Beth S Linas, PhD, MHS
@bethlinas.bsky.social
PhD/MHS Epidemiology: Infectious Diseases, Digital Health, Substance Use, Science Communication|Thoughts are my own| #Episky #IDsky
www.bethlinas.com
www.bethlinas.com
Pinned
Without Vaccines, Long COVID Will Be Our Next Public Health Crisis | Defend Public Health
Defend Public Health member Dr. Beth Linas shares an often overlooked aspect of reducing access to COVID19 vaccines: the specter of more and more cases of Long COVID.
www.defendpublichealth.org
My most recent op Ed! When thinking about #COVID vaccines we MUST discuss long COVID and until now this conversation has been lacking!
“Addiction alters the brain/body to become disastrously, even fatally, sick if the substance is withdrawn. It’s a condition nobody has ever asked for. Like any other disease, it can be treated medically, &also, importantly, with compassion. Where sympathy is withheld, resources for care do not flow”
Opinion | In Appalachia, Children Inherited the Opioid Crisis
The pain of drug addiction continues to course through towns like Clarksburg, W.Va., where many babies are born withdrawing and have to be taken from their parents.
www.nytimes.com
December 23, 2025 at 10:34 PM
“Addiction alters the brain/body to become disastrously, even fatally, sick if the substance is withdrawn. It’s a condition nobody has ever asked for. Like any other disease, it can be treated medically, &also, importantly, with compassion. Where sympathy is withheld, resources for care do not flow”
Reposted by Beth S Linas, PhD, MHS
"Of those infected, 145 were unvaccinated, three were partially vaccinated with one of the recommended two-dose measles-mumps-rubella vaccines, one was fully vaccinated and four had unknown vaccination status."
www.reuters.com/business/hea...
www.reuters.com/business/hea...
Measles cases in South Carolina rise by nine to 153, state health department says
The South Carolina health department reported 153 measles cases related to the ongoing outbreak on Tuesday, nine additional cases since its last update on Friday.
www.reuters.com
December 23, 2025 at 6:13 PM
"Of those infected, 145 were unvaccinated, three were partially vaccinated with one of the recommended two-dose measles-mumps-rubella vaccines, one was fully vaccinated and four had unknown vaccination status."
www.reuters.com/business/hea...
www.reuters.com/business/hea...
Reposted by Beth S Linas, PhD, MHS
The Role of Doctors Is Changing Forever. Some patients don’t trust us. Others say they don’t need us. It’s time for us to think of ourselves not as the high priests of health care but as what we have always been: healer, by @dhruvkhullar.bsky.social www.newyorker.com/culture/2025... @newyorker.com
The Role of Doctors Is Changing Forever
Some patients don’t trust us. Others say they don’t need us. It’s time for us to think of ourselves not as the high priests of health care but as what we have always been: healers.
www.newyorker.com
December 23, 2025 at 7:58 PM
The Role of Doctors Is Changing Forever. Some patients don’t trust us. Others say they don’t need us. It’s time for us to think of ourselves not as the high priests of health care but as what we have always been: healer, by @dhruvkhullar.bsky.social www.newyorker.com/culture/2025... @newyorker.com
No no no. I won’t stand for being called old. Try Gen X.
Opinion | This Is the Year Millennials Officially Got Old
www.nytimes.com
December 22, 2025 at 4:43 PM
No no no. I won’t stand for being called old. Try Gen X.
Reposted by Beth S Linas, PhD, MHS
We live in the dumbest timeline.
It's like a story from the Old Testament.
www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news...
It's like a story from the Old Testament.
www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news...
20 more measles cases found in Rockland County, New York, as health leaders urge getting vaccinated
A spike in measles cases in Rockland County has New York health officials urging families to get vaccinated.
www.cbsnews.com
December 21, 2025 at 12:20 AM
We live in the dumbest timeline.
It's like a story from the Old Testament.
www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news...
It's like a story from the Old Testament.
www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news...
Huzzah! There are rational people at HHS!
RFK Jr. wanted to endorse the Danish vaccine schedule. He was forced to pull back.
