The hottest Public Health Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Health & Wellness Topics

Flu antivirals: What to know and when to use them

Your Local Epidemiologist • 1378 implied HN points • 14 Jan 26
🏥 Health & Wellness Public Health
  1. Antivirals like Tamiflu and Xofluza can shorten the flu by about one to two days, reduce symptom severity and some complications, and work best when started within 48 hours; they can also be used to prevent illness after a known exposure.
  2. Not everyone needs antivirals—many healthy people recover with rest, fluids, and fever reducers—but treatment is recommended for people who are hospitalized or have severe illness and for high-risk groups (young children, people 65+, pregnant people, immunocompromised individuals, and those with chronic conditions).
  3. Side effects are usually mild (mainly nausea) and serious harms are rare, and many scary online claims are misleading—Tamiflu has not been shown to routinely cause hallucinations and star anise tea is not a substitute; Xofluza is a one‑dose option that may reduce contagiousness but is more expensive and has less data in some populations.

IPAKIANS UNITE! ALL-IPAK WEBINAR/CONFERENCE - "FIRELIGHT" - THIS SATURDAY 10/12 6PM - 10PM ET

Popular Rationalism • 158 implied HN points • 11 Oct 24
🚌 Education Public Health
  1. There's a webinar called 'Firelight' happening on October 12th from 6 PM to 10 PM ET. You can join either through a live audience on Zoom or watch it online.
  2. The event features various speakers who will discuss important topics around knowledge, critical thinking, and personal empowerment. It's aimed at those feeling disillusioned by traditional education.
  3. Attending could help you learn about holistic health, public health insights, and more, all while being part of a community that values truth and intellectual freedom.

20 public health wins in 2025

Your Local Epidemiologist • 1767 implied HN points • 30 Dec 25
🏥 Health Politics Public Health
  1. Public health teams delivered measurable, lifesaving results by preventing and containing outbreaks and reducing harms like heat-related deaths.
  2. Policy and clinical advances expanded access to prevention and care at home and abroad, from broader vaccine coverage and affordable HIV prevention to new treatments and programs like free child care and adult vaccines.
  3. The public health community showed resilience and civic engagement by forming coalitions, defending evidence in courts and politics, and putting scientists into public office to protect science-based policy.

A brutal flu season, new dietary guidelines, and why cancer screenings are at risk

Your Local Epidemiologist • 1287 implied HN points • 13 Jan 26
🏥 Health Politics Public Health
  1. We’re in a very bad flu season with influenza-like illness at its highest levels since the late 1990s, driven by an H3N2 subclade that partly evades this year’s shot. Getting a flu vaccine now, using antivirals early if sick, masking in crowded indoor spaces, and staying home when ill can reduce severe illness and spread.
  2. The new U.S. Dietary Guidelines are radically shorter and replace MyPlate with an inverted food pyramid, emphasizing whole foods, more protein, and some animal fats while softening alcohol advice. They diverged from the independent advisory report and removed health equity from evidence considerations, which could change federal nutrition programs and clinical guidance.
  3. New Medicaid work and renewal rules are expected to cause millions to lose coverage, leading to over a million missed cancer screenings and preventable deaths in the next two years. HRSA’s endorsement of at-home HPV self-collection tests may expand cervical screening access but isn’t a full substitute for clinician care and follow-up.

The New "Task Force for Safer Childhood Vaccines" Has a Lot of Work To Do

Injecting Freedom • 26 implied HN points • 16 Mar 26
🏥 Health Politics Public Health
  1. A federal Task Force for Safer Childhood Vaccines was recently reinstated, restoring a government body to address vaccine safety.
  2. A 9-page letter urges immediate reforms across seven HHS agencies, calling for VAERS and VICP changes, elimination of conflicts of interest, more vaccine data transparency, and stricter approval standards.
  3. The task force has a large, urgent workload and should quickly adopt these recommendations to strengthen vaccine safety oversight.
Get a weekly roundup of the best Substack posts, by hacker news affinity:

The Right-Wing Troll Who Would Be Governor. Plus. . . 

