Dr. Lauren Hughes
@drlaurenhughes.bsky.social
Pediatrician. Mother. Wife. Avid Pelotoner. Fierce advocate for children’s health. Will cuss
“Time to scrub your skeleton!”
Me to my kids when I brush their teeth
Me to my kids when I brush their teeth
June 10, 2025 at 1:04 AM
“Time to scrub your skeleton!”
Me to my kids when I brush their teeth
Me to my kids when I brush their teeth
Every time I don a piece of KC branded clothing (which is basically daily), I think about how Kansas City is the only place where locals dress like tourists.
May 20, 2025 at 9:11 PM
Every time I don a piece of KC branded clothing (which is basically daily), I think about how Kansas City is the only place where locals dress like tourists.
If an expert explains something to you that’s in their area of expertise that you don’t understand it, it doesn’t make it not true.
It’s okay for science not to make sense to you if you aren’t a scientist.
I don’t understand how planes fly, but I trust that the pilot does.
It’s okay for science not to make sense to you if you aren’t a scientist.
I don’t understand how planes fly, but I trust that the pilot does.
May 8, 2025 at 9:25 PM
If an expert explains something to you that’s in their area of expertise that you don’t understand it, it doesn’t make it not true.
It’s okay for science not to make sense to you if you aren’t a scientist.
I don’t understand how planes fly, but I trust that the pilot does.
It’s okay for science not to make sense to you if you aren’t a scientist.
I don’t understand how planes fly, but I trust that the pilot does.
My best litmus test for if you can trust the advice of the health professional speaking?
Check their links/website. If they sell their own supplements, supplement packs, and/or parasite cleanses…
Run.
Check their links/website. If they sell their own supplements, supplement packs, and/or parasite cleanses…
Run.
May 7, 2025 at 10:19 PM
My best litmus test for if you can trust the advice of the health professional speaking?
Check their links/website. If they sell their own supplements, supplement packs, and/or parasite cleanses…
Run.
Check their links/website. If they sell their own supplements, supplement packs, and/or parasite cleanses…
Run.
Can we stop pretending that Bobby/the anti-vax industry would be 100% on board with vaccines if they were placebo controlled? Covid was placebo controlled, double blinded, RCT with thousands of participants. But ya ain’t gonna find him recommending it.
May 4, 2025 at 7:38 PM
Can we stop pretending that Bobby/the anti-vax industry would be 100% on board with vaccines if they were placebo controlled? Covid was placebo controlled, double blinded, RCT with thousands of participants. But ya ain’t gonna find him recommending it.
Instagram comments turned me off the app this weekend and into making this mug. drlaurenhughes.com
May 4, 2025 at 1:00 PM
Instagram comments turned me off the app this weekend and into making this mug. drlaurenhughes.com
I built this Lego robot for my son and honestly it’s v cute
May 4, 2025 at 12:58 PM
I built this Lego robot for my son and honestly it’s v cute
This is why we are worried. Not because we don’t want rigorous safety standards (which already exist), but because we don’t want kids to needlessly die from preventable diseases.
Kids used to regularly die from meningitis and pneumonia, but that drastically declined thanks to PCV.
Kids used to regularly die from meningitis and pneumonia, but that drastically declined thanks to PCV.
Pneumococcal (PCV) has gone from protecting against 13 strains of strep to 20 in our routine schedule just over the last several years. We don’t compare PCV20 to placebo because we have existing safe vaccines and it would be UNETHICAL to leave kids vulnerable and without protection.
Why this is so concerning is in the immediate - flu and COVID vaccines. We do not have time to run placebo controlled trials before next flu season, esp coming off a terrifyingly deadly flu season for kids - 216 kids died. The most in 15 years.
In the future - what about updated pneumococcal shots?
In the future - what about updated pneumococcal shots?
May 3, 2025 at 1:26 PM
This is why we are worried. Not because we don’t want rigorous safety standards (which already exist), but because we don’t want kids to needlessly die from preventable diseases.
Kids used to regularly die from meningitis and pneumonia, but that drastically declined thanks to PCV.
