The hottest Public Health Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Health & Wellness Topics

The final humiliation for everyone who pushed Covid jabs on kids

Unreported Truths • 80 implied HN points • 18 Mar 26
🏥 Health Politics Public Health
  1. A British study found Pfizer mRNA shots were only marginally effective at reducing COVID in 12–15 year olds and showed no reduction in hospital visits for 5–11 year olds over the months studied.
  2. Vaccinated teens and children had cases of myocarditis and pericarditis and some non-COVID deaths that were not seen in unvaccinated peers, and younger vaccinated kids had about 5% more ER visits and 10% more hospitalizations overall.
  3. These results have deepened parental distrust of public health officials who promoted the shots, making it harder for authorities to maintain confidence in other vaccine programs.

Fighting for the voiceless: The Death of Franca Panettone

COVID Reason • 594 implied HN points • 04 Oct 24
🏥 Health Politics Public Health
  1. Franca Panettone, who had Down Syndrome, faced a tragic situation in a hospital where she was separated from her family and had no way to advocate for herself. This led to her feeling helpless and restrained during her care.
  2. Franca's family experienced a lack of communication from the hospital about her condition and treatment. They were not informed about her critical health changes or allowed to visit her, which added to their grief and confusion.
  3. This story highlights the need for better advocacy and communication in healthcare, especially for vulnerable individuals. It raises important questions about patient rights and how to prevent similar tragedies in the future.

Screens Are Stressing You Out of Your Mind

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 533 implied HN points • 23 Feb 26
🏥 Health & Wellness Public Health
  1. Compulsive scrolling and constant phone use have become a modern social contagion that spreads behavior widely and quickly.
  2. Heavy screen use is changing how our bodies and minds handle stress, contributing to increased mental and physical strain.
  3. The hunched-over posture people show while glued to their screens is a visible sign of a widespread, psychogenic epidemic similar to past social contagions.

Immune Imprinting, Immunosenescence, and the Limits of Universal Seasonal Influenza Vaccination

Who is Robert Malone • 8 implied HN points • 21 Mar 26
🏥 Health Politics Public Health
  1. Childhood immune imprinting and repeated annual vaccination can bias and weaken vaccine-induced protection, especially against influenza A(H3N2). Prior exposures tend to recall outdated immune memory and can suppress the generation of new, strain-specific neutralizing responses.
  2. Age-related immune decline makes standard-dose vaccines less effective in adults aged 65 and older, and while enhanced formulations (high-dose, adjuvanted, recombinant) improve responses, randomized trial evidence on reducing severe outcomes is mixed.
  3. A one-size-fits-all annual vaccination policy is misaligned with this immune heterogeneity, so risk- and platform-stratified strategies, evaluation of next-generation vaccines and immunomodulatory approaches, and clearer public communication about conditional vaccine benefits are warranted.

California Lawmakers Admit Their Plastic Bag Ban Backfired

The Take (by Jon Miltimore) • 257 implied HN points • 14 Oct 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Public Health
  1. California's ban on plastic bags didn't work as planned. Instead of reducing waste, plastic bag trash increased significantly.
  2. When states copy California's ban, they often see similar problems, like using more heavy-duty plastic bags that aren't recycled properly.
  3. New policies can have unexpected effects, like increased energy use from washing reusable bags, which might lead to health issues if not maintained correctly.
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Do clinicians make money off of vaccines?

Your Local Epidemiologist • 1499 implied HN points • 04 Feb 26
🏥 Health Politics Public Health
  1. Clinicians generally don’t profit from giving vaccines and often break even or lose money once you count vaccine purchase, staff time, storage, and low reimbursements.
  2. Claims that doctors get big per-shot payouts are misleading — quality bonuses are modest and not paid per vaccine, and drug companies legally cannot pay clinicians to push vaccines.
  3. Vaccine costs are mostly covered by insurers or government programs so families rarely pay out of pocket, and clinicians continue offering vaccines because they prevent disease despite financial strain on practices.