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 421 implied HN points • 10 Feb 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Public Health
  1. A young, very online right-wing candidate has built a cult-like following among disaffected young men, showing how trollish internet culture can translate into real political energy.
  2. Big Food’s corporate power and lobbying are major drivers of rising childhood obesity, and experts argue only sweeping policy changes will curb the crisis.
  3. Dark-money donations, threats to press freedom, platform harms, and major labor actions together suggest institutions are under strain and accountability is weakening.

We dodged a vaccine disaster (for now). And a quick virus weather report before the break.

Your Local Epidemiologist • 1894 implied HN points • 22 Dec 25
🏥 Health Politics Public Health
  1. A last-minute plan to adopt Denmark's childhood vaccine schedule in the U.S. was proposed and then canceled, but the option remains legally possible and could reappear.
  2. Denmark’s leaner schedule only works because of universal healthcare, long parental leave, near-universal prenatal screening, centralized records, and reliable follow-up, and those supports are missing in the U.S., so copying the schedule here could increase disease risk and disrupt vaccine access.
  3. Respiratory viruses are rising now—flu is driving much of the increase, Covid is slowly climbing, and RSV is up but milder—so stay home if sick, consider masking in crowded indoor spaces, and get a flu or Covid vaccine if you haven’t yet.

The New Death Panels: Health Care Rationing Via Delays And Denials

HEALTH CARE un-covered • 759 implied HN points • 13 Aug 24
🏥 Health Politics Public Health
  1. Health insurance companies are creating delays and denials that harm patients' ability to receive care. Many people are missing out on necessary treatments because of these issues.
  2. A large number of doctors feel burnt out because of the complicated process of prior authorizations. This adds stress to their jobs and impacts their patients' health.
  3. To improve the situation, legislation and possibly legal action might be necessary. It's important to push for changes in how insurance companies operate to help both patients and doctors.

Your Allergies Are Probably Fake

Cremieux Recueil • 573 implied HN points • 04 Feb 26
🏥 Health & Wellness Public Health
  1. Many people are labeled allergic to drugs they aren’t actually allergic to — penicillin is a common example where most recorded allergies are likely wrong.
  2. False allergy labels cause worse care, higher costs, more drug-resistant infections, and longer hospital stays because clinicians avoid preferred medicines.
  3. Most suspected drug allergies can be safely checked and removed with supervised testing (direct oral challenges), so getting evaluated by an allergist can let you use better treatments and help public health.

Eight Years After Deposing Dr. Plotkin, the “Godfather of Vaccines,” He Sends Me a Letter

Injecting Freedom • 186 implied HN points • 25 Feb 26
🏥 Health Politics Public Health
  1. A prominent vaccine expert recontacted a longtime critic after a contentious deposition, focusing on procedural complaints and insisting he should be credited for protecting children while blaming the critic for harm to unvaccinated kids.
  2. The expert pushed post-deposition actions to defend vaccine orthodoxy—urging WHO/FDA/CDC changes and holding private meetings—but those efforts didn’t erase the admissions made in the deposition.
  3. The critic offered a redo deposition and constructive steps to help vaccine-injured children, received no engagement, and published the correspondence to push for transparency and public debate about vaccinology.

BOOK EXCERPT: "Redfield’s Warning: What I Learned (But Couldn’t Tell You) Might Save Your Life"

The DisInformation Chronicle • 325 implied HN points • 04 Feb 26
🏥 Health Politics Public Health
  1. SARS‑CoV‑2 was likely engineered to infect humans and probably escaped unintentionally from a Wuhan virology lab during gain‑of‑function research.
  2. Gain‑of‑function experiments and publishing their methods are inherently risky because labs have a history of containment failures and such work can enable misuse.
  3. Stronger oversight, stricter limits on risky pathogen research, and greater transparency about funding and lab safety are needed to prevent future lab‑caused pandemics.