Legal and political concerns prompted the health department to cancel a planned announcement on Friday, officials said.
www.politico.com
December 21, 2025 at 12:07 AM
Huzzah! There are rational people at HHS!
This is beyond the pale. RFK Jr is putting the public health of this nation at grave risk.
Under RFK Jr., U.S. plans to stop recommending most vaccines, defer to doctors
The plan, which is not finalized, suggests children get fewer shots and shifts to a model telling parents to consult doctors to make their own vaccine choices.
www.washingtonpost.com
December 19, 2025 at 10:36 PM
This is beyond the pale. RFK Jr is putting the public health of this nation at grave risk.
Reposted by Beth S Linas, PhD, MHS
Essential Lancet editorial on how Trump, RFK Jr, Jay Bhattacharya and the rest of the MAHA/MAGA/Great Barrington Declaration crew are tearing apart US healthcare
www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
2025: an annus horribilis for health in the USA
The US Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices vote on Dec 5 to no longer recommend
the hepatitis B vaccine birth dose, which had ensured that babies exposed to hepatitis
B would not later develo...
www.thelancet.com
December 19, 2025 at 3:29 PM
Essential Lancet editorial on how Trump, RFK Jr, Jay Bhattacharya and the rest of the MAHA/MAGA/Great Barrington Declaration crew are tearing apart US healthcare
www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
Reposted by Beth S Linas, PhD, MHS
✨ Public Health Success Story ✨
1/3 🧵
Brazil achieves crucial WHO certification: elimination of vertical transmission of HIV. 🏆
👶 Babies born HIV free
💪 Most populous country in the Americas to achieve this.
📉 Only 19 countries and territories worldwide have achieved this certification.
1/3 🧵
Brazil achieves crucial WHO certification: elimination of vertical transmission of HIV. 🏆
👶 Babies born HIV free
💪 Most populous country in the Americas to achieve this.
📉 Only 19 countries and territories worldwide have achieved this certification.
December 18, 2025 at 8:52 PM
✨ Public Health Success Story ✨
1/3 🧵
Brazil achieves crucial WHO certification: elimination of vertical transmission of HIV. 🏆
👶 Babies born HIV free
💪 Most populous country in the Americas to achieve this.
📉 Only 19 countries and territories worldwide have achieved this certification.
1/3 🧵
Brazil achieves crucial WHO certification: elimination of vertical transmission of HIV. 🏆
👶 Babies born HIV free
💪 Most populous country in the Americas to achieve this.
📉 Only 19 countries and territories worldwide have achieved this certification.
Reposted by Beth S Linas, PhD, MHS
@gregggonsalves.bsky.social on how we can remain hopeful these days as well as the people, institutions, and groups that give him hope
The Public Health Heroes of 2025
www.thenation.com
December 19, 2025 at 1:49 PM
@gregggonsalves.bsky.social on how we can remain hopeful these days as well as the people, institutions, and groups that give him hope
Reposted by Beth S Linas, PhD, MHS
Here are the people and institutions that gave me hope in 2025. 1/ www.thenation.com/article/soci...
The Public Health Heroes of 2025
The Trump administration wants to destroy our health infrastructure. These warriors aren't letting that happen without a fight.
www.thenation.com
December 19, 2025 at 10:50 AM
Here are the people and institutions that gave me hope in 2025. 1/ www.thenation.com/article/soci...
Reposted by Beth S Linas, PhD, MHS
I cannot emphasize how serious an assault on democracy this is. Any effort by the Trump administration to engage in false claims of fraud or mass voter suppression relies on this as a building block. As importantly, there is no legitimate reason DOJ would want this information.
🚨BREAKING: The Department of Justice (DOJ) sued Georgia, Illinois, Wisconsin and Washington, D.C. Thursday for unfettered access to the states’ voter registration records. The federal government has now filed lawsuits against 21 states, plus D.C.
This is a developing story...
This is a developing story...
DOJ Sues Georgia, Illinois, Wisconsin and DC, Expanding Campaign of Voter Data Lawsuits to 22
Read more here.
www.democracydocket.com
December 18, 2025 at 11:54 PM
I cannot emphasize how serious an assault on democracy this is. Any effort by the Trump administration to engage in false claims of fraud or mass voter suppression relies on this as a building block. As importantly, there is no legitimate reason DOJ would want this information.
