iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

April Kaur, PhD (she/they) @aprilkaur.bsky.social · 13/05/2025

Call to action! Tell the FDA that COVID vaccines must remain universally available, aligned with future variants, and available twice a year. tinyurl.com/fdavaccinemeeting

Submit Public
Comment to the FDA on COVID Vaccine
Access by May 14th at
12 pm ET.
Tell the FDA VRBPAC that COVID vaccines must remain universally available, aligned with future variants, and available twice a year.
Scan QR for Instructions:
Submit a public comment via
Federal Register at tinyurl.com/
fdavaccinemeeting
People's
CDC

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Reposted by April Kaur, PhD (she/they)

Voices for Vaccines @voices4vaccines.bsky.social · 21/04/2025

"HPV cancers are treatable but, as my oncologist told me, they have one of the nastiest courses of treatment in the oncology field." Prevention over treatment. www.voicesforvaccines.org/i-struggled-...

voicesforvaccines.org

I Struggled with HPV-Related Cancer. Our Kids Don’t Have To.

HPV cancers don’t have to overshadow the next generation if we vaccinate our young people now.

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Reposted by April Kaur, PhD (she/they)

Ian Weissman, DO @drianweissman.bsky.social · 19/04/2025

Before Friday, Covid.gov was a tool to connect people to information about Covid vaccines, treatment, testing and long Covid. The website helped people find pharmacies and community health centers that offered Covid tests, medical visits and medications. www.nbcnews.com/health/healt...

nbcnews.com

White House replaces Covid resource page with lab leak website

The move comes after the Trump administration slashed billions in Covid funding on the grounds that “the pandemic is over.”

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April Kaur, PhD (she/they) @aprilkaur.bsky.social · 01/03/2025

Seattle: March for Trans Youth Care TOMORROW March 2nd starting at Ballard Locks at 12pm Trans rights are human rights. linktr.ee/hcw4transyouth

Flyer advertising the March for Trans Youth Care taking place in Seattle March 2nd at 12pm at Ballard Locks. Link for more information: https://linktr.ee/hcw4transyouth

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Reposted by April Kaur, PhD (she/they)

Steven Pergam, MD, MPH @pergamic.bsky.social · 28/02/2025

Does “radical transparency” mean not allowing open forums, discussion, modification and or dissent? Transparency isn’t developing policies in the dark When he actively prevents public debate, we can expect policies that will be radical and unpopular. www.statnews.com/2025/02/28/r...

statnews.com

RFK Jr. moves to eliminate public comment in HHS decisions

HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. moved to rescind the longtime practice of giving the public a chance to comment on the health agency’s plans.

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April Kaur, PhD (she/they) @aprilkaur.bsky.social · 28/02/2025

Important discussion with our esteemed colleague Linda Gail Bekker who has dedicated her entire career to reducing harms of HIV & TB in the most vulnerable groups

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Reposted by April Kaur, PhD (she/they)

Angie Rasmussen @angierasmussen.bsky.social · 28/02/2025

Ending virology and vaccine research is far more dangerous than virology and vaccine research itself. We can mitigate risks in the lab, but we can’t mitigate the catastrophic risk of being unprepared and defenseless against emerging viruses.

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Reposted by April Kaur, PhD (she/they)

Kristian G. Andersen @kgandersen.bsky.social · 27/02/2025

It is worth paying close attention to the new bill "Dangerous Viral Gain of Function Research Moratorium Act" introduced by Senator Roger Marshall. If enacted, it will effectively stop all of virological research, including for vaccines. www.marshall.senate.gov/wp-content/u... 🧵👇

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Reposted by April Kaur, PhD (she/they)

BK. Titanji @boghuma.bsky.social · 27/02/2025

86 children and 19000 adults have died from flu this season in the U.S. and that's with a vaccine. If we have no vaccines come September these numbers will increase. www.nbcnews.com/health/healt...

nbcnews.com

FDA cancels meeting to select flu strains for next season's shots

The canceled meeting comes just days after a CDC vaccine advisory committee meeting was abruptly postponed.

