René F. Najera, MPH, DrPH, FCPP
@epiren.bsky.social
Father. Husband. Epidemiologist. Instructor at GMU and JHBSPH. Fellow at the College of Physicians of Philadelphia. Believer in Truth, Justice, and a Better Tomorrow. All opinions, my own.
Learn more: https://linktr.ee/rene.najera
Learn more: https://linktr.ee/rene.najera
A trial that claimed benefits of oral folinic acid for children with autism has been retracted after errors and non‑reproducible statistical results were confirmed in post‑publication review. Always check for retractions before citing.
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Retraction Note: Efficacy of oral folinic acid supplementation in children with autism spectrum disorder: a randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled trial - European Journal of Pediatrics
European Journal of Pediatrics -
link.springer.com
January 30, 2026 at 1:35 PM
A trial that claimed benefits of oral folinic acid for children with autism has been retracted after errors and non‑reproducible statistical results were confirmed in post‑publication review. Always check for retractions before citing.
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
A new multi-state analysis finds pediatricians are not getting rich off vaccines — many actually lose money, especially when serving Medicaid and uninsured kids. Underpayment is putting vaccine access and trust at risk. Learn more:
www.statnews.com/2026/01/29/p...
#VaccinesWork
www.statnews.com/2026/01/29/p...
#VaccinesWork
January 29, 2026 at 3:51 PM
A new multi-state analysis finds pediatricians are not getting rich off vaccines — many actually lose money, especially when serving Medicaid and uninsured kids. Underpayment is putting vaccine access and trust at risk. Learn more:
www.statnews.com/2026/01/29/p...
#VaccinesWork
www.statnews.com/2026/01/29/p...
#VaccinesWork
New York has broken ground on a $1.7B, state-of-the-art Wadsworth Center public health lab in Albany, consolidating 5 sites and expanding capacity for disease surveillance and environmental health monitoring. Learn more:
hoodline.com/2026/01/gove...
hoodline.com/2026/01/gove...
Governor Hochul Launches $1.7 Billion State-of-the-Art Public Health Lab Construction in Albany
New York Governor Hochul has initiated the $1.7 billion construction of the Wadsworth Center public health lab.
hoodline.com
January 27, 2026 at 8:01 PM
New York has broken ground on a $1.7B, state-of-the-art Wadsworth Center public health lab in Albany, consolidating 5 sites and expanding capacity for disease surveillance and environmental health monitoring. Learn more:
hoodline.com/2026/01/gove...
hoodline.com/2026/01/gove...
A large Vaccine Safety Datalink study of children under 4 found no link between being up to date on vaccines, aluminum exposure from vaccines, and incident epilepsy—while known risk factors like prematurity and family history remained important. Details:
www.jpeds.com/article/S002...
www.jpeds.com/article/S002...
January 26, 2026 at 12:17 AM
A large Vaccine Safety Datalink study of children under 4 found no link between being up to date on vaccines, aluminum exposure from vaccines, and incident epilepsy—while known risk factors like prematurity and family history remained important. Details:
www.jpeds.com/article/S002...
www.jpeds.com/article/S002...
County-level data from 45 states show nonmedical vaccine exemptions for US children have climbed from a median of 0.6% to 3.1% since 2010, with faster growth after COVID-19 and clustered high-exemption counties that raise outbreak risk. Full JAMA letter: jamanetwork.com/journals/jam... #VaccinesWork
January 23, 2026 at 5:19 PM
County-level data from 45 states show nonmedical vaccine exemptions for US children have climbed from a median of 0.6% to 3.1% since 2010, with faster growth after COVID-19 and clustered high-exemption counties that raise outbreak risk. Full JAMA letter: jamanetwork.com/journals/jam... #VaccinesWork
When I came to the United States from Mexico, I made a deal with the United States Government. The deal was that I would be a good resident and then a citizen. The government would protect my rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. It broke the deal. I haven't, and I won't.
Dear Government, You Broke the Deal
It’s a deal 250 years in the making, so why are you breaking it now?
medium.com
January 23, 2026 at 12:32 AM
When I came to the United States from Mexico, I made a deal with the United States Government. The deal was that I would be a good resident and then a citizen. The government would protect my rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. It broke the deal. I haven't, and I won't.
