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Meg Tirrell

@megtirrell.bsky.social
8.8K followers 424 following 329 posts

CNN medical correspondent Signal: MegTirrell.60

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Meg Tirrell @megtirrell.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
RFK Jr. tells DC conf of Children's Health Defense, the anti-vaccine group he formerly led: "You have a strong and steadfast friend at the White House." Cites: -reconstituting ACIP -actions on thimerosal, MMRV, Covid, hep B vaccines -overhaul of childhood vaccine schedule -vaccine safety task force
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Meg Tirrell @megtirrell.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
A 40-year-old woman died of measles complications in Jefferson County, PA. This is the third death connected to measles in the state's outbreak (one in dispute), which has reached 676 cases, 108 in the last week: www.cnn.com/2026/09/13/h...
cnn.com
Adult woman dies of measles complications in growing Pennsylvania outbreak | CNN
A 40-year-old woman who lived in Jefferson County, Pennsylvania, has died from measles complications, the county coroner confirmed Sunday. It’s the third measles-associated death in a fast-growing out...
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Meg Tirrell @megtirrell.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
Two people have died from measles in Pennsylvania. Both were unvaccinated. They're the first measles deaths in PA in 35 years, and the first reported in the US from the disease in 2026. www.cnn.com/2026/08/25/h...
cnn.com
Two people in Pennsylvania have died from measles | CNN
Two people have died due to measles in Pennsylvania, the state Department of Health said Tuesday. Both individuals were unvaccinated.
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Meg Tirrell @megtirrell.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
FDA approves Moderna’s mRNA flu shot for adults 50+: www.cnn.com/2026/08/05/h...
cnn.com
FDA approves first mRNA-based flu vaccine | CNN
The US Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday approved the United States’ first mRNA-based flu vaccine for adults 50 and older, drugmaker Moderna said.
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Meg Tirrell @megtirrell.bsky.social · 14/07/2026
It's not just you: the bugs are, indeed, getting worse: www.cnn.com/2026/07/14/h...
cnn.com
The bugs are getting worse | CNN
Because of climate, weather, acorn abundance (yes, really) and decisions about land use dating to colonial times, the bugs are indeed getting worse.
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Meg Tirrell @megtirrell.bsky.social · 09/06/2026
Measles outbreak in Virginia has now reached 83 cases (106 total for 2026, not all related to this outbreak), centered in Buckingham County. 98% of total 2026 cases were unvaccinated or had unknown vaccination status. 7 people have been hospitalized www.vdh.virginia.gov/measles/
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Meg Tirrell @megtirrell.bsky.social · 20/05/2026
The US, through BARDA, is coordinating shipment of an experimental antibody treatment for potential use in high-risk Americans exposed to #ebola, HHS tells CNN While they didn't name the treatment, Mapp's MBP134 has shown activity in animal studies against Bundibugyo strain
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Meg Tirrell @megtirrell.bsky.social · 06/05/2026
Dr Nicole Saphier, Trump’s 3rd nominee for surgeon general, tweeted in March that it “Seems like [the administration] may not want to admit the U.S. Measles elimination status is gone until after midterm elections” She’s since deleted that, along w other critical posts www.cnn.com/2026/05/06/p...
cnn.com
Exclusive: Deleted tweets reveal new surgeon general pick criticized Trump and RFK Jr. health policies | CNN Politics
Just two months before she was selected as President Donald Trump’s nominee for surgeon general, Dr. Nicole Saphier suggested the administration was hiding that measles was spreading widely enough in ...
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Meg Tirrell @megtirrell.bsky.social · 02/05/2026
