The hottest Health Politics Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Health Politics Topics

Europe Reacts to US Global Health Policy Shifts

Who is Robert Malone • 12 implied HN points • 18 Nov 25
🏥 Health Politics Global Health U.S. Policy EU Politics Public Health International relations
  1. The US is changing its approach to global health by focusing on direct government-to-government aid rather than working through organizations like the WHO, which could impact health initiatives worldwide.
  2. Europe is facing economic challenges that make it hard for the EU to lead in global health efforts, even as they push for more leadership in light of US policy changes.
  3. There's a sense of resignation among European leaders as they realize the US is stepping back from global health commitments, leaving them to figure out how to cope with the situation.

Turns out even more of you are doctors (and nurses) than I expected

Unreported Truths • 43 implied HN points • 15 Jul 25
🏥 Health Politics Healthcare Medical Ethics Public Health Vaccination Biomedical Research
  1. Many readers identify as healthcare professionals, with a significant portion being doctors and nurses. It's great to see so many engaged in the conversation about medical issues.
  2. There are concerns about the medical field focusing too much on procedures rather than promoting healthier lifestyles. This prioritization may be driven by financial considerations.
  3. Some healthcare professionals express distrust towards the research system and the influence of pharmaceutical companies. They feel that conflicts of interest may impact patient care and safety.

The mRNA Revolution

Diane Francis • 479 implied HN points • 20 Dec 21
🏥 Health Politics Vaccines COVID-19 Public Health Science Policy Medical Research
  1. The mRNA vaccines are an important breakthrough in fighting COVID-19 and other diseases. They help our bodies recognize and attack viruses more effectively.
  2. Despite concerns about variants like Omicron, the vaccines still offer protection. People are tired of restrictions, but the vaccines are a positive step forward.
  3. Scientists are continuing to innovate with mRNA technology. This could lead to even more health advancements in the future.

What I'm Reading: Cigna's 2022 earnings; ProPublica's prior authorization series

HEALTH CARE un-covered • 199 implied HN points • 03 Feb 23
🏥 Health Politics Healthcare Insurance Policy Profits Investigations
  1. Insurance companies like Cigna are making a lot of money by acting as middlemen in the drug supply chain, especially after acquiring pharmacy benefit managers.
  2. Cigna's profits increased significantly in 2022, partly because they paid out less for medical claims compared to previous years.
  3. Instead of lowering costs for customers, Cigna is using its profits to buy back its own stock, which primarily benefits shareholders.

Welcome To The Fauci/Pfizer Matrix: COVID Vaccines Directly Cause Long-Lasting Side Effects, Per New Study

Unmasked • 92 implied HN points • 27 Feb 25
🏥 Health Politics Public Health Vaccination Misinformation Policy Analysis COVID-19
  1. There was a lot of misinformation about COVID vaccines when they came out. Experts made claims that were not supported by facts, leading to confusion about their effectiveness.
  2. Key figures like Dr. Fauci and Rochelle Walensky made statements that turned out to be incorrect, which worsened public trust and guided harmful policies.
  3. Recent research suggests that the long-term side effects of vaccines are more significant than previously acknowledged, highlighting ongoing issues around vaccine communication and transparency.
Get a weekly roundup of the best Substack posts, by hacker news affinity:

It's peak flu season

Force of Infection • 119 implied HN points • 30 Dec 24
🏥 Health Politics Public Health Disease Control Epidemiology Health Policy Infectious Diseases
  1. It's peak flu season, and there's been a significant rise in flu cases lately. Young children are getting hit the hardest with more doctor visits due to influenza-like illness.
  2. Covid-19 cases are also increasing after a slow start, with many locations showing high virus levels. It's important to stay updated on trends as they can change rapidly.
  3. RSV activity is up, but this year seems to be less severe than usual. Overall, it's crucial to take precautions like masking, as multiple respiratory illnesses are spreading.

