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Julia Raifman, ScD

@juliaraifman.bsky.social
9K followers 5.5K following 284 posts

Evidence-based posts about public health & equity. All views are my own and without AI.

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Julia Raifman, ScD @juliaraifman.bsky.social · 7h
✅ Flu vaccine ✅ COVID vaccine ✅ Dino tattoo 📈 Happy for our whole family to be vaccinated amidst an early uptick in flu this year
Child’s arm with vaccine bandaid and dinosaur tattoo
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Julia Raifman, ScD @juliaraifman.bsky.social · 13h
“Board members said savings from cutting red tape, reducing fraud, and negotiating drug costs should allow the state to provide better benefits to more people” under single payer kffhealthnews.org/elections/si...
kffhealthnews.org
Midterms Have Revived Universal Healthcare Debate. These States Are Ahead of Everyone. - KFF Health News
While Democratic congressional candidates are floating the restoration of federal Affordable Care Act subsidies and Medicaid funding, Oregon officials are crafting a more ambitious plan to implement u...
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Julia Raifman, ScD @juliaraifman.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Thinking about getting a flu vaccine for yourself or family? ➡️ Now is a good time to schedule 📈 Flu season picking up early this year and hitting a bit harder in some countries Stay protected 💪
Vaccine band aid
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Julia Raifman, ScD @juliaraifman.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Thinking about getting a flu vaccine for yourself or family? ➡️ Now is a good time to schedule Flu season picking up early this year and hitting a bit harder Stay protected 💪
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Julia Raifman, ScD @juliaraifman.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Cancer is a leading cause of premature mortality It is amazing that we have vaccines against HPV & Hepatitis B + PrEP for HIV prevention that can help prevent cancer We have much work to do to increase access, including in the US — where vaccine recommendations & access are being walked back
thelancet.com
Global burden of cancer attributable to infections in 2024: a worldwide incidence analysis
Our findings highlight the importance of infection control to achieve cancer prevention. Scientifically proven, but often underused, approaches include HPV and HBV vaccination; testing and treatment o...
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Julia Raifman, ScD @juliaraifman.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
Did you know? The US health system already has far higher administrative costs relative to single-payer. AI could raise those costs Also a good example of how technology such as AI will not inherently improve health or other outcomes — how health changes depends on how people use the technology
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Reposted by Julia Raifman, ScD
KFF @kff.org · 25/09/2026
The Trump administration’s proposed Census changes would ban race and ethnicity questions, eliminating a key source of data that researchers use to understand racial and ethnic disparities in health and health care, including trends over time. on.kff.org/3T8Q5Nn
A timeline chart titled "U.S. Census Collection of Race and Ethnicity Data Have Evolved Over Time" shows the inclusion of various racial and ethnic groups in census data from 1790 to 2020. Categories listed on the left include White, Hispanic, Black, Asian, AIAN (American Indian or Alaska Native), and NHPI (Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander), among others. Dots indicate the years each category was included. The chart is sourced from KFF.
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Reposted by Julia Raifman, ScD
Liz Szabo @lizszabo.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
A survey by the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases found that while most adults support vaccines, many are unclear about which shots they need www.nfid.org/new-survey-m...
nfid.org
New Survey: Most US Adults Support Vaccines, but Many Remain Unclear About Respiratory Vaccine Recommendations
New NFID survey: most US adults support vaccines, but fewer than half tried to get a flu, COVID-19, RSV, or pneumococcal vaccine last year. Learn why.
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Julia Raifman, ScD @juliaraifman.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Happy fall! 🍁 Grateful for the policies, people, and science that brought me easy access to Covid + flu vaccines 💪
Bandaid over Covid and flu vaccines 💪🦸‍♀️
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Julia Raifman, ScD @juliaraifman.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
Right now, it is 4 measles deaths in PA & delayed COVID-19 vaccines for the 50% of kids who depend on Vaccines for Children Soon, the executive order could bring rollbacks across the board in access to key vaccines such as flu, a leading cause of child death Every comment helps — due by tomorrow ⬇️
regulations.gov
Regulations.gov
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Reposted by Julia Raifman, ScD
Kathleen Bachynski @bachynski.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
“Fiji, a Pacific island nation of fewer than one million people, recorded more than 2,000 new H.I.V. cases in 2025 — 16 times as many as in 2019, the government said in an official statement on Tuesday. One in 60 adults on the archipelago is living with the virus that causes AIDS”
nytimes.com
Fiji Declares a National Emergency as H.I.V. Cases Skyrocket
Surging drug use has contributed to an epidemic in the Pacific island nation, where one in 60 adults is estimated to be living with the virus.