Any wearables experts out there? Just played an awesome* morning of tennis and my Apple Watch says it was 11,400 steps while Fitbit Inspire 3 says 18,000. Same wrist. 🤷🏻‍♀️ *may not denote quality of play
A Fitbit and Apple Watch side by side on a wrist, the Fitbit showing 18,000 steps, the Apple Watch showing 11,428
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Meg Tirrell @megtirrell.bsky.social · 30/04/2026
Trump pulls nomination of Dr Casey Means for surgeon general and nominates Dr Nicole Saphier as third pick www.cnn.com/2026/04/30/p...
cnn.com
Trump pulls his surgeon general pick and makes third nomination for the role | CNN Politics
President Donald Trump announced Wednesday that he’s nominating Dr. Nicole B. Saphier for surgeon general, pulling his previous pick, Casey Means, whose nomination had been stalled on Capitol Hill.
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Meg Tirrell @megtirrell.bsky.social · 23/04/2026
A key question about Trump’s nominee for CDC director, Dr. Erica Schwartz, is how much autonomy she’ll have to operate under RFK Jr. Kennedy gave some conflicting responses on that to lawmakers over multiple days of testimony: www.cnn.com/2026/04/22/p...
cnn.com
RFK Jr. faces series of contentious congressional hearings | CNN Politics
HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. faced lawmakers on Capitol Hill in a series of seven congressional hearings, covering a range of topics from vaccine guidance to videos of the secretary with Kid Ro...
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Meg Tirrell @megtirrell.bsky.social · 21/04/2026
Moderna gets approval in Europe for world’s first combo covid/flu vaccine, for people age 50+: feeds.issuerdirect.com/news-release...
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Meg Tirrell @megtirrell.bsky.social · 16/04/2026
Trump nominates former deputy Surgeon General Dr. Erica Schwartz as CDC director: www.cnn.com/2026/04/16/h...
cnn.com
Trump picks Dr. Erica Schwartz to lead CDC | CNN
President Donald Trump is nominating a former Coast Guard officer and public health official to lead the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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Meg Tirrell @megtirrell.bsky.social · 23/02/2026
Abraham, who was sworn in as principal deputy director of CDC Dec. 15, has stepped down effective immediately. CDC says he "chose to step down to address unforeseen family obligations" www.cnn.com/2026/02/23/h...
cnn.com
CDC deputy director abruptly departs agency | CNN
Dr. Ralph Abraham has stepped down as principal deputy director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the agency said Monday.
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Meg Tirrell @megtirrell.bsky.social · 11/02/2026
FDA refuses to review Moderna’s mRNA flu vaccine application, company says www.cnn.com/2026/02/10/h...
cnn.com
FDA refuses to review Moderna’s application for mRNA flu vaccine, company says | CNN
The US Food and Drug Administration has refused to accept an application from Moderna to review its first mRNA seasonal flu vaccine, the company said Tuesday, in another setback for the technology tha...
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Meg Tirrell @megtirrell.bsky.social · 06/02/2026
FDA Commissioner Marty Makary tells @cnn.com's Brianna Keilar that Hims & Hers compounded semaglutide pill "appears to be crossing that line" of being a mass-marketed copycat drug "We're looking at it very carefully, and if we do see the violations that we're suspecting, we will take swift action"
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Meg Tirrell @megtirrell.bsky.social · 27/01/2026
With 89 new measles cases reported Tuesday, South Carolina’s outbreak has now surpassed the size of last year’s record-breaking one in West Texas: www.cnn.com/2026/01/27/h...
cnn.com
South Carolina measles outbreak is largest in US since measles was declared eliminated | CNN
The fast-growing measles outbreak in South Carolina is now the largest in the United States since the disease was declared eliminated in this country more than two decades ago.
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Meg Tirrell @megtirrell.bsky.social · 17/01/2026
South Carolina measles outbreak is growing incredibly fast. Another 124 cases reported Friday to a total of 558. 531 people in quarantine dph.sc.gov/news/friday-...