UnitedHealth Group – a Real Life Majin Buu: The Art of Absorbing Everything in Sight

HEALTH CARE un-covered • 679 implied HN points • 14 Aug 24
🏥 Health Politics Public Health
  1. UnitedHealth Group is a massive company that has grown by buying up other businesses in healthcare. This makes it very influential in many areas of the industry.
  2. Like the Dragon Ball Z character Majin Buu, UnitedHealth absorbs other companies to become stronger and extend its reach. This strategy helps them dominate the healthcare market.
  3. The unchecked power of companies like UnitedHealth can have serious consequences for regular people, leading to higher costs and fewer choices in healthcare.

Relax, Microplastics Aren’t Killing You

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 741 implied HN points • 22 Jan 26
🔬 Science Public Health
  1. Microplastics are everywhere and do pose real ecological risks. But alarmist claims that they are immediately causing major human diseases aren’t supported.
  2. A high‑profile study claiming plastic in human brains used a detection method that can’t reliably distinguish plastic from ordinary fats, so its results are likely false.
  3. Experts have criticized and reversed those dramatic claims, showing we need better methods and more careful interpretation before linking microplastics to serious human health effects.

H5N1: Much More Than You Wanted To Know

Astral Codex Ten • 27324 implied HN points • 01 Jan 25
🏥 Health Politics Public Health
  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.

DisInformation Chronicle Podcast with Virologist and former CDC Directory Robert Redfield

The DisInformation Chronicle • 290 implied HN points • 03 Feb 26
🏥 Health Politics Public Health
  1. Bioweapons are presented as a serious and underprepared threat that requires creating a new security apparatus and refocusing or reorganizing public health agencies.
  2. The COVID pandemic is portrayed as likely originating from a lab, and mRNA COVID vaccines are characterized as gene therapy with safety concerns for children, prompting calls for manufacturers to disclose how long, how much, and where spike protein is produced.
  3. Masks are claimed not to prevent people from catching viruses, and some Long COVID patients may not clear the virus or spike protein, raising treatment and public health concerns.

Why Are So Many British Women Getting Abortions?

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 496 implied HN points • 29 Jan 26
🏥 Health Politics Public Health
  1. Abortion rates in Britain have risen sharply, with close to one in three pregnancies now ending in termination amid a wider fertility slump.
  2. Some women discover pregnancies late or get unclear medical guidance, which can lead to later-term hospital procedures instead of earlier care.
  3. Repeat abortions are not uncommon — some women report multiple terminations within a few years, and many peers have had at least one.

Mass shootings outnumber annual days in U.S., children are missing school due to measles, Covid-19 is peeping around the corner, and some hope

Your Local Epidemiologist • 1633 implied HN points • 15 Dec 25
🏥 Health & Wellness Public Health
  1. Mass shootings in the U.S. are happening more than once per day and represent a widespread, preventable public‑health crisis that evidence shows can be reduced with stricter firearm policies.
  2. Respiratory illnesses are surging: flu is rising among children (with low vaccination rates and early pediatric deaths reported) and Covid‑19 is increasing in parts of the country, so masking in crowded indoor spaces, testing when appropriate, staying home while sick, and staying up to date on vaccines can help protect others.
  3. Measles outbreaks are growing, causing many cases and hundreds of children to miss school, and vaccination plus following local public‑health guidance is the key way to stop these outbreaks.

ACIP key takeaways: What really happened and what it means for you

Your Local Epidemiologist • 1882 implied HN points • 05 Dec 25
🏥 Health Politics Public Health
  1. The recent ACIP meeting led to a rollback on the universal Hepatitis B vaccine for infants, which could confuse families and affect children's health negatively.
  2. Grassroots efforts and pushback from experts helped prevent even worse decisions at the meeting, showing the power of community in health discussions.
  3. There's still a strong commitment to protecting children's health despite the setbacks, and advocacy from parents and clinicians is crucial in ensuring informed choices moving forward.