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Reposted by April Kaur, PhD (she/they)

Joseph Cherabie MD MSc (They/He) @jncherabiemd.bsky.social · 27/02/2025

Fake hypotheticals about trans ppl forcing themselves into ppls bathrooms do not outweigh the VERY real discrimination against one of our most vulnerable populations, our trans community. Your issue is with men, not with trans ppl, stop punishing the wrong ppl www.nytimes.com/2025/02/27/u...

nytimes.com

Iowa Lawmakers Pass Bill to Eliminate Transgender Civil Rights Protections

If signed by Gov. Kim Reynolds, the Republican-backed measure would eliminate state civil rights protections for transgender Iowans.

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Reposted by April Kaur, PhD (she/they)

Katie Mack @astrokatie.com · 26/02/2025

The first measles death in the US in a decade -- the tragic, preventable death of a child whose parents chose not to protect them with vaccination -- should spark an immediate nation-wide campaign to ensure all children are protected against preventable diseases. Anything less is unconscionable.

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April Kaur, PhD (she/they) @aprilkaur.bsky.social · 27/02/2025

Nothing like finding out via social media that a major study you’ve been working on has been stopped…

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April Kaur, PhD (she/they) @aprilkaur.bsky.social · 25/02/2025

“I don't think we have any choice but to speak up. Self-censorship is its own way of setting back science.” 💯 www.positivelyaware.com/articles/lay...

positivelyaware.com

Lay low or mobilize? HIV researchers agonize over how to respond to Trump administration’s attacks on science

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April Kaur, PhD (she/they) @aprilkaur.bsky.social · 23/02/2025

We, the undersigned, citizens of Canada, call upon the Prime Minister to revoke Elon Musk's dual citizenship status, and revoke his Canadian passport effective immediately www.ourcommons.ca/petitions/en...

ourcommons.ca

Petition e-5353 - Petitions

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Reposted by April Kaur, PhD (she/they)

ProPublica @propublica.org · 20/02/2025

NEW: Pregnancy became far more dangerous in Texas after the state banned abortion, according to ProPublica’s first-of-its-kind analysis, which found the sepsis rate for women hospitalized as they miscarried in the 2nd trimester shot up by more than 50%. propub.li/43487Tj

propub.li

Texas Banned Abortion. Then Sepsis Rates Soared.

ProPublica’s first-of-its-kind analysis is the most detailed look yet into a rise in life-threatening complications for women experiencing pregnancy loss under Texas’ abortion ban.

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Reposted by April Kaur, PhD (she/they)

BK. Titanji @boghuma.bsky.social · 14/02/2025

It is really short-sighted and stupid to be gutting public health and outbreak surveillance capacity right now: - H5N1 nationwide - uncontrolled - TB in Kansas - largest U.S outbreak - Measles in Texas - Expanding - Seasonal flu - Worst in 15 years - Pertussis - outbreaks in multiple states.

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Reposted by April Kaur, PhD (she/they)

Raquel Willis @raquelwillis.com · 13/02/2025

The Stonewall Riots happened because trans people, particularly of color, rose up against state violence. You can’t even begin to tell the story without our trans ancestors and elders. www.nytimes.com/2025/02/13/n...

nytimes.com

U.S. Park Service Strikes Transgender References From Stonewall Website

The “T” was removed in references to L.G.B.T.Q.+ on the official site for the Greenwich Village monument, which marks a milestone in the fight for gay rights.

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Reposted by April Kaur, PhD (she/they)

Juan Michael Porter II @juanmichaelii.bsky.social · 12/02/2025

Dr. Janet Mitchell is an HIV Hero! www.thebody.com/hiv/janet-mi... I commissioned & edited this article by Tim Murphy last Aug after he wrote about ACTG 076―which Mitchell helped lead―a study showing that people w HIV could give birth to babies w/o transmitting the virus. Happy Black History Month!

