Katy Stephenson
@kstephensonmd.bsky.social
Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School. Infectious diseases doc and scientist at Center for Virology and Vaccine Research, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. #IDsky
Pinned
Hello everybody! I’m a vaccine researcher at Harvard and lead some studies on respiratory virus epidemiology in Boston. Also a practicing infectious diseases doctor. But I’m really here to connect with my community and advocate for public health. As my old timey 60s activist dad tells me - organize!
Reposted by Katy Stephenson
I cannot imagine the devastation this family is experiencing today. This statement is powerful and must be read.
January 25, 2026 at 1:52 AM
I cannot imagine the devastation this family is experiencing today. This statement is powerful and must be read.
Reposted by Katy Stephenson
A video of Alex Pretti reading out the final salute of an unnamed veteran he cared for until the end of his life in the ICU, posted to Facebook by his son.
January 25, 2026 at 1:18 AM
A video of Alex Pretti reading out the final salute of an unnamed veteran he cared for until the end of his life in the ICU, posted to Facebook by his son.
“Reporters were told the CDC scientist could not be identified by name as a condition of participating in the briefing.”
Is there a super secret society of genomic epidemiologists I don’t know about??
@kgandersen.bsky.social @billhanage.bsky.social @helenbranswell.bsky.social
Is there a super secret society of genomic epidemiologists I don’t know about??
@kgandersen.bsky.social @billhanage.bsky.social @helenbranswell.bsky.social
Would the #CDC's principal deputy director view it as a public health loss for the US if the country loses its #measles elimination status? "Not really," Dr. Ralph Abraham said at a press conference today. www.statnews.com/2026/01/20/c...
Senior CDC official: Loss of measles elimination status in U.S. would be ‘cost of doing business’
The principal deputy director of the CDC said he would not view the loss of the United States' measles elimination status as a significant event.
www.statnews.com
January 21, 2026 at 12:27 AM
“Reporters were told the CDC scientist could not be identified by name as a condition of participating in the briefing.”
Is there a super secret society of genomic epidemiologists I don’t know about??
@kgandersen.bsky.social @billhanage.bsky.social @helenbranswell.bsky.social
Is there a super secret society of genomic epidemiologists I don’t know about??
@kgandersen.bsky.social @billhanage.bsky.social @helenbranswell.bsky.social
Snowy Boston from work today
January 19, 2026 at 4:19 PM
Snowy Boston from work today
Reposted by Katy Stephenson
The House is proposing nearly $2 billion cuts in federal HIV funding, wiping out CDC’s HIV prevention program, core Ryan White services, and the Ending the HIV Epidemic initiative.
Contact your representatives and senators to urge them to fully fund federal HIV programs: bit.ly/4rG38lz
Contact your representatives and senators to urge them to fully fund federal HIV programs: bit.ly/4rG38lz
We cannot go back: Act now to save HIV funding
Urge your members of Congress to fully fund federal HIV programs as they negotiate final funding levels for the FY 2026 LHHS spending bill.
bit.ly
January 10, 2026 at 1:37 AM
The House is proposing nearly $2 billion cuts in federal HIV funding, wiping out CDC’s HIV prevention program, core Ryan White services, and the Ending the HIV Epidemic initiative.
Contact your representatives and senators to urge them to fully fund federal HIV programs: bit.ly/4rG38lz
Contact your representatives and senators to urge them to fully fund federal HIV programs: bit.ly/4rG38lz
It’s not too late in the season to be vaccinated and children can get the vaccine down to 6 months old. The vaccine is not great this year but it’s better than nothing!
January 8, 2026 at 12:43 AM
It’s not too late in the season to be vaccinated and children can get the vaccine down to 6 months old. The vaccine is not great this year but it’s better than nothing!
IDSA is the association of all the infectious diseases doctors in America
Today’s announcement that HHS is drastically altering the U.S. childhood vaccine schedule without a transparent process or clear scientific justification represents the latest reckless step in Secretary Kennedy’s assault on the national vaccine infrastructure.
Our statement: https://bit.ly/497Tj8V
Our statement: https://bit.ly/497Tj8V
January 5, 2026 at 11:54 PM
IDSA is the association of all the infectious diseases doctors in America
Reposted by Katy Stephenson
We continue to follow evidence-based science that protects the health of children across Boston.
If you have questions about vaccines, talk to your health care provider and visit boston.gov/vaccines.
If you have questions about vaccines, talk to your health care provider and visit boston.gov/vaccines.
January 5, 2026 at 11:35 PM
We continue to follow evidence-based science that protects the health of children across Boston.
If you have questions about vaccines, talk to your health care provider and visit boston.gov/vaccines.
If you have questions about vaccines, talk to your health care provider and visit boston.gov/vaccines.
Reposted by Katy Stephenson
Magic Johnson was the grand marshal of the Rose Parade today, and as someone who remembers his November 1991 HIV announcement: if you had told anybody that day that he would be alive and healthy 34+ years later, I don't think they would have believed you. Medicine and research—they work.
