Heather Pierce
@heatherpierce.bsky.social
Stanford alum, MPHer, mom, introvert, Guster lover, poet at heart, fan of the Oxford comma. Be kind. (she/her)
Reposted by Heather Pierce
This magazine just fired all of their politics staffers
We are honored to receive the @rooseveltinstitute.org's 2025 Four Freedoms Award for Freedom of Speech and Expression, and to be among a stellar class of laureates including @wck.org, @cvt.org, and more. Details: tnvge.co/ZMIUg7v
November 3, 2025 at 9:59 PM
This magazine just fired all of their politics staffers
Reposted by Heather Pierce
The editors of the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) were apparently fired today.
The precursor to MMWR began in 1878 to address emerging public health threats rapidly.
We are not “great” without it. We are vulnerable to threats from sporadic foodborne illness to bioterrorism.
The precursor to MMWR began in 1878 to address emerging public health threats rapidly.
We are not “great” without it. We are vulnerable to threats from sporadic foodborne illness to bioterrorism.
October 11, 2025 at 4:09 AM
The editors of the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) were apparently fired today.
The precursor to MMWR began in 1878 to address emerging public health threats rapidly.
We are not “great” without it. We are vulnerable to threats from sporadic foodborne illness to bioterrorism.
The precursor to MMWR began in 1878 to address emerging public health threats rapidly.
We are not “great” without it. We are vulnerable to threats from sporadic foodborne illness to bioterrorism.
Reposted by Heather Pierce
My quote of the day
Nobody ever thanks you for saving them from the disease they didn't know they were going to get.
William Foege
Nobody ever thanks you for saving them from the disease they didn't know they were going to get.
William Foege
October 11, 2025 at 10:50 AM
My quote of the day
Nobody ever thanks you for saving them from the disease they didn't know they were going to get.
William Foege
Nobody ever thanks you for saving them from the disease they didn't know they were going to get.
William Foege
Reposted by Heather Pierce
It was yet another rough night for CDC employees: Dozens — possibly hundreds, they are still self-surveying — were let go late at night, including those who worked on the prestigious MMWR reports
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/11/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/11/u...
Trump Administration Lays Off Dozens of C.D.C. Officials
www.nytimes.com
October 11, 2025 at 2:16 PM
It was yet another rough night for CDC employees: Dozens — possibly hundreds, they are still self-surveying — were let go late at night, including those who worked on the prestigious MMWR reports
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/11/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/11/u...
Reposted by Heather Pierce
Dr. Jane Goodall filmed an interview with Netflix in March 2025 that she understood would only be released after her death.
October 5, 2025 at 9:08 AM
Dr. Jane Goodall filmed an interview with Netflix in March 2025 that she understood would only be released after her death.
Reposted by Heather Pierce
Office David Rose
killed during
mass shooting at CDC by anti-vax extremist.
“He was a loving father, a devoted husband, a cherished brother, and a loyal friend.
His kindness, courage, & unwavering commitment to his family and community touched the lives of everyone who knew him.”
killed during
mass shooting at CDC by anti-vax extremist.
“He was a loving father, a devoted husband, a cherished brother, and a loyal friend.
His kindness, courage, & unwavering commitment to his family and community touched the lives of everyone who knew him.”
September 23, 2025 at 11:48 PM
Office David Rose
killed during
mass shooting at CDC by anti-vax extremist.
“He was a loving father, a devoted husband, a cherished brother, and a loyal friend.
His kindness, courage, & unwavering commitment to his family and community touched the lives of everyone who knew him.”
killed during
mass shooting at CDC by anti-vax extremist.
“He was a loving father, a devoted husband, a cherished brother, and a loyal friend.
His kindness, courage, & unwavering commitment to his family and community touched the lives of everyone who knew him.”
Reposted by Heather Pierce
Putting more barriers in place is counter to what we need.
www.axios.com/2025/08/27/c...
www.axios.com/2025/08/27/c...
COVID vaccine questions and doubt linger amid nationwide surge
No one knows how this fall will go given uncertainty over further approvals, the new restrictions and the partisan environment.
www.axios.com
August 27, 2025 at 5:50 PM
Putting more barriers in place is counter to what we need.
www.axios.com/2025/08/27/c...
www.axios.com/2025/08/27/c...
