The hottest Public Health Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Health & Wellness Topics

VSRF LIVE TONIGHT: Episode 216: Sharyl Attkisson

Steve Kirsch's newsletter • 2 implied HN points • 26 Feb 26
đź“° News Public Health
  1. An experienced investigative reporter will explain how major newsrooms can shape, steer, or quietly bury stories and how “consensus” narratives are often manufactured.
  2. Pharmaceutical interests can influence media narratives and scientific debate, which can obscure information and sway public health policy.
  3. Independent reporting is essential to expose these pressures, and there is an active petition urging the Senate to repudiate harmful COVID-era policies while protecting bodily autonomy, free speech, and limits on emergency powers.

The Pandemic Revealed the Most Cowardly Society of All Time

QTR’s Fringe Finance • 58 implied HN points • 13 Dec 25
🎭️ Culture Public Health
  1. The pandemic provoked unprecedented global lockdowns and widespread fear. Vaccination was pushed as a social duty to “protect others,” even though vaccines were not authorized or proven to stop transmission.
  2. Mandates and campaigns pushed many low-risk groups, especially children, to get vaccinated; the piece says effectiveness waned quickly and cites studies reporting adverse events, long‑term health associations, withheld data, and censorship of dissenting voices.
  3. The crisis produced deep moral and cultural effects: society became more obedient and fearful, accepted sacrificing the young to protect the old, failed to produce a meaningful cultural movement in response, and saw massive wealth transfer to billionaires.

Well Being: The Truth About Raw Milk

Who is Robert Malone • 17 implied HN points • 31 Jan 26
🏥 Health & Wellness Public Health
  1. Children who drink raw or minimally processed cow’s milk early in life tend to have lower rates of asthma, wheeze, allergic rhinitis, colitis, and atopic sensitization.
  2. This protective pattern is strongest in farm communities and is commonly called the “farm milk effect.”
  3. Peer‑reviewed studies report notable evidence for these associations, and there is more extensive literature exploring the potential health benefits of raw milk.

No, This Viral Study Doesn’t Prove the COVID Vaccine Worked To Prevent Deaths - Here's What It Actually Says

Unmasked • 52 implied HN points • 19 Dec 25
🏥 Health Politics Public Health
  1. Early public messaging and policies around COVID vaccines often overstated their benefits — including claims of complete infection prevention, guaranteed herd immunity, and alarmist predictions about the unvaccinated.
  2. A change in leadership has reduced aggressive vaccine promotion and prompted renewed government attention and research into possible vaccine side effects.
  3. A recent viral study is being misrepresented as definitive proof that vaccines prevented deaths, and that misleading claim is being amplified on social media and by some commentators.

Join my projects: opportunities for patients/advocates and public health professionals

Force of Infection • 25 implied HN points • 22 Jan 26
🏥 Health Politics Public Health
  1. Voices in Print helps patients and advocates turn specific, actionable ideas into editorials for medical journals by pairing them with professional writers and removing cost and submission barriers.
  2. A Measles Response Repository is collecting operational data from health departments that handled measles outbreaks since 2024 to learn what strategies, staff time, and financial resources worked best.
  3. Both projects invite free participation through short submissions or surveys (without asking for personal health information) to improve clinical care and public health planning by amplifying lived experience and real-world data.
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Health not War

Charles Eisenstein • 4 implied HN points • 02 Mar 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Public Health
  1. Support the War Powers Resolution to restore Congress’s authority and stop the war with Iran.
  2. War wastes trillions, damages the nation’s infrastructure and moral standing, and undermines public health, so money and effort should be redirected to rebuild health, infrastructure, and prosperity at home.
  3. People should sign and share the petition and pressure representatives—especially those tied to the Make America Healthy Again movement—to take a public stand for peace and refuse warmaking.

CIA Says Pandemic Likely Started From a Lab

The DisInformation Chronicle • 670 implied HN points • 04 Feb 25
🏥 Health Politics Public Health
  1. The CIA recently suggested that the COVID virus likely originated from a lab in Wuhan, which contradicts earlier claims that labeled this idea as a conspiracy theory. This has caused a stir among scientists and writers who previously dismissed these claims.
  2. Some scientists who once strongly rejected the lab leak theory are now reconsidering their stance, as new assessments show that the virus's origin is still unresolved. They admit there is no definitive proof for either a natural or lab-based origin.
  3. The claim that calling the lab leak theory a conspiracy was unfounded has been echoed by various commentators. Many are now acknowledging that skepticism about the virus's origin deserves more serious discussion.

