Alexander Tin @alexander-a-tin.bsky.social · 11/07/2025The CDC now estimates that COVID-19 cases are likely growing in half of states, as this year's summer wave now looks to be getting underway It comes as health authorities are tracking elevated trends of another respiratory germ, Parvovirus B19 www.cbsnews.com/news/covid-c...cbsnews.comCOVID cases likely rising in half of states, CDC estimatesMany Southeast, Southern and West Coast states are likely seeing an increase in COVID cases. 05622
Alexander Tin @alexander-a-tin.bsky.social · 11/07/2025The backlog of delayed grants at HHS has swelled to more than a billion dollars, in wake of DOGE reviews that stalled process Now we're told ACF is bringing some laid-off staff back temporarily, as officials try to rush awards out door in time www.cbsnews.com/news/hhs-fac...cbsnews.comHHS facing billion-dollar backlog of delayed grants after DOGEDelayed funds include grants for youth homelessness and domestic violence. 02414
Alexander Tin @alexander-a-tin.bsky.social · 26/06/2025Why did CDC take down its evidence review debunking fears thimerosal was causing autism or other neurodevelopmental disorders? Dr. Robert Malone told ACIP today its publication had not been authorized by Secy Kennedy's office w/ Sara Moniuszko www.cbsnews.com/news/rfk-jr-... 0215
Alexander Tin @alexander-a-tin.bsky.social · 25/06/2025The former president of Children's Health Defense, Lyn Redwood, isn't just presenting at tomorrow's ACIP about thimerosal We're told that CDC is also going to hire Redwood to work in the agency's Immunization Safety Office www.cbsnews.com/news/cdc-vac...cbsnews.comCDC to hire former head of anti-vaccine group founded by RFK Jr.Lyn Redwood, who spread debunked claims about vaccines, will be in the CDC's Immunization Safety Office, multiple CDC officials tell CBS News. 98864
Alexander Tin @alexander-a-tin.bsky.social · 18/06/2025The CDC tells us 36 cases (3%) of measles so far this year had been vaccinated with ≥2 doses before they were exposed None of cases hospitalized and 83% ages 20 and older In TX, we heard Monday all 2+ vaccinated cases in children were 8 and younger www.cbsnews.com/news/measles... 171
Alexander Tin @alexander-a-tin.bsky.social · 17/06/2025Yesterday's ruling striking down NIH cuts to research funding linked to topics like diversity, gender and vaccine hesitancy could be blocked HHS tells us they are "exploring all legal options, including filing an appeal and moving to stay the order" www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-n...cbsnews.comFederal judge strikes down Trump cuts to NIH medical research grants linked to diversity, genderA federal judge struck down sweeping Trump administration orders that resulted in the cancellation of hundreds of National Institutes of Health research grants. 075
Alexander Tin @alexander-a-tin.bsky.social · 16/06/2025Dr. Fiona Havers, head of agency's RESP-NET hospitalization data, resigned from the CDC today "I no longer have confidence that these data will be used objectively or evaluated with appropriate scientific rigor to make evidence-based vaccine policy decisions." www.cbsnews.com/news/fiona-h...cbsnews.comCDC official overseeing COVID hospitalization data resigns after RFK Jr.'s vaccine ordersDr. Fiona Havers' resignation follows RFK Jr.'s orders to change the CDC's vaccine recommendations. 23728
Alexander Tin @alexander-a-tin.bsky.social · 13/06/2025The CDC has released new measles guidance for summer camps, urging to check for measles immunity in campers and staff, stockpiling face masks It comes as we're now less than a hundred cases from setting a record, marking worst year since 20th century www.cbsnews.com/news/cdc-urg...cbsnews.comCDC urges summer camps to check for measles immunity, as U.S. nears recordThe CDC's new "checklist" comes amid a deadly year of measles outbreaks that is now near record levels. 27942
Alexander Tin @alexander-a-tin.bsky.social · 12/06/2025We've updated our story with more details about Secy Kennedy's picks to be CDC's vaccine advisers For example, GWU told us Dr Michael A Ross hasn't been a professor there since 2017. VCU says he was an "affiliate faculty member" until 2021 www.cbsnews.com/news/rfk-jr-... 2122
Alexander Tin @alexander-a-tin.bsky.social · 12/06/2025Beyond Secy Kennedy replacing members of CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices We're told Dr. Melinda Wharton and other career agency officials are now purged from roles overseeing committee's vetting, agenda, and planning www.cbsnews.com/news/cdc-pur...cbsnews.comCDC purges career officials from oversight of vaccine committeeNews of their removal comes after the firing of the CDC's outside vaccine advisers. 213378