Kids used to regularly die from meningitis and pneumonia, but that drastically declined thanks to PCV.
Pneumococcal (PCV) has gone from protecting against 13 strains of strep to 20 in our routine schedule just over the last several years. We don’t compare PCV20 to placebo because we have existing safe vaccines and it would be UNETHICAL to leave kids vulnerable and without protection.
Why this is so concerning is in the immediate - flu and COVID vaccines. We do not have time to run placebo controlled trials before next flu season, esp coming off a terrifyingly deadly flu season for kids - 216 kids died. The most in 15 years.
In the future - what about updated pneumococcal shots?
In the future - what about updated pneumococcal shots?
When we have a vaccine that is proven safe/effective, it’s morally & ethically wrong to withhold this from kids, which is why updated vaccines are tested against previous versions instead of placebo. We don’t want to know if it works against nothing, we want to know if it’s better than what we have.
May 3, 2025 at 1:23 PM
Pneumococcal (PCV) has gone from protecting against 13 strains of strep to 20 in our routine schedule just over the last several years. We don’t compare PCV20 to placebo because we have existing safe vaccines and it would be UNETHICAL to leave kids vulnerable and without protection.
Why this is so concerning is in the immediate - flu and COVID vaccines. We do not have time to run placebo controlled trials before next flu season, esp coming off a terrifyingly deadly flu season for kids - 216 kids died. The most in 15 years.
In the future - what about updated pneumococcal shots?
In the future - what about updated pneumococcal shots?
When we have a vaccine that is proven safe/effective, it’s morally & ethically wrong to withhold this from kids, which is why updated vaccines are tested against previous versions instead of placebo. We don’t want to know if it works against nothing, we want to know if it’s better than what we have.
“Why wouldn’t you want vaccines tested against placebos?”
THEY ARE! They are. That’s literally part of clinical trials.
Why this is infuriating is it creates a narrative that there’s no safety testing, which is categorically false.
Vaccines are rigorously safety tested because WE care about kids
THEY ARE! They are. That’s literally part of clinical trials.
Why this is infuriating is it creates a narrative that there’s no safety testing, which is categorically false.
Vaccines are rigorously safety tested because WE care about kids
May 3, 2025 at 1:18 PM
Why this is so concerning is in the immediate - flu and COVID vaccines. We do not have time to run placebo controlled trials before next flu season, esp coming off a terrifyingly deadly flu season for kids - 216 kids died. The most in 15 years.
In the future - what about updated pneumococcal shots?
In the future - what about updated pneumococcal shots?
When we have a vaccine that is proven safe/effective, it’s morally & ethically wrong to withhold this from kids, which is why updated vaccines are tested against previous versions instead of placebo. We don’t want to know if it works against nothing, we want to know if it’s better than what we have.
“Why wouldn’t you want vaccines tested against placebos?”
THEY ARE! They are. That’s literally part of clinical trials.
Why this is infuriating is it creates a narrative that there’s no safety testing, which is categorically false.
Vaccines are rigorously safety tested because WE care about kids
THEY ARE! They are. That’s literally part of clinical trials.
Why this is infuriating is it creates a narrative that there’s no safety testing, which is categorically false.
Vaccines are rigorously safety tested because WE care about kids
May 3, 2025 at 1:16 PM
When we have a vaccine that is proven safe/effective, it’s morally & ethically wrong to withhold this from kids, which is why updated vaccines are tested against previous versions instead of placebo. We don’t want to know if it works against nothing, we want to know if it’s better than what we have.
“Why wouldn’t you want vaccines tested against placebos?”
THEY ARE! They are. That’s literally part of clinical trials.
Why this is infuriating is it creates a narrative that there’s no safety testing, which is categorically false.
Vaccines are rigorously safety tested because WE care about kids
THEY ARE! They are. That’s literally part of clinical trials.
Why this is infuriating is it creates a narrative that there’s no safety testing, which is categorically false.
Vaccines are rigorously safety tested because WE care about kids
May 3, 2025 at 1:14 PM
“Why wouldn’t you want vaccines tested against placebos?”
THEY ARE! They are. That’s literally part of clinical trials.
