I think that it’s pretty obvious why this administration wants to stop collecting data for food insecurity. They’ve cut SNAP benefits and now they don’t want the facts to mess with their fiction,
The logistics of splitting vaccine doses would be very difficult for providers and parents. For providers, each vaccine visit would require an appointment made through reception and probably a 10 minute time slot to room the patient, ask screening questions, prepare and administer the shot, and clean the room. For parents it would require an extra office visit with related loss of work time. For children it would delay protection from preventable diseases. Just giving the flu vaccine every year is a major undertaking, requiring overtime for staff and dedicated rooms for each vaccine.
I'm glad the summer/fall covid wave turned out to be more like a small splash. But not gonna' lie... I rushed to get the vaccine in early September because I was afraid of what ACIP might do, and now I feel like I "wasted" my booster on a teeny wave and will be less protected for the typical winter/holiday illness season.
I guess c'est la vie; that's how it goes, sometimes, but I kind of wish in retrospect that I'd waited to get the booster until closer to October/November.
I didn’t get mine yet because I was waiting for Novavax but that felt like a huge gamble given that future access could’ve been denied at the recent chaotic, messy meetings (I felt like epidemiologists’ money was definitely on less access after these meetings). Since it’s a yearly shot, I feel like we just have to do our best and move on. Good job getting an additional layer of protection so you can move on with your life!
I have successive gathering events in early October, so I needed to get vaccinated in time for the protection to be fully developed by then. As for the common cold; if I can avoid it for three more weeks, I should be OK. For now, I'm using full precautions. Get me to mid October and I should be OK.
Is this year’s Novovax more reactogenic than last year’s? I didn’t react as much as I do with MRNA’s, but had fatigue, chills, fever, myalgias. Responded to Advil, but I was (unpleasantly) surprised.
Regarding the food insecurity data, CDC should stop defending data collection in terms of scientific usefulness. That doesn't matter to this Administration. Their intent is to end reporting of ANY data that could reflect badly on them.
The CDC and other public health bodies should start thinking in those terms: How do we keep data available and useful without creating a negative public perception of the administration. It flies in the face of transparency, but having the data is better than not.
7%!! The MMR vaccine rate is only 7% at the Arizona elementary school? That is so horrifying. How is that even allowed? They must have exemptions for anything you want.
RE: Mifepristone. In case anyone needs talking points. When we were trying to get pregnant, it was very hard. We needed to resort to IVF and had 2 miscarriages. Our doctor, a specialist in fertility and high-risk pregnancy, recommended using mifepristone once it was determined to be a miscarriage for 2 reasons. 1. It would help us to control timing of the miscarriage so that we could have more of a possibility of trying again. 2. It would ensure that we avoid any harm to the uterus (another doctor recommended a D&C which can lead to Asherman's Syndrome (scarring that can lead to infertility)). Not everyone who uses Mifepristone is having an abortion despite the fact that when we picked it up at the pharmacy for the miscarriage, the pharmacist warned us in a loud voice that it could cause harm to a baby. It was also used to induce birth when our child was born.
Great reporting on colds, measles and other pathogens as we expect from the YLE. One small point to make about separating MMR vaccines for kids. Your report already notes that it would take years, require (if done responsibly) new costly and lengthy clinical trails, and has NO justification that is reasonable to do it. Just to point out that from a family's pocketbook - adding 2 or 3 more visits to the doctor to get ALL the recommended vaccines would add the cost of each doctor visit (say $20 with copay or $60 to $80 if under the deductible) x the # of new visits plus the burden of leaving work, transport, etc. A major and unnecessary cost and inconvenience to parents. Don't parents have enough to content with already? Finally, if your unvaccinated child gets one of these highly contagious and serious ailments (aka measles), someone will miss work or school and have to care for them, and may well include hospital bills. These are some of the impacts on family life and budgets that seem to be overlooked in the push to base every medical decision on "common sense" and made up objections to the evidence-based and thoroughly researched and discussed medical recommendations we have in the developed world.
Thank you for these newsletters. You have been my source of trustworthy, reliable information ever since COVID started. I'm wondering if the Food Insecurity Survey is the same as the Community Survey I recently received from the US Census? It is 43 pages of questions, some of which are intensely personal! I doubt anyone actually fills it out, either online or on paper. What an absolute waste of our taxpayer money!
