1. 🚨 FDA Holds Public Workshop to Enhance Access to Life-Saving Epinephrine
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), in partnership with Duke University’s Margolis Institute for Public Policy, is holding a public workshop today titled, “Improving Anaphylaxis Outcomes: Approaches for Enhancing Access to Epinephrine.” The workshop addresses critical public health barriers—including high cost, fear of use, and institutional policies—that prevent patients from having or properly using epinephrine auto-injectors (like EpiPens) in emergency, community settings.
2. 🌐 WHO Launches Global Call for High-Level Experts to Join Science Council
The World Health Organization (WHO) is launching a call for internationally-renowned experts to serve on its Science Council, one of the organization’s highest-level advisory bodies. This strategic move aims to reinforce the WHO’s global leadership in health sciences, identify scientific breakthroughs and emerging trends, and ensure that new evidence is rapidly and ethically translated into impactful public health policy and action globally.
3. 💉 Global Health Experts Discuss Protecting Childhood Vaccine Access in U.S. States
The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health is hosting a webinar today titled: “Protecting Children’s Health: Ensuring Vaccine Access Through Strong State Policies.” The session brings together policy analysts and grassroots advocates to discuss the recent rise in anti-science bills at the state level that threaten to weaken immunization programs and school vaccination requirements, leaving children vulnerable to preventable diseases like measles.
4. 🦠 PAHO Urges Strengthened Surveillance Amid Global Rise of A(H3N2) Flu Subclade K
The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has reiterated its call for countries in the Americas to strengthen their epidemiological and genomic surveillance for influenza. This follows the rapid global increase in the circulation of the Influenza A(H3N2) subclade K virus, which is historically associated with more severe seasons, particularly affecting older adults and increasing the potential strain on health services during the Northern Hemisphere winter.
5. 🇺🇸 U.S. Commits to Bilateral Global Health MOUs to Advance ‘America First’ Strategy
The U.S. Department of State reaffirmed its commitment today to signing multi-year Bilateral Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) on Global Health Cooperation with dozens of countries. These agreements, which follow the initial pacts with Kenya and Uganda, are designed to advance the “America First” Global Health Strategy, focusing on domestic US priorities and conditionality in the delivery of aid for HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other infectious diseases.
6. 🏥 CDC Report Confirms 2024-2025 COVID-19 Vaccine Effectiveness in Children
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a report confirming the effectiveness of last year’s 2024–2025 COVID-19 vaccine formulation in children. The report found that the vaccine was 76% effective in preventing emergency department or urgent care visits in children ages 9 months to 4 years, highlighting the continued public health benefit of vaccination in reducing acute care utilization during respiratory virus season.
7. 💊 FDA Extends Review of Dry Eye Disease Drug Candidate to March 2026
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has extended the review period (PDUFA date) for the New Drug Application (NDA) of reproxalap for the treatment of dry eye disease. Originally expected today, the target action date has been extended to March 16, 2026, following the submission of additional clinical data. This regulatory step has implications for the accessibility of new treatments for a chronic condition affecting millions globally.
8. 🌍 Global Health-Tech Innovator Finals Conclude in Taipei
The global finals of the “Go Healthy with Taiwan” Call for Proposals concluded in Taipei on December 10, bringing together six health-tech teams from around the world. The event highlights the growing global interest in digital health innovation and the need for public-private partnerships to develop scalable technological solutions that can address public health challenges, from chronic disease management to decentralized care.