President-elect Donald Trump has made a surprising choice for the nation’s top health care job by tapping Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a well-known environmental lawyer and vaccine skeptic, to lead the Department of Health and Human Services. This decision has already sparked controversy, with moderate Republicans hesitant to comment on the nomination process. Trump has even hinted at bypassing the Senate confirmation process altogether.
The global measles vaccination coverage has not fully recovered to pre-Covid levels, resulting in a 20% increase in measles cases worldwide in 2023. The World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control have released a report highlighting that more than 22 million children who should have been vaccinated last year did not receive a single dose of the vaccine. Natasha Crowcroft, the WHO’s senior technical adviser for measles and rubella, emphasized the need for a concerted effort to reach every child and address the current economic challenges hindering progress in measles eradication.
In a ray of hope for treating a deadly childhood brain cancer known as diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas (DIPG), a new CAR-T therapy has shown promising results. DIPG is a devastating brain tumor that typically afflicts young children and has a poor prognosis. While the CAR-T treatment has produced positive outcomes for some patients, including a 20-year-old named Drew who is currently in remission, there is still a long road ahead in commercializing this treatment for the limited number of DIPG patients each year.
The FDA, under the leadership of Robert Califf, has taken action on ultra-processed foods, a contentious issue in health policy. While the U.S. dietary guidelines for 2025-2030 have deferred making specific recommendations on ultra-processed foods, the FDA is actively working to reduce sodium levels in food and update definitions for “healthy” claims and front-of-package nutrition labeling. This initiative is in line with RFK Jr.’s efforts to promote a healthier America.
A recent Pew Research Center survey revealed that Americans’ trust in scientists is on the rise, but there are mixed views on their involvement in public policy. While a majority believe scientists should play an active role in policy debates, there is also a significant portion who feel scientists should focus on establishing facts rather than engaging in policymaking. Additionally, perceptions of scientists’ communication skills are not overwhelmingly positive, with many considering them socially awkward or condescending.
In other news, advancements in AI for reviewing scientific literature, the inefficiencies of scientific research, and the detection of bird flu in Oahu wastewater are among the recent headlines. The ongoing efforts to address health disparities, particularly in infant mortality rates among Black and white infants, and the intersection of chronic diseases with public health policy are also subjects of interest in the health and medical field.