"The survey, conducted Jan. 5-8… found that 79% of likely 2026 voters support keeping Florida’s current vaccine requirements for schoolchildren, compared with 17% who oppose them. Support was broad... including 71% of Republicans, 84% of voters with no party affiliation, and 78% of Hispanic voters."
New poll: Florida voters draw the line on school vaccine mandates
Voters overwhelmingly support keeping school vaccine requirements to protect children statewide.
floridapolitics.com
January 23, 2026 at 12:17 AM
"The survey, conducted Jan. 5-8… found that 79% of likely 2026 voters support keeping Florida’s current vaccine requirements for schoolchildren, compared with 17% who oppose them. Support was broad... including 71% of Republicans, 84% of voters with no party affiliation, and 78% of Hispanic voters."
New Lancet meta-analysis finds no evidence that using paracetamol (acetaminophen) as directed in pregnancy increases the likelihood of autism, ADHD, or intellectual disability in children. Untreated fever/pain may pose more risk.
www.thelancet.com
January 21, 2026 at 1:35 PM
New Lancet meta-analysis finds no evidence that using paracetamol (acetaminophen) as directed in pregnancy increases the likelihood of autism, ADHD, or intellectual disability in children. Untreated fever/pain may pose more risk.
“Endemic” doesn’t mean “over.” COVID-19 still causes acute illness, Long COVID, and preventable deaths—even after the global emergency label ended. How we name this phase shapes funding, surveillance, and public trust. Read more: phnightschool.substack.com/p/is-covid-1... #COVID19
January 19, 2026 at 12:00 AM
“Endemic” doesn’t mean “over.” COVID-19 still causes acute illness, Long COVID, and preventable deaths—even after the global emergency label ended. How we name this phase shapes funding, surveillance, and public trust. Read more: phnightschool.substack.com/p/is-covid-1... #COVID19
CDC vaccine guidance may be shifting, but trustworthy, evidence-based recommendations are still available. This article points to AAP, ACOG, AAFP, and CIDRAP’s Vaccine Integrity Project as stable anchors for vaccine decisions. Read more:
With All This Vaccine Hoopla, Who Can You Trust?
It's time to take a break from CDC guidance on vaccine, at least until the anti-vaccine activists are not running the place.
phnightschool.substack.com
January 10, 2026 at 10:00 PM
CDC vaccine guidance may be shifting, but trustworthy, evidence-based recommendations are still available. This article points to AAP, ACOG, AAFP, and CIDRAP’s Vaccine Integrity Project as stable anchors for vaccine decisions. Read more:
Influenza kills. It kills children and adults. We're likely going to see a higher number of pediatric deaths this year than last, and last year was a record year since pediatric flu deaths became reportable. It's never too late to vaccinate. Talk to your healthcare provider about getting the shot.
4 child flu deaths reported in Massachusetts, including 2 under 2 years old
Two of the four deaths were of children under the age of 2 in Boston, according to the Boston Public Health Commission.
www.wcvb.com
January 7, 2026 at 1:35 PM
Influenza kills. It kills children and adults. We're likely going to see a higher number of pediatric deaths this year than last, and last year was a record year since pediatric flu deaths became reportable. It's never too late to vaccinate. Talk to your healthcare provider about getting the shot.
Cervical cancer once killed many women in the U.S.—now it’s on the verge of being preventable and even eliminated where HPV vaccination and screening reach everyone. Explore how Pap tests, HPV vaccines, self-collection, and equity-focused policies fit together:
historyofvaccines.org/blog/cervica...
historyofvaccines.org/blog/cervica...
Cervical Cancer Prevention: From Microscope Slides to Vaccine Victory
historyofvaccines.org
January 6, 2026 at 1:35 PM
Cervical cancer once killed many women in the U.S.—now it’s on the verge of being preventable and even eliminated where HPV vaccination and screening reach everyone. Explore how Pap tests, HPV vaccines, self-collection, and equity-focused policies fit together:
historyofvaccines.org/blog/cervica...
historyofvaccines.org/blog/cervica...