This is beyond unethical for human subjects research. Not only was it an unsolicited grant, the study in Guinea-Bissau would involve deliberately withholding the hepatitis B vaccine from hundreds of newborn infants, putting them at great risk of death. Tuskegee 2.0.
CDC awards $1.6 million for hepatitis B vaccine study by controversial Danish researchers
www.cidrap.umn.edu
December 19, 2025 at 12:33 AM
This is beyond unethical for human subjects research. Not only was it an unsolicited grant, the study in Guinea-Bissau would involve deliberately withholding the hepatitis B vaccine from hundreds of newborn infants, putting them at great risk of death. Tuskegee 2.0.
Reposted by Beth S Linas, PhD, MHS
Vindictive RFK Jr cuts grants to #Pediatrics academy.
He's truly made a shambles of #PublicHealth
www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...
He's truly made a shambles of #PublicHealth
www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...
American Academy of Pediatrics loses HHS funding after criticizing RFK Jr.
HHS cuts key AAP grants, citing concerns about “identity-based language” and insufficient focus on agency priorities. The organization said the cuts could harm child health.
www.washingtonpost.com
December 17, 2025 at 9:25 PM
Vindictive RFK Jr cuts grants to #Pediatrics academy.
He's truly made a shambles of #PublicHealth
www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...
He's truly made a shambles of #PublicHealth
www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...
Reposted by Beth S Linas, PhD, MHS
Reposted by Beth S Linas, PhD, MHS
The GOP and RFK are a plague of stupidity and fascist fuckery.
Super proud of @defendpublichealth.bsky.social filing an amicus brief in support of the lawsuit against RFK Jr. by five medical and public health organizations, including @apha.org, for his dismantling of science-based vaccine policy.
This man must be stopped.
This man must be stopped.
December 18, 2025 at 5:40 AM
The GOP and RFK are a plague of stupidity and fascist fuckery.
Reposted by Beth S Linas, PhD, MHS
I'm in complete agreement! He MUST BE STOPPED.
Super proud of @defendpublichealth.bsky.social filing an amicus brief in support of the lawsuit against RFK Jr. by five medical and public health organizations, including @apha.org, for his dismantling of science-based vaccine policy.
This man must be stopped.
This man must be stopped.
December 18, 2025 at 1:11 AM
I'm in complete agreement! He MUST BE STOPPED.
Facts. An important piece from @katherinejwu.com “Matthew Memoli knows just enough about the agency—and, in particular, its approach to infectious disease—to help destroy it.”
apple.news/AWuO8xvNsQ7S...
apple.news/AWuO8xvNsQ7S...
The Most Feared Person at the NIH Is a Vaccine Researcher Plucked From Obscurity — The Atlantic
While NIH director Jay Bhattacharya focuses on podcasting, his second in command is dramatically remaking the agency.
apple.news
December 17, 2025 at 11:49 PM
Facts. An important piece from @katherinejwu.com “Matthew Memoli knows just enough about the agency—and, in particular, its approach to infectious disease—to help destroy it.”
apple.news/AWuO8xvNsQ7S...
apple.news/AWuO8xvNsQ7S...
It’s good to know that being vindictive is more important to this HHS & administration than actual improvements in health. www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...
American Academy of Pediatrics loses HHS funding after criticizing RFK Jr.
HHS cuts key AAP grants, citing concerns about “identity-based language” and insufficient focus on agency priorities. The organization said the cuts could harm child health.
www.washingtonpost.com
December 17, 2025 at 11:11 PM
It’s good to know that being vindictive is more important to this HHS & administration than actual improvements in health. www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...
Super proud of @defendpublichealth.bsky.social filing an amicus brief in support of the lawsuit against RFK Jr. by five medical and public health organizations, including @apha.org, for his dismantling of science-based vaccine policy.
This man must be stopped.
This man must be stopped.
December 17, 2025 at 9:14 PM
Super proud of @defendpublichealth.bsky.social filing an amicus brief in support of the lawsuit against RFK Jr. by five medical and public health organizations, including @apha.org, for his dismantling of science-based vaccine policy.
