Mark Slifka
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markslifka.bsky.social
Mark Slifka
@markslifka.bsky.social
40 followers 44 following 15 posts
Professor, OHSU, CSO, Najit Technologies, Inc.
Interests: infectious disease, virology, vaccines, immunological memory. Opinions are my own
Posts Replies Media Videos
markslifka.bsky.social
Very interesting dataset where you can zoom in to individual schools and look at 8 year trends of vaccination coverage. Every state should do this www.oregonlive.com/data/2025/05...
Measles vaccination rates keep dropping among Oregon kids. Look up your school, day care
No cases have been reported in Oregon this year. But officials warn that the falling rate of vaccinations could yield troubling consequences.
www.oregonlive.com
May 12, 2025 at 3:06 PM
Reposted by Mark Slifka
ejohnwherry.bsky.social
Very accurate
youtu.be/8H34jcpEsFs?...
RFK Jr. & HHS: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)
YouTube video by LastWeekTonight
youtu.be
April 30, 2025 at 12:25 AM
Reposted by Mark Slifka
tcellogic.bsky.social
Link to video: www.cbsnews.com/news/scienti...
Scientists fear Trump administration cuts to NIH could impact the health of Americans for generations
Former National Institutes of Health Director Dr. Francis Collins, who abruptly left his NIH research lab in February, fears aggressive downsizing could impact Americans' health.
www.cbsnews.com
April 30, 2025 at 1:48 AM
markslifka.bsky.social
Vaccine Enthusiasm is now my new favorite phrase
April 1, 2025 at 4:06 PM
Reposted by Mark Slifka
tcellogic.bsky.social
Pls read and share with family members. Thank you AAI for speaking up!!
aai.org The American Association of Immunologists @aai.org · Mar 18
AAI, @acpimphysicians.bsky.social, and a coalition of 34 leading scientific and medical organizations have issued a joint statement to affirm vaccine safety amid rising misinformation and declining trust.

Read the full statement: ow.ly/xtoP50VjT02.
Vaccines are a cornerstone of public health, a shining example of the power of scientific research, and a vital tool in the fight against diseases. A message from 34 scientific societies and medical organizations, led by the American Association of Immunologists and the American College of Physicians. Between 1994 and 2023, routine immunizations and adherence to current vaccine schedules for children born in the U.S. prevented an estimated 508 million cases of illness, 32 million hospitalizations, and 1+ million deaths. These efforts saved $540 billion in direct costs and $2.7 trillion in societal costs (CDC, 2024). Globally 150 million lives saved in 50 years. Vaccination campaigns worldwide have save an estimated 154 million lives over the past 50 years, particularly through initiatives targeting diseases like smallpox, polio, and measles (WHO, 2024). Through rigorous scientific research and extensive testing, vaccines have consistently proven their ability to save lives, prevent illness, and protect entire communities. Clinical trials and long-term post-market safety monitoring ensure that vaccines are safe, and any safety concerns that arise are swiftly investigated.
March 19, 2025 at 2:06 PM
markslifka.bsky.social
www.reuters.com/business/hea...

It is hard for parents to know which information is reliable and which is not. When in doubt, please talk to your pediatrician.
Doctors push back as parents embrace Kennedy and vitamin A in Texas measles outbreak
Dr. Ana Montanez working overtime in Lubbock to contact vaccine-hesitant parents, explaining the grave risks posed by a disease that most American families have never seen, and one that can be prevented through immunization.
www.reuters.com
March 9, 2025 at 6:42 PM
Reposted by Mark Slifka
standupforscience.bsky.social
Want to stream our DC event & hear from amazing speakers like Bill Nye, Francis Collins, Atul Gawande, and SO MANY MORE?

Join our livestream at www.twitch.tv/standupforsc..., starting at 12 pm!

