The hottest Public Health Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Health & Wellness Topics

Dose number NINE: CDC panel green lights yet another Covid mRNA shot

The Dossier • 367 implied HN points • 29 Feb 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Public Health
  1. The CDC has green-lighted a ninth Covid mRNA shot for those following the official vaccination schedule, totaling nine doses within three years.
  2. The latest shot targets a variant that no longer exists, raising questions about continued vaccinations against obsolete threats.
  3. Pharmaceutical companies may be promoting additional shots under the guise of protection against new variants, despite the variants not being present during the shot's creation.

What does RFK Jr mean for healthcare?

Vinay Prasad's Observations and Thoughts • 176 implied HN points • 13 Nov 24
🏥 Health Politics Public Health
  1. RFK Jr. could be pushed out of the healthcare conversation because he is anti-corporation. Many pharmaceutical companies might not want him involved due to his stance.
  2. He wants to change how vaccine makers are protected from lawsuits, suggesting they should face accountability like other drug companies. This could lead to better safety practices in vaccines.
  3. The current healthcare system is seen as corrupt and ineffective. There's a need for deeper reforms and better studies to ensure drug and vaccine safety.

On Big Pharma's demolition of Dr. Vinay Prasad, one of the most honest people in medicine

Unreported Truths • 47 implied HN points • 31 Jul 25
🏥 Health Politics Public Health
  1. Dr. Vinay Prasad was a strong advocate for the safety and efficacy of new drugs. He tried to set high standards at the FDA but was pushed out quickly because he challenged Big Pharma interests.
  2. Pharmaceutical companies often get approvals for drugs that have not proven to be effective for patients. This can put patients at risk, especially when treatments are very expensive and potentially harmful.
  3. The FDA needs to maintain strict standards to protect patients from unsafe drugs. If companies can't prove their drugs work, they shouldn't profit from them until there's real evidence of benefit.

Emerging Issues in Food Safety

The Rotten Apple • 10 implied HN points • 15 Dec 25
🍲 Food & Drink Public Health
  1. Food safety threats are rapidly evolving and now include new and growing chemical (both acute and chronic), biological, and allergen hazards identified since 2021.
  2. Climate change and shifting environmental conditions are changing risk profiles, raising mycotoxin risks and enabling novel pathogens, plant toxins, rare viruses, and unusual zoonotic threats.
  3. These emerging hazards will reshape food safety practice and demand updated surveillance, risk assessment, and HACCP-style controls to manage both immediate and long-term risks.

Duke health's 2025 policy would ban an 11 year old kid from visiting his sick or dying father

Vinay Prasad's Observations and Thoughts • 141 implied HN points • 05 Jan 25
🏥 Health Politics Public Health
  1. Duke's new visitor policy can stop an 11-year-old from seeing a sick parent, which seems unfair. It's strange to think an age difference of just one year can change something so serious.
  2. The rules made by Duke don't seem to be based on solid evidence, making them feel illogical and hard to understand. A 13-year-old can visit, but not an 11-year-old, which doesn't make sense.
  3. There's a concern that this policy will cause emotional pain for families who can't visit their sick loved ones. Many believe hospitals should have better, data-driven policies to prevent such situations.
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UK government still ‘withholding data that may link Covid jab to excess deaths’

Steve Kirsch's newsletter • 5 implied HN points • 03 Jan 26
🏥 Health Politics Public Health
  1. The UK health agency is refusing to publish detailed, record-level COVID vaccination and death data and has only released aggregated monthly death counts, claiming release could cause distress or privacy breaches.
  2. The Czech Republic publicly released anonymized, linked individual-level data (vaccination dates, death dates, age, sex, region) with standard disclosure controls and allowed independent analysis with no known re-identification harms.
  3. Withholding granular data undermines scientific scrutiny and public trust, and the UK could safely release similarly anonymized data with safeguards and explanatory commentary to improve accountability.

Forces Adverse to Reproduction

Kvetch • 48 implied HN points • 19 Jul 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Public Health
  1. The decline in birth rates is largely due to people's choice to limit family size, often seen as selfish. Many say they can't afford more children, but the reasons often involve wanting more comfort and less responsibility.
  2. This practice of preventing childbirth has led to negative physical and mental health effects for women, like stress and potential infertility. It also affects how society views family life and morality.
  3. Large families provide benefits not just to the family members, but also to society as a whole. People from bigger families tend to have better social skills and are less likely to be selfish.

