The hottest Pandemic Preparedness Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Science Topics

🧬 The FDA's Moderna mRNA reversal

Faster, Please! • 1645 implied HN points • 18 Feb 26
🏥 Health Politics Pandemic Preparedness
  1. The FDA reversed its halt and will review Moderna's mRNA flu vaccine. The episode shows political backlash can inject major regulatory uncertainty into vaccine approvals.
  2. Rising vaccine skepticism is chilling the mRNA field—venture funding, manufacturing plans, and federal contracts have been cut or canceled. This threatens not just flu shots but future work on cancer vaccines, autoimmune treatments, and pandemic preparedness.
  3. Without clearer funding and oversight, the U.S. vaccine enterprise risks being dismantled and important medical advances may be foreclosed. Congress may need to direct funds and set enforceable milestones to preserve vaccine R&D.

H5N1: Much More Than You Wanted To Know

Astral Codex Ten • 27324 implied HN points • 01 Jan 25
🏥 Health Politics Pandemic Preparedness
  1. H5N1 bird flu started in birds but can spread to other animals and possibly humans. There are concerns about it becoming a bigger threat as it mutates.
  2. Currently, experts estimate a 5% chance of H5N1 causing a human pandemic in the next year, but it could rise to 50% over the next 20 years.
  3. If H5N1 does become a pandemic, most forecasts suggest it won't be as deadly as the Spanish flu, with risks ranging from normal flu severity to several times worse.

Explosive Investigation Uncovers a Global Shadow Government’s Secret Control Over “Elected” Governments & Public Health Bodies, Forging a Global Vaccine Regime

2nd Smartest Guy in the World • 4618 implied HN points • 04 Feb 24
🌍 World Politics Pandemic Preparedness
  1. Wealthy organizations influence public policies through infrastructure like a global vaccine regime.
  2. There is a shadow government controlling elected governments and public health bodies.
  3. The vaccine regime is structured around wealthy investors and foundations using public money.

The WHO pandemic treaty is neccessary and absolutely no threat to sovereignty

Independent SAGE continues • 539 implied HN points • 20 May 24
🏥 Health Politics Pandemic Preparedness
  1. The WHO pandemic treaty is important for better international cooperation during pandemics. Countries need to work together to be better prepared and respond to future health crises.
  2. There is a lot of misinformation about the treaty, particularly claims about losing control to WHO. In reality, the treaty aims to respect each country's sovereignty while improving global health collaboration.
  3. Strong leadership and understanding are necessary to combat disinformation. Governments must focus on making effective agreements for global health, ensuring everyone is better protected next time a pandemic strikes.

Congress Builds a Safety Net (Part 2)

Who is Robert Malone • 7 implied HN points • 11 Mar 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Pandemic Preparedness
  1. Congress created OPPR as a presidentially led office to coordinate pandemic preparedness across agencies and to report regularly to Congress, giving the federal government a standing convening role without direct control of state medical practice.
  2. Constitutional and Supreme Court limits mean the federal role is meant to be preparedness and support (stockpiles, surveillance, coordination), not operational control of local medical decisions, so OPPR was designed to stay on that side of the line.
  3. OPPR delivered practical assets — coordinating mpox and H5N1 responses, mapping the countermeasure portfolio, launching the Bio‑5 supply‑chain effort, and writing a response playbook — but it was chronically underfunded, its statutorily required reports stopped, and key programs and funding were later canceled.
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Covid levels remain low but new variants are coming, as is bird flu

Independent SAGE continues • 499 implied HN points • 22 Apr 24
🏥 Health Politics Pandemic Preparedness
  1. Covid levels are currently low in the UK, but new variants are expected to emerge soon. We need to stay alert as these variants could cause more infections.
  2. There's growing concern about bird flu as it spreads among animals and may jump to humans. Health experts worry this could lead to the next pandemic.
  3. It's important to prepare for future outbreaks by improving vaccines, treatments, and surveillance systems based on lessons learned from Covid.

H5N1 Update: January 7

Your Local Epidemiologist • 1940 implied HN points • 07 Jan 25
🏥 Health Politics Pandemic Preparedness
  1. H5N1, or bird flu, is still spreading among animals and has now caused its first human death in the U.S. It's a serious virus, but the general public's risk remains low for now.
  2. Experts are worried about H5N1 because it could mutate and become more dangerous, especially if it spreads among animals that are close to humans. Keeping tabs on this virus is important.
  3. Right now, there's not much for the average person to do except stay informed. Avoid sick animals and unpasteurized milk to stay safe, and let health officials manage the outbreak.

The Forced Medication of All Citizens

Break Free with Karen Hunt • 1139 implied HN points • 28 Feb 23
🏥 Health Politics Pandemic Preparedness
  1. Historically, the acceptance of medication started with voluntary use, then shifted to recommendations, and eventually became mandatory for safety.
  2. The current trend suggests a future where medication may be mandated by law, conditioning people to comply without question.
  3. Global emergencies are being used to justify stockpiling medication and giving organizations like the WHO significant control over policies and responses.

GAO Report #2 on High Risk GOF Research

Who is Robert Malone • 9 implied HN points • 21 Feb 26
🏥 Health Politics Pandemic Preparedness
  1. Gain-of-function studies have improved scientific understanding of how pathogens infect and spread, but experts do not agree they clearly led to vaccine or therapeutic breakthroughs.
  2. This research poses real biosafety and biosecurity risks because enhanced pathogens could cause widespread harm if accidentally or deliberately released.
  3. HHS has internal risk-review procedures and can decline funding, but it does not consistently share review outcomes or mitigation steps publicly; GAO recommends greater transparency and HHS responded noncommittally.

The Quest for Universal Flu Vaccines

Asimov Press • 354 implied HN points • 26 Jan 25
🏥 Health Politics Pandemic Preparedness
  1. Current flu vaccines only work about 40% of the time and need to be updated every year. Scientists are trying to create a 'universal' flu vaccine that could offer better protection for a longer time.
  2. Viruses like the flu change quickly, which makes it hard for existing vaccines to keep up. Researchers are working on new methods to make vaccines that can recognize and fight many different strains of the virus.
  3. More than 200 new flu vaccine ideas are being tested, including ones that use nanoparticles or are delivered through the nose. The hope is to come up with a vaccine that can last several years and protect against various flu types.

The Chicken Little Problem: Are We About to Have a Bird Flu Pandemic, or Not?

OK Doomer • 136 implied HN points • 30 Dec 24
🏥 Health Politics Pandemic Preparedness
  1. Bird flu is becoming a bigger concern as new cases and mutations suggest it might spread more easily among humans. This raises questions about a potential pandemic.
  2. There have been warnings for nearly three years about H5N1, indicating it may be getting closer to affecting people significantly.
  3. Governments have not adequately prepared for pandemics in the past, which increases the risk for future outbreaks like bird flu.

The Pathogenic Academic Lobby

A Biologist's Guide to Life • 99 implied HN points • 10 Feb 24
🔬 Science Pandemic Preparedness
  1. The history of the COVID-19 pandemic traces back to controversial research on potentially pandemic pathogens conducted by influential scientists before the pandemic began.
  2. A group called Scientists For Science, formed by key researchers, lobbied for the continuation of risky research on enhancing potentially pandemic pathogens, prioritizing academic pursuits and funding over clear benefits or safety precautions.
  3. The public may not be aware of the ongoing conflicts of interest, power struggles, and lobbying efforts within the scientific community regarding high-risk research, highlighting the need for transparency, accountability, and ethical guidelines in handling dangerous pathogens.