Thanks for the continuing updates. The Trumpster–fire is closely following the P2025 playbook in riding the country of useless reporting, such as hunger, the weather service, economic data, etc. We don't need no stinkin' facts. Just get a red MAGA hat for all the protection your empty head needs.
Separately and in the public health wheelhouse, I just received my 2026 Medicare handbook and Medicare Advantage update from UHC. There's a LOT of changes in there and costs are going up and in some cases SUBSTANTIALLY. Do you all get involved in reporting about the impact of these costs? For instance my drug deductible – which I pay BEFORE any co–pays kick in – is increasing to nearly $500. So I have to pay this amount with my first prescription then deductibles kick in. And this deductible does NOT apply to the $2K for the calendar year. While I'm a bit pissed about this and can and will pay it, I'm sure there's plenty of seniors in the US who will have to decide between meds and rent. LOTS in Trumps cracker states.
Two days before my latest Covid shot, I saw an ad for Moderna’s mnexspike version. Can you comment on pros and cons vs. alternatives. Just for the record, wasn’t an option for me - asked pharmacist who said they didn’t have it yet. As, in the past, especially given the recent commotion and uncertainty, we should take whatever is available and proven.
mNEXSPIKE is Moderna's smaller version of its original Spikevax design targets less than half of the virus' Spike protein and thus uses a lower dose. For this season, both target LP.8.1, a member of the current circulating JN.1 family. The little one is also more stable with storage in a fridge instead of a freezer, making it easier for providers.
Studies by Moderna with earlier variants of the virus showed the shorter vaccine in a lower dose outperformed the longer one in producing antibodies and in protection against serious COVID, especially in older people (https://covidandvaccineupdate.substack.com/p/covid-and-flu-still-nothing-to-sneeze). The company recently updated results with the JN.1 viruses, showing mNEXSPIKE boosted antibodies against its LP.8.1 target over 16-fold compared to over 8-fold for Spikevax
Pfizer's tests showed at least a 4-fold boost by its jab. Novavax hasn't provided any updates. However, these tests should be taken with a grain of salt and glass of water, because results will vary with individuals.
The true test will be the real-world effectiveness against serious COVID this season.
Although mNEXSPIKE contains less mRNA and the other ingredients than Spikevax and Pfizer, any concerns about side effects should also consider that reactions vary with individuals.
Thanks for the update! I'm currently reading an interesting exposé of the failures of science... including FDA determinations... in the war against Alzheimer's. The title is "Doctored" and the author is Charles Piller, "an investigative journalist for Science Magazine" according to the jacket bio. It appears a lot of money has been sunk into studies that were based on flawed theories, and that there were strong motivations to peddle junk science rather than change one's mind. This book was recommended by The Economist, whose stuff normally seems reliable to me. I think it should be of interest to anybody who occasionally sees Alzheimer's patients, and especially to those who recommend treatments.
He certainly talks a good game! It's like a Christmas tree with all the studies and testimony hanging on it. And the problem may not be limited to Cassava. I'd be interested in any critiques from those who have read it!
I know the employees behind it, so still trusting it. But I can definitely see that we could get to a point where we can’t at all. That’s why I’m so glad we have sites like pophive.org popping up!
I think that it’s pretty obvious why this administration wants to stop collecting data for food insecurity. They’ve cut SNAP benefits and now they don’t want the facts to mess with their fiction,
I think it’s very obvious too
The logistics of splitting vaccine doses would be very difficult for providers and parents. For providers, each vaccine visit would require an appointment made through reception and probably a 10 minute time slot to room the patient, ask screening questions, prepare and administer the shot, and clean the room. For parents it would require an extra office visit with related loss of work time. For children it would delay protection from preventable diseases. Just giving the flu vaccine every year is a major undertaking, requiring overtime for staff and dedicated rooms for each vaccine.
It would be a mess!
I'm glad the summer/fall covid wave turned out to be more like a small splash. But not gonna' lie... I rushed to get the vaccine in early September because I was afraid of what ACIP might do, and now I feel like I "wasted" my booster on a teeny wave and will be less protected for the typical winter/holiday illness season.