Outbreak Outlook - National - March 3

Force of Infection • 110 implied HN points • 03 Mar 25
🏥 Health Politics Public Health
  1. Influenza-like illness is declining, which is good news for everyone, especially parents. Although rates are still above the national baseline, both children and adults are seeing fewer doctor visits for flu symptoms.
  2. COVID-19 activity remains low with a decrease in hospitalizations and emergency department visits. Most states are reporting stable or decreasing cases.
  3. Norovirus rates are still very high and have been consistent since December. It's affecting many people, particularly in the Midwest, so it's important to take precautions.

Social media and kids' mental health- An update

Your Local Epidemiologist • 385 implied HN points • 01 Feb 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Public Health
  1. Strong bipartisan statements on harms of social media use among children and teens were made during a recent congressional hearing.
  2. Parents of children impacted by social media showed up in large numbers at the congressional hearing, highlighting the severity of the issue.
  3. The public health data presented at the congressional hearing will hopefully lead to meaningful and necessary changes regarding social media use among kids and teens.

Why Have Vaccines Become a Religion?

Who is Robert Malone • 13 implied HN points • 24 Nov 25
🏥 Health Politics Public Health
  1. Vaccines are often treated like a religion, with strong beliefs and emotional ties. People can be very resistant to discussions about their potential dangers, similar to how some people react to questioning religious beliefs.
  2. Medicine and vaccines have become part of a modern belief system where faith in them is prioritized over individual evidence and experiences. This leads to situations where dissenting voices can face backlash.
  3. There is significant concern about the lack of transparency in vaccine safety studies, often using flawed methods that prevent clear conclusions about their risks. Critics argue that this indicates a need for more honest discussions about vaccine safety.

ACIP - Advice or Policy?

Who is Robert Malone • 8 implied HN points • 22 Dec 25
🏥 Health Politics Public Health
  1. ACIP is an advisory committee under FACA and does not set binding vaccine policy; the CDC Director or HHS makes final federal decisions and states decide whether to adopt recommendations.
  2. Although not legally required, ACIP recommendations carry strong practical influence by shaping CDC immunization schedules and affecting insurance coverage, the Vaccines for Children program, immigration vaccine rules, and aspects of vaccine injury compensation.
  3. The committee’s independence has been eroded by capture from medical guilds, industry, and CDC bureaucracy, which has caused controversy and led to recent membership changes and political pushback.

Doctors criticizing RFK Jr. paved the way for his ascendency

Vinay Prasad's Observations and Thoughts • 165 implied HN points • 15 Nov 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Public Health
  1. Criticism from doctors has helped RFK Jr. gain popularity. When they speak out against him, it can draw more attention to his ideas.
  2. Some health officials, like Ashish Jha, have made decisions that seem to prioritize corporate interests over scientific evidence. This has led to a loss of trust among the public.
  3. RFK Jr. stands against big pharmaceutical companies and their influence on science. He points out the problems caused by these interests in the health sector.

The peer-review literature says science should not run from public challenges; here's a framework for fair discussions

Steve Kirsch's newsletter • 5 implied HN points • 01 Jan 26
🔬 Science Public Health
  1. Experts should engage in public, evidence-based debate instead of avoiding challenges. Refusing to debate undermines scientific norms and public trust.
  2. A fair public debate needs a narrow question, balanced credentialed panels with conflict disclosures, a strict evidence-first format, and an independent post-debate audit, with all data and the full record publicly archived. Neutral funding and platform transparency are also required.
  3. Relying only on closed peer review and avoiding open scrutiny weakens credibility. Reforming peer review and embracing transparent, verifiable debates would better hold researchers accountable and inform the public.

Are Medicare and Medicaid Patients Required to Weigh-In?

Weight and Healthcare • 199 implied HN points • 09 Nov 22
🏥 Health Politics Public Health
  1. Medicare and Medicaid do not require patients to weigh-in at their appointments, despite common misconceptions.
  2. Physicians are incentivized to discuss weight and create treatment plans for patients with a BMI over 24.9 due to quality score impact on reimbursement.
  3. Patients on Medicare/Medicaid can opt-out of weigh-ins, and providers must exclude them from performance calculations, even though technical challenges may arise.