Scientific American Is a Scandal Prone Mess and Can't Do Science

The DisInformation Chronicle • 540 implied HN points • 12 Feb 26
🔬 Science Public Health
  1. Scientific American publicly dismissed the Wuhan lab‑leak theory and labeled a high‑clearance virologist’s claims as conspiracy, prompting questions about whether the magazine ignored his relevant expertise and access to classified materials.
  2. The magazine’s editorial decisions and communications lack transparency, with editors publicly attacking the scientist, failing to answer direct questions, and facing internal personnel controversies.
  3. Past ties between a former Scientific American editor and Jeffrey Epstein, revealed in released emails, further damage the publication’s credibility and raise concerns about its judgment and vetting.

If You Missed the First All-IPAK Webinar Conference...

Popular Rationalism • 198 implied HN points • 16 Oct 24
🚌 Education Public Health
  1. You can still watch the first All-IPAK Webinar Conference online if you missed it. It's available for four hours, so you have plenty of time to catch up.
  2. Registration for the courses mentioned at the webinar has been extended. This is a great chance to participate in some learning opportunities.
  3. The webinar aims to spark a learning revolution, so it might inspire new ideas and methods in education. Checking it out could be worthwhile for anyone interested.

Butter Is Not Back: The Broken Promise on Saturated Fats

Unsettled Science • 2107 implied HN points • 06 Jan 26
🏥 Health Politics Public Health
  1. Despite months of promises to stop demonizing saturated fat, the updated U.S. Dietary Guidelines still keep a 10% cap on saturated fat.
  2. Keeping that cap makes the new guidelines internally contradictory and undermines the earlier pledge to change course.
  3. The release was delayed, the final guidelines are much shorter (about eight pages) than past editions, and they will be unveiled at an invite-only HHS event.

The Evidence That A Million Americans Died Of COVID

Astral Codex Ten • 32210 implied HN points • 22 May 25
🏥 Health Politics Public Health
  1. Many people are unsure if the 1.2 million COVID deaths are accurate, with some believing these deaths are linked to other causes rather than COVID itself.
  2. The data shows that total deaths during the pandemic were higher than usual, which supports the idea that many deaths were directly caused by COVID.
  3. Some argue that they don’t personally know anyone who died from COVID, but with a large population, it makes sense that not everyone would know someone affected.

What’s new in the 2025–2030 Dietary Guidelines and why it matters (or doesn't)

Your Local Epidemiologist • 983 implied HN points • 11 Feb 26
🏥 Health Politics Public Health
  1. The new guidelines were produced through a faster, less transparent process that replaced the usual independent scientific review, raising concerns about credibility and how evidence was selected.
  2. The nutrition messaging shifted — stressing “real food,” increasing emphasis on protein, reframing some saturated fats, and tightening sugar limits — which could oversimplify complex food issues and stigmatize people who rely on processed foods.
  3. Because federal programs like school meals and WIC must follow the guidelines, these changes will require more funding, staff, and kitchen capacity and could worsen inequities, while the more political tone may make the guidance harder to trust and use.

The Other COVID Reckoning

Astral Codex Ten • 30214 implied HN points • 21 May 25
🏥 Health Politics Public Health
  1. COVID-19 has caused an incredible number of deaths, but many people have stopped talking about them, even though the toll is higher than many major historical events.
  2. The reasons for this neglect may include that the deceased were often older people, and there aren't public stories shared by those who lost loved ones, making the impact feel less personal.
  3. While there were many debates about COVID responses, the focus should be on remembering those who lost their lives, as it can help us appreciate the seriousness of the situation.

CDC Data Reveals Extremely Low Efficacy For This Year’s Flu Vaccine As The Experts Fail Again

Unmasked • 29 implied HN points • 19 Mar 26
🏥 Health Politics Public Health
  1. New leaders are running major public health agencies now, with Dr. Jay Bhattacharya in an interim leadership role and Dr. Marty Makary taking a lead at the FDA.
  2. Public health experts have strongly pushed getting both the flu and COVID shots—often at the same visit—and the public health establishment continues to promote those recommendations.
  3. CDC’s latest estimates show this year’s flu vaccine had extremely low effectiveness against the dominant strain.