#standupforscience2025
image of the stand up for science logos with "live stream" on it
March 7, 2025 at 1:30 PM
markslifka.bsky.social
Standup for Science, Salem OR 2025
March 7, 2025 at 8:13 PM
markslifka.bsky.social
It's an important committee
March 5, 2025 at 6:46 PM
Reposted by Mark Slifka
lizszabo.bsky.social
Formerly anti-vax parents on how they changed their minds: ‘I really made a mistake’

www.theguardian.com/global/2025/...
Formerly anti-vax parents on how they changed their minds: ‘I really made a mistake’
Researchers believe personal stories are more persuasive than facts alone in addressing vaccine skepticism
www.theguardian.com
February 28, 2025 at 5:27 PM
markslifka.bsky.social
www.axios.com/2025/02/26/m...
Universities feel ripple effects of DOGE cuts to health
Capping how much NIH covers the schools' overhead costs could lead to billions of dollars in cuts to scientific research funding and widespread economic fallout.
www.axios.com
February 27, 2025 at 6:23 AM
Reposted by Mark Slifka
ejohnwherry.bsky.social
With an Ro of 12-18, a mortality rate of about 1-2/10,000 and an MMR vaccination rate in this area of Texas at 82% we should expect to see this expand to many 1000 cases quickly and, unfortunately, potential deaths.
February 22, 2025 at 4:49 PM
markslifka.bsky.social
Worth a good read
elizabethjacobs.bsky.social Elizabeth Jacobs, PhD @elizabethjacobs.bsky.social · Feb 19
RFK Jr. thinks that a clinical trial should be done for the entire childhood vaccine schedule. Here’s why that will never happen.

1. You can’t do a randomized trial of something that we already know is safe and effective. There would have to be a placebo group that didn’t get vaxxed. Unethical.
February 20, 2025 at 3:12 AM
Reposted by Mark Slifka
tcellogic.bsky.social
news.aai.org/2025/02/15/s...
Statement on Threat to the Federal Scientific Workforce - AAI News
AA is deeply concerned about the damage to the biomedical research enterprise that will occur as a result of drastic reductions in the size of the federal scientific workforce
news.aai.org
February 15, 2025 at 4:07 PM
Reposted by Mark Slifka
ejohnwherry.bsky.social
Of course: www.statnews.com/2025/02/14/t...
Texas measles outbreak rises to 48 cases. It's the state's worst in nearly 30 years
The ongoing measles outbreak in West Texas has doubled in size to 48 cases, mostly in children and teens, making it the state's worst in nearly 30 years.
www.statnews.com
February 15, 2025 at 12:53 AM
Reposted by Mark Slifka
ejohnwherry.bsky.social
YES. Need to say this loudly and often! This 2.46x is also the short-term ROI. Long-term ROI (more difficult to estimate) may ~10x. Highest for any gov't spending. And the source of discoveries necessary for all new drugs (industry important too but without NIH funded science there's no foundation)
February 8, 2025 at 3:54 PM
Reposted by Mark Slifka
ejohnwherry.bsky.social
In a year, when people are complaining about the Flu vaccine not matching strains / protecting and there's an increase in kids with measles or other vaccine-preventable infections, this will be the week we should mark as the inflection point. I hope this does not happen, but things do not look good.
February 1, 2025 at 1:43 PM
markslifka.bsky.social
Without liquid nitrogen, rare blood samples, cell lines, and other valuable reagents could be lost within 2 weeks
January 27, 2025 at 1:47 AM
markslifka.bsky.social
www.cnn.com/2025/01/24/h...
Scientists at NIH can’t purchase supplies for their studies after Trump administration pauses outside communications | CNN
Scientists at the National Institutes of Health have been told the communications pause announced by the Trump Administration earlier this week includes a pause on all purchasing, including supplies f...
www.cnn.com
January 27, 2025 at 1:45 AM
markslifka.bsky.social
Yeah….
I was talking with a colleague in public health earlier today and they know people who can’t submit their reports because the CDC can’t publish their reports. So yeah, this is real
January 22, 2025 at 10:25 PM