Walensky wins the IDSAs Fauci Award

Vinay Prasad's Observations and Thoughts • 175 implied HN points • 24 Oct 24
🏥 Health Politics Public Health
  1. Public health needs to be honest about its mistakes to regain people's trust. If it keeps celebrating errors, trust will stay low.
  2. Both Walensky and Fauci have made many mistakes in their public health decisions, like masking and vaccine guidelines. Their actions confused people and didn't always follow the science.
  3. For public health to improve, it should focus on open discussions and the truth instead of promoting those who were wrong. Otherwise, trust in health organizations will keep declining.

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 Public Health
  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.

Abusers Give Vice a Bad Name

Bet On It • 548 implied HN points • 17 Jul 23
🏥 Health Politics Public Health
  1. Abusers give vice a bad name by inspiring prohibition and unjust 'wars' on innocent users.
  2. Legalize production and use, harshly punish abuse to address the issue of vile choices made by abusers.
  3. Orthodox prohibitionist remedies end up punishing a larger number of innocent people, rather than addressing the core problem of abuse.

Outbreak Outlook - National - July 21

Force of Infection • 47 implied HN points • 21 Jul 25
🏥 Health Politics Public Health
  1. COVID-19 cases are rising in some southern and western states like Texas, California, and Florida, despite being low in many areas. It's important to stay alert to the changes in these regions.
  2. Influenza-like illnesses have very low outpatient visits right now, which is typical for summer. Most states are seeing minimal activity for these illnesses.
  3. The summer COVID-19 wave is starting later this year, possibly due to a lighter winter season. It may peak later than usual, so keep an eye on the trends.
  4. ] }

I just offered Paul Offit $1M to have a public debate on COVID vaccine safety for 1 hour

Steve Kirsch's newsletter • 8 implied HN points • 10 Dec 25
🏥 Health Politics Public Health
  1. A large cash offer was made to a prominent vaccine expert to do a public one-hour debate on COVID vaccine safety.
  2. That offer was declined, and another high-profile vaccine scientist also previously turned down a multimillion-dollar debate offer.
  3. Those refusals are presented as evidence that the experts either lack the data or are avoiding scrutiny, and this is used to suggest their claims about vaccine safety should be questioned.

New Report Reveals How Biden Staffers Helped Anthony Fauci Get Away With Misconduct During COVID

Unmasked • 48 implied HN points • 15 Jul 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Public Health
  1. Biden's administration has been accused of being run by unelected staffers. This suggests that staff members were making important decisions behind the scenes.
  2. There are allegations that autopen signatures were used for official documents like pardons. This raises concerns about the legitimacy of those decisions.
  3. A recent report indicates that these staffers helped Anthony Fauci avoid accountability during the COVID pandemic. This points to a lack of transparency and oversight in the administration's actions.

Public health should be distrusted

Vinay Prasad's Observations and Thoughts • 176 implied HN points • 17 Oct 24
🏥 Health Politics Public Health
  1. Public health policies, like mask mandates, may not have strong evidence supporting their effectiveness. It's important to question if these rules actually help reduce virus spread.
  2. There seems to be no clear reason for timing these mandates, like starting in November. This raises doubts about their real necessity.
  3. Distrust in public health may be justified if they impose rules without credible data or consideration of their impact on people. It's okay to ask for better evidence and accountability.

VSRF LIVE TONIGHT: Episode 212: Dr. Larry Palevsky, MD.

Steve Kirsch's newsletter • 2 implied HN points • 29 Jan 26
🏥 Health Politics Public Health
  1. The American Academy of Pediatrics has publicly rejected recent CDC changes to the childhood vaccine schedule, signaling a split in national pediatric guidance.
  2. Several states are now opposing federal vaccine guidance and effectively ‘going rogue,’ which creates confusion for parents and doctors and undermines trust and accountability.
  3. Dr. Larry Palevsky, a pediatrician known for a holistic, systems-based approach, argues mainstream pediatric guidance can miss long-term health outcomes and stresses the importance of informed consent.

NYC Mayor Adam wants to move retirees into so-called Medicare Advantage plans. See my testimony against it.

HEALTH CARE un-covered • 239 implied HN points • 10 Jan 23
🏥 Health Politics Public Health
  1. Medicare Advantage plans are not truly Medicare, and they don't really benefit many people. These plans are designed more for profit than for helping retirees.
  2. Insurers are making a lot of money by making Medicare Advantage plans look better than they really are. They're getting extra tax dollars because they claim people are sicker than they are.
  3. The move to push retirees into these plans will primarily help insurance companies earn more money, not improve the health of retirees. This decision can hurt many people financially.