dph.sc.gov
FRIDAY MEASLES UPDATE: DPH Reports 124 New Measles Cases in Upstate, Bringing Outbreak total to 558, Additional School and Public Exposures | South Carolina Department of Public Health
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:Jan. 16, 2026
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Meg Tirrell @megtirrell.bsky.social · 13/01/2026
South Carolina adds 124 new measles cases since Friday - cases in the state have doubled in the last week, now to 434. 409 people are in quarantine: dph.sc.gov/news/tuesday...
dph.sc.gov
TUESDAY MEASLES UPDATE: DPH Reports 124 New Measles Cases in Upstate, New Public Exposures, and Upcoming Vaccination Opportunities | South Carolina Department of Public Health
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:Jan. 13, 2026COLUMBIA, S.C. ― The South Carolina Department of Public Health (DPH) is reporting 124 new cases of measles in the state since Friday, bringing the total number of c...
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Meg Tirrell @megtirrell.bsky.social · 09/01/2026
South Carolina's 99 measles cases Friday come on top of 26 Tuesday - the last time the US recorded 100+ cases in a week was at the height of the West Texas outbreak in March/April 2025: www.cnn.com/2026/01/08/h...
cnn.com
South Carolina measles cases jump 68% in one week amid holiday activities and lagging vaccination | CNN
The first measles cases hit last fall, and the South Carolina health department declared an outbreak at the start of October. Now, more than 300 cases have been reported over the past few months, and ...
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Meg Tirrell @megtirrell.bsky.social · 09/01/2026
South Carolina adds 99 new measles cases since Tuesday, bringing total in its outbreak to 310. State epidemiologist tells us holiday gatherings, low vaccination rates are contributing: dph.sc.gov/news/friday-...
dph.sc.gov
FRIDAY MEASLES UPDATE: DPH Reports 99 New Measles Cases in Upstate, Bringing Outbreak total to 310 | South Carolina Department of Public Health
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:Jan. 9, 2026
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Meg Tirrell @megtirrell.bsky.social · 08/01/2026
Really enjoyed this conversation with @stephenvliu.bsky.social & @nealaugenstein.bsky.social - thank you!
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Meg Tirrell @megtirrell.bsky.social · 08/01/2026
Nobody knows more about rare diseases than parents of kids who have them. My friend and former CNBC colleague Becky Quick this morning launched a new project focused on them, starting by sharing her family’s story: www.cnbc.com/video/2026/0...
cnbc.com
CNBC Cures: Understanding rare disease
CNBC's Becky Quick discuss the launch of CNBC Cures, a new initiative focused on raising awareness for rare diseases and improving outcomes for people who have them.
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Meg Tirrell @megtirrell.bsky.social · 07/01/2026
RFK Jr et al's new, inverted food pyramid: www.cnn.com/2026/01/07/h...
cnn.com
New US dietary guidelines urge less sugar, more protein – and make a nod to beef tallow | CNN
New US dietary guidelines released Wednesday echo past advice, but also include some nods to US Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s “Make America Healthy Again” movement — urgi...
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Meg Tirrell @megtirrell.bsky.social · 05/01/2026
HHS & CDC are editing the US childhood vaccine schedule to resemble other countries', ie Denmark's - Routine recommendations remain for: diphtheria tetanus pertussis Hib pneumococcal conjugate polio measles, mumps, rubella HPV (1 dose vs 2) chickenpox (1/2)
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Reposted by Meg Tirrell
CNN @cnn.com · 12/12/2025
The FDA is finalizing plans to put a "black box" warning on Covid-19 vaccines, sources tell CNN, its most serious alert meant to warn about drug risks. cnn.it/4rRBxy5
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Meg Tirrell @megtirrell.bsky.social · 06/12/2025
You know you’re of a certain age when you find yourself traveling and really excited to get home to your really awesome humidifier