Everything You Need to Know About H5N1 Bird Flu

OK Doomer • 106 implied HN points • 23 Jan 25
🏥 Health Politics Public Health Pandemic response Disease Control Government Policy Communications
  1. H5N1 bird flu is mutating quickly, which is concerning for public health. It's important to stay informed about its developments.
  2. The U.S. administration is not communicating openly about health updates, which could leave people in the dark during a health crisis.
  3. Historically, some diseases that started off appearing mild later became serious. We should be cautious and prepared for any changes in the bird flu situation.

Outbreak Outlook - National - July 9

Force of Infection • 44 implied HN points • 09 Jul 25
🏥 Health Politics Public Health Infectious Diseases Epidemiology Health Policy Disease outbreaks
  1. Measles cases are breaking records this year, with many months still remaining. This highlights the ongoing concerns about vaccine coverage and public health.
  2. Influenza-like illnesses are low right now, showing it’s off-season for flu. The situation could change as we move further into the year.
  3. COVID-19 cases are slowly rising, especially in southern states like Florida and Texas, but there isn't a big surge happening yet.

It's time to pay attention to Bulgarian death rates. Yes, I'm serious.

Unreported Truths • 62 implied HN points • 15 May 25
🏥 Health Politics Public Health Vaccines Epidemiology Covid impact
  1. Bulgaria has seen a drop in death rates since Covid ended, which is surprising given its low vaccination rate. This suggests that high vaccination levels may not always lead to lower long-term death rates.
  2. Many countries still face unexpectedly high death rates post-Covid, even though the pandemic has been declared over. This indicates that there are other factors at play affecting mortality rates.
  3. The experiences of Bulgaria and heavily vaccinated nations highlight the complexity of public health outcomes after a pandemic, including the need to examine why some countries are seeing rising deaths while others are not.

PDF + VIDEO: Experimental Injections are covered under the Countermeasures Injury Compensation Program (CICP) not the National [Vinjection] Injury Compensation Program (VICP)

DrV’s Newsletter, Notes, Essays, Articles, Videos, and Book Chapters • 39 implied HN points • 08 Feb 24
🏥 Health Politics Lawsuits
  1. Experimental injections are covered under the Countermeasures Injury Compensation Program (CICP) not the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP).
  2. Greedflation is about increasing prices for profit under the guise of inflation.
  3. Collective lawsuits are proposed as a solution to combat greedflation and other issues in the current system.

Health New Zealand admits that they did not look at their own safety data. The vaccine is safe. Why bother to look at our data?

Steve Kirsch's newsletter • 7 implied HN points • 09 Dec 25
🏥 Health Politics Public Health COVID-19 Vaccination Data Integrity Government Accountability
  1. Health New Zealand admits they haven't examined their own COVID vaccine safety data. This raises questions about how they can say the vaccine is safe without reviewing it.
  2. They declined a request for a public discussion on the data, which some see as a lack of transparency in addressing concerns.
  3. Health New Zealand also stated they will not conduct autopsies for anyone believed to have been harmed by the vaccine, which adds to doubts about their commitment to safety investigations.

If you are affiliated with any academic institution worldwide, I'll pay you to help redpill the world by surfacing aggregated mortality rate data from public health registries

Steve Kirsch's newsletter • 5 implied HN points • 25 Dec 25
🏥 Health Politics Vaccines Public Health Data Access Mortality Rates Epidemiology Research Ethics
  1. The project seeks academic-affiliated researchers to access national public health registries and publicly share weekly cohort mortality rates.
  2. They offer payment and argue the exported data will be aggregated, non-identifying, legally shareable, and useful for evaluating vaccine safety.
  3. Work is expected to be done on secure research platforms using Python (pandas, SQL) by materializing denormalized cohorts, computing weekly hazards/KCOR, and following export constraints like no external pip installs or APIs.