Is Omitting Data from a COVID-19 Study Conclusion a Lie?

Who is Robert Malone • 15 implied HN points • 19 Mar 26
🏥 Health Politics Public Health
  1. Severe COVID outcomes in children were already very rare, and vaccination provided only modest, short‑lived protection; with widespread prior infection and milder variants today, the marginal benefit is likely smaller.
  2. Cardiac inflammation (myocarditis/pericarditis) appeared only in vaccinated children in the data; these events are rare but measurable, and follow‑up imaging shows persistent abnormalities in a notable fraction.
  3. Study framing and conclusions can emphasize small benefits while softening harms, so important safety signals may be buried in tables rather than highlighted; risk–benefit assessments should be re‑evaluated transparently as baseline risk changes.

Medical Roundup #6

Don't Worry About the Vase • 1657 implied HN points • 19 Jan 26
🏥 Health & Wellness Public Health
  1. The apparent rise in autism is actually just more people being diagnosed under much broader criteria, not a real increase in prevalence, and the "autism spectrum" is now so wide it would be clearer to separate the very different ends.
  2. Doing even a small amount of regular exercise gives real health and cognitive benefits, and lowering psychological barriers (like free gym access) raises activity, though gains taper off once you become very fit.
  3. Regulatory and system problems — costly, slow clinical trials, restrictive FDA decisions, and workforce bottlenecks — are slowing drug development and harming care, so easing unnecessary barriers and better incentives would speed innovation and improve outcome access.

Short Reviews for October 2024

Papyrus Rampant • 119 implied HN points • 19 Oct 24
📚 Literature Public Health
  1. Mindtouch is a cozy sci-fi story about two alien dormmates who build a strong friendship. It focuses more on their character growth than on action.
  2. The Rolling Stones is a fun sci-fi adventure featuring family banter and problem-solving on a trip through the Solar System. The resourceful twins turn a fun vacation into a business venture.
  3. A Good Time to Be Born highlights how public health efforts helped reduce childhood mortality over the last century. It shows both the struggles and the successes in improving children's health.

Shared decision-making, informed consent, and the rhetoric of false empowerment

Your Local Epidemiologist • 1399 implied HN points • 28 Jan 26
🏥 Health Politics Public Health
  1. Shared clinical decision-making is a technical label used when medical evidence doesn’t point to one clear option, and relabeling recommended vaccines as SCDM can falsely imply uncertainty and confuse parents without actually giving them more choices.
  2. Informed consent should give a balanced, understandable view of risks, benefits, and alternatives so people can make reasoned choices, and overstating rare or unverified harms skews that balance and undermines true consent.
  3. Patient autonomy means people make health decisions with the help of clinicians, and the childhood vaccine schedule is guidance not a universal mandate; framing recommendations as mandates or insisting people decide entirely on their own erodes trust and creates confusion.

In Defense of Processed Foods

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 500 implied HN points • 17 Feb 26
🍲 Food & Drink Public Health
  1. Processed foods, including ultra-processed ones, are not necessarily as harmful as many people claim.
  2. Industrial food processing has greatly expanded food access and safety and has reshaped public health for the better.
  3. Totally purging processed foods or chasing a strict "eat clean" ideal won’t magically solve diet problems and can leave people worse off; some processed items (like canned pumpkin) are simply practical and useful.

Virginia shows how it's done

Of Boys and Men • 123 implied HN points • 12 Mar 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Public Health
  1. Virginia has created a first‑of‑its‑kind, bipartisan Boys and Men Advisory Commission that passed the legislature with overwhelming support.
  2. The 18‑member commission will sit in the legislature, focus on education, health, economic opportunity, family life, and social media, has a small annual budget, and a three‑year sunset to prove its value.
  3. The effort is explicitly framed as non‑partisan and meant to complement, not compete with, support for women and girls, offering a potential model for other states.