Alexander Tin @alexander-a-tin.bsky.social · 12/06/2025Here's our story on what we know about Secy Kennedy's new picks for CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices It caps a monthslong search for replacements. We're told Kennedy and his aides started asking for suggestions early this year www.cbsnews.com/news/rfk-jr-...cbsnews.comRFK Jr. taps allies and COVID vaccine critics among picks for CDC advisory panel. Here's who's on the list.HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. fired the previous roster of the CDC's vaccine advisers on Monday. 5206
Alexander Tin @alexander-a-tin.bsky.social · 10/06/2025This evening, a member of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices told us they received "formal notice of your immediate termination" "This is horrifying," a CDC official said of Secy Kennedy's move www.cbsnews.com/news/rfk-jr-... 23512
Alexander Tin @alexander-a-tin.bsky.social · 06/06/2025Today FDA resumed hiring food investigators, after being stalled for months by White House freeze We're told nearly 1 in 5 positions are now vacant in agency's food inspectorate Last month, agency told HHS OIG that nearly 90 investigative positions empty www.cbsnews.com/news/fda-foo...cbsnews.comFDA food inspector vacancies near 20% after Trump hiring freezeThe Trump administration's cost-cutting efforts have encouraged departures and stalled hiring at the FDA. 03414
Alexander Tin @alexander-a-tin.bsky.social · 04/06/2025Touting recent charges of Chinese researchers, FBI called Fusarium graminearum a "potential agroterrorism weapon" A retired USDA ARS scientist who co-authored with them told us this fungus is already "extremely prevalent" in North America, likely originated here www.cbsnews.com/news/fungus-...cbsnews.comFungus in "agroterrorism" arrest already widely prevalent in U.S., researcher saysTwo Chinese researchers were charged with trying to smuggle strains of a fungus called Fusarium graminearum into the U.S. 1174
Alexander Tin @alexander-a-tin.bsky.social · 04/06/2025A CDC official is resigning from role overseeing updates COVID-19 vaccine recommendations In an email to others in group, she said she started in public health to help most vulnerable "that is not something I am able to continue doing in this role" www.cbsnews.com/news/cdc-off...cbsnews.comCDC official overseeing COVID-19 vaccine recommendations resignsThe resignation follows an order by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to change the agency's guidance. 07334
Alexander Tin @alexander-a-tin.bsky.social · 03/06/2025Will norovirus surge early again this year? CDC's Emerging Infectious Diseases journal is out with a new report on the rise of a new strain from this notorious stomach bug called GII.17, now dominant nationwide www.cbsnews.com/news/norovir...cbsnews.comWill norovirus surge early again this year? CDC urges tracking of new strain.The norovirus strain GII.17 may have disrupted the seasonal pattern of outbreaks. 0113
Alexander Tin @alexander-a-tin.bsky.social · 30/05/2025The CDC has stepped up its warning about the risk of measles while traveling It comes after at least 62 reports of travelers contagious with virus, including at least 1 situation determined to be spread within airplane www.cbsnews.com/news/cdc-mea... 0105
Alexander Tin @alexander-a-tin.bsky.social · 30/05/2025Following Secy Kennedy's announcement The CDC has now updated its childhood immunization schedule, which now says "children 6 months and older may receive COVID-19 vaccination" www.cbsnews.com/news/cdc-kid... 22110
Alexander Tin @alexander-a-tin.bsky.social · 27/05/2025A reminder that CDC's COVID-19 vaccine recommendations are directly tied to: - requirements for what health insurance is required to cover with no out-of-pocket costs - liability protections expanding access to COVID shots in places like pharmacies www.cbsnews.com/news/rfk-jr-...cbsnews.comRFK Jr. says CDC will no longer recommend COVID vaccine for children and pregnant womenKennedy's move appears to shortcut the CDC's outside vaccine advisers, dropping COVID vaccines from the list recommended for children and pregnant women. 815365