My talk at the CHD conference on what the data tells us

Steve Kirsch's newsletter • 4 implied HN points • 03 Jan 26
🏥 Health Politics Vaccines Public Health Health Policy Vaccine Safety Data Analysis Children's Health
  1. The central claim is that COVID vaccines offered no real benefit and instead caused net harm.
  2. A conference presentation uses data and analysis to argue and support that conclusion.
  3. A video recording and slide deck of the talk are available online for people to review the evidence themselves.

With Us Or Against Us

Anxiety Addiction & Ascension • 79 implied HN points • 08 Aug 23
🏥 Health Politics Vaccine COVID Government
  1. The importance of discussing Covid vaccine harms and the reluctance in society to address this issue openly.
  2. The need for influencers and thought leaders to take a stand on vaccine harms to drive the conversation into mainstream discourse.
  3. Challenging individuals who avoid discussing vaccine harms and emphasizing the importance of separating those who address the issue from those who do not.

Paul Offit responds to multiple challenges by deferring to the peer-reviewed literature

Steve Kirsch's newsletter • 6 implied HN points • 16 Dec 25
🏥 Health Politics Vaccine Policy Public Health Epidemiology Peer Review Data Transparency Research Ethics
  1. Peer review and major journals can act as gatekeepers tied to institutional and industry interests, so relying only on traditional publication as proof can suppress dissenting evidence and block open scientific debate.
  2. A new, simple analysis method applied to comprehensive national registry data is claimed to reveal net harms in some groups, and critics are challenged to either point to a better method or directly engage with those data and code.
  3. Restoring trustworthy science requires concrete reforms — open raw data, transparent and accountable peer review, independent funding for journals, cryptographic records of submissions, and stronger support for replication and independent researchers.

Professor Robert Scragg tries to show the COVID vaccines are perfectly safe in order to help put Barry Young in jail

Steve Kirsch's newsletter • 7 implied HN points • 08 Dec 25
🏥 Health Politics Vaccines Public Health Epidemiology Data Analysis Legal issues
  1. Scragg didn't provide evidence showing vaccines improve mortality rates. There was no clear proof that vaccinated people lived longer compared to unvaccinated in matched studies.
  2. He failed to analyze important data that could help prove vaccine safety. The data was available but he chose not to use it, which is confusing since it's crucial for understanding the truth.
  3. Health New Zealand hasn't analyzed their own data on vaccine safety, which raises questions about their reliability. They should openly share this information to help everyone understand the real impacts of the vaccines.

A decade-long look at how Big Insurance profiteers American taxpayers and the sick.

HEALTH CARE un-covered • 399 implied HN points • 04 Apr 22
🏥 Health Politics Insurance Healthcare Policy Profit Regulation
  1. Big insurance companies have grown a lot in size and profit over the last decade, primarily through mergers and getting more government contracts. They now make a lot of money, with profits reaching over $60 billion last year.
  2. Most of the increase in people under these insurance companies comes from government programs like Medicare and Medicaid, not from private insurance. Taxpayers are indirectly supporting these companies even if they don't use their plans.
  3. Insurance companies are shifting more costs onto patients, leading to higher out-of-pocket expenses and making it hard for many to afford care. This is resulting in more people being underinsured and potentially struggling with medical debt.

Outbreak Outlook - National - Jan 20

Force of Infection • 105 implied HN points • 20 Jan 25
🏥 Health Politics Infectious Disease Public Health Vaccination Healthcare system Epidemiology
  1. Flu, COVID-19, and RSV cases are improving, but norovirus has become more prevalent this season. It's important to stay cautious during flu season, as the numbers can change quickly.
  2. While COVID-19 levels are still somewhat high, there's a small hope that the situation is getting better, with fewer hospitalizations reported recently.
  3. Norovirus is on the rise this winter, likely due to a new strain. It's crucial to maintain good hygiene practices, like washing hands, to prevent infection.

Vaccine mandates cost lives

Steve Kirsch's newsletter • 6 implied HN points • 16 Dec 25
🏥 Health Politics Vaccine Policy Public Health Government Policy Health Outcomes Political Influence Health law
  1. Vaccine mandates are claimed to cost lives and are portrayed as harmful.
  2. Decision makers are portrayed as guided by religion or ideology instead of science when creating vaccine policy.
  3. Moves to make vaccines optional—such as in Florida—are presented as the right choice, and it is claimed that countries without mandates have better health outcomes.