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Meg Tirrell @megtirrell.bsky.social · 05/12/2025
CNN is live again from day 2 of the CDC's meeting of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, which is scheduled to vote this AM on the hepatitis B vaccine universal birth dose recommendation. Follow along here, on the CNN app and on TV: www.cnn.com/health/live-...
cnn.com
Live updates: CDC advisers to vote on hepatitis B vaccine practice | CNN
Vaccine advisers to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are meeting today on what could be a major change to the childhood vaccination schedule. Follow here for live updates.
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Meg Tirrell @megtirrell.bsky.social · 04/12/2025
CNN is live from the CDC for the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) meeting, where today a vote is scheduled on whether to abandon the universal recommendation for a hepatitis B vaccine newborn dose. Follow live updates here, on the CNN app and on TV: www.cnn.com/health/live-...
cnn.com
Live updates: CDC vaccine advisors meeting to discuss childhood vaccine schedule | CNN
Vaccine advisers to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are meeting today, and they could vote on possible changes to the childhood vaccination schedule. Follow here for live updates fro...
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Meg Tirrell @megtirrell.bsky.social · 12/11/2025
President Trump & his health officials have been calling to split the MMR vaccine into 3 shots. In a new CNN Explains episode, we look at what this might mean - using history as a guide: www.cnn.com/videos/title...
MMR Vaccines
President Trump and his health officials have called for the MMR vaccine to be split into three separate shots. Public health experts warn this is a bad idea - and they know because we've been here before. Here's what happened.
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Meg Tirrell @megtirrell.bsky.social · 30/10/2025
Confirmation hearing for Trump’s surgeon general nominee, Casey Means, is postponed… as she goes into labor From @owermohle.bsky.social www.cnn.com/2025/10/30/h...
cnn.com
Confirmation hearing delayed for Trump’s surgeon general nominee as she goes into labor with her first child | CNN
The Senate hearing for President Donald Trump’s nominee for surgeon general, Dr. Casey Means, is postponed as the nominee goes into labor with her first child, according to a Senate Health, Education ...
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Meg Tirrell @megtirrell.bsky.social · 18/10/2025
Trump suggested he might get GLP-1 prices down to $150 Oz warned it’s not a done deal But what if it was? www.cnn.com/2025/10/17/h...
cnn.com
Trump’s $150 Ozempic? Oz cautions it’s not a done deal, but patients and doctors say it could be a gamechanger | CNN
Doctors called it “huge for patients,” if true. Patients who’ve struggled to afford the pricey medicines shared hope the price could be reached. Stocks of Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly fell significantly...
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Meg Tirrell @megtirrell.bsky.social · 11/10/2025
President Trump got an updated Covid vaccine & flu shot at Walter Reed today www.cnn.com/2025/10/10/p...
cnn.com
Trump received Covid vaccine and flu shot during second physical of the year | CNN Politics
President Donald Trump received a Covid vaccine and flu shot during his visit to Walter Reed Medical Center on Friday, his physician said in a memo released by the White House.
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Meg Tirrell @megtirrell.bsky.social · 10/10/2025
In AstraZeneca drug pricing announcement just now, Trump said some of its meds would get discounts of as much as 654% through TrumpRx Which is mathematically impossible But @ddale8.bsky.social looked into this before - and got the White House to explain its math: www.cnn.com/2025/09/23/p...
"We pressed the White House to specifically address Trump’s promised “1,000%” decrease. His team responded only on condition of anonymity. This time, they said they had an example: in 2023, a certain drug was listed for $521 in the US versus just $45 in Australia, so the US price was roughly 1,000% higher.

