Day1 they voted it wood maintain coverage of mmrv and day 2 they revised that decision. The decision re hepb which had been almost decided d1 was pushed to a later meeting. This meeting was an utter shambles
Immunologist and science communicator based at UoM fascinated by our immune response to threats (pathogens, pollution) & microbiome. Member IndependentSage person most likely to share random dog and nature pics 🧪👩🔬 #AcademicSky #SciCom #ImmunoSky
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Day1 they voted it wood maintain coverage of mmrv and day 2 they revised that decision. The decision re hepb which had been almost decided d1 was pushed to a later meeting. This meeting was an utter shambles
They also reversed an action from the prior meeting regarding whether Vaccines for Children, a US government program that provides free vaccines to low-income children would cover the MMRV vaccine
With advice suggested to be different for different age groups and risks of vaccines even if v rare raised. Some states will require prescriptions if not a vulnerable group and some not. Basically it’s v confusing!
Covid vaccines now available as part of ‘individual-based decision making and ‘shared clinical decision making’ that were used interchangeably despite not being quite the same thing
Kennedy’s inexperienced and under-qualified ACIP continues to make a mockery of science based evidence with confusion regarding what they were voting for, actions such as changing votes, pushing other votes down the line, use of anecdotes versus science and ambiguous decisions…🧵
I watched the 1st meeting day of RFK Jr’s handpicked committee of vaccine advisors. It was utterly depressing. 1/
New in @science.org: "Together, these results suggest that long-term #ketogenic diets leads to multiple aberrations of metabolic parameters that caution their systematic use as a health-promoting dietary intervention." #keto #lowcarb #medsky #cardiosky #diabetes www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Zenodo host any type of output whether peer reviewed or not. This title certainly not been validated or peer reviewed
The change in MMRV recommendation was made based upon their opinion regarding risk of vaccines not upon the published science or risk of the viruses
Important study (that rather flies in the face of recent vaccine decisions) that considers the risk of Covid (and long Covid) on the cardiovascular system and the need to note and rehabilitation to better manage CV symptoms. Also suggest vaccines are an important tool to prevent such complications
Nutrition is one they use already which casts a lot of guilt to parents especially those who are on limited budgets
He hasn’t finished- the hepb votes are today and so are discussion on covid and flu vaccines and this is just the start. In just a few months he has eroded trust in science, vaccines and damaged vaccine access
This was ALL too predictable based upon the fact that ACIP are handpicked by Kennedy and he has been signaling his likely initial targets. This will impact vaccine uptake as puts barriers up for easy access to vaccines requiring more appointments and we know this puts people off
The 2nd change looks at hepatitis B vaccines which given at birth- this looks to be removed until at least 6 months from lower risk babies - this may sound reasonable but not all mums get screened & a lot depends upon quality of pre-natal care which very variable & newborns vv vulnerable to HepB
The reason for change to the all in one given as they used an anti-vax tactic of inflating risk of vaccine whilst not discussing relative risk of viruses - there is a small risk of a transient fever seizure from vax but that risk is over 1000 times greater from viral infection.
As expected, ACIP have voted through big changes to childhood vaccines schedule with more actions slated today. Firstly, no more combined MMRV - (mumps measles rubella chickenpox) for first dose- instead MMR and chickenpox to be given separately but option for 2nd dose & the combined shot remains 🧪🧵
"An influential CDC vaccine advisory committee that has been reconstituted by HHS RFK will meet Thursday and Friday to discuss changes to the childhood vaccine schedule. These changes, experts say, could make American children less healthy."
Absolutely so
As the next meeting of the now-pointless US vax advisory panel is due this week, today felt like a good time to highlight some fact-based, accessible reports that we at @independentsage.bsky.social released this year. independentsage.org/wp-content/u... independentsage.org/wp-content/u...