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Reposted by April Kaur, PhD (she/they)

Andrea Junker @strandjunker.com · 13/02/2025

DISEASES ERADICATED OR DECIMATED BY SCIENCE: 1. Chickenpox 2. Diphtheria 3. Measles 4. Pertussis 5. Pneumococcal Infection 6. Polio 7. Tetanus 8. Typhoid 9. Yellow Fever 10. Smallpox DISEASES ERADICATED OR DECIMATED BY RFK JR. OR PRAYER: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

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Reposted by April Kaur, PhD (she/they)

BK. Titanji @boghuma.bsky.social · 13/02/2025

I am worried about: - the future of vaccines - the unchecked spread of bird flu - the suppression of public health voices - the rolling back HIV care access - the assault on science and researchers Today more than ever, I am worried about these things and the threat to our collective health.

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April Kaur, PhD (she/they) @aprilkaur.bsky.social · 13/02/2025

I worked on RTS,S which is good, but not this good. Exciting news!

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Reposted by April Kaur, PhD (she/they)

The Lancet Respiratory Medicine @lancetrespirmed.bsky.social · 13/02/2025

🗞️News 📰Historic #TB outbreak a wake-up call for US policy makers Written by @bryantfurlow.bsky.social tinyurl.com/8u6nmf4a #EndTB #TBsky #tuberculosis @theunion-tblh.bsky.social

Image shows a quote from the piece on how the Kansas outbreak should be a wake up call for what can happen when we divert resources away from public health

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Reposted by April Kaur, PhD (she/they)

BK. Titanji @boghuma.bsky.social · 10/02/2025

Everyone I know who works in academia right now is incredibly stressed. Please be kind,show some patience, reach out to your friends and colleagues, and offer support 🧡. Educate yourself on what is at stake, find a channel for advocacy you can engage in consistently, and add your voice.

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Reposted by April Kaur, PhD (she/they)

Oni Blackstock, MD MHS @oniblackstock.bsky.social · 07/02/2025

✨ Today, February 7th, is National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day #NBHAAD. Sharing a recent article about why Black cis women make up 50% of new HIV diagnoses among cis women & are 10 times more likely to have an HIV diagnosis than their White counterparts. www.unclosetedmedia.com/p/the-hiv-cr...

unclosetedmedia.com

The HIV Crisis People Aren't Talking About: Why Black Women Are 10 Times More at Risk

Black women make up 50% of new HIV diagnoses among women and are 10 times more likely to have an HIV diagnosis than their White counterparts. Why?

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Reposted by April Kaur, PhD (she/they)

GLAAD @glaad.bsky.social · 07/02/2025

Today, on National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, we honor the strength and activism of Black communities in the fight against HIV. This day serves as a powerful reminder to continue breaking down stigma, increasing access to care, and promoting education to end the epidemic

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Reposted by April Kaur, PhD (she/they)

Tania J. Spencer @taniaspencer.bsky.social · 07/02/2025

1/ "A new study of almost 1.2 million people in Hong Kong demonstrates the protective effect of COVID-19 vaccination against long COVID, and suggests that the more doses people have had the less likely they experience long-term symptoms related to the virus:": www.cidrap.umn.edu/covid-19/new...

cidrap.umn.edu

New large study indicates vaccines protective against long COVID

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Reposted by April Kaur, PhD (she/they)

Prof Gavin Yamey MD MPH @gavinyamey.bsky.social · 06/02/2025

Malaria will resurge The President’s Malaria Initiative—suspended by Trump—is the #1 funder of malaria control Our study of 75 malaria resurgence events found that almost all were due to the control program being weakened—usually from funding cuts malariajournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10....

malariajournal.biomedcentral.com

Malaria resurgence: a systematic review and assessment of its causes - Malaria Journal

Background Considerable declines in malaria have accompanied increased funding for control since the year 2000, but historical failures to maintain gains against the disease underscore the fragility o...

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Reposted by April Kaur, PhD (she/they)

Eric Topol @erictopol.bsky.social · 06/02/2025

The immune response from the Covid boosters introduced last September is holding up very well against current circulating variants 👍https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(25)00058-1/fulltext

thelancet.com

KP.2-based monovalent mRNA vaccines robustly boost antibody responses to SARS-CoV-2

In response to the ongoing evolution of SARS-CoV-2, vaccine manufacturers have released updated COVID-19 vaccines annually since 2022. For much of 2024, the global spread was dominated by the JN.1 lin...