You're Going to Need More than NyQuil This Winter

OK Doomer • 144 implied HN points • 07 Dec 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Public Health
  1. This winter, we might need more than just traditional medicines like NyQuil to stay healthy. New health threats are on the horizon, including new pandemics and infections that current treatments may not handle well.
  2. Plants can offer a natural defense against viruses. Research shows that certain plant compounds have strong antiviral properties and can help block infections from viruses like COVID-19.
  3. Revisiting the use of plants for health tools is important again. With vaccines and treatments becoming less reliable, looking into natural remedies could be a good way to stay protected.

What should the control arm be in a vaccine trial? Is it a placebo if it contains aluminum?

Vinay Prasad's Observations and Thoughts • 106 implied HN points • 19 Feb 25
🏥 Health Politics Public Health
  1. In vaccine trials, using a control arm that contains something like aluminum may not be truly a placebo, which can make it hard to determine side effects.
  2. If the control group feels side effects from a placebo, like aluminum, they may think they received the vaccine and change their behavior, affecting the trial results.
  3. Sometimes, trials need more than one control group to get a clearer picture of both safety and effectiveness, like comparing a true placebo to a placebo that causes some discomfort.

Between Trump Terms, Biden Quietly Killed Public Health

OK Doomer • 146 implied HN points • 01 Dec 24
🏥 Health Politics Public Health
  1. The end of the mask mandate on planes showed how quickly people were ready to celebrate personal freedoms, even if it worried others. Many people seemed to ignore the health risks involved.
  2. After a period of silence on health issues, some writers are now blaming past leaders for future health crises. This shift indicates a potential return of public focus on health threats.
  3. There’s a growing concern about how health policies are being handled between different administrations. The decisions made can have long-lasting effects on public health and safety.

Americans Had Two Decades to Ditch Dr. Oz. Now He's in Charge.

OK Doomer • 151 implied HN points • 20 Nov 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Public Health
  1. Dr. Oz has been appointed to oversee Medicare and Medicaid, which could negatively impact millions of Americans. His history of promoting questionable health products raises concerns about his leadership.
  2. There is a risk that Dr. Oz will push for privatized Medicare and Medicaid, potentially resulting in millions losing their healthcare coverage. This approach contrasts with the desire for universal healthcare access.
  3. Dr. Oz's past comments and actions suggest he prioritizes profits over people's health, and this pattern may continue in his new role. His decisions could affect the well-being of vulnerable populations, especially low-income families and seniors.

Don't Worry, He's "Mild."

OK Doomer • 153 implied HN points • 15 Nov 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Public Health
  1. Public health is being neglected while focusing on economic growth, which can worsen the state of democracy.
  2. The new leadership appointments in health are seen as a move to undermine public health efforts, rather than improve them.
  3. There's misinformation about health topics like fluoride, leading to confusion and misunderstanding among the public.

The Really Big One

Malt Liquidity • 13 implied HN points • 19 Nov 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Public Health
  1. The Pacific Northwest is at high risk for a major earthquake due to the Cascadia subduction zone. Scientists estimate a one in three chance of a significant quake happening in the next fifty years, which could cause massive destruction.
  2. Traveling often doesn't lead to greater happiness or fulfillment, and can be seen as a way to escape underlying anxiety. Many people find that experiences and interactions at home can be more meaningful.
  3. Statistical predictions can feel misleading because they oversimplify complex realities. While data and expert opinions are important, they can't fully capture personal experiences or the nuances of life.

173 | Mystery Poisonings Stalk Citizens | 14 Rules for Bad Quality Managers|

The Rotten Apple • 115 implied HN points • 27 Jan 25
🍲 Food & Drink Public Health
  1. There have been many mysterious food poisonings, especially in South Africa, affecting children. It's alarming and the actual causes are not clear yet.
  2. Illegal pesticides may be contaminating food sold in local shops, which is a big concern for public health. Experts and authorities are looking into how this is happening.
  3. Food safety regulations are being updated to better control who can sell food and how it's handled. This might help prevent future poisonings and boost food safety.