This article highlights the accusations step by step www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
And stating the childhood vaccine schedule will change even b4 the ACIP meeting took place. Kennedy is gunning for vaccine access in an all too predictable way. I cannot understand the Republicans who enabled his position
The sheer extent of the accusations against RFKJr are staggering- pre- approving ACIP decisions without knowing results/seeing evidence, allowing unvetted (and contain falsehoods) presentations at ACIP masquerading as fact, disparaging CDC scientists… 🧪🧵
BREAKING: Royal Society to reconsider expelling Elon Musk Violent rhetoric in address to anti-immigration rally pushes science academy to reassess billionaire’s fellowship (Free to read) www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-c...
Actuarial innit. If they don’t cover your disease shot, they’re more likely to have to cover your disease. #vaccineswork
A couple thoughts as a reporter who's been covering RFK Jr and watched today's hearing with fired CDC director Susan Monarez 1) the biggest things I heard today were about the CDC's childhood vaccine schedule. Monarez testified that RFK Jr told her he talks to Trump "every day" about changing it.
However anti-vaxers have used vaers as a tool to make spurious allegations about vaccines and now RFKJr is looking to weaponise it which could have massive repercussions for vaccine access.
Most of these are things like sore arm but tools like this can help catch for example the rare events like mild myocarditis that occurred in some adolescent men that then informed research and guidance re vaccine ussage
So it gets a LOT of noise of random or made up events (sorry don’t believe the Incredible Hulk claim) but it’s important because independent researchers look for common themes and signals so they can identify REAL adverse events
Anyone can report into it and anyone can report anything- including allegedly one individual that claimed to change into the Incredible Hulk…
VAERS (vaccine adverse event reporting system) is an open tool for capturing any adverse event that occurs at some point after a vaccine is administered as part of longer monitoring🧪🧵
A quick summary of developments in US re infections and vaccines. Cuts of CDC staff threaten infectious disease monitoring and research 🧪🧵
Meanwhile reports show large swathes of usa already lack sufficient vaccine coverage to prevent recurrence of, measles etc
Ahead of this he has appointed new members to ACIP which include more people with a history of anti vaccine activity. It’s not clear if they will participate in the forthcoming meeting
However this places many in a lottery where access depends on where you live or what you can afford. Meanwhile the next ACIP meeting is looming with its focus on childhood vaccines and eg hepb vaccines all of which RFKJr has often spoken against
Vaccine access for covid reduced despite RFKJr claiming that anyone can get them as without recommendation for eg pregnant people, not all doctors and pharmacists or all insurers incl Medicaid will cover them. Fortunately some democrat states washing access by state actions
Notably the Project 2025 conservative roadmap for the new Trump administration did state it would strip the CDC of its ability to issue guidance on vaccines and to end required testing for new pathogens. This is clearly happening including scaled back food borne pathogen testing
A quick summary of developments in US re infections and vaccines. Cuts of CDC staff threaten infectious disease monitoring and research 🧪🧵
🚨 MILLIONS at higher risk will lose NHS Covid vaccines this autumn. Lives will be at risk. The NHS will face more pressure. Covid is as serious as 'flu and also requires updated seasonal vaccines. We can stop this! Sign + share our petition (on next post) 1/ #KeepCovidBoosters
It’s deeply concerning that such huge harm can be done to public health by opportunistic contrarians with no understanding of - how mRNA vaccines work, what T cell exhaustion is, or cancer epidemiology trends - but can spin them all into a word salad to hoodwink the gullible…
This may explain why there’s an aggressive response to people who merely post Kirk’s own words. It threatens the existence of the alternate Kirk - the motivational speaker that had been marketed to young kids and white Christian groups through selective quotation & clips.
Also, over next few weeks work is incredibly busy, so I simply can't do substacks for a while. What spare time I have will be on keeping the TrumpTracker (www.trumpactiontracker.info) up to date. So, see you in a few weeks!