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Reposted by April Kaur, PhD (she/they)

AVAC @avac.org · 06/02/2025

US investment in HIV prevention reduces the risk of new variants by supporting 90% of initial PrEP doses globally. 🌎 With 53% fewer infections in '23 than in '10, US #ForeignAid for HIV is stopping the virus in its tracks—and protecting #PublicHealth. @gappdc.bsky.social @theglobalfight.bsky.social

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Reposted by April Kaur, PhD (she/they)

Helen Branswell 🇨🇦 @helenbranswell.bsky.social · 06/02/2025

Moving defense of childhood #vaccines by Vanderbilt vaccine expert Kathy Edwards in JAMA. Stunning that so many people fear the tools that prevent children from dying and being maimed, rather than the pathogens that resurge when vaccine use declines. jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...

jamanetwork.com

Reflections on the Successes of Pediatric Vaccines

This Viewpoint discusses the importance of early and continued vaccine use in the US.

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April Kaur, PhD (she/they) @aprilkaur.bsky.social · 06/02/2025

Canada, we have a childhood vaccination problem. (a short article by Dr. Charu Kaushic & @drcchambers.bsky.social) cihr-irsc.gc.ca/e/54192.html

cihr-irsc.gc.ca

Getting back on track with childhood vaccinations - CIHR

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Reposted by April Kaur, PhD (she/they)

Jenn @jennburrill.bsky.social · 03/02/2025

Measles spreading across the Texas border into New Mexico... Despite the U.S. officially eliminating measles in 2000 after decades of vaccinations, "The occurrence of outbreaks has been increasing, with more than 286 cases in 31 states and Washington D.C." sourcenm.com/briefs/texas...

sourcenm.com

Texas measles outbreak puts New Mexico health officials on alert • Source New Mexico

New Mexico health officials are checking New Mexico residents for possible exposure to measles, following two cases reported in Texas.

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Reposted by April Kaur, PhD (she/they)

European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control @ecdc.europa.eu · 04/02/2025

Today is #WorldCancerDay! #DYK that #vaccines can prevent infections that lead to certain types of cancer? The #HPV vaccine protects against a virus linked to cervical, throat & other cancers, while the #HepatitisB vaccine helps prevent chronic liver infections that can lead to liver cancer.

youtu.be

How vaccines can protect from cancers: HPV & Hepatitis B | European Vaccination Information Portal

YouTube video by ECDC

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Reposted by April Kaur, PhD (she/they)

Fred Hutch Office of Community Outreach & Engagement @enddisparities.bsky.social · 04/02/2025

Launching Season 5 of our Cancer Health Equity Now podcast! Join us for a conversation about cervical health, HPV vaccines, and breaking down cultural barriers. Listen here: bit.ly/OCOEpodcast or search Cancer Health Equity Now wherever you listen to podcasts.

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Reposted by April Kaur, PhD (she/they)

Tina Termini @cterminiphd.bsky.social · 31/01/2025

We are in charge of taking extra steps to invite exceptional scientists to speak & lead, who are from diverse backgrounds. Speak up & speak out - science cannot afford to undo the progress we have made in creating diverse, inclusive, equitable, & accessible environments.

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Ilan Schwartz @germhuntermd.bsky.social · 01/12/2024

I’m old enough to remember the catastrophic toll of HIV/AIDS denial by South African President Thabo Mbeki, which led to >300,000 AIDS deaths. I never thought that 20 years later, an HIV/AIDS denialist would be tapped for the helm of health policy in the US. RFK Jr MUST be rejected #WorldAIDSDay

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Steven Pergam, MD, MPH @pergamic.bsky.social · 29/01/2025

COVID-19 isn’t influenza despite what other others try to tell you. It is worse. But - “Vaccination attenuated differences in disease severity and long-term mortality” Strong data from the VA jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...

jamanetwork.com

Severity and Long-Term Mortality of COVID-19, Influenza, and Respiratory Syncytial Virus

This cohort study assesses the severity and long-term mortality of COVID-19, influenza, and respiratory syncytial virus in a large cohort of nonhospitalized veterans.

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