Alexander Tin @alexander-a-tin.bsky.social · 23/05/2025The CDC's airport screening program with Ginkgo Bioworks has now detected multiple cases of the new COVID-19 variant NB.1.8.1, which has been linked to a recent surge in China www.cbsnews.com/news/us-repo...cbsnews.comU.S. reports cases of new COVID variant NB.1.8.1 behind surge in ChinaAuthorities in Hong Kong say COVID-19 levels are the worst in at least a year. 1114491
Alexander Tin @alexander-a-tin.bsky.social · 22/05/2025Here's our coverage on White House MAHA Commission's new report, highlighting 4 factors for childhood disease Secy Kennedy called it "probably the strongest and most radical consensus by a government agency in history about the state of America's health" www.cbsnews.com/news/rfk-jr-...cbsnews.comRFK Jr. releases "MAHA" report on childhood chronic disease. Here's what to know.The "Make America Healthy Again" report outlines what it says are four leading drivers of childhood disease, but it is facing criticism from some health officials. 250
Alexander Tin @alexander-a-tin.bsky.social · 21/05/2025The FDA is ordering Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna to expand warnings about myocarditis/pericarditis from their shots HHS told us: "Americans deserve radical transparency around the safety and efficacy of COVID vaccines and the FDA is delivering" www.cbsnews.com/news/fda-cov... 073
Alexander Tin @alexander-a-tin.bsky.social · 21/05/2025Asked today by Sen Hyde Smith about Thursday's MAHA report, Secy Kennedy sought to reassure farmers on what it will say about pesticides "The drafts that I've seen, there is not a single word in them that should worry the American farmer" www.cbsnews.com/news/rfk-jr-...cbsnews.comRFK Jr. tells farmers, GOP not to worry about his report targeting pesticidesHealth and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is set to release a report Thursday on how pesticides and other issues may be linked to childhood chronic diseases. 2111
Alexander Tin @alexander-a-tin.bsky.social · 20/05/2025The FDA will continue approving COVID-19 vaccine updates, based on immunogenicity, for seniors and other with an underlying condition Dr Vinay Prasad said he thinks interim results on new placebo studies for others could be out "by next calendar year" www.cbsnews.com/news/covid-v... 693
Alexander Tin @alexander-a-tin.bsky.social · 20/05/2025Steep cuts to federal research grants have now disrupted millions in awards once backed by former President Joe Biden's "Cancer Moonshot" initiative, after funding was frozen to Harvard and Columbia www.cbsnews.com/news/biden-c...cbsnews.comBiden's "Cancer Moonshot" hit by Trump's cuts to research at Harvard and ColumbiaThe Trump administration's cuts to medical research grants have disrupted awards once backed by former President Joe Biden's "Cancer Moonshot" initiative. 091
Alexander Tin @alexander-a-tin.bsky.social · 19/05/2025Some of NIH's top brain researchers got layoff notices last month While they were asked to keep working in labs for now, their layoffs were never rescinded "As far as I know, we have not fired any working scientists," Secy Kennedy had told Congress www.cbsnews.com/news/rfk-jr-...cbsnews.comRFK Jr. told Congress no working scientists were fired, but these top NIH brain scientists are still facing job cuts"As far as I know, we have not fired any working scientists," RFK Jr. had told Congress. 23525
Alexander Tin @alexander-a-tin.bsky.social · 16/05/2025A new CDC study estimates hundreds of drowning deaths could be prevented by more pool fences & life jackets while boating It was one of last authored by agency's injury prevention researchers, before Secy Kennedy's layoffs largely eliminated them www.cbsnews.com/news/pool-fe...cbsnews.comPool fences and life jackets could save hundreds of lives, CDC estimatesThe study was one of the CDC's last before its injury prevention teams were laid off. 0173
Alexander Tin @alexander-a-tin.bsky.social · 16/05/2025The FDA has granted its first marketing authorization to an Alzheimer's blood test It comes years after other Alzheimer's blood tests entered the U.S. market, which were "laboratory developed tests" not subject to the agency's oversight www.cbsnews.com/news/fda-fir...cbsnews.comFDA greenlights marketing of first Alzheimer's blood test for some patientsJapan-based Fujirebio's test, which helps doctors diagnose Alzheimer's disease, is intended for patients with signs of cognitive decline. 0102
Alexander Tin @alexander-a-tin.bsky.social · 15/05/2025The FDA is planning to revisit its approval of the so-called "yoga mat" chemical bread ingredient that's banned in Europe, known as azodicarbonamide or ADA www.cbsnews.com/news/fda-yog...cbsnews.comFDA to revisit approval of "yoga mat" bread ingredient banned in EuropeThe FDA is prioritizing the review of some previously approved food additives, including ADA, dubbed the "yoga mat" chemical. 242