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Julia Raifman, ScD @juliaraifman.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
How do fewer recommended vaccinations in Denmark affect health? Children in Denmark unfortunately have a high rate of chickenpox In the US, the varicella vaccine has led to ~4 million fewer chickenpox cases, 10-12K fewer hospitalizations, & 100-120 fewer deaths each year
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Evaluating the Impact of Moderate and Severe Varicella Infections on Danish Children Under 18 Years Old: A Comprehensive Analysis From 2015 to 2023
Varicella (chickenpox) caused by varicella-zoster virus (VZV) is a highly contagious pediatric disease. While it typically manifests as a mild disease, complications leading to hospitalization are not...
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Julia Raifman, ScD @juliaraifman.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
Science is a public good that should benefit our shared society — private markets are not sufficient to support science with the greatest potential Grateful for this critical commentary by Professor @alondra.bsky.social
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ProPublica @propublica.org · 09/09/2026
NEW: Our analysis found that from 2020 to 2025, the rate of deaths involving ectopic pregnancies nearly doubled compared with the previous six-year period. The uptick was steeper in states with abortion bans.
propublica.org
Ectopic Pregnancy Deaths Have Nearly Doubled. It’s Worse in States With Abortion Bans.
With prompt and appropriate medical care, experts say, people shouldn’t die from an ectopic pregnancy. Women in Texas and Oklahoma have sued over delays in care, which, coupled with our new analysis, ...
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Julia Raifman, ScD @juliaraifman.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
In a new pre-print, researchers identified a policy they estimate could save 114K lives + $1 Trillion per year: Medicare for All 📉 Saves administrative costs (+ time) 🩺 Improves access to care 💊 Reduces cost of meds 🌾 + Keeps rural & children’s hospitals open www.medrxiv.org/content/10.6...
Graph depicting cost savings with Medicare for All, with full description in linked paper
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Julia Raifman, ScD @juliaraifman.bsky.social · 05/09/2026
I was privileged to work on making graduate school more equitable — and the data and discussions made clear we had a long, long way to go This sets back further improvements that are much needed
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Reposted by Julia Raifman, ScD
Elizabeth Jacobs, PhD @elizabethjacobs.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
Just in time for the 2026-2027 vaccines, a new review shows that COVID19 vaccination significantly reduces the risk of severe illness and hospitalization across all age groups, including kids. Pregnant women were also protected, as were their babies. Don’t forget to schedule your vaccination!
jamanetwork.com
COVID-19 Vaccine Effectiveness and Safety for the 2026-2027 Respiratory Season
This Special Communication aims to identify and summarize the most recently published evidence evaluating the effectiveness and safety of US-licensed COVID-19 vaccines and report on the epidemiology o...
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public health guy @publichealthguy1.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
from one of the CDC flu vaccine campaigns RFK Jr. has shut down
A FLU VACCINE CAN TAKE FLU FROM
WILD (pic of lion)
To mild (pic of lil kitten)
#FIGHTFLU
CDC
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Reposted by Julia Raifman, ScD
AMA @ama-assn.org · 02/09/2026
New evidence heading into respiratory virus season: an independent review of hundreds of studies found current flu, COVID-19 and RSV immunizations are safe, effective and critical in protecting against severe illness, hospitalization and death. Learn more: spr.ly/63324B17m9g
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Julia Raifman, ScD @juliaraifman.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
Are Small Language Models a way to benefit from AI with more control over content & lower costs to energy & the environment? It seems there are many use cases, such as report writing based on an org’s own prior content to retain voice & avoid plagiarism Thanks to Joachim Klement for writing
reuters.com
The future of AI may be small, cheap and unprofitable
The AI boom is built on the idea that bigger is better. A recent study suggests the opposite may soon be true: small language models running on desktop computers may be able to handle most of the ​tas...