I guess c'est la vie; that's how it goes, sometimes, but I kind of wish in retrospect that I'd waited to get the booster until closer to October/November.
Hard to know how to respond when the country is on fire. 💙
I didn’t get mine yet because I was waiting for Novavax but that felt like a huge gamble given that future access could’ve been denied at the recent chaotic, messy meetings (I felt like epidemiologists’ money was definitely on less access after these meetings). Since it’s a yearly shot, I feel like we just have to do our best and move on. Good job getting an additional layer of protection so you can move on with your life!
I have successive gathering events in early October, so I needed to get vaccinated in time for the protection to be fully developed by then. As for the common cold; if I can avoid it for three more weeks, I should be OK. For now, I'm using full precautions. Get me to mid October and I should be OK.
I believe there was a typo. Casual should have been causal.
Thanks so much for these posts. As a retired FDA employee who helped with the Covid vaccines EUAs I really appreciate fact driven reporting.
Cheers
Ted
Ughhh you’re totally right. Thanks for catching that!!
Is this year’s Novovax more reactogenic than last year’s? I didn’t react as much as I do with MRNA’s, but had fatigue, chills, fever, myalgias. Responded to Advil, but I was (unpleasantly) surprised.
Yes! Novavax is far less reactogenic than mRNA. That’s exactly why I get it. Works so much better on me
I had novavax this week and it’s been just like prior times with zero impact
Thanks YLE
🎃Patch Fan
Regarding the food insecurity data, CDC should stop defending data collection in terms of scientific usefulness. That doesn't matter to this Administration. Their intent is to end reporting of ANY data that could reflect badly on them.
The CDC and other public health bodies should start thinking in those terms: How do we keep data available and useful without creating a negative public perception of the administration. It flies in the face of transparency, but having the data is better than not.
7%!! The MMR vaccine rate is only 7% at the Arizona elementary school? That is so horrifying. How is that even allowed? They must have exemptions for anything you want.
If they have 7% MMR vax they probably have low DTP and Pnuemonia vaccine
RE: Mifepristone. In case anyone needs talking points. When we were trying to get pregnant, it was very hard. We needed to resort to IVF and had 2 miscarriages. Our doctor, a specialist in fertility and high-risk pregnancy, recommended using mifepristone once it was determined to be a miscarriage for 2 reasons. 1. It would help us to control timing of the miscarriage so that we could have more of a possibility of trying again. 2. It would ensure that we avoid any harm to the uterus (another doctor recommended a D&C which can lead to Asherman's Syndrome (scarring that can lead to infertility)). Not everyone who uses Mifepristone is having an abortion despite the fact that when we picked it up at the pharmacy for the miscarriage, the pharmacist warned us in a loud voice that it could cause harm to a baby. It was also used to induce birth when our child was born.
Great reporting on colds, measles and other pathogens as we expect from the YLE. One small point to make about separating MMR vaccines for kids. Your report already notes that it would take years, require (if done responsibly) new costly and lengthy clinical trails, and has NO justification that is reasonable to do it. Just to point out that from a family's pocketbook - adding 2 or 3 more visits to the doctor to get ALL the recommended vaccines would add the cost of each doctor visit (say $20 with copay or $60 to $80 if under the deductible) x the # of new visits plus the burden of leaving work, transport, etc. A major and unnecessary cost and inconvenience to parents. Don't parents have enough to content with already? Finally, if your unvaccinated child gets one of these highly contagious and serious ailments (aka measles), someone will miss work or school and have to care for them, and may well include hospital bills. These are some of the impacts on family life and budgets that seem to be overlooked in the push to base every medical decision on "common sense" and made up objections to the evidence-based and thoroughly researched and discussed medical recommendations we have in the developed world.
Thank you for these newsletters. You have been my source of trustworthy, reliable information ever since COVID started. I'm wondering if the Food Insecurity Survey is the same as the Community Survey I recently received from the US Census? It is 43 pages of questions, some of which are intensely personal! I doubt anyone actually fills it out, either online or on paper. What an absolute waste of our taxpayer money!