The changing (and perhaps surprising) geography of diabetes

Sustainability by numbers • 427 implied HN points • 02 Feb 26
🏥 Health & Wellness Public Health
  1. Diabetes is rising much faster in South Asia, parts of Africa, the Middle East and some Pacific islands than in Europe or North America, with countries like Pakistan showing some of the highest age‑standardised rates.
  2. Rising overweight and obesity — even where undernutrition still exists — is the main modifiable driver of type II diabetes, and these increases have been rapid in many low‑ and middle‑income countries.
  3. Certain ethnic groups, especially South Asians, develop diabetes at lower BMIs because they tend to carry more visceral fat. That means modest weight gain leads to much higher risk, and many cases stay undiagnosed or untreated as health systems struggle to keep up.

The Long Awaited Debate Of Covid Science: A Team of Experts Rebut The Expert Opinions of BC's College of Physicians and Surgeons

Pierre Kory’s Medical Musings • 8254 implied HN points • 18 Jan 24
🏥 Health Politics Public Health
  1. Dr. Hoffe faced consequences for raising concerns about Covid vaccine safety and experienced backlash from the medical community.
  2. The College hired an expert who criticized Dr. Hoffe's statements on Covid, but Dr. Kory disputes the conclusions, pointing to evidence that the expert report was biased.
  3. Dr. Kory provided a detailed expert report defending Dr. Hoffe, highlighting the efficacy of ivermectin in preventing Covid and criticizing the disinformation tactics used to suppress this information.

The Administrative State vs. The People's Mandate

Who is Robert Malone • 13 implied HN points • 16 Mar 26
🏥 Health Politics Public Health
  1. A federal judge halted the CDC's January 2026 immunization memo and froze recent ACIP appointments and prior ACIP votes, which in practice blocks the administration's vaccine schedule reforms across the country.
  2. The court relied on FACA and arbitrary-and-capricious reasoning to question the new ACIP's balance and member qualifications. Its treatment of a long-time vaccine researcher as lacking relevant expertise looks like judicial substitution for executive judgment.
  3. The administration has strong grounds to appeal, arguing the stay functions like a nationwide injunction under APA §705 and raising core separation-of-powers questions about who gets to set public health policy. Higher courts may need to decide whether lower courts can use APA stays to produce nationwide effects despite limits on universal injunctions.

Oklahoma Mom Demands We Stop Dumping Sewage On America's Farmland

The DisInformation Chronicle • 640 implied HN points • 06 Jan 26
🌞 Climate & Environment Public Health
  1. A federal rule allows treated sewage sludge labeled as “biosolids” to be spread on farmland, which can introduce pathogens and chemical pollutants into the air, soil, water, and food supply.
  2. People living near land-applied sewage report serious acute and chronic health problems—like nausea, respiratory issues, infections, and neurological symptoms—while officials often downplay or dismiss their complaints.
  3. Community members organized, did independent research, formed a nonprofit, and are pushing for federal action to stop land-disposal of sewage and push for safer waste solutions.

About Those Onesies

TK News by Matt Taibbi • 16872 implied HN points • 31 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Public Health
  1. Senator Sanders had a tense exchange with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., which seemed surprising given they agree on many issues. It raised questions about why there was such hostility.
  2. The Virality Project labeled both Sanders and Kennedy as 'censored,' showing how the content moderation system can target people for their overall views, not just specific statements.
  3. Sanders once had a strong populist appeal but lost some of that by not defending free speech for those with differing views, which goes against the core of liberal values.

Who are you?