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Reposted by Julia Raifman, ScD
Kathleen Bachynski @bachynski.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
“I think this is really an important achievement,” said Jedd Wolchok…”It tells us what might have been considered science fiction 15 or 20 years ago —that we can produce a personalized vaccine based on sequencing from a tumor from a pathology specimen —could be used to delay progression of melanoma”
statnews.com
Moderna and Merck say mRNA cancer vaccine succeeded in late-stage melanoma trial
A personalized mRNA cancer vaccine succeeded in a late-stage melanoma study, results that could herald a new, powerful approach in oncology.
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Dr Zubaida Haque @zubhaque.bsky.social · 15/08/2026
Well said by Mayor Sadiq Khan on tragic death of #JasonArday: Arday faced "an unacceptable public hounding and campaign of abuse…He was a victim of a pernicious public shaming that other people in his position simply wouldn't have faced" www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Tributes paid to Jason Arday after ex-Cambridge professor found dead
His family said they were "in shock" to have lost him, adding a "campaign of misinformation" had been too much.
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Julia Raifman, ScD @juliaraifman.bsky.social · 15/08/2026
Heartbroken for Jason Arday, his family and community, and all inspired by him May his passing bring a clarion call to stand together against racism in all its forms, including excessive targeting of individuals
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Julia Raifman, ScD @juliaraifman.bsky.social · 10/08/2026
Who benefits from combined MMR+V (chickenpox) vaccines? “Children who received MMRV were from minoritized racial & ethnic groups; received a catch-up dose; were VFC-eligible; were vaccinated at safety-net clinics… & Might be at risk of not receiving recommended vaccines if options become limited”
jamanetwork.com
Measles-Containing Vaccine Use for Children Aged 12 to 47 Months
This cross-sectional study examines patterns of measles-containing vaccine selection for children aged 12 to 47 months in King County, Washington.
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Julia Raifman, ScD @juliaraifman.bsky.social · 10/08/2026
There have been 2,465 measles cases in 2026, a 29x increase over 85 cases in the year 2000 As the CDC website indicates, “Measles can cause severe health problems, including Swelling of the Brain, Pneumonia, & Death,” which can occur imminently or in years to come www.cdc.gov/measles/data...
Measles cases over time

Table available at: https://www.cdc.gov/measles/data-research/index.html
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Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley @pressley.house.gov · 08/08/2026
Haitian TPS holders are business owners, caregivers, faith leaders & more who are essential to our communities & economy. TY @mayorwu.boston.gov, @ruthzee.bsky.social, & every local leader joining us in urging Congress to extend TPS for Haiti. The House did its job, and now the Senate must act.
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Julia Raifman, ScD @juliaraifman.bsky.social · 02/08/2026
The health, social, & economic disruptions of the pandemic were challenging for each of us & our shared society Grateful to all who did their best to help us through this historic period May we one day have more constructive reflection on what we may learn to strengthen our collective way forward
cnbc.com
'I still have nightmares every night' — health workers struggle with PTSD symptoms as coronavirus takes toll
Health care workers are fighting a new battle regarding their mental health and well-being due to Covid-19, as deaths have recently topped 120,000 people.
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Julia Raifman, ScD @juliaraifman.bsky.social · 28/07/2026
Mitch McConnell and other members of Congress deserve paid sick leave So does everyone working in every other job
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Julia Raifman, ScD @juliaraifman.bsky.social · 26/07/2026
Grateful to Nicholas Enrich for speaking to how USAID reflects the best of us and the immense loss from its destruction May we rebuild better Looking forward to learning more from his book, Into the Wood Chipper @nenrich.bsky.social & Nancy Lindborg at Clio’s in Oakland
Nicholas Enrich discussed Into the Wood Chipper with Nancy Lindborg
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Kit Yates @kityates.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
“Millionaires including former footballer Gary Lineker and music producer Brian Eno have written to new prime minister Andy Burnham asking to be taxed more.”
bbc.co.uk
UK millionaires ask Andy Burnham to tax them more
A group including former England footballer Gary Kineker write to the new PM telling him "we can afford it".
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Apoorva Mandavilli @apoorvanyt.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
The Trump administration’s cuts to the largest global HIV program last year resulted in sharp drops in both prevention efforts and treatment for the people most at risk from the disease. www.nytimes.com/2026/07/21/h...
nytimes.com
1,700 H.I.V. Treatment Sites Closed After Trump Aid Cuts, a Study Finds (Gift Article)
New research also shows that children and high-risk adult populations have been particularly affected.