Six years after Tell Your Children, Fox News asked me to update the world on the harms of cannabis

Unreported Truths • 51 implied HN points • 01 Jul 25
🏥 Health Politics Public Health
  1. Cannabis is proving to be more harmful than previously thought, especially for heavy or daily users. It can lead to serious health issues like heart problems, mental illness, and addiction.
  2. Even though some Americans still support legalization, many are starting to notice the negative effects of cannabis in their lives. This shift in attitude suggests growing awareness of its risks.
  3. Legal cannabis has not solved many of the problems advocates promised, like lower prices or reduced illegal sales. Instead, legal stores are struggling to compete, and the negative health impacts are becoming clearer.

Ralph Baric is Innocent

A Biologist's Guide to Life • 13 implied HN points • 18 Nov 25
🔬 Science Public Health
  1. It's important to avoid jumping to conclusions about people in news stories. Quick judgments can harm our understanding.
  2. Investigating complicated scientific issues, like the origin of viruses, needs careful and thorough analysis.
  3. Bad media reporting can lead us away from the truth and misunderstandings about important topics.

Red Dye #3 is out, and boosters may get RCTs: Why is the evidence to remove a chemical from food LESS THAN the evidence to recommend a medical interventions?

Vinay Prasad's Observations and Thoughts • 119 implied HN points • 15 Jan 25
🏥 Health Politics Public Health
  1. The FDA is banning Red Dye #3 because it could be harmful, but there's a higher standard for proving medical products effective before they're recommended. We should be careful about both but have different rules for food and medicine.
  2. Medical treatments often come with costs and potential side effects, so it's important to run proper studies before suggesting them to healthy people. When making decisions about interventions, we should prioritize safety and benefit.
  3. There's a real difference in how we treat food additives versus medical products. While we question the safety of new medicine, we should also question adding unnecessary chemicals to our food.

NYC mayor’s misguided and dangerous plan to move city retirees into a private Medicare replacement plan dealt another blow

HEALTH CARE un-covered • 219 implied HN points • 18 Jan 23
🏥 Health Politics Public Health
  1. New York City retirees are fighting against a plan to move them to a private Medicare replacement that could limit their healthcare options. Many retirees feel this plan is risky and unnecessary.
  2. Recent opposition resulted in the city council not voting on the mayor's proposal, showing that collective action can influence decision-makers. The retirees are determined to continue their fight, even if it means taking legal action.
  3. The mayor's plan could lead to increased healthcare costs and less choice for retirees. There are suggested ways for the city to save money without cutting benefits, like conducting audits and improving its own systems.

The Era Of Rubber Stamping Pfizer, Moderna COVID Vaccines Is Over

Unmasked • 46 implied HN points • 09 Jul 25
🏥 Health Politics Public Health
  1. The U.S. is moving away from old COVID vaccine policies that weren't based on solid information. This change comes as new leaders are appointed in health agencies.
  2. Many people felt pressured into getting vaccines that may have caused more harm than good, especially children who were at low risk from COVID.
  3. Current health leaders are now questioning the automatic approval of vaccines from big companies like Pfizer and Moderna, which could lead to safer and more thoughtful health decisions.

The health care injustices that Dr. King spoke about are still here. And growing.

HEALTH CARE un-covered • 219 implied HN points • 16 Jan 23
🏥 Health Politics Public Health
  1. Healthcare inequalities that Dr. King talked about are still a big problem today. Many people, especially in low-income areas, can't get the medical care they need.
  2. Emergency departments are becoming overcrowded because people can't find regular doctors. This leads to dire situations where even minor issues turn into urgent needs.
  3. Despite the suffering in poorer neighborhoods, big health insurance companies are making huge profits. This creates a larger gap in healthcare access for those who need it most.

ACIP votes 8 to 3 to end the universal recommendation for giving Hep B shots at birth to babies of mothers who test negative

Steve Kirsch's newsletter • 8 implied HN points • 05 Dec 25
🏥 Health Politics Public Health
  1. The ACIP voted 8 to 3 to stop the universal recommendation for Hep B shots at birth for babies born to mothers who test negative. This is seen as a positive step by many.
  2. There are concerns about safety data showing that the Hep B vaccine might have serious side effects, with some arguing it could be harmful to babies.
  3. Not everyone agrees with the decision; three members of ACIP voted against it, which raises questions about their stance on vaccine safety.