Fast Fact Check: Does Hep B Vaccination Cause Autism?

Cremieux Recueil • 199 implied HN points • 05 Mar 26
🏥 Health Politics Public Health
  1. A single study claiming that hepatitis B vaccination in early infancy causes autism is statistically fragile, underpowered, and its positive finding disappears after proper multiple-comparison corrections.
  2. The study’s result depended on questionable analytic choices—like excluding girls, omitting important control variables, and running inappropriate specificity tests—which made the finding misleading.
  3. Reanalyses produce inconsistent and biologically implausible associations with other conditions, indicating confounding rather than causation, and there is no credible evidence that hepatitis B vaccination causes autism.

WHAT YOUR COVID BOOSTER DID TO YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM

Who is Robert Malone • 26 implied HN points • 17 Mar 26
🏥 Health & Wellness Public Health
  1. Repeated mRNA COVID boosters shift the antibody response toward IgG4, which can bind the virus but lacks Fc-mediated functions (like ADCC and complement) and is linked to reduced infected-cell clearance and more breakthrough infections.
  2. This IgG4 shift is driven locally in lymph nodes by IL-10, becomes long-lasting because IgG4-producing plasma cells persist, and is amplified by closely spaced boosters and the prolonged lymph-node activity of mRNA-LNP vaccines; children can show the effect after only two doses.
  3. Standard total-IgG tests cannot detect this problem, so clinicians and regulators should measure IgG subclasses, space boosters at least a year, re-evaluate pediatric booster policies, inform patients of the trade-offs, and start targeted surveillance studies.

Covid and Our Arteries

Ground Truths • 12903 implied HN points • 18 Aug 25
🏥 Health Politics Public Health
  1. Covid can cause inflammation in the blood vessels, which increases the risk of heart problems like heart attacks and strokes.
  2. The virus promotes the buildup of plaque in arteries, making them more likely to cause serious issues over time.
  3. Recent studies show that Covid can accelerate aging in our arteries, especially in women, regardless of how severe the illness was.

"Vaccines Do Not Cause Autism!" The Science is Settled. Right?

Injecting Freedom • 37 implied HN points • 16 Mar 26
🏥 Health Politics Public Health
  1. An advocacy group asked the federal autism committee to review possible links between infant vaccines and autism and submitted related materials for consideration.
  2. The claim that vaccines do not cause autism is framed as a belief rather than settled science, and the group is calling for more research on the issue.
  3. They publicly shared a chapter and a comment letter to push the committee and the public to re-examine the topic and attract broader attention.

Six Years After '15 Days To Slow The Spread,' Data Continues To Prove COVID Policies Were A Historic Failure

Unmasked • 62 implied HN points • 14 Mar 26
🏥 Health Politics Public Health
  1. Research shows lockdowns, mask mandates, and similar policies had little to no effect on COVID deaths, so those measures failed to change the main outcome they targeted.
  2. Early fatality estimates were vastly overstated and highly age-dependent, with true infection fatality rates nearer 0.25–0.35% rather than the initial 3.4% figure, which helped trigger panic responses.
  3. A brief “15 days” plan morphed into years of rolling restrictions and intrusive mandates, producing widespread social and economic fallout while officials saw little accountability for those choices.

Institutional blind spots, 5 fascinating studies fresh of the press, and more

Your Local Epidemiologist • 1065 implied HN points • 30 Jan 26
🏥 Health Politics Public Health
  1. Trust in government and institutions is fragile, and doing things the old way isn't enough. Institutions often miss what they don't know, so listening to people on the ground is essential.
  2. Good policy can fail if planners don't anticipate on-the-ground confusion — nothing changes if nothing changes. The corn masa flour folate fortification shows how well-intended rules can go sideways without prior listening and clear communication.
  3. Tracking new science and providing practical resources helps trusted messengers respond better. Recent studies (like therapies for damaged neurons and vaccines) and downloadable guides for clinicians and educators show the value of pairing evidence with usable tools.