No active ingredients whatsoever

Internal exile • 46 implied HN points • 24 Jun 25
🏥 Health Politics Medical Ethics Patient Care Mental health
  1. Placebos work because of belief and social interactions, not just the medicine itself. This shows that the setting and care from doctors can be as important as the actual treatments.
  2. People can still feel the effects of placebos even when they know they’re fake. This suggests that our expectations and the way we think about treatment can influence our experience of pain and illness.
  3. The rise of AI in healthcare may change how we think about treatment. Just like placebos, the way we perceive AI support can create real feelings and experiences, but it also risks losing the human connection that aids in healing.

Repeated mRNA Covid jabs are linked to faster death from pancreatic cancer

Unreported Truths • 43 implied HN points • 07 Jul 25
🏥 Health Politics Vaccines Cancer Public Health Medical Research Health Policy
  1. Receiving three or more mRNA Covid vaccines is linked to shorter survival rates in pancreatic cancer patients. Those with more shots died faster than those with fewer shots.
  2. The study found changing levels of IgG4 antibodies in patients, which may weaken their immune response against cancer. This suggests the vaccines might change how the body fights tumors.
  3. Previous research indicated rising cancer death rates in Japan since the vaccine rollout. This study offers more detailed insights by tracking patients based on their vaccine status.

Outbreak Outlook - National - July 14

Force of Infection • 41 implied HN points • 14 Jul 25
🏥 Health Politics Infectious Diseases Public Health COVID-19 Health Statistics
  1. COVID-19 cases are slowly rising in some areas, but overall activity remains low across the country.
  2. Influenza rates are very low right now, with minimal activity reported in all states.
  3. The Southern and Western regions are experiencing a small increase in COVID-19-related emergency room visits, although they still make up a tiny percentage of total visits.

NYC's call to move retirees to a Medicare Advantage plan is being opposed by a 9/11 hero. She's backed by hundreds of retirees.

HEALTH CARE un-covered • 199 implied HN points • 17 Jan 23
🏥 Health Politics Healthcare Medicare Policy Retirement Insurance
  1. A retired EMT, Marianne Pizzitola, is fighting against NYC's plan to move retirees to a Medicare Advantage plan. This change could hurt many retirees and reduce their healthcare coverage.
  2. Retirees are concerned that Medicare Advantage plans may limit the care they receive. These plans can require approvals for necessary treatments, which can delay or deny important medical care.
  3. The fight against the Medicare Advantage plan is uniting many retirees from different backgrounds and political views. They all agree that retirees deserve better healthcare options and shouldn't be forced into a plan that may not serve their needs.

Now it can be told: the truth about the Covid jabs is slowly coming out

Unreported Truths • 136 implied HN points • 11 Nov 24
🏥 Health Politics Vaccines Public Health Pandemic response Misinformation Medical Ethics
  1. Some independent journalists are questioning the effectiveness of Covid mRNA vaccines. They believe these shots did not perform as promised.
  2. There are concerns about potential side effects and the impact of these vaccines on the immune system. People worry about the long-term consequences.
  3. Many mainstream media outlets are not discussing these issues, leaving it to a few independent voices to bring attention to the truths about the Covid vaccines.

Anti-depressants: The trials last 8 weeks; People take them for 8+ years

Vinay Prasad's Observations and Thoughts • 85 implied HN points • 04 Mar 25
🏥 Health Politics Mental health Medications Clinical Trials Public Health Psychiatry
  1. People often take anti-depressants for many years, even decades, but they were only studied for about 8 weeks in trials.
  2. There isn't clear evidence that taking these medications long-term is better than not starting them at all, which raises concerns about their effectiveness.
  3. We need longer and better studies to truly understand the benefits and downsides of anti-depressants, including how they impact things like sexual health.