Your Local Epidemiologist • 810 implied HN points • 09 Jan 26
🏥 Health & Wellness Public Health
  1. A long-running public health newsletter has a big, engaged audience and is asking readers to take an annual survey to help shape future coverage.
  2. Survey respondents are mostly from North America and Australia, skew 45–64 years old, are highly educated, and many act as trusted messengers who share information with family, colleagues, and communities.
  3. Readers still want infectious disease coverage but are increasingly interested in public health communication and misinformation, news analysis, climate-related health, and issues like mental health, opioids, and reproductive health, and the newsletter aims to broaden topics and reach younger and more politically diverse readers.

The Horse Dewormer PR Campaign And My Defense Of Dr. Charles Hoffe Against The BC College of Physicians and Surgeons

Pierre Kory’s Medical Musings • 7036 implied HN points • 25 Jan 24
🏥 Health Politics Public Health
  1. The Canadian government restricted access to ivermectin, leading to Canadians seeking veterinary sources of the medication.
  2. A coordinated public relations campaign was launched to discourage the use of ivermectin, involving federal agencies, media, and health organizations.
  3. Physicians faced challenges accessing and prescribing ivermectin due to restrictions, leading some to consider the use of veterinary versions in treating COVID-19 patients.

How health institutions can catch up

Your Local Epidemiologist • 1266 implied HN points • 17 Dec 25
🏥 Health Politics Public Health
  1. Health institutions are behind the times and must change how they communicate by listening, being transparent, and meeting people where they are instead of broadcasting one-way guidance.
  2. Project Stethoscope / PHNIX shows a practical path forward: actively listen to communities, partner with trusted local messengers, and bring lived experiences into the systems that make decisions.
  3. Trust is not declared but earned through consistent, human actions like showing up, admitting mistakes, and acting promptly, and rebuilding that trust is essential for public health to protect people.

Fall vaccination rates are down, flu takes off, the U.S. is not Denmark, ICE’s negative impact on health, and more.

Your Local Epidemiologist • 1454 implied HN points • 08 Dec 25
🏥 Health Politics Public Health
  1. Vaccination rates in the U.S. are dropping, with fewer people getting both COVID-19 and flu shots compared to last year. This could lead to more severe health issues this winter, so getting vaccinated is still important.
  2. Fear of immigration enforcement is keeping immigrant families from accessing necessary healthcare. Many are avoiding medical visits and putting off surgeries, which is harmful to their health and well-being.
  3. The U.S. healthcare system is very different from Denmark's, so copying their vaccination schedule might not work here. Health outcomes depend on many factors, not just vaccines, and many of those factors are not as strong in the U.S.

Remember When The Media Told Us To Ignore Science And Not Even Question COVID Policies?

Unmasked • 37 implied HN points • 12 Mar 26
🏥 Health Politics Public Health
  1. Masks do not work to stop respiratory viruses or prevent infections, according to the argument made.
  2. High mask use in places like South Korea, Japan, and major U.S. cities coincided with big COVID surges and is cited as evidence that masks failed to stop outbreaks.
  3. Major media outlets and public-health leaders discouraged questioning mask mandates, promoting ideological conformity instead of open scientific debate.

A rough flu season may be taking shape

Your Local Epidemiologist • 1922 implied HN points • 17 Nov 25
🏥 Health Politics Public Health
  1. This flu season might get tough. A new flu strain has mutated, making vaccines less effective, so getting your flu shot is crucial.
  2. There's a rise in infant botulism cases linked to a baby formula. Parents should stop using any ByHeart products and keep an eye on their babies for symptoms.
  3. Canada lost its measles elimination status, which could affect the U.S. too. It's a reminder about the importance of vaccinations for everyone, especially for protecting young kids.

Why Fentanyl Deaths Are Falling

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 459 implied HN points • 23 Jan 26
🏥 Health & Wellness Public Health
  1. Fentanyl was mixed into the heroin supply starting around 2014, and many dealers and users didn’t even know they were getting it.
  2. Because fentanyl is about 50 times more potent than heroin, its effects hit faster and stronger, which accelerated addiction and initially increased overdoses.
  3. Big shifts in supply and demand, plus the toll of roughly a million deaths, have disrupted the fentanyl market and contributed to falling fentanyl-related deaths.