This man must be stopped.
This man must be stopped.
Reposted by Beth S Linas, PhD, MHS
Rising anti-science rhetoric "...has made routine preventive care feel like walking into an ideological minefield. Increasingly, it is making it harder and sometimes nearly impossible to protect patients’ health."
(excerpt from @statnews.com article)
See also: theconversation.com/winning-with...
(excerpt from @statnews.com article)
See also: theconversation.com/winning-with...
“science and anti-vaccine rhetoric has fundamentally changed the relationship between clinicians and patients. It has made routine preventive care feel like walking into an ideological minefield. Increasingly, it is making it harder and sometimes nearly impossible to protect patients’ health.”
Rise of anti-science rhetoric has fundamentally changed the relationship between doctors and patients
“The rise of anti-science and anti-vaccine rhetoric has fundamentally changed the relationship between clinicians and patients.”
www.statnews.com
December 17, 2025 at 6:47 PM
Rising anti-science rhetoric "...has made routine preventive care feel like walking into an ideological minefield. Increasingly, it is making it harder and sometimes nearly impossible to protect patients’ health."
(excerpt from @statnews.com article)
See also: theconversation.com/winning-with...
(excerpt from @statnews.com article)
See also: theconversation.com/winning-with...
Thank you, @meganranney.bsky.social "...we know that there are strategies that have worked on an individual & community level [to prevent gun deaths]...this is the essence of the public-health approach to this epidemic. Everyone agrees that this has to stop..."
First We Grieve
Then we must act.
www.theatlantic.com
December 17, 2025 at 4:43 PM
Thank you, @meganranney.bsky.social "...we know that there are strategies that have worked on an individual & community level [to prevent gun deaths]...this is the essence of the public-health approach to this epidemic. Everyone agrees that this has to stop..."
Reposted by Beth S Linas, PhD, MHS
The media needs to stop writing headlines like “The CDC changes course on vaccines and autism” and “The CDC defends measles response”.
NONE of this is coming from legitimate scientists at the CDC.
ALL of it is coming from RFK Jr.
Every such headline is causing further harm to public health.
NONE of this is coming from legitimate scientists at the CDC.
ALL of it is coming from RFK Jr.
Every such headline is causing further harm to public health.
December 17, 2025 at 1:49 AM
The media needs to stop writing headlines like “The CDC changes course on vaccines and autism” and “The CDC defends measles response”.
NONE of this is coming from legitimate scientists at the CDC.
ALL of it is coming from RFK Jr.
Every such headline is causing further harm to public health.
NONE of this is coming from legitimate scientists at the CDC.
ALL of it is coming from RFK Jr.
Every such headline is causing further harm to public health.
Reposted by Beth S Linas, PhD, MHS
“An FDA commissioner should not attend an event like this for a single company subject to FDA regulation,” said Richard Painter, President George W. Bush’s former chief ethics lawyer. “It creates the appearance of favoritism. And perhaps the reality of favoritism as well.”
US FDA Commissioner Makary Continues Pushing Boundaries With Novartis Photo-Op
Martin Makary’s photo-op and videos promoting the groundbreaking of a new Novartis US-based manufacturing facility create an appearance of favoritism, President George W. Bush’s former chief ethics la...
insights.citeline.com
December 16, 2025 at 4:26 PM
“An FDA commissioner should not attend an event like this for a single company subject to FDA regulation,” said Richard Painter, President George W. Bush’s former chief ethics lawyer. “It creates the appearance of favoritism. And perhaps the reality of favoritism as well.”
Now xylazine is fading from Philadelphia, replaced by medetomidine, a 30-year-old veterinary sedative and anesthetic that is up to 200 times as potent. 🚨🚨
A Powerful New Drug Is Creating a ‘Withdrawal Crisis’ in Philadelphia
www.nytimes.com
December 16, 2025 at 12:34 AM
Now xylazine is fading from Philadelphia, replaced by medetomidine, a 30-year-old veterinary sedative and anesthetic that is up to 200 times as potent. 🚨🚨