While many public health experts have criticised United States Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr for undermining vaccines, several think his focus on chronic illness and big food has potential – although they are sceptical of whether he will employ proven methods to improve citizens’ health. Obesity, and associated problems of cardiovascular disease, diabetes and […] Continue reading ->
Mistrust undermined the pandemic agreement talks – but, ironically, the Trump administration’s withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO) galvanised member states to reach agreement, according to Ambassador Anne-Claire Amprou, co-chair of the talks. “There was a lack of trust. That means that when member states wanted to make a proposal, sometimes it created suspicion […] Continue reading ->
The Trump administration’s cancellation of hundreds of National Institutes of Health (NIH) grants “represents racial discrimination”, and were null and void, ruled United States District Court Judge William Young on Monday. This follows the cancellation of some 2,100 NIH research grants valued over than $12bn based on their links to “diversity, equity and inclusion” or […] Continue reading ->
Economic insecurity is a major factor driving declining fertility globally, according to the 2025 State of World Population report produced by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). Financial worries – including job insecurity, housing and childcare costs – were key factors influencing over half of those interviewed to opt for fewer or no children, according […] Continue reading ->
The region of the Americas has seen eight times the number of yellow fever cases this year, compared to the same period in 2024. The vaccine-preventable, viral, mosquito-borne disease has surged as cases “spillover” from animals, according to a Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) rapid risk assessment. Dense jungles in Colombia and Brazil have seen […] Continue reading ->
There is only enough funding for around half the mpox vaccine doses that Africa needs, with Sierra Leone and Uganda particularly short of vaccines, according to Dr Ngashi Ngongo, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) mpox lead. The continent needs 6.4 million doses to address the multiple outbreaks, but money still […] Continue reading ->
The quest for new treatment options for newborns with drug-resistant sepsis took another step forward this week with the enrollment of the first baby in a trial of a combination of three older antibiotics. It is the second part of a clinical trial by the Global Antibiotic Research and Development Partnership (GARDP) to evaluate various […] Continue reading ->
The World Health Assembly (WHA) adoption of the Pandemic Agreement sent a powerful message: Multilateralism remains alive and countries can still find common understandings on collective problems. Many steps still need to be completed, and thus the agreement will not be open for signature for at least another year, as negotiations continue on contentious issues […] Continue reading ->
The world is within striking distance of enforcing the first legally binding treaty to protect vast areas of waters beyond national jurisdictions that cover two-thirds of the planet’s surface in a historic step that would place biodiversity in the long-lawless high seas under international law for the first time. Nineteen countries ratified the High Seas […] Continue reading ->
Three days after removing all 17 members of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) vaccine advisory group, United States Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr has made eight new appointments – at least half of whom have spoken out against the handling of COVID-19 and vaccines. The new appointees to the Advisory Committee […] Continue reading ->
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