Michigan for Vaccine Choice Annual Walk

Popular Rationalism • 297 implied HN points • 05 Oct 24
🏥 Health Politics Public Health
  1. There is an annual walk in Michigan focused on vaccine choice. It's a chance for people to come together and discuss their views on vaccines.
  2. The event is scheduled for October 6, 2024, at Roselle Park in Ada, Michigan. Everyone is welcome to join and share their thoughts.
  3. In addition to the walk, there will be a hoedown, adding a fun community aspect to the event. It's an opportunity to meet new people and enjoy some entertainment.

VSRF LIVE TONIGHT: Episode 218: Dr. Mary Talley Bowden, M.D.

Steve Kirsch's newsletter • 2 implied HN points • 12 Mar 26
🏥 Health Politics Public Health
  1. She treated thousands of COVID patients with early outpatient protocols and publicly challenged hospital vaccine mandates, which led to suspension of her privileges and legal action that influenced FDA messaging on ivermectin.
  2. She now treats people who report injuries after COVID-19 mRNA shots and is publicly calling for those vaccines to be taken off the market pending a full safety investigation.
  3. She wrote a book about misinformation in medicine during the pandemic and is actively pursuing legal battles with medical boards while participating in health freedom advocacy.

The Trust Trap

Can We Still Govern? • 324 implied HN points • 20 Feb 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Public Health
  1. Claiming that institutions have lost public trust is often used as a pretext to take control, but those who take charge frequently weaken the institutions instead of rebuilding them.
  2. Politicizing technical agencies and media erodes expert credibility and alienates core supporters, while failing to persuade the conspiracy-minded skeptics who drove the distrust in the first place.
  3. Be skeptical of loud calls to ‘restore trust’—they often come without realistic plans and can mask agendas that further degrade institutional legitimacy.

Richard is going to lose the bracket

Of Boys and Men • 35 implied HN points • 19 Mar 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Public Health
  1. Prediction-market platforms like Kalshi and Polymarket are effectively offering sports betting while operating under federal rules, which lets them sidestep many state gambling protections and serve users as young as 18.
  2. Aggressive app design and campus marketing plus the platforms' financial incentives risk real harms—research links easier online betting to higher bankruptcy, more child-maltreatment reports, and rising suicide risk, with young men hit hardest.
  3. Policymakers can curb these risks with common-sense guardrails—restrict advertising, add friction and deposit limits, raise the minimum age to 21, and regulate sports contracts like traditional gambling—and some lawmakers have already begun proposing such rules.

Contra Skolnick On Schizophrenia Microbes

Astral Codex Ten • 16518 implied HN points • 30 Jun 25
🏥 Health Politics Public Health
  1. Schizophrenia is often thought to be genetic, but studies show the link is more complex than just genetics alone. This means family history is a factor, but it's not the whole story.
  2. Twin studies indicate that if one twin has schizophrenia, there’s a 30-40% chance the other twin will too, which can support the idea of many genes influencing the condition.
  3. While some scientists argue that gut bacteria might cause schizophrenia, the evidence linking specific gut microbes to the disorder remains unclear and doesn't explain how it develops over time.

Project 2025’s Medicare Changes Would Restrict Older Americans’ Access to Care and Imperil the Program’s Financial Health

HEALTH CARE un-covered • 579 implied HN points • 29 Aug 24
🏥 Health Politics Public Health
  1. Project 2025 wants to make Medicare Advantage the main choice for people, but this could limit their healthcare options. Instead of giving patients more freedom, it may hand over more control to companies.
  2. Switching from Medicare Advantage back to traditional Medicare could become harder, which may trap people in plans that aren't right for them. This can lead to worse care for those who are sick.
  3. The changes could cost taxpayers billions and weaken Medicare's financial health. Instead of saving money, it might enrich insurance companies while jeopardizing the Medicare program's future.

One of CDC’s final blows. And what it means for you.