Alexander Tin @alexander-a-tin.bsky.social · 14/05/2025Senate Dems and the Biden administration dropped plans to set drug price caps based on the amount paid in other high-income countries, during talks years ago to push thru law that empowered Medicare to negotiate down the cost of prescription medications. www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-d...cbsnews.comTrump wants drug price caps tied to foreign nations. Here's why Biden never did it.President Trump is now seeking to implement the idea through an executive order. 172
Alexander Tin @alexander-a-tin.bsky.social · 14/05/2025The head of NIOSH, Dr. John Howard, and several teams at this worker safety agency within CDC have been reinstated, ahead of Secy Kennedy's Capitol Hill hearings tomorrow www.cbsnews.com/news/john-ho...cbsnews.comHead of worker safety agency NIOSH restored, ahead of RFK Jr. hearingLetters reversing the layoffs arrived a day before House and Senate hearings with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. where he was expected to face questions about the layoffs. 615253
Alexander Tin @alexander-a-tin.bsky.social · 09/05/2025Officials at multiple HHS agencies have been ordered to mail out new termination letters to probationary employees They had previously been on paid leave, amid court battles over their fate. A spokesperson told us "This is nothing of a surprise." www.cbsnews.com/news/hhs-to-... 091
Alexander Tin @alexander-a-tin.bsky.social · 09/05/2025We're told HHS has decided to block many laid-off workers from receiving overdue bonus pay that had been earned from high performance last year "If the savings from the layoffs were pennies from the HHS budget, this is hundredths of a penny." www.cbsnews.com/news/hhs-to-...cbsnews.comHHS to withhold some bonus pay earned by laid-off employeesThe Department of Health and Human Services will effectively block the payout of overdue bonuses to many of its laid-off employees, multiple health officials say. 35823
Alexander Tin @alexander-a-tin.bsky.social · 08/05/2025From Secy Kennedy ally Dr Robert Malone, on skepticism from base re: Dr Casey Means' record on vaccines "The nutritional agenda is a core part of MAHA. It may not be their core part of MAHA. But there's no doubt that it's a central part of the overall mission" www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-c... 380
Alexander Tin @alexander-a-tin.bsky.social · 07/05/2025We're told CDC was granted an exemption from federal hiring freeze to hire a new class of its Epidemic Intelligence Service, the "disease detectives" We've also heard of exemptions for agency's LLS fellowship and NIH's clinical fellows www.cbsnews.com/news/cdc-dis...cbsnews.comCDC disease detectives exempted from Trump hiring freeze, averting cut to programEach year, the CDC usually hires a new class of Epidemic Intelligence Service officers, known as disease detectives. 094
Alexander Tin @alexander-a-tin.bsky.social · 06/05/2025Some at NIOSH, in 9/11 program, and FDA, in San Francisco & Chicago food safety labs, got notices today officially reversing layoffs It comes after NIH faced hundreds more layoffs, which we're told was to compensate for reinstatements elsewhere www.cbsnews.com/amp/news/hhs... 02514
Alexander Tin @alexander-a-tin.bsky.social · 06/05/2025The FDA has replaced Dr. Peter Marks, the agency's top vaccines official, with a vocal critic of Marks: Dr. Vinay Prasad Prasad posted in March that his predecessor was "one of the most dangerous, pro-pharma regulators of the 21st century" www.cbsnews.com/news/fda-cri...cbsnews.comFDA picks critic of COVID boosters to be new top vaccines officialDr. Vinay Prasad replaces Dr. Peter Marks, who Prasad had called "dangerous." 21215
Alexander Tin @alexander-a-tin.bsky.social · 06/05/2025The FDA's top inspections official is stepping down, amid frustration with Commissioner Makary's plans "It's fairly basic math. We know how long inspectional activities take. If they get shorter, which inspections activities are we no longer performing?" www.cbsnews.com/news/fda-top...cbsnews.comFDA's top inspector abruptly resignsMichael Rogers had worked for the FDA for more than three decades. 5252140
Alexander Tin @alexander-a-tin.bsky.social · 05/05/2025There were hundreds more laid off at NIH on Friday, we're told, including at NCI Sounds like layoffs were to make up for reinstatements elsewhere HHS told us "savings from these reductions will help redirect resources toward critical programs" www.cbsnews.com/news/nih-lay... 35621