But reducing the US price of this drug from $521 to $45 would be a 91% decrease, not a 1,000% cut. If the president wanted to say that some drugs cost 1,000% more in the US than in other countries, he could simply say that; instead, he has stuck with the phony claim of a looming 1,000% cut."
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Meg Tirrell @megtirrell.bsky.social · 09/10/2025
Love the thought, West Elm, but what kind of tennis game has this many players on the court?
Pillow being sold by West Elm that features a tennis court with at least three players on each side, plus more around the edges
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Meg Tirrell @megtirrell.bsky.social · 06/10/2025
If you tuned in to last month’s ACIP mtg, there was a weird moment when a presenter invited by RFK Jr’s ACIP said that his research grant had been canceled abruptly, so he could only present preliminary results It then got weirder; HHS denied it Here’s the whole story www.cnn.com/2025/10/04/h...
cnn.com
RFK Jr.’s HHS killed a research grant to investigate vaccine safety, then asked the researcher to publicly present results | CNN
About 90 seconds into his presentation on Covid-19 vaccine safety at a closely watched meeting of advisers to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention last month, Dr. Bruce Carleton made a st...
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Meg Tirrell @megtirrell.bsky.social · 30/09/2025
Pfizer's stock rose 6.83% today after its drug pricing deal with the White House That added about $9.3B in market value
Stock chart of Pfizer, showing shares rose 6.83% to end the day at $25.48, with a market cap of $144.87 billion
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Meg Tirrell @megtirrell.bsky.social · 30/09/2025
TrumpRx program promises discounts of 40-85% for Americans buying drugs directly from manufacturers White House fact sheet says discounts are off list prices Pfizer’s Xeljanz list price = $6,073/month 40% discount = $3,643/month @dusetzinas.bsky.social: “How is this a reasonable cash price?”
TrumpRx prescription drug discounts
Eucrisa- dermatitis - 80% discount 
Duavee- osteoporosis- 85% discount
Zavzpret- migraine - 50% discount
Xeljanz- rheumatoid arthritis - 40% discount
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Meg Tirrell @megtirrell.bsky.social · 25/09/2025
CNN Chief Data Analyst Harry Enten today on RFK Jr’s approval ratings
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Meg Tirrell @megtirrell.bsky.social · 24/09/2025
Trump’s directives on Tylenol on Monday, compared with communications from the FDA: www.cnn.com/2025/09/24/h...
cnn.com
Trump goes beyond his own FDA with Tylenol warning | CNN
President Donald Trump warned against Tylenol use during pregnancy, overstating its link to autism and contradicting some of the FDA’s guidance. CNN’s Meg Tirrell examines the FDA’s letter to doctors ...
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Meg Tirrell @megtirrell.bsky.social · 23/09/2025
Google search suggestions: such a snapshot of humanity
How to prepare for the rapture
How to prepare for a colonoscopy
How to prepare iPhone for trade in
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Meg Tirrell @megtirrell.bsky.social · 23/09/2025
Trump says Cuba has 'virtually no autism.' That's news to Cuban doctors, @cnn.com's Havana bureau chief reports: edition.cnn.com/2025/09/23/a...
edition.cnn.com
Trump says Cuba has ‘virtually no autism.’ That’s news to Cuban doctors | CNN
Despite what you may have heard recently and contrary to what President Trump apparently believes, there is autism in Cuba.
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Meg Tirrell @megtirrell.bsky.social · 23/09/2025
European Medicines Agency: “In the EU, paracetamol (also known as acetaminophen) can be used for reducing pain or fever during pregnancy if clinically needed. There is currently no new evidence that would require changes to the current EU recommendations for use.”
European Medicines Agency