Your Local Epidemiologist • 4162 implied HN points • 21 Nov 25
🏥 Health Politics Public Health
  1. The CDC has been facing major challenges due to political interference, leading to a loss of trust in its information. People need to be careful about relying on it for accurate health data.
  2. It's recommended to avoid certain topics on the CDC website, especially vaccines and reproductive health, and instead seek information from trusted outside sources like medical organizations.
  3. Despite the struggles at the CDC, there is a strong effort from health professionals and communities to provide reliable health information and support to the public.

What Covid Policy Did to Doctors Who Refused to Stay Silent

QTR’s Fringe Finance • 48 implied HN points • 14 Mar 26
🏥 Health Politics Public Health
  1. Medicine shifted from open debate to enforced unanimity during the pandemic, with dissent labeled dangerous and scientific discussion suppressed.
  2. Many doctors stayed silent because speaking risked licenses, hospital privileges, funding, and income, which created an illusion of consensus and stifled learning.
  3. Those who spoke faced heavy personal and professional costs, so protecting physicians’ freedom to question and demanding accountability are crucial to safeguard medical integrity and patient care in future crises.

A unilateral change to childhood vaccines: What it means for you

Your Local Epidemiologist • 1755 implied HN points • 06 Jan 26
🏥 Health Politics Public Health
  1. The federal government abruptly changed the routine childhood vaccine schedule to recommend protection against 11 instead of 17 diseases and moved many vaccines to a shared clinical decision-making approach without the usual advisory process.
  2. Because the U.S. health system is fragmented and uneven, that shift is likely to reduce vaccination rates and lead to more preventable infections — examples include risks for hepatitis B and flu when universal protections are removed.
  3. The American Academy of Pediatrics still recommends the previous schedule, vaccines are currently covered by major public and private insurers, and families should talk to their pediatrician and advocate with state officials to keep strong vaccine protections.

South African Refugees Are Left to Fend for Themselves

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 500 implied HN points • 11 Feb 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Public Health
  1. The government-funded refugee resettlement system is failing many newly arrived South African refugees, who are being placed in unsafe, moldy, cockroach-infested apartments in high-crime areas.
  2. Many refugees are struggling to meet basic needs — walking miles for groceries, eating only one meal a day, and encountering drug use and prostitution near their housing.
  3. Welcoming refugees on paper isn’t enough because resettlement agencies and funding arrangements are not providing the support needed for safe housing and successful integration.

URGENT: A Biden-appointed federal judge has ruled the Trump administration may not change the childhood vaccine schedule or appoint new members of the vaccine advisory committee

Unreported Truths • 52 implied HN points • 16 Mar 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Public Health
  1. A federal judge issued a preliminary injunction blocking the Health Secretary’s January 2026 changes to the childhood vaccine schedule and pausing new appointments to the federal vaccine advisory committee.
  2. The judge found the changes were made without sufficient explanation, labeled them “arbitrary and capricious,” and questioned whether some appointees had the required expertise.
  3. The lawsuit was brought by the American Academy of Pediatrics and other physician groups, the administration plans to appeal, and the ruling has prompted debate about judicial overreach and the plaintiffs’ standing.

Outbreak Outlook - National - March 15

Force of Infection • 62 implied HN points • 15 Mar 26
🏥 Health & Wellness Public Health
  1. RSV season came on much later than usual and now appears to be reaching or passing its peak, with test positivity easing and hospitalizations — especially in babies — starting to fall.
  2. Flu activity is declining and more areas have moved out of high activity, but overall visits remain above baseline and this season has been unusually severe for children.
  3. Norovirus has hit a new seasonal peak with very high test positivity and spreads easily, so careful handwashing and staying home for a few days after symptoms end are important to prevent onward transmission.

The Most Important Word in The Democratic Party Platform for Health care

HEALTH CARE un-covered • 659 implied HN points • 23 Aug 24
🏥 Health Politics Public Health
  1. The Democratic Party wants to expand healthcare benefits so that everyone can afford their medications, even those without insurance.
  2. Many people have gaps in their health coverage, which can be dangerous if they rely on medications like insulin.
  3. Including everyone in cost caps for medications can help prevent medical debt and save lives by ensuring people have access to necessary treatments.