Great to discuss the flagrant disinformation peddled at the Reform conference by Malhotra with @garethiacobucci.bsky.social As @LawrenceYoung11 et al agree, the 💩 re mRNA vax and "turbo cancer" (anyone taking that name seriously?!🤦♂️) is pure, insidious fiction designed to ⏫️ hesitancy.
Some personal news: I've been fired from the Washington Post in the aftermath of the Charlie Kirk shooting. Thread incoming. substack.com/@karenattiah...
Interesting to see that Farage has a history with Malhotra dating several years and Malhotra also spoke at a fringe event as well as the main event at the Reform conference so Farage has more questions to answer about platforming a known anti-vaxer
To be fair he did help fund the vaccine development for covid in states which is possibly why RFK jr cautious about blatantly criticising it
Good to see Trump challenge Ladapo’s move to make vaccines non mandatory for school in Florida and praise some vaccines so will he deal with RFK Jr gradual erosion of vaccine access for all?
Bernie Sanders calls for RFK Jr to step down due to his anti-science beliefs including that hiv doesn’t cause AIDs and that diet can stave off infection harms
Expect more silence from the Royal Society in the face of their most notorious fellow advocating for the overthrow of the democratically elected government of a country he is neither a citizen nor a resident of (yet he is a fellow of their most prestigious learned society).
Esp given assassination of Kirk in US i find Musk's intervention here, calling for dissolution of parliament and a new govt, really scary . Also UK govt bodies should get the fuck off X.
This is McCarthy era behaviour and shame on the university for losing 160 staff n students this way- the accused do not even know what the complaints were about and are not allowed to see the accusations which seems quite frankly out of the 1984 playbook
Trumps rhetoric here is chilling. I fear for the repercussions following his statements on Fox
Good question
Its been three years since a complaint was lodged to GNC about Malhotra’s anti- vaccine stance which has seen him continue to grow his sphere of influence reaching into US and now potentially Reform, UK policies
Thanks so much!
A flawed study pre-print that claimed to show link between mrna vaccines and cancer has been withdrawn thanks to @elisabethbik.bsky.social
Damning report concludes that USA is complicit in ethnic cleansing of Gaza by Israeli forces via a coordinated campaign enabling destruction of homes so that they cannot be lived in & depriving Palestinians of essentials to live
This is an odd journal so not sure I would trust but the issue is that cancer screening went down during lockdown and there was a lag with treatments consequently so this skewed data temporarily
Vaccines save lives and lessen the impacts of infections and this is so important for our healthcare.
Furthermore, there are attacks by “vaccine sceptics’ on multiple aspects of vaccines including ingredients, schedules etc all of which RFKJr tasking so without defining EXACTLY what they mean i think this is a meaningless evasive statement
In this article I note Malhotra cites he supports traditional vaccines- something rfkjr has said too but what does that mean exactly when there are many types of vaccines?
Now it seems they might be doing so but already he has contributed to Reform’s health policy as well as RFKJr’s and been a major contributor to vaccine disinformation www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Malhotra, has been a prominent anti-vaccine voice for several years yet GMC did not take concerns about his actions seriously
Really useful update from Bob Hawkins on Long Covid in England from the annual GP survey bhawkins3.substack.com/p/long-covid...
see academic.oup.com/cid/article/...
I know we use moderna in uk for boosters but not sure which formulations will be used for autumn
This sounds great
It’s been reformulated to recent variants and so coverage good for the current batch
That was a surprise! Wordle 1,544 2/6 ⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜ 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
Good news for those that can get the covid vaccine as the new vaccine has fourfold increase in neutralising antibodies as shown by phase three trials
An estimated 14 million kids don't get any vaccines. They face serious threats from measles, diarrhea, pneumonia and more.
Another US doctors' group breaks with federal policy, recommends COVID-19 vaccines for all adults reut.rs/47ACvqS
Revel in the success
I never knew they were in Australia too- such ubiquitous butterflies
Wow! Never managed to get such a clear pic. Such pretty butterflies
Timeline cleanse of the most commonly spotted butterflies this summer. Its been a bumper summer for butterflies in our garden for sure
So good from Lewis Goodall. “What debate? Vaccine don’t cause cancer.”