23 September 2025
 
Use of paracetamol during pregnancy unchanged in the EU
Paracetamol medicines can be used in pregnancy, in accordance with official recommendations

In the EU, paracetamol (also known as acetaminophen) can be used for reducing pain or fever during pregnancy if clinically needed. There is currently no new evidence that would require changes to the current EU recommendations for use.

“Paracetamol remains an important option to treat pain or fever in pregnant women”, says Steffen Thirstrup, EMA’s Chief Medical Officer. “Our advice is based on a rigorous assessment of the available scientific data and we have found no evidence that taking paracetamol during pregnancy causes autism in children”.

As included in the product information for paracetamol in the EU, a large amount of data from pregnant women who used paracetamol during pregnancy indicates no risk of malformations in the developing foetus or in newborns.

In 2019, EMA reviewed available studies that investigated the neurodevelopment of children exposed to paracetamol in utero and found that the results were inconclusive and that no link with neurodevelopmental disorders could be established.[1] [2]

When needed, paracetamol can be used during pregnancy. As with any medicine for acute treatment, it should be used at the lowest effective dose, for the shortest possible time and as infrequently as possible.

Pregnant women should speak to their healthcare professional if they have questions about any medication during pregnancy.

As for all medicines, EMA and the national competent authorities in the EU will continue to monitor the safety of medicines containing paracetamol and promptly evaluate any new data as they emerge. Regulatory actions will be taken as necessary to protect public health.
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Meg Tirrell @megtirrell.bsky.social · 10/09/2025
"My sense is the administration is disregarding solid science and replacing it with whim and whimsy — substituting seed oils with beef tallow for deep-frying french fries and cane sugar for high fructose cane syrup in soda,” Gardner said. From @cnn.com's Sandee LaMotte: www.cnn.com/2025/09/10/h...
cnn.com
MAHA’s ‘Make Our Children Healthy Again’ guidance ignores root causes of poor childhood health, experts say | CNN
Experts say the latest MAHA report, which focused on children’s health, didn’t include science-backed ways or funding to improve their well-being.
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Meg Tirrell @megtirrell.bsky.social · 03/09/2025
In response to a call from President Donald Trump to make the positive impact of Covid-19 vaccines public, drug giant Pfizer posted a collection of more than 200 press releases and statements and 27 peer-reviewed data publications since early 2020: www.cnn.com/2025/09/03/h...
cnn.com
Pfizer responds to Trump’s call for Covid-19 vaccine data, says Operation Warp Speed deserves Nobel Peace Prize | CNN
In response to a call from President Donald Trump to make the positive impact of Covid-19 vaccines public, drug giant Pfizer posted a collection of more than 200 press releases and statements and 27 p...
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Meg Tirrell @megtirrell.bsky.social · 03/09/2025
Dr. Paul Offit, a prominent voice on vaccines and frequent critic of RFK Jr, is blocked from participating in FDA’s vaccine advisory committee. HHS says his special government employee status expired. Offit says FDA had asked him to stay on 2 more years: www.cnn.com/2025/09/02/h...
cnn.com
Vaccine expert who is a frequent critic of RFK Jr. is blocked from participating in FDA advisory committee | CNN
Dr. Paul Offit, a frequent critic of US Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has been blocked from participating in a panel of independent experts who advise the US Food and Drug...
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Meg Tirrell @megtirrell.bsky.social · 03/09/2025
1,000+ HHS employees (current & former) call for RFK Jr’s resignation www.cnn.com/2025/09/03/h...
cnn.com
HHS employees demand RFK Jr. resign for ‘compromising the health of this nation’ | CNN
More than 1,000 current and former employees of the US Department of Health and Human Services wrote a letter to Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Wednesday, arguing that his leadership has “put the ...
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Meg Tirrell @megtirrell.bsky.social · 08/08/2025
Nearly two dozen people developed food poisoning in Florida after consuming tainted raw milk from the same farm, state health department says (from @reportergoodman.bsky.social) www.cnn.com/2025/08/05/h...
cnn.com
Nearly two dozen people in Florida are ill after drinking raw milk from the same farm | CNN
Nearly two dozen people have developed food poisoning in Florida after consuming tainted raw milk from the same farm, according to the state’s Department of Health.
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Meg Tirrell @megtirrell.bsky.social · 29/07/2025
A major NIH grant to study ways to restore hearing was terminated by the Trump administration bc it was awarded through a DEI initiative—to a researcher who qualified bc of his own hearing loss www.cnn.com/2025/07/29/h... @manorlaboratory.bsky.social
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Meg Tirrell @megtirrell.bsky.social · 16/07/2025
Big shakeup at HHS, our new colleague @adamcancryn.bsky.social reports - RFK Jr fires chief of staff Heather Flick Melanson and deputy chief of staff for policy Hannah Anderson. Melanson had worked in first Trump admin Kennedy "lost confidence in them," sources say www.cnn.com/2025/07/16/h...
cnn.com
RFK Jr. fires top aides in HHS shakeup | CNN
US Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has fired two of his top aides in an abrupt shakeup of the leadership at the nation’s sprawling health department, two people familiar with...
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