A Federal Moonshot for Better Addiction Medications Can Help Us Escape the Crisis

Curing Addiction • 159 implied HN points • 11 Apr 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Public Health
  1. The United States faces a worsening addiction crisis with increasing drug overdose deaths and huge economic and social costs.
  2. Addiction disorders rank high in disability-adjusted life years, similar to heart disease, yet there's minimal investment in new addiction medications compared to other major diseases.
  3. Developing novel breakthrough medical treatments for addiction, similar to past successes like HIV treatments, could significantly impact and potentially cure addiction.

The FL vaccine study used by the surgeon general was altered

Science Forever • 557 implied HN points • 20 Apr 23
🏥 Health Politics Public Health
  1. Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo used an altered study to support his views on COVID-19 mRNA vaccines, but the data he referred to did not compare the vaccine risks to the risks of COVID-19.
  2. Challenging scientific consensus should go through established processes like peer review, not by omitting data or spreading misinformation in op-eds and white papers.
  3. The scientific community needs to find ways to counter anti-science movements that exploit confusion and established processes to push political agendas.

Medical Groups Are Suing the HHS Over Vaccine Policies—and It’s a Good Thing

Who is Robert Malone • 22 implied HN points • 22 Jan 26
🏥 Health Politics Public Health
  1. HHS narrowed the childhood vaccine schedule and shifted vaccines like flu, COVID-19, and rotavirus to shared clinical decision-making, making the U.S. schedule more like those in some European and Asian countries.
  2. Several major medical organizations sued to block those changes, and the complaint leaned heavily on appeals to authority, claims about inconvenience and financial impact, while offering little direct medical evidence.
  3. The case highlights debates over informed consent and patient choice, suggesting some doctors see patient questions or refusals as a nuisance and raising concerns about how trust and profit influence vaccination practices.

Aus Day Weekend

Ben’s Blog 🏉 🧠🧑‍💻 • 21 implied HN points • 13 Jan 26
🏥 Health & Wellness Public Health
  1. Reframe struggle as nervous system health, not just a clinical mental health label, so sleep, exercise, routine and community become clear, practical steps people can take.
  2. Everyday social places and hospitality venues can create safety and connection, making them powerful parts of the solution for people who are isolated or struggling.
  3. Early, simple actions—regular shared movement, predictable routines, and honest conversations—can prevent crises and build toward a suicide-free community.

Everyone, Everywhere

¡Do Not Panic! • 550 implied HN points • 19 Mar 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Public Health
  1. There is a significant increase in sickness and absenteeism due to COVID in various countries like the UK, US, Australia, Spain, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Canada, Sweden, and Poland.
  2. Governments are not showing compassion towards sick individuals and are not implementing proactive measures to address the long-term impact of COVID on workforce productivity.
  3. COVID is not transforming into a common cold, and repeated exposure to the virus may have unknown long-term effects on individuals' health and immunity.

The Dose (November 1)

Your Local Epidemiologist • 1002 implied HN points • 01 Nov 24
🏥 Health Politics Public Health
  1. The levels of common respiratory viruses like RSV, Covid, and flu are currently low, but keep an eye out for mycoplasma pneumonia if a cough lingers. It's often mild but can be treated with antibiotics.
  2. Many people are feeling stressed about the upcoming elections, which can even lead to health issues like heart problems. It's important to take care of yourself and find ways to manage this stress.
  3. The CDC has lowered the pneumococcal vaccine eligibility to anyone 50 and older, but this could be confusing. It's essential to understand the different vaccines available and make sure you're protected.

What lessons can we learn from the Autumn Booster Campaign?

Independent SAGE continues • 179 implied HN points • 26 Mar 24
🏥 Health Politics Public Health
  1. The initial Covid vaccination program worked well for older populations, but younger groups and ethnic minorities got less attention and support. We need to keep looking for ways to involve everyone.
  2. Booster vaccination rates are falling, especially among immunocompromised individuals and younger age groups. We must find better ways to encourage these communities to get vaccinated.
  3. Only a small percentage of NHS workers received the latest booster, which is worrying given their higher risk of exposure. It's important to ensure healthcare staff are protected so they can continue to care for others.

RFK Jr. Says Drug Addicts Need Tough Love. Is He Right?