Fantastic
More than 85 scientists say that a recent U.S. Department of Energy report is full of errors and misrepresents climate science.
I was referring to the wider actions to curb several vaccines accessibility, cuts to research alongside cuts to health provision eg food stamps
It is more important than ever that we stand up for science
Malhotra has been working with MAHA which with Kennedy is systematically limiting vaccine access in States. Why did reform give him this platform? Might MAHA actions be in their sights for the UK? I really hope that is not the case
Malhotra, a prominent anti vaccine voice during the peak of the covid pandemic was given a platform by Reform where not only did he reassert his anti-vax rhetoric but he made allegations of the vaccine causing the Royal family to have cancer. There is NO evidence linking the vaccines to cancer 🧪🧵
Duties of a Doctor (General Medical Council) imply that giving out false or misleading information that could lead to harm might be grounds for removing a doctor from the Medical Register.
A new immunology 101 - this time on vaccines- different types of, some pros and cons. Super basic again so apologies to other immunologists for simplifying- hope it’s helpful ! 🧪 #SciCom #ImmunoSky
Kennedy may have had a grilling from the committee but what is the outcome? He clearly lied to senate both here and previously with conflicting statements throughout but one set actions to me is most concerning 🧵🧪
I fear big changes to vax schedule are in his sights. He will say personal choice is paramount but if vax not approved most cannot access vaccines via pharmacy which means they don’t have access so that is not the case- he knows this as the chaos re Covid vaccines shows
Kennedy said “he did not believe the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine would see any changes in the coming weeks”. In the coming weeks? But what about after ACIP and his “study” reevaluating mmr and autism- that is the question.
The actions re next ACIP meeting look very shady and pay attention to the statements that Monarez (the experienced cdc lead he wants to sack) refused to pre-authorise any decisions ACIP make - acip next meeting is about mmr, childhood vax schedules etc…
Kennedy may have had a grilling from the committee but what is the outcome? He clearly lied to senate both here and previously with conflicting statements throughout but one set actions to me is most concerning 🧵🧪
BREAKING: RFK Jr. Just Got Called Out—By a Republican Senator open.substack.com/pub/demwinsm...
For most infections that vax prevent I don’t think so as they don’t need to/or don’t mutate so much. So hopefully not. I think however flus etc will continue too and you can get big jumps there due to infections from animals (zoonosis)
A new immunology 101 - this time on vaccines- different types of, some pros and cons. Super basic again so apologies to other immunologists for simplifying- hope it’s helpful ! 🧪 #SciCom #ImmunoSky
Are you following what is happening in the USA where government is systematically attacking the foundations of science? Thread here from Sheena. #academicsky 🧪
For good(ish) news West coast governors forming an alliance to fight back anti vaccine moves and try and protect vaccine access so there is wider pushback starting to coalesce
Removal of vaccine mandates doesn’t necessarily mean vaccines are not advised or available so the change in policy in Florida may not be as frightening as it first seems
The reality is that there are MANY exemptions from vaccines eg religion and some states for personal reasons. As such, mandatory vaccines are not necessarily all that mandatory.
Meanwhile Florida surgeon general Ladapo uses antagonistic language to ban vaccine mandates for diseases such as measles for school. Mandates are used to try and enhance vaccine uptake but have long riled those who claim it removes their choices
More protests against RFKJr anti- vaccine agenda with letter signed over a 1000 HHS workers “health policy should be based on strong, evidence-based principles ... under Secretary Kennedy’s leadership, HHS policies are placing the health of all Americans at risk, regardless of their politics.”🧵
Great to see the developing blue state pushback to Trump/RFK decapitation of CDC and the public health system gaining steam as a national story. From Playbook just now:
BREAKING: Trump unlawfully canceled Harvard's research grants, US judge rules reut.rs/46m6HVu