New Data Once Again Proves Sweden Was Right About Masks

Unmasked • 130 implied HN points • 20 Nov 24
🏥 Health Politics Public Health COVID-19 Mask Mandates Policy Analysis Epidemiology
  1. Sweden's approach to COVID-19, particularly regarding masks, suggests that their policies were more effective compared to strict mandates. Many believe masks didn't help much, and the data supports this view.
  2. Experts' predictions and mandates around masks and vaccines were often incorrect, leading to public distrust. A lot of information from that time is either ignored or downplayed now.
  3. Recent studies reinforce that Sweden's strategies during the pandemic were valid while challenging the widely accepted methods enforced elsewhere. This raises questions about what really works in handling health crises.

The majority of big insurers' health plan revenues are subsidized by American taxpayers

HEALTH CARE un-covered • 279 implied HN points • 07 Sep 22
🏥 Health Politics Insurance Medicare Subsidies Policy Government
  1. Most big health insurers, like UnitedHealth, get a large part of their money from taxpayer funds, not from private customers. This shows how our tax dollars support these companies.
  2. Many insurers focus on getting more Medicare Advantage enrollments because the government pays them good money for it. This has become a major source of profit for them.
  3. Despite receiving big subsidies, many people using ACA marketplace plans still face high out-of-pocket costs, making them effectively under-insured. This means they might struggle to afford healthcare even with insurance.

UnitedHealth Group's 2022 Earnings are in, PBM Optum outperforms health insurance division

HEALTH CARE un-covered • 199 implied HN points • 13 Jan 23
🏥 Health Politics Healthcare policy Insurance Industry Pharmacy Benefits Profit Margins
  1. UnitedHealth Group's pharmacy benefit manager, Optum, is now making more profits than its health insurance division. This shows a big shift in how these companies are making money.
  2. Over the past decade, Optum has seen huge growth in both revenue and profits, while the health insurance side has not grown as fast. This tells us where the real money is for these companies now.
  3. Many major companies, like Cigna and CVS, are also finding their profits mainly from managing drug supplies instead of just selling health insurance. This shows a trend in the healthcare industry where drug supply roles are becoming more profitable.

Why Health Insurance Systems are Mismanaged

In My Tribe • 455 implied HN points • 01 Jul 23
🏥 Health Politics Health Insurance Incentives Costs Government Market
  1. Incentives in health insurance systems can be misaligned, leading to issues like services being rationed for those with expensive illnesses.
  2. Government can create artificial pools within health insurance to avoid selection games, but challenges in insurer-provider conflicts may persist.
  3. Integrating health insurance with health care, like in HMOs, can help manage costs, but compensation methods for HMOs and providers remain contentious.

URGENT: The FDA will reject future Covid jabs for healthy people under 65 without big new clinical trials proving they work

Unreported Truths • 57 implied HN points • 20 May 25
🏥 Health Politics Public Health Vaccination FDA Regulations Chronic Conditions Health Policy
  1. The FDA now requires new clinical trials to approve Covid vaccines for healthy people under 65. This means companies must prove the vaccines are effective before they can be used.
  2. Many adults may still qualify for boosters because of loose CDC guidelines on who is at risk for severe Covid. This could allow a lot of people to continue getting the vaccine even with new rules.
  3. While this is a step towards more safety with mRNA vaccines, the rules aren’t strict enough to significantly change access for most healthy adults.

Bah Humbug: No Matter How Hard They Try, Masks Still Don't Work

Unmasked • 113 implied HN points • 24 Dec 24
🏥 Health Politics Public Health Pandemic response Mask Mandates COVID-19 Medical Research
  1. Masks have been debated since the pandemic began, but many experts still believe they don't work effectively. This has led to ongoing discussions among people who support or oppose their use.
  2. Past studies attempting to prove the effectiveness of masks have often been criticized for their flaws and misleading results. This has caused skepticism about the reliability of mask research.
  3. Recent studies that promote mask-wearing continue to fuel the belief among some groups, but they are viewed by others as inaccurate or propaganda. This division highlights the ongoing controversy over mask mandates.