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 769 implied HN points • 01 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Public Health
  1. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. believes in a tough love approach to help drug addicts, which means putting pressure on them to quit using drugs. He feels this method can be more effective than just accepting their addiction.
  2. Kennedy wants the government to take a strong stance against drug use, suggesting that those who refuse help might face jail time. This idea aims to push addicts towards getting the help they need.
  3. His philosophy contrasts with harm reduction strategies that focus on minimizing the risks of drug use instead of forcing users to quit. This suggests a significant divide in how society views addiction treatment.

It is unethical to mandate kids to get the COVID shot. It's easy to show with math.

Steve Kirsch's newsletter • 6 implied HN points • 12 Feb 26
🏥 Health Politics Public Health
  1. Because COVID deaths in people under 20 are extremely rare, proving a vaccine is safer than the disease would require an enormous randomized trial—about 7.5 million children followed for a year—which was never done.
  2. Without that level of evidence, recommending or mandating the vaccines for healthy children lacked the necessary statistical and ethical justification and represents a failure of regulatory oversight.
  3. Some countries quietly scaled back or restricted pediatric vaccine recommendations, but authorities largely avoided openly admitting or taking accountability for the earlier decisions.

Psychedelic-assisted therapy and tribal health: 5 Questions for Indigenous scholar Marlena Robbins

The Microdose • 530 implied HN points • 27 Feb 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Public Health
  1. Access to psychedelics on tribal land faces government regulations and limits on self-care.
  2. Bridging traditional Indigenous ceremony with Western science shows the importance of incorporating cultural practices.
  3. Psychedelic-assisted therapy administered through tribes provides culturally informed care, understanding unique ethnic perspectives.

Human Disease Costs $250 Billion Annually Thanks to Toxic Forever Chemicals

SHERO • 314 implied HN points • 11 Jan 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Public Health
  1. Toxic forever chemicals in plastics are linked to human diseases costing $250 billion annually.
  2. Plastics contain harmful chemicals like bisphenols and phthalates that disrupt the endocrine system.
  3. Research shows strong evidence of the detrimental health effects of EDCs on conditions like cancer, diabetes, obesity, and reproductive disorders.

The PREP Act: Unchecked Power, Zero Accountability, and a Path Forward

Who is Robert Malone • 11 implied HN points • 09 Feb 26
🏥 Health Politics Public Health
  1. The PREP Act granted sweeping legal immunity to manufacturers, healthcare providers, and others, blocking most lawsuits and even overriding state licensing rules, with protections extended years beyond the declared emergency.
  2. The Supreme Court’s Loper Bright decision ended judicial deference to agencies, so courts must independently interpret statutes and are likely to scrutinize or reject many expansive PREP Act interpretations like state preemption or treating guidance as legal authorization.
  3. The HHS Secretary has clear authority to narrow, rescind, or end PREP Act protections by amending the declaration or letting provisions sunset, which would restore ordinary liability, state regulatory control, and individuals’ ability to seek legal redress.

The Idiots Are Yelling About Weather Machines Again

OK Doomer • 283 implied HN points • 07 Jul 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Public Health
  1. Recent severe floods in Texas highlight the dangers of inadequate disaster response plans. Many people were unprepared for the sudden rise in water levels.
  2. Ancient Greek philosophers pointed out that concepts like compassion and self-interest might be illusions in how we view human behavior. They believed deeper truths about our motivations are often overlooked.
  3. The discussion around weather machines shows how misinformation can distract from real issues like climate change and policy failures impacting people's safety.

Summertime Blues

Logging the World • 518 implied HN points • 23 Jul 23
🏥 Health Politics Public Health
  1. Lockdown restrictions have mostly been dismantled in the UK, returning to normalcy post-COVID.
  2. It's important to allow young people to enjoy festivals and parties after putting aspects of their lives on hold during the pandemic, despite public health concerns.
  3. Language around illness as punishment can lead to harmful judgments and biases in healthcare and society.

Applying The Bradford Hill Criteria To Social Media Use and Adolescent Mental Health

After Babel • 787 implied HN points • 17 Dec 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Public Health
  1. Heavy social media use is linked to poor mental health in teens, like depression and anxiety. This effect is often stronger in vulnerable groups, especially girls.
  2. The Bradford Hill criteria help us explore if social media actually causes mental health issues instead of just being correlated. It's a framework to understand more about how risks might affect health.
  3. Not all social media use is harmful; some might even be okay. The key is moderation and understanding the potential risks, especially for those who might be more affected.

