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Public Health Policy in the U.S.
- Growing Vaccine Divide: The U.S. is seeing a growing split between federal and state-level vaccine policies. A new survey from the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) shows that most adults do not expect to get a COVID-19 shot this fall. While the administration has narrowed the eligibility for updated COVID-19 vaccines, governors in California, Oregon, and Washington have formed a new health alliance to provide their own public health guidance and recommendations, separate from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Conversely, Florida’s top health official has announced plans to end all childhood vaccine mandates.
- HHS Expands Access to Catastrophic Plans: The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has issued new guidance to expand access to affordable catastrophic health coverage. This guidance makes it easier for consumers who do not qualify for premium tax credits or cost-sharing reductions to purchase catastrophic plans, which offer lower premiums but higher deductibles.
- Health Groups Demand HHS Secretary’s Resignation: More than 1,000 health workers, including physicians, scientists, and patient advocates, have signed a letter calling for the resignation of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. They accuse him of “repeated efforts to undermine science and public health,” putting lives at risk by disregarding decades of scientific consensus.
Global Health
- Mpox Resurgence: A new report from Global Biodefense warns that a global resurgence of mpox is a “wake-up call for zoonotic disease preparedness.” The virus has spread to over 100 countries, driven by factors including unequal vaccine access, genomic mutations, and a lack of surveillance.
- Novavax Vaccine Approved in Japan: Japan has approved Novavax’s protein-based COVID-19 vaccine, Nuvaxovid®, for a new immunization season. The approval triggers a milestone payment to Novavax from Takeda, its partner in Japan.