Miracle in Mainz

Diane Francis • 679 implied HN points • 05 Apr 21
🏥 Health Politics Health Policy Medical Research Vaccination Public Health Biotechnology
  1. mRNA technology is changing medicine, promising to extend life and improve health. Vaccines for COVID-19 showed how effective this approach can be.
  2. BioNTech and Moderna rushed to create vaccines quickly, successfully using their mRNA methods. This faster way of making vaccines works better than older methods.
  3. There are plans to use mRNA technology for cancer vaccines in the near future. This could transform how we treat cancer and save many lives.

As health insurance premiums and out-of-pocket obligations increase, so does the number of Americans who are “functionally uninsured”

HEALTH CARE un-covered • 239 implied HN points • 03 Nov 22
🏥 Health Politics Insurance Costs Policies Coverage
  1. Health insurance costs are rising quickly, with family premiums increasing by 43% over the last decade. This makes healthcare harder to afford for many families.
  2. More people have to pay larger out-of-pocket expenses before their insurance starts helping. On average, these costs have gone up by 61% in the past 10 years.
  3. Small businesses struggle the most with these high costs and many are no longer offering health insurance benefits to their employees, leaving more people without proper coverage.

Don’t Believe The Hype: COVID Vaccines Were Far Less Effective Than Media And 'Expert' Claims

Unmasked • 35 implied HN points • 30 Jul 25
🏥 Health Politics Public Health Vaccination Policy Analysis Media Critique Pandemic response
  1. The effectiveness of COVID vaccines was often overstated by media and experts. Many claims about how many lives they saved do not match the actual data.
  2. There was a lot of pressure and false information aimed at convincing people to get vaccinated. This included public campaigns and incentives that might not have been based on the truth.
  3. Policies like lockdowns and mask mandates were enforced without enough evidence supporting their necessity. Many people complied with these measures because they trusted the authorities.

URGENT: Yale researchers have found Covid spike protein in the blood of people never infected with Covid - years after they got mRNA jabs

Unreported Truths • 115 implied HN points • 19 Dec 24
🏥 Health Politics Medical Ethics Public Health Disease Prevention Health Safety
  1. Yale researchers found Covid spike proteins in the blood of some people who got mRNA vaccines, even if they never had Covid. This is surprising because these proteins usually don't stay in the body long after vaccination.
  2. The presence of these spike proteins suggests that the genetic material from the vaccines might be causing cells to keep making them. This raises questions about the long-term safety of mRNA vaccines.
  3. The researchers need to confirm their findings and plan to publish their study soon. They aim to share more information so other scientists can verify these results.

The biggest move Robert F. Kennedy Jr. can make in his new job to show vaccine fanatics that they are no longer in charge

Unreported Truths • 125 implied HN points • 26 Nov 24
🏥 Health Politics Public Health Vaccination Health Policy Pharmaceuticals Health Risks
  1. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. should end the CDC's recommendation for COVID mRNA vaccines for children and teens once he is confirmed as HHS secretary.
  2. There are serious health concerns with these vaccines in young people, including potential for myocarditis and other severe side effects.
  3. The CDC's current stance is seen as outdated and driven by ideology rather than science, so a shift in public health policy is needed.

Vaccines are like drugs: Some are safe, some are effective, and some have benefits > harms, but not all

Vinay Prasad's Observations and Thoughts • 135 implied HN points • 31 Oct 24
🏥 Health Politics Vaccines Public Health Medical Ethics Drug Safety Clinical Trials
  1. Vaccines, like drugs, can vary in safety and effectiveness. Some work well for certain people but not for others.
  2. It's important to measure how well vaccines work, not just for virus-related issues but for overall health.
  3. We need better monitoring and data sharing after vaccines are given, along with the ability to hold manufacturers accountable if something goes wrong.