Why this is infuriating is it creates a narrative that there’s no safety testing, which is categorically false.
Vaccines are rigorously safety tested because WE care about kids
THEY ARE! They are. That’s literally part of clinical trials.
Why this is infuriating is it creates a narrative that there’s no safety testing, which is categorically false.
Vaccines are rigorously safety tested because WE care about kids
Additionally, who is going to volunteer for these studies?
Parents who want their kids vaccinated and risk getting a placebo?
Parents who don’t want their kids vaccinated and risk giving them a vaccine?
Where are the patients going to come from?
Parents who want their kids vaccinated and risk getting a placebo?
Parents who don’t want their kids vaccinated and risk giving them a vaccine?
Where are the patients going to come from?
Let’s rephrase this to apply to other safety features.
New air bag? Compare a crash against a car without airbags
New helmet? Have kids wreck and compare to kids without a helmet.
New car seat? Compare wrecks to kids who aren’t in any car seat.
Also the original vaccines were tested against placebo
New air bag? Compare a crash against a car without airbags
New helmet? Have kids wreck and compare to kids without a helmet.
New car seat? Compare wrecks to kids who aren’t in any car seat.
Also the original vaccines were tested against placebo
The potential change outlined in a statement says all new vaccines will be required to undergo placebo testing, a procedure in which some people receive the vaccine and others receive an inert substance — such as a saline shot — before the results are compared.
Read more:
Read more:
May 1, 2025 at 3:59 PM
Additionally, who is going to volunteer for these studies?
Parents who want their kids vaccinated and risk getting a placebo?
Parents who don’t want their kids vaccinated and risk giving them a vaccine?
Where are the patients going to come from?
Parents who want their kids vaccinated and risk getting a placebo?
Parents who don’t want their kids vaccinated and risk giving them a vaccine?
Where are the patients going to come from?
Let’s rephrase this to apply to other safety features.
New air bag? Compare a crash against a car without airbags
New helmet? Have kids wreck and compare to kids without a helmet.
New car seat? Compare wrecks to kids who aren’t in any car seat.
Also the original vaccines were tested against placebo
New air bag? Compare a crash against a car without airbags
New helmet? Have kids wreck and compare to kids without a helmet.
New car seat? Compare wrecks to kids who aren’t in any car seat.
Also the original vaccines were tested against placebo
The potential change outlined in a statement says all new vaccines will be required to undergo placebo testing, a procedure in which some people receive the vaccine and others receive an inert substance — such as a saline shot — before the results are compared.
Read more:
Read more:
RFK Jr. will require shift in how new vaccines are tested, HHS says
The potential change outlined in a statement would require all new vaccines to undergo placebo testing, sparking concerns among medical experts.
www.washingtonpost.com
May 1, 2025 at 3:54 PM
Let’s rephrase this to apply to other safety features.
New air bag? Compare a crash against a car without airbags
New helmet? Have kids wreck and compare to kids without a helmet.
New car seat? Compare wrecks to kids who aren’t in any car seat.
Also the original vaccines were tested against placebo
New air bag? Compare a crash against a car without airbags
New helmet? Have kids wreck and compare to kids without a helmet.
New car seat? Compare wrecks to kids who aren’t in any car seat.
Also the original vaccines were tested against placebo
Reposted by Dr. Lauren Hughes
This continues to be the biggest story in the country: DOGE has already squandered half a trillion dollars in 6 weeks. Not billion. half a trillion, $500 billion talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/irs-p...
IRS Predicts DOGE Lost Half a Trillion Dollars for the USA
The Post reports today that the IRS’ internal projections estimate that the...
talkingpointsmemo.com
March 24, 2025 at 3:20 PM
This continues to be the biggest story in the country: DOGE has already squandered half a trillion dollars in 6 weeks. Not billion. half a trillion, $500 billion talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/irs-p...
One of my biggest parenting wins is that my kids do not know Chuck E. Cheese exists.
April 4, 2025 at 6:04 PM
One of my biggest parenting wins is that my kids do not know Chuck E. Cheese exists.