Alexander Tin @alexander-a-tin.bsky.social · 03/05/2025Nearly all of remaining staff at CDC's NIOSH received lay off notices today, we're told This is an org chart shared with us illustrating eliminated divisions to date Cuts had already upended approvals of new N95 respirators and probes of firefighter injuries www.cbsnews.com/news/worker-... 23431251
Alexander Tin @alexander-a-tin.bsky.social · 02/05/2025Weekly measles cases, backdated by rash onset in CDC's figures, have now topped peak of what had been worst wave since 20th century It comes as the health department in Texas tells us they're now watching for an increase from Easter travel in coming weeks www.cbsnews.com/news/weekly-...cbsnews.comWeekly measles cases hit new record amid worst outbreak since 1990sThere were at least 111 cases of measles reported in the last week of March, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 03514
Alexander Tin @alexander-a-tin.bsky.social · 01/05/2025A HHS spox tells us Secy Kennedy is asking CDC to develop new guidance for treating measles using drugs, vitamins Earlier, he said they were developing a worksheet for docs promoting budesonide, clarithromycin and other "very effective" treatments www.cbsnews.com/news/rfk-jr-... 169338
Alexander Tin @alexander-a-tin.bsky.social · 01/05/2025We've told this move by HHS to redirect $500M to a project linked to NIH's Dr. Memoli was unusual both in size and how it was done Political appointees handpicked project for funding without usual reviews by career scientists w/ @celinegounder.com www.cbsnews.com/news/covid-f...cbsnews.comHHS redirects $500 million to Trump appointee's vaccine project, bypassing reviewsThe Department of Health and Human Services said it is redirecting funding from what it calls a wasteful Biden-era project on next-generation COVID vaccines. 32925
Alexander Tin @alexander-a-tin.bsky.social · 30/04/2025Early CDC data suggests that diabetes mortality has dropped to some of lowest levels in years, after surge during COVID-19 "While diabetes-related death rates have decreased since 2021, they have not returned to pre-pandemic levels" www.cbsnews.com/news/diabete...cbsnews.comDiabetes deaths fall to lowest levels in years, in early CDC figuresDeaths from diabetes increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. 193
Alexander Tin @alexander-a-tin.bsky.social · 30/04/2025Some news from Major Garrett's intv of Dr Marty Makary - sounds like FDA now looking at whether it will still approve updates to COVID shots for next winter - "really excited" to have Tracy Beth Høeg in process, when asked about her role in Novavax approval www.cbsnews.com/news/fda-cov... 4114
Alexander Tin @alexander-a-tin.bsky.social · 29/04/2025After FDA cuts to inspections and drug safety A handful of support staff, and labs in Detroit and San Juan, were told in recent days that their layoffs would be reversed This could mark one of first major reversals to Secy Kennedy's layoffs to date www.cbsnews.com/news/fda-to-...cbsnews.comFDA to undo some layoffs, after cuts to inspections and drug safetySome FDA scientists and inspections staff were told that their layoffs may be rescinded. 23314
Alexander Tin @alexander-a-tin.bsky.social · 25/04/2025An HHS official has told us same, that they "are not creating an autism registry" tinalexander.github.io/notes/2025/0... It contradicts what NIH's director had told agency's advisers days ago, in a presentation about Secy Kennedy's autism research effort www.cbsnews.com/news/health-... 0171
Alexander Tin @alexander-a-tin.bsky.social · 24/04/2025The CDC's bird flu guidance has not changed under Secy Kennedy, the agency and states tell us, despite social media rumors otherwise Testing is still being offered. California is offering $25 gift cards at clinics near farms with bird flu www.cbsnews.com/news/bird-fl...cbsnews.comCDC and California offer $25 gift cards to encourage bird flu testingCalifornia officials said bird flu testing has not stopped, despite social media rumors. 1163
Alexander Tin @alexander-a-tin.bsky.social · 24/04/2025In interviews, FDA Commissioner Makary has repeatedly claimed no scientists were laid off at his agency We spoke to laid-off scientists in some of FDA's food safety labs that were gutted by layoffs "That just made me so mad," one laid-off scientist told us www.cbsnews.com/news/fda-hea...cbsnews.com 611948