The Vaccine Revolution Will Now Be Televised

Viruses Must Die • 44 implied HN points • 19 Dec 25
🔬 Science Public Health
  1. Ordinary brewer's yeast can be engineered into food-grade vaccines, and the experiments were reportedly doable on a simple household budget.
  2. This method could decentralize vaccine production so people or local microbreweries could make vaccines, potentially bypassing slow licensing and surviving even severe social disruptions.
  3. The target is viruses like polyomaviruses that cause serious illness (for example painful bladder disease in transplant patients), so edible vaccines could prevent a lot of suffering.

Fixing the Web with Warning Labels?

Unmoderated Insights • 59 implied HN points • 22 Jun 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Public Health
  1. The U.S. Surgeon General is suggesting that social media should have warning labels. This idea is controversial because it assumes social media only causes negative effects, while it can also have positive impacts.
  2. Warning labels might not stop people from using social media and could even backfire by making them more curious or anxious. Past experiences with fear-based campaigns show that they don't always work as intended.
  3. These warning labels might shift focus from the companies responsible for harmful designs to the users, putting pressure on parents instead of changing how social media platforms operate.

The War on Drugs Targets People, Not Substances

Tripsitter • 59 implied HN points • 21 Jun 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Public Health
  1. Drug prohibition perpetuates racial and social disparities, serving as a tool for division and maintaining social order.
  2. The War on Drugs may not have succeeded in its stated goal of reducing drug use, but it has been successful in boosting police budgets and expanding harm among marginalized communities.
  3. The emphasis on controlling people rather than substances in the War on Drugs has led to an increase in prison populations, incentivizing more arrests and further marginalization.

Top Links 636 Government by executive order. Deepseek & uranium. Avian flu and the supply chain. A natural history of the studio (Kentridge).

Chartbook • 615 implied HN points • 01 Feb 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Public Health
  1. The government is increasingly using executive orders to make decisions quickly. This shows how urgent some issues are right now.
  2. There's a connection between Deepseek, uranium, and current events. This is an important topic as it relates to energy and security.
  3. Avian flu is impacting the supply chain. This situation highlights how health issues can affect product availability.

Friday Q&A: More COVID Queries!

Are You Okay? • 499 implied HN points • 22 Sep 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Public Health
  1. Individuals may receive conflicting advice on COVID boosters due to factors like age, health conditions, and immunity status. Consult with a healthcare provider to assess personal risk and benefits.
  2. Protection against severe COVID relies on T cells activated by past vaccines or infections, even if it has been a while since the last shot. Booster shots are especially beneficial for high-risk groups.
  3. Long-lasting symptoms like voice changes post-COVID recovery may occur. Always seek medical advice for persistent symptoms to determine if they are temporary or need further evaluation.

How to read a variant article

Logging the World • 498 implied HN points • 16 May 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Public Health
  1. When reading articles about COVID variants, pay attention to which experts are being referenced and their specific expertise to evaluate the credibility of the information.
  2. Consider the rate of growth in absolute numbers and calibrate it against recent omicron waves to understand the impact of a new variant.
  3. Take early alarming estimates of growth rates with caution, as it may not reflect the long-term impact until the variant reaches a significant market share.

Bad Drugs Get Pulled Fast

Cremieux Recueil • 223 implied HN points • 03 Aug 25
🏥 Health Politics Public Health
  1. Drugs that cause safety concerns are usually taken off the market quickly. This helps protect people from potential risks.
  2. Large amounts of data from many users help identify drug risks early. Epidemiologists use this information to understand how safe or risky a drug really is.
  3. Mistakes can happen in drug safety monitoring, leading to unnecessary withdrawals. It's important to balance safety with access to beneficial medications.

The First Weight Loss Drugs

Asimov Press • 251 implied HN points • 17 Jul 25
🏥 Health & Wellness Public Health
  1. Mitochondrial uncouplers, like DNP, were early weight loss drugs that worked by speeding up metabolism. They can be very dangerous, leading to serious health risks.
  2. DNP showed promising weight loss results but was banned due to safety concerns after many overdose cases. Today, safer alternatives, like Ozempic, are more commonly used.
  3. Research is ongoing to find safer versions of uncouplers that could effectively boost metabolism without the associated risks, suggesting there may be a future for such drugs in weight management.