I told my kids it was time to go and they all started singing “tv off” and I feel like this is a monumental parenting win
April 4, 2025 at 1:50 PM
I told my kids it was time to go and they all started singing “tv off” and I feel like this is a monumental parenting win
“Don’t yuck other people’s yums” is a lesson we’re utilizing for our kids in general and not just about food and it’s v helpful.
April 3, 2025 at 10:37 PM
“Don’t yuck other people’s yums” is a lesson we’re utilizing for our kids in general and not just about food and it’s v helpful.
This is why I always and only recommend having a pediatric anesthesiologist present when doing general anesthesia for dental care. Thankfully in KC we have a mobile group that does just that.
A 9-year-old girl died hours after going under anesthesia for a dental procedure at a San Diego office where a dentist was previously investigated after a patient nearly died.
9-year-old girl dies after going under anesthesia for dental procedure at San Diego office
The March 18 procedure was done at Dreamtime Dentistry in Visa. A dentist at the office was previously investigated after a patient nearly died in 2016.
nbcnews.to
March 31, 2025 at 2:00 PM
This is why I always and only recommend having a pediatric anesthesiologist present when doing general anesthesia for dental care. Thankfully in KC we have a mobile group that does just that.
97% of the nearly 500 confirmed cases of measles are in unvaccinated individuals.
Know what else is 97%? Your protection from measles after 2 doses of the MMR vaccine.
Know what else is 97%? Your protection from measles after 2 doses of the MMR vaccine.
March 31, 2025 at 1:58 PM
97% of the nearly 500 confirmed cases of measles are in unvaccinated individuals.
Know what else is 97%? Your protection from measles after 2 doses of the MMR vaccine.
Know what else is 97%? Your protection from measles after 2 doses of the MMR vaccine.
Happy Severance Finale Day to all who celebrate.
March 20, 2025 at 1:14 PM
Happy Severance Finale Day to all who celebrate.
Reminder that no one who hears a baby screaming on a plane wants that baby to stop screaming more than their parents.
March 18, 2025 at 8:45 PM
Reminder that no one who hears a baby screaming on a plane wants that baby to stop screaming more than their parents.
For all those who continue to ignore scientific truth…in the words of Galileo
Eppur si muovo
Eppur si muovo
March 18, 2025 at 12:15 PM
For all those who continue to ignore scientific truth…in the words of Galileo
Eppur si muovo
Eppur si muovo
There is no indication or approval for hyperbaric oxygen for ADHD, nor does it make physiological sense. But of course this wellness center claims it helps a host of issues including “autoimmune” which is an umbrella term, not a specific disease. The wellness industry is beyond dangerous
A 5-year-old's death in a Michigan hyperbaric chamber has sparked calls for more oversight of unsupervised hyperbaric oxygen therapy in the wellness industry.
Michigan boy's death raises concerns about unregulated hyperbaric oxygen therapy
State legislators want greater oversight of the wellness industry after 5-year-old Thomas Cooper was killed in a hyperbaric chamber fire in January.
nbcnews.to
March 17, 2025 at 10:41 PM
There is no indication or approval for hyperbaric oxygen for ADHD, nor does it make physiological sense. But of course this wellness center claims it helps a host of issues including “autoimmune” which is an umbrella term, not a specific disease. The wellness industry is beyond dangerous
I have a whole rant on my Instagram page about why he’s dangerous. But honestly, he’ll pair perfectly with RFK Jr to destroy what little good is left in American healthcare
Promotes dubious “treatments”, has conflicts of interest, highly questionable commitment to protecting the program he’s nominated to oversee. Yeah, Dr. Oz will fit right in with current HHS leadership.
www.npr.org/sections/sho...
www.npr.org/sections/sho...
Dr. Mehmet Oz, Trump's pick to lead Medicare and Medicaid, gets his Senate hearing
Dr. Mehmet Oz appeared before the Senate Finance committee Friday for his confirmation hearing to be the administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
www.npr.org
March 17, 2025 at 5:22 PM
I have a whole rant on my Instagram page about why he’s dangerous. But honestly, he’ll pair perfectly with RFK Jr to destroy what little good is left in American healthcare