Climate change is disrupting vaccination through extreme weather, damaged cold chains, displacement, malnutrition, and shifting patterns of vaccine-preventable diseases. www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
January 5, 2026 at 1:00 PM
Climate change is disrupting vaccination through extreme weather, damaged cold chains, displacement, malnutrition, and shifting patterns of vaccine-preventable diseases. www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
The UK is now offering a combined MMRV vaccine on the NHS, adding chickenpox protection to the routine childhood schedule and rolling out catch-up doses for under-6s. This is expected to cut severe cases and save families time and money. Learn more:
www.bbc.com/news/article...
#VaccinesWork
www.bbc.com/news/article...
#VaccinesWork
Chickenpox vaccines for children on NHS starts across UK
For the first time, children will be offered vaccination on the NHS against the common infection which, in rare cases, can be very serious.
www.bbc.com
January 2, 2026 at 5:19 PM
The UK is now offering a combined MMRV vaccine on the NHS, adding chickenpox protection to the routine childhood schedule and rolling out catch-up doses for under-6s. This is expected to cut severe cases and save families time and money. Learn more:
www.bbc.com/news/article...
#VaccinesWork
www.bbc.com/news/article...
#VaccinesWork
Mental illness doesn't cause most gun violence—only 3-5% of cases. AJPH exposes myths post-mass shootings, spotlighting real risks like guns + alcohol. Time for facts over fear. #MentalHealth #GunViolence
Mental Illness, Mass Shootings, and the Politics of American Firearms | AJPH | Vol. 105 Issue 2
Four assumptions frequently arise in the aftermath of mass shootings in the United States: (1) that mental illness causes gun violence, (2) that psychiatric diagnosis can predict gun crime, (3) that…
ajph.aphapublications.org
January 1, 2026 at 7:00 PM
Mental illness doesn't cause most gun violence—only 3-5% of cases. AJPH exposes myths post-mass shootings, spotlighting real risks like guns + alcohol. Time for facts over fear. #MentalHealth #GunViolence
New CDC analysis from the VISION network finds 2024–2025 COVID-19 vaccines cut COVID-related ER/urgent care visits by 76% in kids 9 months–4 years and 56% in ages 5–17. Updated shots still add important protection. www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes...
Effectiveness of 2024–2025 COVID-19 Vaccines in Children...
This report describes COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness among children ages 9 months to 17 years.
www.cdc.gov
December 30, 2025 at 8:01 PM
New CDC analysis from the VISION network finds 2024–2025 COVID-19 vaccines cut COVID-related ER/urgent care visits by 76% in kids 9 months–4 years and 56% in ages 5–17. Updated shots still add important protection. www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes...
A federal court just forced the restoration of 195 public health websites and datasets that were taken down under an anti-trans order, returning critical info on infectious disease, LGBTQ+ health, and reproductive care to clinicians and health departments.
Federal Government restores access to critical public health data after SF wins lawsuit – City Attorney of San Francisco
City Attorney of San Francisco
sfcityattorney.org
December 26, 2025 at 7:00 PM
A federal court just forced the restoration of 195 public health websites and datasets that were taken down under an anti-trans order, returning critical info on infectious disease, LGBTQ+ health, and reproductive care to clinicians and health departments.
Gun makers have shifted from hunting to fear-based “personal safety” marketing—especially toward Black communities already hardest hit by gun homicide. Gun ownership may double homicide risk and triple suicide risk in the home. Learn more:
www.mmm-online.com/news/guns-ma...
#GunViolence
www.mmm-online.com/news/guns-ma...
#GunViolence
Guns marketed for personal safety fuel public health crisis in Black communities
Over the past two decades, the firearm industry has ramped up production and stepped up sales campaigns through social media influencers, conference presentations, and promotions.
www.mmm-online.com
December 26, 2025 at 5:19 PM
Gun makers have shifted from hunting to fear-based “personal safety” marketing—especially toward Black communities already hardest hit by gun homicide. Gun ownership may double homicide risk and triple suicide risk in the home. Learn more:
www.mmm-online.com/news/guns-ma...
#GunViolence
www.mmm-online.com/news/guns-ma...
#GunViolence
A new Nipah virus vaccine (HeV-sG-V) has cleared Phase 1, showing no serious safety issues and promising immune responses in 40 adult volunteers—an early but important step for global health security. Learn more:
historyofvaccines.org/blog/phase-o...
historyofvaccines.org/blog/phase-o...