January 1, 2026 at 6:17 PM
Magic Johnson was the grand marshal of the Rose Parade today, and as someone who remembers his November 1991 HIV announcement: if you had told anybody that day that he would be alive and healthy 34+ years later, I don't think they would have believed you. Medicine and research—they work.
Reposted by Katy Stephenson
#COVID19 vaccination before or during pregnancy was associated with lower risks of hospitalization, ICU admission, and preterm birth among those infected with SARS-CoV-2 in Canada.
ja.ma/45gaS4e
ja.ma/45gaS4e
December 27, 2025 at 12:00 PM
#COVID19 vaccination before or during pregnancy was associated with lower risks of hospitalization, ICU admission, and preterm birth among those infected with SARS-CoV-2 in Canada.
ja.ma/45gaS4e
ja.ma/45gaS4e
Reposted by Katy Stephenson
With flu cases increasing, it’s not too late to get vaccinated. Find vaccines near you at VaccineFinder.org.
Protect yourself and your loved ones by washing your hands thoroughly, increasing ventilation indoors, and staying home if you feel sick.
Learn more at boston.gov/respiratory-protection.
Protect yourself and your loved ones by washing your hands thoroughly, increasing ventilation indoors, and staying home if you feel sick.
Learn more at boston.gov/respiratory-protection.
December 23, 2025 at 4:25 PM
With flu cases increasing, it’s not too late to get vaccinated. Find vaccines near you at VaccineFinder.org.
Protect yourself and your loved ones by washing your hands thoroughly, increasing ventilation indoors, and staying home if you feel sick.
Learn more at boston.gov/respiratory-protection.
Protect yourself and your loved ones by washing your hands thoroughly, increasing ventilation indoors, and staying home if you feel sick.
Learn more at boston.gov/respiratory-protection.
Reposted by Katy Stephenson
A new report from researchers at the Yale School of Public Health warns that the U.S. government’s abrupt cancellation of funding for mRNA vaccine research could have devastating health and economic consequences for the nation.
New report sounds alarm on health fallout from mRNA vaccine funding cuts
A new report from the Yale School of Public Health warns that the U.S. government’s abrupt cancellation of funding for mRNA vaccine research could have
ysph.yale.edu
December 22, 2025 at 8:43 PM
A new report from researchers at the Yale School of Public Health warns that the U.S. government’s abrupt cancellation of funding for mRNA vaccine research could have devastating health and economic consequences for the nation.
Reposted by Katy Stephenson
The planned hepatitis B birth-dose trial in Guinea-Bissau raises serious ethical concerns. Withholding a proven, life-saving vaccine from newborns to answer speculative questions is an absence of equipoise with real downstream harms for trust in vaccines.
bktitanji.substack.com/p/how-unethi...
bktitanji.substack.com/p/how-unethi...
How Unethical Research Seeds Medical Mistrust
The absence of equipoise can turn research into harm
bktitanji.substack.com
December 18, 2025 at 9:18 PM
The planned hepatitis B birth-dose trial in Guinea-Bissau raises serious ethical concerns. Withholding a proven, life-saving vaccine from newborns to answer speculative questions is an absence of equipoise with real downstream harms for trust in vaccines.
bktitanji.substack.com/p/how-unethi...
bktitanji.substack.com/p/how-unethi...
Whenever you read that the Trump Administration is withholding an HIV intervention from South Africa, replace “South Africa” with “adolescent girls and young women” because that’s the group most disproportionately affected.
The US decision not to give #lenacapavir to South Africa "undercuts its own stated mission," says AVAC's Mitchell Warren. Learn more in Bhekisisa's coverage here: bhekisisa.org/health-news-...
December 11, 2025 at 7:04 PM
Whenever you read that the Trump Administration is withholding an HIV intervention from South Africa, replace “South Africa” with “adolescent girls and young women” because that’s the group most disproportionately affected.
Reposted by Katy Stephenson
Covid vaccines released last fall sharply decreased the risk of ER and urgent care visits in children, according to new data released by the CDC — providing a striking counterpoint to Trump administration rhetoric about the shots
Gift link: www.nytimes.com/2025/12/11/h...
Gift link: www.nytimes.com/2025/12/11/h...
Covid Vaccines Reduced Children’s Likelihood of E.R. and Urgent Care Visits, the C.D.C. Reported
www.nytimes.com
December 11, 2025 at 6:55 PM
Covid vaccines released last fall sharply decreased the risk of ER and urgent care visits in children, according to new data released by the CDC — providing a striking counterpoint to Trump administration rhetoric about the shots
Gift link: www.nytimes.com/2025/12/11/h...
Gift link: www.nytimes.com/2025/12/11/h...
Spotted: Curtis Sliwa legit patrolling the 72nd street subway platform
December 6, 2025 at 5:35 PM
Spotted: Curtis Sliwa legit patrolling the 72nd street subway platform
The IDSA is my professional organization and represents the infectious diseases doctors of america.