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Julia Raifman, ScD @juliaraifman.bsky.social · 14/07/2026
From Minnesota, to Maine, to the Middle East, young kids and their families deserve to be safe and supported May we shape a world in which it is so 💔❤️
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Julia Raifman, ScD @juliaraifman.bsky.social · 14/07/2026
The cyclosporiasis outbreak illustrates the importance of public health expertise, data, & systems for maintaining a good standard of living Investments in public health people & infrastructure reduce the risk of substantial costs to health, well-being, & the economy
theguardian.com
US outbreak of parasite causing ‘watery diarrhea’ rises to more than 2,800 cases
Cyclosporiasis outbreak comes a year after Trump officials cut funding for state and local health departments
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Julia Raifman, ScD @juliaraifman.bsky.social · 04/07/2026
Clothing and uniforms can be an effort to appear normal & socially acceptable Among people with extreme and violent views that should remain anything but
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Julia Raifman, ScD @juliaraifman.bsky.social · 04/07/2026
Happy 250th, USA! May we reach for the best of ourselves as we shape the next 250 I draw inspiration from this 1941 Jacob Lawrence painting celebrating new opportunities for Black children through the Great Migration Lawrence describes how policies shaped a standard of living conducive to learning
Jacob Lawrence painting and description:

With arms stretched high, these three girls reach to write numbers on a large, clean chalkboard. Their bright dresses and modern classroom suggest that these students enjoy a standard of living that allows them focus on school work. Lawrence’s picture of a childhood education in the North contrasts sharply with his depiction of underage labor in the South in panel 24, in which bare-chested children work in cotton fields under the sun.

Source: https://www.moma.org/interactives/exhibitions/2015/onewayticket/panel/58/
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Julia Raifman, ScD @juliaraifman.bsky.social · 04/07/2026
Happy 250th, USA! May we lean into the best of ourselves and shape the next 250 for the better
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Julia Raifman, ScD @juliaraifman.bsky.social · 03/07/2026
Have a happy & healthy holiday weekend ☀️ Some best practices for swim fun 💦 🛟 Choose areas with lifeguards 🏊🏽‍♀️🏊🏿‍♂️ Swim with a bud 👧🏽 Kids require 💯 adult attention in the water, no phones. Drowning happens quickly & quietly 🎈 Take turns as 💯 attentive “water watchers” in group settings Have fun 😎
Red Cross tips and image from this website: https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/types-of-emergencies/water-safety/swim-safety.html
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Alameda County Public Health Department @publichealthac.bsky.social · 30/06/2026
Happy Pride! Today & every day, Alameda County stands with our transgender, non-binary, lesbian, gay, bisexual, & queer communities. We are here for each other. If you ever need LGBTQIA+ friendly mental health support, Crisis Support Services: (800) 309-2131 Trans Lifeline: (877) 565-8860
Happy Pride! 

We stand with our transgender, non-binary, and queer communities. The diversity of Alameda County is what makes us strong.

Ways to support and uplift each other 
- Talk about mental health
- Create Safe Spaces
- Listen and Validate
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Julia Raifman, ScD @juliaraifman.bsky.social · 30/06/2026
☀️ As a heat wave hits the East Coast, sharing how to stay cool without A/C 💦 Spray bottles, wetting clothing, & cold water on feet, hands, & neck 🧊 Can freeze water bottles / ice packs / ice towels overnight & hold them 💕 & adding check on neighbors nicholasinstitute.duke.edu/project/heat...
Alt text version here: https://nicholasinstitute.duke.edu/project/heat-policy-innovation-hub/heat-safety/ways-to-keep-cool-without-air-conditioning
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Julia Raifman, ScD @juliaraifman.bsky.social · 25/06/2026
The bootcamp flu outbreak illustrates the importance of public health policies, including how policies amount to more than the sum of individual decisions Policy decisions also involve trade-offs. Few policies are fully costless Glad troops will return to an evidence-based policy with much benefit
yahoo.com
Pentagon restores mandatory flu shots for all recruits as boot camp outbreak sickens nearly 300
The Pentagon said Wednesday that boot camps for all the military services are once again requiring the flu vaccination for all recruits after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth made the shot optional for ...