Social Justice Encroachment into Medicine

Heterodox STEM • 206 implied HN points • 09 Aug 25
🏥 Health Politics Public Health
  1. The focus in medicine is shifting from just improving health to also addressing social justice issues. This change is influencing how doctors see their roles, making them more like activists.
  2. There's growing concern about how medical guidelines in gender care are established. Some recent textbooks promote a very one-sided view and may ignore crucial issues that need more research.
  3. Changes in policy around gender-affirming care show that discussions about healthcare are becoming more political and less focused on individual patient needs, which is troubling.

Weekend flu check-in

Force of Infection • 65 implied HN points • 29 Nov 25
🏥 Health Politics Public Health
  1. Influenza activity is increasing across many states, especially among children. While still low, this trend is expected to continue as the holiday season approaches.
  2. Different regions are experiencing varying levels of flu activity. Some areas, like New York City and Colorado, are seeing significant rises, while others remain stable or low.
  3. In Canada, flu cases are also rising quickly, with a noticeable increase in hospitalizations. It's important to monitor respiratory illnesses like RSV and COVID-19, but currently, COVID-19 levels are stable.

CIA Says Covid Likely Originated From Lab In Tacit Admission Of Illegal Cover-Up

Public • 637 implied HN points • 27 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Public Health
  1. The CIA now suggests that COVID-19 likely came from a lab in Wuhan, which contradicts earlier beliefs.
  2. Many people once dismissed the idea of a lab leak as a conspiracy, calling it prejudiced and unfounded.
  3. This development indicates a significant shift in how officials are viewing the origins of COVID-19 after years of debate.

Update on Locally Acquired Malaria in the United States - July 12th, 2023

LIL Science • 491 implied HN points • 13 Jul 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Public Health
  1. Locally acquired cases of malaria have been diagnosed in Florida and Texas for the first time since 2003.
  2. Transmission of malaria within the United States is very rare, with efforts focused on increasing vector control in affected areas.
  3. Taking preventive measures like controlling mosquitos at home and seeking medical care if symptoms develop is advised in areas where malaria has been detected.

Wired’s Scicomm Writer Emily Mullin Attacks Independent Research, Because of Course

The DisInformation Chronicle • 565 implied HN points • 11 Feb 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Public Health
  1. The article critiques a piece by Emily Mullin that is critical of a new science journal, saying it contains many errors and misleading statements. It argues that journalists can sometimes promote their own biases instead of focusing on factual reporting.
  2. It highlights a term called 'dial-a-quote,' where writers seek quotes from people they know will support their narrative, instead of looking for a balanced perspective. This practice can skew the way information is presented to readers.
  3. The discussion raises concerns about the credibility of some researchers who contribute to science writing. It points out how certain quotes and opinions may align with existing narratives rather than presenting objective scientific information.

The Dose: This week's public health explained (Oct 11)

Your Local Epidemiologist • 959 implied HN points • 11 Oct 24
🏥 Health Politics Public Health
  1. Free Covid-19 tests are now available for all. You can order them online and they will be delivered to your home.
  2. Obesity rates in the U.S. are showing some decline after many years of increase, but the drop could be uncertain and isn't significant yet.
  3. Routine vaccinations for kids are dropping, which is concerning. More children are unvaccinated against diseases like measles, and this trend needs to be addressed to prevent outbreaks.

My Daughter Got Sick. For Once, I Didn't.

OK Doomer • 223 implied HN points • 30 Jul 25
🏥 Health & Wellness Public Health
  1. Using a HOCl generator in humidifiers can help reduce the spread of germs in your home. It worked well for one family when their daughter had Covid, and they didn't get sick themselves.
  2. Supplements like quercetin, elderberry, and ginkgo biloba may help boost the immune system and fight off infections. It's important to choose the right brands and talk to a doctor before giving them to kids.
  3. Research shows that plant-based compounds have antiviral properties. They can block viruses from entering cells and may help in treating infections like Covid.

Two cautionary tales about BA.2.86

Logging the World • 478 implied HN points • 07 Oct 23
🔬 Science Public Health
  1. Don't just look at proportions, consider sample sizes too. Confidence intervals are important when dealing with limited data.
  2. Focus on the bigger picture when it comes to analyzing new variants. Growth rates matter.
  3. Instead of fixating on one variant, keep an eye on other potentially impactful variants as well. The situation is constantly evolving.