December 23, 2025 at 3:50 PM
A new Nipah virus vaccine (HeV-sG-V) has cleared Phase 1, showing no serious safety issues and promising immune responses in 40 adult volunteers—an early but important step for global health security. Learn more:
historyofvaccines.org/blog/phase-o...
historyofvaccines.org/blog/phase-o...
The same health data can tell very different stories depending on how we draw the map. The modifiable areal unit problem (MAUP) shows how changing boundaries can flip correlations and shift “hotspots” of risk. Learn more:
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC...
#PublicHealth #GIS
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC...
#PublicHealth #GIS
December 22, 2025 at 10:00 PM
The same health data can tell very different stories depending on how we draw the map. The modifiable areal unit problem (MAUP) shows how changing boundaries can flip correlations and shift “hotspots” of risk. Learn more:
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC...
#PublicHealth #GIS
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC...
#PublicHealth #GIS
México es origen, tránsito, destino y retorno de personas migrantes, pero su política de salud sigue centrada en la emergencia. Este artículo propone 7 recomendaciones para garantizar el derecho a la salud con enfoque de derechos humanos. Lee más:
saludpublica.mx/index.php/sp...
#MigraciónYSalud
saludpublica.mx/index.php/sp...
#MigraciónYSalud
December 22, 2025 at 12:17 AM
México es origen, tránsito, destino y retorno de personas migrantes, pero su política de salud sigue centrada en la emergencia. Este artículo propone 7 recomendaciones para garantizar el derecho a la salud con enfoque de derechos humanos. Lee más:
saludpublica.mx/index.php/sp...
#MigraciónYSalud
saludpublica.mx/index.php/sp...
#MigraciónYSalud
Seventeen US jurisdictions now report high or very high influenza-like illness, flu test positivity has jumped to 14.8%, and the CDC estimates 4.6 million illnesses, 49,000 hospitalizations, and 1,900 deaths so far this season. Two new pediatric deaths linked to H3 viruses.
US flu activity takes big jump as 2 deaths in kids confirmed
monkeybusinessimages / iStock
www.cidrap.umn.edu
December 21, 2025 at 5:19 PM
Seventeen US jurisdictions now report high or very high influenza-like illness, flu test positivity has jumped to 14.8%, and the CDC estimates 4.6 million illnesses, 49,000 hospitalizations, and 1,900 deaths so far this season. Two new pediatric deaths linked to H3 viruses.
New MMWR data confirm that coal workers’ pneumoconiosis (black lung) is still causing preventable deaths—1,754 in 2020–2023, mostly among miners and construction/extraction workers, especially in Appalachia. Learn more: www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes...
#WorkerHealth #BlackLung
#WorkerHealth #BlackLung
December 18, 2025 at 7:00 PM
New MMWR data confirm that coal workers’ pneumoconiosis (black lung) is still causing preventable deaths—1,754 in 2020–2023, mostly among miners and construction/extraction workers, especially in Appalachia. Learn more: www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes...
#WorkerHealth #BlackLung
#WorkerHealth #BlackLung
Healthy dairy calves in Panama are carrying antibiotic-resistant E. coli, including multidrug-resistant and ESBL-producing strains, highlighting farms as key AMR reservoirs that can affect people through food, contact, and the environment. Full study: academic.oup.com/lambio/advan... #AMR
December 18, 2025 at 2:01 PM
Healthy dairy calves in Panama are carrying antibiotic-resistant E. coli, including multidrug-resistant and ESBL-producing strains, highlighting farms as key AMR reservoirs that can affect people through food, contact, and the environment. Full study: academic.oup.com/lambio/advan... #AMR
U.S. public health infrastructure is being eroded just as misinformation and emerging threats are growing. An AJIC editorial from APIC & SHEA warns that cuts to funding, surveillance, and advisory bodies like HICPAC put patient safety and preparedness at risk.
Safeguarding America’s health: the critical role of public health infrastructure in an era of erosion and uncertainty
On March 4, 1929, Herbert Hoover said in his inaugural address, “Public health service should be as fully organized and as universally incorporated into our governmental system as is public…
www.ajicjournal.org
December 18, 2025 at 12:17 AM
U.S. public health infrastructure is being eroded just as misinformation and emerging threats are growing. An AJIC editorial from APIC & SHEA warns that cuts to funding, surveillance, and advisory bodies like HICPAC put patient safety and preparedness at risk.