1DaySooner's Trump II Health Policy Proposals

Astral Codex Ten • 14935 implied HN points • 07 Feb 25
🏥 Health Politics Public Health
  1. To improve kidney donations, policies may allow compensation for organ donors, which could help reduce the waiting list and save lives.
  2. There is a push for better transparency in healthcare data from the FDA, which could improve research and lead to safer medical products.
  3. Novel research ideas are often underfunded, so increasing support for unconventional studies and human challenge trials could speed up medical advancements.

In life, Bill Pascrell Fiercely Bucked Health Insurance Giants During the ACA Debate. Today's Advocates Should See Him as Inspiration.

HEALTH CARE un-covered • 319 implied HN points • 22 Aug 24
🏥 Health Politics Public Health
  1. Bill Pascrell was a strong fighter for healthcare reform, especially during the Affordable Care Act debates. He believed everyone deserves access to healthcare.
  2. He worked tirelessly for first responders and survivors after 9/11, making sure they got the medical support they needed. His efforts led to important legislation for their care.
  3. Pascrell's legacy shows us the importance of standing up against powerful interests in healthcare. His commitment inspires others to continue fighting for a fair healthcare system.

The Bad Science and Bad Policy at the Heart of the Climate Movement

The Honest Broker Newsletter • 5172 implied HN points • 28 Jul 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Public Health
  1. Climate change has different definitions in science and policy, leading to confusion and inconsistencies in understanding. Scientists define it broadly while policy focuses mainly on human-caused changes.
  2. Current climate policies often rely on temperature targets, assuming they directly relate to greenhouse gas emissions. However, recent research shows other factors also significantly affect global temperatures.
  3. Reducing air pollution, while beneficial, can lead to increased temperatures due to less cooling from aerosols. This creates a complex situation where good actions for health might clash with climate goals.

Nobody Wants to Hear Good News About Psychiatric Medicine

Freddie deBoer • 5940 implied HN points • 13 Jul 25
🏥 Health Politics Public Health
  1. A new study shows that withdrawal symptoms from SSRIs are actually rare and not as severe as many people think. Despite this good news, it hasn't gotten much coverage in the media.
  2. There are exciting developments in antipsychotic medications, which are becoming more effective and have fewer side effects. This is a positive change that is worth noticing.
  3. There seems to be a reluctance in the media to share good news about psychiatric medicine, possibly because it doesn't fit certain narratives. It's important for people to hear about the progress being made in mental health treatments.

The Lockdown Disaster: Massive European Study Vindicates Sweden’s Common-Sense Pandemic Response

Unmasked • 62 implied HN points • 05 Mar 26
🏥 Health Politics Public Health
  1. Lockdowns were a disastrous, expert-driven policy rooted in flawed reports and a break from established pandemic plans, and they caused widespread harm.
  2. A major European study supports Sweden’s less-restrictive approach, suggesting heavy-handed measures like lockdowns and prolonged mandates did not deliver the expected public health benefits.
  3. Policies such as mask mandates, vaccine passports, and school closures have had long-term social consequences, yet there has been little sustained effort to fully evaluate whether those measures were truly effective.

Thanksgiving guide to viruses, family conversations, and public health updates

Your Local Epidemiologist • 1585 implied HN points • 24 Nov 25
🏥 Health Politics Public Health
  1. This Thanksgiving, there are fewer viruses like colds and the flu, which means people are less likely to get sick. That's good news for family gatherings!
  2. When talking about tough subjects with family, like vaccines, it's important to stay calm and look for common ground. This can help keep the conversation friendly and productive.
  3. Recent settlements from opioid lawsuits will provide $7 billion to help communities affected by the opioid crisis. This money aims to support better treatment and prevention efforts.