Reposted by Heather Pierce
this iconic advertising copywriter named Kathy Hepinstall Parks died over the weekend and I wanted to share something from her website I thought Bluesky would like
August 22, 2025 at 2:20 PM
this iconic advertising copywriter named Kathy Hepinstall Parks died over the weekend and I wanted to share something from her website I thought Bluesky would like
Reposted by Heather Pierce
www.huffpost.com/entry/utah-s... I love how the author grapples with the contradictions of abolition feminism. The both and that we all face when trying to change systemic cruelties and tending to the urgency at hand. Best thing I read in a while.
I Randomly Decided To Pay Off A School’s Lunch Debt. Then Something Incredible Happened.
“I immediately wondered if this was real.”
www.huffpost.com
July 12, 2025 at 7:58 PM
www.huffpost.com/entry/utah-s... I love how the author grapples with the contradictions of abolition feminism. The both and that we all face when trying to change systemic cruelties and tending to the urgency at hand. Best thing I read in a while.
Reposted by Heather Pierce
BREAKING: Scientists are staging a “science fair” in the lobby of a Congressional building to tell elected officials about the critical knowledge the US will lose because their research grants have been canceled.
July 8, 2025 at 3:31 PM
BREAKING: Scientists are staging a “science fair” in the lobby of a Congressional building to tell elected officials about the critical knowledge the US will lose because their research grants have been canceled.
Reposted by Heather Pierce
This is a travesty & a nightmare. The US was a founder of @gavi.org. It lowers global vaccine costs, has vaccinated 1B children, & averted 19M deaths. This pull out will cost 100s of thousands of children's lives a year - and RFK Jr will be personally responsible.
www.politico.com/news/2025/06...
www.politico.com/news/2025/06...
RFK Jr. says US won’t donate to global vaccine effort
Kennedy ripped into Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, in a video address at its pledging summit.
www.politico.com
June 25, 2025 at 1:59 PM
This is a travesty & a nightmare. The US was a founder of @gavi.org. It lowers global vaccine costs, has vaccinated 1B children, & averted 19M deaths. This pull out will cost 100s of thousands of children's lives a year - and RFK Jr will be personally responsible.
www.politico.com/news/2025/06...
www.politico.com/news/2025/06...
I thought I saw a sad bald eagle on the way into the office this morning (which felt poetic) but turns out it’s just a type of pigeon.
April 8, 2025 at 8:08 PM
I thought I saw a sad bald eagle on the way into the office this morning (which felt poetic) but turns out it’s just a type of pigeon.
Reposted by Heather Pierce
Do not normalize children dying from measles. Measles was previously eliminated in the US, thanks to vaccines.
When children die from measles, it means that adults have catastrophically failed to protect them because they have rejected basic science.
When children die from measles, it means that adults have catastrophically failed to protect them because they have rejected basic science.
April 7, 2025 at 5:47 PM
Do not normalize children dying from measles. Measles was previously eliminated in the US, thanks to vaccines.
When children die from measles, it means that adults have catastrophically failed to protect them because they have rejected basic science.
When children die from measles, it means that adults have catastrophically failed to protect them because they have rejected basic science.
"Public health saved your life today and you don't even know it." As we begin National Public Health Week, the threat to our critical but often invisible public health infrastructure is massive. So too is the need to fight to save it. People's lives are counting on it. www.pbs.org/show/the-inv...
The Invisible Shield
Public health saved your life today and you don't even know it.
www.pbs.org
April 7, 2025 at 3:11 PM
"Public health saved your life today and you don't even know it." As we begin National Public Health Week, the threat to our critical but often invisible public health infrastructure is massive. So too is the need to fight to save it. People's lives are counting on it. www.pbs.org/show/the-inv...
Reposted by Heather Pierce
I have tariffed
the penguins
that are on
Heard Island
and which
you were probably
assuming
did not export goods
forgive me
they were taking advantage of us
so cunning
and so cold
the penguins
that are on
Heard Island
and which
you were probably
assuming
did not export goods
forgive me
they were taking advantage of us
so cunning
and so cold
April 3, 2025 at 7:45 PM
I have tariffed
the penguins
that are on
Heard Island
and which
you were probably
assuming
did not export goods
forgive me
they were taking advantage of us
so cunning
and so cold
the penguins
that are on
Heard Island
and which
you were probably
assuming
did not export goods
forgive me
they were taking advantage of us
so cunning
and so cold
Reposted by Heather Pierce
The US health agencies gutted aren't household names—because they worked.
