BREAKING Florida moves to end all school vaccine mandates, first in nation to do so. @davidovalle.bsky.social www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...
National health reporter, The Washington Post Lena.Sun@washpost.com; Reach me securely on Signal: LenaSun.04
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BREAKING Florida moves to end all school vaccine mandates, first in nation to do so. @davidovalle.bsky.social www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/02/b...
And here’s the story about Paul Offit and the FDA’s VRBPAC. www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...
NEW: Prominent critic of RFK Jr. blocked from FDA vaccine panel. Paul Offit, director of the Vaccine Education Center at the Children’s Hospital of Philly, is latest vaccine defender no longer serving as a fed govt expert or employee as Kennedy upends immunization policy @rachelroubein.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/01/o...
“Scientific independence is what builds trust,” said Marion Koopmans, director of pandemic and disaster preparedness center in the Netherlands. “Political interventions really erode that trust.”
“We are just taking punch after punch with nobody, even pretending to be in our corner anymore,” said one senior CDC official.
“I never have seen an instance of an advanced, affluent country with among the finest scientific resources and leaders in the world be under assault, not from small pockets of the public or people who have unusual beliefs, but from the government itself,” said Allan Brandt, Harvard historian.
NEW: The CDC has been in crisis for months. After the firing of its director, resignations of senior leaders, staff + experts are bracing for what could be death knell for public health credibility. Me + @laurenweberhp.bsky.social + @davidovalle.bsky.social www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...
Three senior leaders who resigned in protest told The Post they were asked to participate in an unscientific vaccine recommendation process that they believe could harm the health of Americans. More from @lenasun.bsky.social @laurenweberhp.bsky.social @davidovalle.bsky.social 🎁: wapo.st/46aNJB0
NEW: These CDC leaders resigned in protest. They told me why. www.washingtonpost.com/video/politi...
SCOOP BREAKING: CDC director being ousted weeks into job. Me @ddiamond @LaurenWeberHP www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...
BREAKING: FDA approves coronavirus vaccines for ‘higher risk’ people. Unclear how others will be able to get the shot. Our story, developing. www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...
NEW: First human screwworm case in years confirmed in Maryland. It is so gross but luckily it is rare in humans. www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...
Health Canada has authorized updated COVID-19 vaccines by Pfizer and BioNTech and by Moderna for use in the upcoming season. www.ctvnews.ca/health/artic...
MAHA wasn’t a response to COVID and any journalist who doesn’t understand that it *exploited COVID* intentionally, deliberately from day one should pack it in bc they’re a dupe. Cover people who want to improve nutrition if that’s what you want to talk about. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/m...
What science considers a path to a good life. A “psychologically rich life, marked by novel experiences, perspective-shifting insights and complexity, but also more discomfort and challenges than a happy life or a meaningful life.” www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/202...
“In my opinion, you shouldn’t take your age seriously,” says this 50-year-old Olympic gymnast. “You need to do what you want to do. If you feel you want to do anything and you have the power to do it, just do it despite of the age.” Gift link below. wapo.st/3JxFt5f
BREAKING: CDC security team says shooter tried to get on campus two days before Aug. 8 attack but that security stopped him, according to email sent to agency staff this afternoon. Story will update shortly. www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...
The 17-page letter from HHS staff includes about 600 signers from CDC/ATSDR and 148 from NIH. Of the 760 signers, 327 signed publicly, including 262 from CDC, according to a CDC staffer who helped with the effort.
The letter from HHS employees asks Kennedy to stop spreading inaccurate health information; affirm @CDCgov’s scientific integrity; and guarantee the safety of the HHS workforce.
The letter cites another example of RFKJr spreading inaccurate health information: “Misusing data to falsely claiming childhood vaccines are the cause of autism despite decades of research demonstrating otherwise.”
The letter says RFKJr has repeatedly spread “inaccurate health information,” including falsely claiming the measles vaccine has not been “safety tested” while promoting inappropriate prevention measures like vitamin A even as US measles cases are at their highest in 30 years;
“We, the undersigned, write to you with grave concern for America's health and security,” the letter says. “When a federal health agency is under attack, America’s health is under attack.”
This act of misinformation-fueled violence resulted in the death of a heroic police officer and terrorized public health workers nationwide,” the letter from HHS employees said.
