(Another) New ACIP Charter, More HHS Reshuffling, and a Major New Outbreak Exposing Global Vulnerabilities
The Department of Health and Human Services re‑established the ACIP charter on May 19, removing explicit language on mRNA vaccines and adding flexible expertise requirements. Federal agencies saw rapid leadership turnover, with new acting heads at the FDA’s CBER and CDER and an interim surgeon‑general appointed. State legislatures moved on vaccine‑related bills, notably Iowa’s law limiting HPV and hepatitis‑B shots for teens without parental consent, while Illinois and West Virginia face pending vaccine policy measures. Globally, Gavi issued a thimerosal‑phase‑out timeline amid a U.S. funding freeze, and the Ebola outbreak in the DRC raises questions about vaccine deployment, highlighting broader vulnerabilities in vaccine infrastructure.
Did the Old Way Ever Work?
In a recent talk, the author argues that the traditional deficit model—leading with data and facts—no longer works for public health communication in 2026. Trust in institutions has eroded, and the crowded information landscape makes simple fact sheets backfire, especially...
Does Benadryl Cause Dementia?
Benadryl (diphenhydramine) is an over‑the‑counter antihistamine that also acts as an anticholinergic, causing drowsiness and other side effects, especially in older adults. Observational studies link long‑term high anticholinergic exposure to increased dementia risk, though causation remains unproven. The drug appears...
The Disease That Looks Different Every Time
Multiple sclerosis (MS) impacts roughly 2.9 million people worldwide, with about one‑million cases in the United States. The disease presents in three clinical patterns—relapsing‑remitting, primary progressive, and secondary progressive—making each patient’s experience unique. Updated 2024 McDonald diagnostic criteria now allow earlier...
Here Comes the Sunscreen Ingredient the U.S. Has Been Waiting For (Little Darlin')
The FDA has formally proposed adding the modern UV filter bemotrizinol (BEMT) to the United States' list of approved sunscreen ingredients, marking the first potential new filter in decades. Bemotrizinol, already used internationally, provides highly photostable, broad‑spectrum protection without the...