pay for the flu vaccine. I'd assume the same analysis would apply to Covid, unless it is way more expensive.

 

[nrsair]

Don't sell the steroid abuse crisis short, not that RFK would know anything about that....

I’ve been walking around Disney World this week and maybe I just don’t get out that much but the amount of a) young to middle aged guys walking around with tell-tale signs of steroid use (huge delts and traps, acne) and b) obvious plastic surgery for women has been astounding.

 

[Healing]

I’ve been walking around Disney World this week and maybe I just don’t get out that much but the amount of a) young to middle aged guys walking around with tell-tale signs of steroid use (huge delts and traps, acne) and b) obvious plastic surgery for women has been astounding.

It’s a new signs of status in conservative world to not bother hiding “work” with subtlety and gear-based “upgrades”. It’s a genuine Panem phenomenon. Trump, Noem, Ivanka, Bondi, Gaetz, Lara Trump, Elon, etc.

 

[finesse]

The Grand Guignol people.