The press release for the letter from HHS employees says: “On August 8th, 2025, a gunman fired nearly 500 bullets at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s headquarters in Atlanta, with over 180 hitting 6 buildings.”
The letter said the Aug. 8 attack on the CDC was not random. “The attack came amid growing mistrust in public institutions, driven by politicize rhetoric that has turned public health professionals from trusted experts into targets of villainization– and now violence.“
NEW: More than 750 current and former staff of HHS, including @CDCgov, and NIH, have signed a letter to RFKJr and members of Congress accusing him of endangering the lives of employees and the American people following the Aug 8 attack on the CDC. www.savehhs.org/letter/hhs-s...
"We are transparent about our funders, follow rigorous conflict-of-interest disclosures and maintain safeguards to ensure the integrity and independence of our guidance. We welcome an opportunity to sit down with the Secretary to review our recommendations and restore our seat at the table."
AAP’s Susan Kressly responds: "Our immunization recommendations are rooted in decades of peer-reviewed science by the nation's leading health experts.” (More)
UPDATED: RFK Jr. has accused the AAP of conflicts of interest and suggested it is promoting commercial ambitions of its “Big Pharma benefactors.”
NEW: Defying RFK Jr., pediatric group urges covid shots for young kids. The AAP is recommending that all children ages 6 months through 23 months receive a coronavirus vaccine to help protect against serious illness. My story. www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...
A gunman shot at the CDC, killing an officer. Trump hasn’t said a word. www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...
Here is our report on the latest in the CDC shooting. Investigators said the shooter expressed discontent with coronavirus vaccines before firing hundreds of bullets at the CDC headquarters.
Another CDC official noted that she is doing her best and hopes people can give her grace in a tough situation, and wants to do right by the agency.
In the video she sent to staff on Sunday (and was played for me), she sounded much more empathetic and unscripted.
Many employees were angry she did not elaborate on the consequences of misinformation. "Feedback from staff is a lot of anger," one staffer told me. Another described various chat strings that called it “disrespectful,” “blaming the victim.”
Her one reference to anti-vaccine rhetoric: "We know that misinformation can be dangerous, not only to health, but to those that trust us, and those we want to trust. And we need to rebuild that trust together.”
CDC Director Susan Monarez said "public health should never come under attack," noting that thousands work each day "not seeking thanks, not seeking headlines."
I obtained a recording of a brief CDC agency-wide call Tuesday about the shooting. The call did not allow for Q & A and left many employees fuming.
NEW: The CDC shooting was much worse than initially reported. 181 rounds. 150 windows hit. Staff are furious at RFK Jr. and Trump becuz their long-running fears about anti-vax rhetoric turning deadly seem to be vindicated. @laurenweberhp.bluesky.social + Me. www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...
Vivid details from inside the CDC campus as it came under gunfire and the calls to reassure employees this morning, reported by @lenasun.bsky.social who is deeply sourced in the agency. www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2025/...
CDC employees told me the shooting at CDC was much worse than initial police reports suggested. More than 40 bullets hit buildings. “It’s a miracle more people weren’t hit,” said one staffer who was locked down in a building for hours last evening.
NEW: About 40 bullets hit CDC buildings in Friday’s fatal shooting. The gunman left a note, per a source. Me, laurenweberhp.bsky.social and tobiaraji.bsky.social www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2025/...
NEW: RFK Jr has turned vaccine policy upside down. Here’s what that means for these shots. Me, @rachelroubein.bsky.social @laurenweberhp.bsky.social Gift link wapo.st/4mau4q4
Here is the link to press conference hosted by @blumenthal.senate.gov
Hi. I meant to include the link to the press conference today that featured their stories. Was presser organized by @blumenthal.senate.gov
6/ Tamika Felder, a cervical cancer survivor in Md., got sick in 2001. “Losing my fertility at age 25 felt like a death to me.” If the HPV vaccine had been available, Felder said her parents “would have made sure I was protected from that because who would want their child to get cancer one day?”
5: Jamie Schanbaum, who lives in NYC, lost both legs below the knee +her fingers after a 7-month fight with bacterial meningitis. She was 20 when she got sick on a college campus. “I just didn’t know I had to get a vaccine,” she said. “We don’t want anyone to know firsthand what meningitis is like.”
4/ Kathryn Alcaide, of Massachusetts, lost her infant son Brady to whooping cough. He was infected by someone who was unvaccinated but had no symptoms, she said. “It’s been 13 years. It’s still difficult to talk about it. It feels like just yesterday,” she said.