That's the paradox: effective public health is invisible.
Losing federal support shifts pressure to states, counties, cities. It isn't overnight—measles is quick, lead poisoning less so—but the impact is coming
That's the paradox: effective public health is invisible.
Losing federal support shifts pressure to states, counties, cities. It isn't overnight—measles is quick, lead poisoning less so—but the impact is coming
April 2, 2025 at 12:21 PM
The US health agencies gutted aren't household names—because they worked.
That's the paradox: effective public health is invisible.
Losing federal support shifts pressure to states, counties, cities. It isn't overnight—measles is quick, lead poisoning less so—but the impact is coming
That's the paradox: effective public health is invisible.
Losing federal support shifts pressure to states, counties, cities. It isn't overnight—measles is quick, lead poisoning less so—but the impact is coming
Reposted by Heather Pierce
What we risk losing:
“Promising results from an early-stage trial suggest that lenacapavir injections might offer long-lasting protection.” — This annual shot might protect against HIV infections www.technologyreview.com/2025/03/14/1...
This annual shot might protect against HIV infections
Promising results from an early-stage trial suggest that lenacapavir injections might offer long-lasting protection.
www.technologyreview.com
March 18, 2025 at 8:06 PM
What we risk losing:
Reposted by Heather Pierce
www.axios.com/2025/03/18/h...
Not only are they erasing and dismantling everything, they are diminishing everything. Gun violence is the leading cause of children.
Not only are they erasing and dismantling everything, they are diminishing everything. Gun violence is the leading cause of children.
HHS drops surgeon general's advisory on gun violence
HHS said it took down the information to comply with Trump's executive order on protecting Second Amendment rights.
www.axios.com
March 18, 2025 at 10:07 PM
www.axios.com/2025/03/18/h...
Not only are they erasing and dismantling everything, they are diminishing everything. Gun violence is the leading cause of children.
Not only are they erasing and dismantling everything, they are diminishing everything. Gun violence is the leading cause of children.
For your to-do list today: Order this book (ideally from an independent bookstore) if you haven't already!
STUNNING review of Everything Is Tuberculosis in @apnews.com. "The real magic of Green’s writing is the deeply considerate, human touch that goes into every word. He uses the stories of real people to turn overwhelming problems into something personal and understandable."
apnews.com/article/ever...
apnews.com/article/ever...
Book Review: John Green is obsessed with tuberculosis. He makes a strong case that we should be, too
Bestselling young adult author John Green's newest book is a nonfiction thesis on the deadliest infectious disease, which infects millions of people per year.
apnews.com
March 17, 2025 at 7:26 PM
For your to-do list today: Order this book (ideally from an independent bookstore) if you haven't already!
Reposted by Heather Pierce
Six days until Everything Is Tuberculosis. Preorder the book now as a statement of hope that the world will exist in six days.
everythingistb.com
everythingistb.com
March 12, 2025 at 1:53 PM
Six days until Everything Is Tuberculosis. Preorder the book now as a statement of hope that the world will exist in six days.
everythingistb.com
everythingistb.com
Reposted by Heather Pierce
A recent study found that cervical cancer deaths in young women have plummeted since the introduction of the human papillomavirus vaccine.
As Cervical Cancer Deaths Plummet, Experts Credit HPV Vaccine
HPV can cause a variety of cancers, including cervical. New mortality data for women under 25 point to the success of the HPV vaccine.
buff.ly
March 11, 2025 at 12:37 PM
A recent study found that cervical cancer deaths in young women have plummeted since the introduction of the human papillomavirus vaccine.
Reposted by Heather Pierce
Gift link 🎁 because this needs to be understood beyond just public health folks.
Tuberculosis Resurgent as Trump Funding Cut Disrupts Treatment Globally (Gift Article)
The United States was the major funder of tuberculosis programs. Now hundreds of thousands of sick patients can’t find tests or drugs, and risk spreading the disease.
www.nytimes.com
March 11, 2025 at 10:51 PM
Gift link 🎁 because this needs to be understood beyond just public health folks.