The ACIP decision to discontinue the recommendation for a universal hepatitis B birth dose vaccine will cause harm.
As the federal government continues to fail children's health, families can rely on our nation's physicians to continue to put children's health first.
As the federal government continues to fail children's health, families can rely on our nation's physicians to continue to put children's health first.
December 6, 2025 at 3:31 AM
The IDSA is my professional organization and represents the infectious diseases doctors of america.
Reposted by Katy Stephenson
The babies who will become infected as a result of this vote — and some will die prematurely of liver disease — will overwhelmingly be those born to marginalized, underserved families. This is a profound failure of evidence-based public health and a big step backwards. 2/2
December 5, 2025 at 4:13 PM
The babies who will become infected as a result of this vote — and some will die prematurely of liver disease — will overwhelmingly be those born to marginalized, underserved families. This is a profound failure of evidence-based public health and a big step backwards. 2/2
Reposted by Katy Stephenson
Sec. Kennedy must appear before the HELP Committee to explain why his vaccine advisory committee, in strong disagreement with the medical & scientific community, voted to end a decades-long recommendation that newborns receive the hepatitis B vaccine.
This vaccine saves lives.
This vaccine saves lives.
Breaking News: A federal vaccine committee voted to end the decades-long recommendation that all newborns be immunized at birth against hepatitis B, a highly infectious virus that leads to chronic liver disease in most infected children.
An End to Hepatitis B Shots for All Newborns
A federal panel voted on Friday to recommend halting the at-birth shots for all infants, in a step toward Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s goal of upending the nation’s vaccine policy.
nyti.ms
December 5, 2025 at 6:42 PM
Sec. Kennedy must appear before the HELP Committee to explain why his vaccine advisory committee, in strong disagreement with the medical & scientific community, voted to end a decades-long recommendation that newborns receive the hepatitis B vaccine.
This vaccine saves lives.
This vaccine saves lives.
I hope the public understands that RFK’s appointment of completely incompetent CDC and FDA officials is much much bigger than just vaccines. The FDA controls ALL of the medications for Americans. Do we want totally unqualified people in charge of all of our life-saving medications?
December 5, 2025 at 8:24 PM
I hope the public understands that RFK’s appointment of completely incompetent CDC and FDA officials is much much bigger than just vaccines. The FDA controls ALL of the medications for Americans. Do we want totally unqualified people in charge of all of our life-saving medications?
Reposted by Katy Stephenson
perfect is the enemy of good and demanding perfect RCTs for annual flu shots = no flu shots
If new proposals detailed in an FDA memo are put into place, experts told me it would mean the end of annual flu shots. And end of most vaccines for pregnant people. And maybe the end of updates to pneumonia vaccines. And more.
www.cidrap.umn.edu/childhood-va...
www.cidrap.umn.edu/childhood-va...
FDA official proposes ‘impossible’ standards for vaccine testing that could curtail access to immunizations
www.cidrap.umn.edu
December 3, 2025 at 7:10 PM
perfect is the enemy of good and demanding perfect RCTs for annual flu shots = no flu shots
Reposted by Katy Stephenson
Twelve former commissioners of the FDA express concern that the agency’s recent moves will undermine a regulatory model designed to ensure vaccine safety, effectiveness, and availability. Read the full Perspective: nej.md/48Ova76
December 3, 2025 at 10:10 PM
Twelve former commissioners of the FDA express concern that the agency’s recent moves will undermine a regulatory model designed to ensure vaccine safety, effectiveness, and availability. Read the full Perspective: nej.md/48Ova76
Reposted by Katy Stephenson
I will be doing live coverage of the ACIP meetings tomorrow and Friday on Bluesky.
Here's the agenda:
www.cdc.gov/acip/downloa...
And here is Your Local Epidemiologist and The Evidence Collective's prebunk:
open.substack.com/pub/yourloca...
Should be an interesting time
Here's the agenda:
www.cdc.gov/acip/downloa...
And here is Your Local Epidemiologist and The Evidence Collective's prebunk:
open.substack.com/pub/yourloca...
Should be an interesting time
www.cdc.gov
December 3, 2025 at 10:25 PM
I will be doing live coverage of the ACIP meetings tomorrow and Friday on Bluesky.
Here's the agenda:
www.cdc.gov/acip/downloa...
And here is Your Local Epidemiologist and The Evidence Collective's prebunk:
open.substack.com/pub/yourloca...
Should be an interesting time
Here's the agenda:
www.cdc.gov/acip/downloa...
And here is Your Local Epidemiologist and The Evidence Collective's prebunk:
open.substack.com/pub/yourloca...
Should be an interesting time
Reposted by Katy Stephenson
OPEN SPOT ALERT! There is an ID fellowship spot available at Boston Medical Center. Incredible team, sane workload (including consult caps and non-teaching service). Highly recommended if you're interested in TB/global health, HIV, SUD, or AMR/stewardship. Message me if interested! #IDsky #MedSky
December 3, 2025 at 8:30 PM