3/ Allison Miller, from Wisconsin, was 33, healthy, but unvaccinated, when she got the flu. In a coma for 3 months, she had permanent lung damage, lost her left leg. “I’ve spent the last decade rebuilding and reconfiguring my life, all because of what a lot of people consider ‘just the flu.”
2/ The Senate is holding a hearing on vaccine injuries. Vaccine advocates acknowledge many people who say they were injured have compelling stories. So they held a press conference presenting the other side: Losing loved ones or suffering harm from the diseases vaccines prevent. @senblumenthal
As a longtime public health reporter covering the rise of anti-vaccine groups, I have seen them use personal stories to raise doubts about vaccines. Today I saw immunization advocates push back by highlighting the stories of the toll of vaccine-preventable illness. A thread:
Trump administration officials have shown they’re willing to use govt levers—redirecting employees, spending taxpayer $, in some cases changing policy — in the service of conspiracy theories or easily disproven assertions. From Naftali Bendavid. www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
The federal health budget cuts are hurting states. “The fact that this is occurring at the same time we are seeing more measles cases in Texas than we have seen in more than 30 years makes absolutely no sense,” said top Dallas health official Philip Huang. End
Funding for state and local public health agencies, incl immunization programs, has been slashed. Public health workers have been laid off because of widespread budget cuts across federal health agencies, including CDC, which funds state and local health departments.
Measles outbreaks require vast personnel, time, dollars and clear messaging. NYC’s outbreak in 2019 cost $8.4 million with at least 550 staff involved in the response.
Anti-vax groups in Texas mobilized quickly. Many families turned to a prominent anti-vax doctor who offered unproven alternative treatments. HHS Sec RFK Jr praised that doctor and his methods in a visit to the region.
Declining trust in public health and science goes beyond vaccines. Pediatrician Nola Jean Ernest says many of her patients trust others who share their political views more than her. They have vaccinated their older kids. But not their youngest infants. “That really breaks my heart,” she says.
Texas has had the largest outbreak. The measles resurgence is a harbinger of things to come. “Once we see a resurgence of measles, we know that other diseases are going to come behind it,” says pediatrician Eric Ball.
Data from Johns Hopkins show the US hit a record 1,277 cases on July 4, exceeding reported cases in 2019, reaching largest number since 1992, when the US recorded more than 2,100 infections.
NEW: A sad milestone. U.S. measles cases reach 33-year record high as outbreaks spread. An enormous public health reversal of a vaccine-preventable disease as the anti-vax movement gains strength. My story. www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...
UPDATE (and scoop): RFK Jr.’s vaccine panel to review childhood immunization schedule. Also: He has appointed a vaccine critic to CDC’s vaccine safety office. Me + @laurenweberhp.bsky.social @washingtonpost.com
This is good and important www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...
To bypass RFK Jr., medical societies, local health officials and others are creating a shadow system to preserve vaccine access for Americans. @lenasun.bsky.social & @rachelroubein.bsky.social take us inside the counteroffensive wapo.st/3TBmtVd
NEW: The extraordinary effort behind the scenes by medical groups, state health officials, pharmacists, insurers and manufacturers to make sure Americans can keep getting vaccines covered by insurance. And bypass RFK Jr. Me + @rachel_roubein www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...
NEW: ‘I no longer have confidence’: A senior physician and medical epidemiologist at @CDCgov who oversaw respiratory virus surveillance has resigned and raised concerns about the future of vaccine policy. My latest. www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...
In defiance of President Trump’s announcement last Friday that he was firing her, Kim Sajet — the director of the Smithsonian Institution’s National Portrait Gallery — has continued to report for work.
Friendship= when you and your friend pick sour cherries together on a hot summer day and she gives you most of her haul. The before and after photos.
Oops. Meant to link to THIS story. www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...
www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...
NEW: CDC blindsided as RFK Jr. overrules its covid-19 vaccine recs in a video post on X. Kennedy sowed more confusion with a “directive” that contradicted some of info in the video. My story.
Some breaking news:
The FDA’s moves to limit updated coronavirus vaccines to those considered high risk worries those who would be left behind: People who regularly visit elderly parents. Caregivers to the medically vulnerable. People who want to reduce the risk of long covid wapo.st/45q9pJu
NEW: During the pandemic, this CDC doctor jumped out of a helicopter. No big deal, she told me. “That’s the nature of public health.” She agreed to talk to me because of spotlight on budget cuts and layoffs at CDC. www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/20...