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Julia Raifman, ScD @juliaraifman.bsky.social · 23/06/2026
“Ultimately, the survival of democracy depends not only on laws and constitutions, but on the behaviour of institutions & the people who lead them... The time to act is not after the collapse, but during the slow, quiet moments when resistance still has a chance to prevail.”
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Julia Raifman, ScD @juliaraifman.bsky.social · 20/06/2026
Grateful to the leaders, health care workers, & people exposed to or infected with #hantavirus @who.int, @ecdc.europa.eu, & CDC staff predominantly led with a rapid, evidence-based, & compassionate approach that made all the difference — containing the harms of this severe disease
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Julia Raifman, ScD @juliaraifman.bsky.social · 19/06/2026
Vaccines are a win-win, good for ourselves as well as our shared communities www.nytimes.com/2026/06/18/u...
nytimes.com
Scores Fall Ill at Air Force Base After Hegseth Makes Flu Vaccine Optional
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Julia Raifman, ScD @juliaraifman.bsky.social · 18/06/2026
Did you know? Monied influence groups reach into public health and medicine as well These groups recruit leaders in the field — and increasingly fund them to support their aims, especially as federal funding is so diminished idp.nature.com/authorize?re...
idp.nature.com
Epstein files reveal deeper ties to scientists than previously known
Latest batch of documents show researchers consulting the financier and sex offender on publications, visas and more.
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Julia Raifman, ScD @juliaraifman.bsky.social · 14/06/2026
Grateful to @robincogan.bsky.social for her persistence in speaking up for kids I’m so sorry to learn of her loss May we carry forward the work she championed As she shared, “Voice is not simply a professional tool. It is part of our responsibility to society.”
relentlessschoolnurse.com
The Relentless School Nurse: Experience Is Not the End of the Story: It is the Part We Carry Forward
As I write this, retirement is beginning to come into view after decades in nursing and school health. If all goes as planned, I expect to step away from my daily work at the start of 2027. Retirem…
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Alan Lester @alanlester.bsky.social · 08/06/2026
At least one journalist appreciates what’s going on with this entirely false narrative of white victimhood and is willing to take a stand. Please can we have more? www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
theguardian.com
What to do as murder is exploited to spread lies about race and privilege? Stand firm – fight back | Nesrine Malik
Too many leaders have appeased the rightwing culture warriors. In the wake of the Henry Nowak rioting, the time for a push against toxicity and untruths is now, says Guardian columnist Nesrine Malik
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Julia Raifman, ScD @juliaraifman.bsky.social · 02/06/2026
Bring back USAID www.statnews.com/2026/05/19/u...
statnews.com
Trump’s cuts to foreign aid are undermining the Ebola response, insiders say
President Trump's cuts to foreign aid probably hampered the detection of the Ebola outbreak and the response to it.
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Catherine Rampell @crampell.bsky.social · 01/06/2026
2 million fewer children were enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP as of April 2026, as compared to January 2025 when President Trump took office. ccf.georgetown.edu/2026/05/28/t...
ccf.georgetown.edu
Two Million Fewer Children are Enrolled in Medicaid Since Trump Took Office
Child uninsured rate likely on the rise Our state-by-state Medicaid/CHIP enrollment tracker now indicates that 2 million fewer children were enrolled in Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Pr...
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Julia Raifman, ScD @juliaraifman.bsky.social · 01/06/2026
Did you know? Public health is political Glad to support a California candidate for governor in favor of ✅ Single-payer health care ✅ Increasing taxes on billionaires ✅ Supporting renewable energy & voting for Tom Steyer is just the start May we keep up the work on better
Dropping off a ballot for the California primary, voting for Tom Steyer
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Julia Raifman, ScD @juliaraifman.bsky.social · 30/05/2026
Love this campaign to make Berkeley welcoming in spirit & in action 🌞 Link to donate to the yard signs campaign ➡️ donorbox.org/help-pay-for... Thank you to artist & organizer @libbington.bsky.social & @eastbayforeveryone.bsky.social
Yard sign that says “more homes more Berkeley: Welcome new neighbors” and depicts a thriving community where people & shops are busy & happy
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