Thanks for the continuing updates. The Trumpster–fire is closely following the P2025 playbook in riding the country of useless reporting, such as hunger, the weather service, economic data, etc. We don't need no stinkin' facts. Just get a red MAGA hat for all the protection your empty head needs.
Separately and in the public health wheelhouse, I just received my 2026 Medicare handbook and Medicare Advantage update from UHC. There's a LOT of changes in there and costs are going up and in some cases SUBSTANTIALLY. Do you all get involved in reporting about the impact of these costs? For instance my drug deductible – which I pay BEFORE any co–pays kick in – is increasing to nearly $500. So I have to pay this amount with my first prescription then deductibles kick in. And this deductible does NOT apply to the $2K for the calendar year. While I'm a bit pissed about this and can and will pay it, I'm sure there's plenty of seniors in the US who will have to decide between meds and rent. LOTS in Trumps cracker states.
What say you?
I took a baby aspirin the night before my Covid vaccine--will this reduce effectiveness of vaccine?
Two days before my latest Covid shot, I saw an ad for Moderna’s mnexspike version. Can you comment on pros and cons vs. alternatives. Just for the record, wasn’t an option for me - asked pharmacist who said they didn’t have it yet. As, in the past, especially given the recent commotion and uncertainty, we should take whatever is available and proven.
mNEXSPIKE is Moderna's smaller version of its original Spikevax design targets less than half of the virus' Spike protein and thus uses a lower dose. For this season, both target LP.8.1, a member of the current circulating JN.1 family. The little one is also more stable with storage in a fridge instead of a freezer, making it easier for providers.
Whereas Spikevax is approved for people as young as 6 months, eligibility for mNEXSPIKE starts at 12 years (https://covidandvaccineupdate.substack.com/p/acips-non-recommendation-recommendation). Both are available, but supply will vary by provider as you found.
Studies by Moderna with earlier variants of the virus showed the shorter vaccine in a lower dose outperformed the longer one in producing antibodies and in protection against serious COVID, especially in older people (https://covidandvaccineupdate.substack.com/p/covid-and-flu-still-nothing-to-sneeze). The company recently updated results with the JN.1 viruses, showing mNEXSPIKE boosted antibodies against its LP.8.1 target over 16-fold compared to over 8-fold for Spikevax
(https://covidandvaccineupdate.substack.com/p/real-world-use-of-updated-boosters).
Pfizer's tests showed at least a 4-fold boost by its jab. Novavax hasn't provided any updates. However, these tests should be taken with a grain of salt and glass of water, because results will vary with individuals.
The true test will be the real-world effectiveness against serious COVID this season.
Although mNEXSPIKE contains less mRNA and the other ingredients than Spikevax and Pfizer, any concerns about side effects should also consider that reactions vary with individuals.
Thanks for the update! I'm currently reading an interesting exposé of the failures of science... including FDA determinations... in the war against Alzheimer's. The title is "Doctored" and the author is Charles Piller, "an investigative journalist for Science Magazine" according to the jacket bio. It appears a lot of money has been sunk into studies that were based on flawed theories, and that there were strong motivations to peddle junk science rather than change one's mind. This book was recommended by The Economist, whose stuff normally seems reliable to me. I think it should be of interest to anybody who occasionally sees Alzheimer's patients, and especially to those who recommend treatments.
FYI: https://www.science.org/content/author/charles-piller It looks like this is mostly about an Alzheimer's drug developed by Cassava, which is in some serious legal trouble https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/cassava-sciences-must-face-malicious-prosecution-lawsuit-over-alzheimers-drug-2025-03-26/. The Biden administration was investigating it as well.
Anyway, he doesn't seem to have an agenda. I'd be a bit more confident if he had some medical background, though.
He certainly talks a good game! It's like a Christmas tree with all the studies and testimony hanging on it. And the problem may not be limited to Cassava. I'd be interested in any critiques from those who have read it!
can we still trust data from NRVESS ?
THANK YOU KJ FOR THIS SUBSTACK
I know the employees behind it, so still trusting it. But I can definitely see that we could get to a point where we can’t at all. That’s why I’m so glad we have sites like pophive.org popping up!