And here is link to our post. www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
NEW: At Senate hearing, RFK Jr. defends hiring of vaccine skeptic David Geier. Kennedy says Geier was hired as independent contractor to review data in a CDC database. Geier and his late father previously had access to that database but their access was cut off for attempting unapproved analyses.
UPDATE: RFKJr and autism. @senatorhassan.govpeeps.us is calling on RFKJr. to fire vaccine skeptic David Geier. “David Geier has directly endangered the lives of children, and he does not belong at a government agency that oversees the health of more than 70 million American children,” Hassan wrote.
SCOOP: Internal budget doc reveals extent of Trump’s proposed health cuts. About 1/3 of HHS discretionary budget. Our story w @carolynyjohnson.bsky.social @rachelroubein.bsky.social @joelachenbach.bsky.social @laurenweberhp.bsky.social www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...
“This is not how we stop an outbreak,” writes Katelyn Jetelina in her lates substack “Your Local Epidemiologist.”
NEW: How Not to Stop A Measles Outbreak. RFKJR role in sowing doubt about vaccine; a CDC muzzled; funding cuts to state, local health depts Me @laurenweberhp.bsky.social @fenitn.bsky.social @rachelroubein.bsky.social www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...
NEW: How the CDC’s widespread layoffs cut lifesaving programs. Drowning prevention. Hotlines to report school shootings. Tips from former smokers on how to quit. My story. www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...
EXCLUSIVE w/ @lenasun.bsky.social Trump admin elevated David Geier, a vaccine skeptic who has promoted false claims about vaccines and autism, to lead a federal study to examine whether they are linked. Geier was once disciplined for practicing medicine w/o a license. Gift link: wapo.st/4c2BMPr
Seismic scoop from @lenasun.bsky.social: A long-time anti-vaxer who was disciplined for practising medicine without a license has been selected by #HHS to conduct the study RFK Jr. wants looking yet again at whether vaccines cause autism. www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...
NEW: The CDC vaccine advisory panel that HHS postponed has been reskedded for April 15-16. No updated agenda yet but per FR filing, will include measles update, discussion of 10 vaccines. But no recommendation votes on influenza vax. www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
When you run out of time, grateful to find a mini sour cherry pie in the freezer that I squirreled away. Baked in time for Pi (e) Day. To give to friend.
Texas reports first death in measles outbreak. An Unvaccinated school-ages child.
Federal workers reinstated at FDA, CDC include food and device safety, staff who help 9/11 first responders and survivors.
BREAKING; The Trump administration reversed plan to shut down govt website that ships free covid tests to households late Tuesday after we reported administration was preparing to end the program and was weighing costs of destroying or disposing of tens of millions of tests.
SCOOP: Trump administration has been evaluating the costs of destroying or disposing of tens of millions of coronavirus tests that would otherwise be provided free to Americans. My story w/ Carolyn Y. Johnson. www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...
NEW: Trump’s firings @CDCgov wipes out nearly all in 2 elite programs, 150 fellows in public health, lab science who responded to ongoing TB outbreak in Kansas; flooding in New Mexico; many more. W rachelroubein.bsky.com and Carolyn Y. Johnson. www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...
Trump has directed RFK Jr. to assess the "threat" psychiatric and weight loss drugs pose to children. This has worried some experts given RFK's history of disparaging antidepressants and stimulants in conspiratorial terms. Here's a free link to our story: wapo.st/4hW2xGI
Powerful lede about this moment www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
Hearing that @CDCgov personnel on probationary list are getting termination letters this evening. If you’re one of them, you can reach me securely on Signal at LenaSun.04. I promise to keep your name confidential. We want to get a sense of who’s been cut. DMs ok too. Also lena.sun@washpost.com
UPDATE: CDC restored the page listing vaccine-specific recommendations Saturday morning, our story is updated. @dtkeating.bsky.social @fenitn.bsky.social @ddiamond.bsky.social @laurenweberhp.bsky.social
NEW: CDC scrubs gender, equity references from public health material. Includes data sets. “Orwellian,” says one doctor. W @dtkeating.bsky.social and @fenitn.bsky.social www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...