Maxwell Smith, PhD
@maxwellsmith.bsky.social
Bioethicist, Associate Professor, & CIHR Applied Public Health Chair at Western University in London, Ontario, Canada. Also Director, Western's Centre for Bioethics and Associate Director, Rotman Institute of Philosophy. Views are my own.
maxwellsmith.ca
maxwellsmith.ca
Reposted by Maxwell Smith, PhD
“…aims to get bills that would roll back or eliminate vaccine requirements in every statehouse in the country.” 😳
With new vaccine schedule secured, RFK Jr. allies head to statehouses www.statnews.com/2026/01/29/v... via @statnews.com @danielpayne.bsky.social @isabellacueto.bsky.social
With new vaccine schedule secured, RFK Jr. allies head to statehouses
The overhaul of the federal vaccine schedule sent shockwaves through American health care. Now battles over vaccine laws are moving to statehouses across the country.
www.statnews.com
February 11, 2026 at 2:23 AM
“…aims to get bills that would roll back or eliminate vaccine requirements in every statehouse in the country.” 😳
Reposted by Maxwell Smith, PhD
Journalists have often asked me how vaccine policy in the US could impact Canadians. I've repeated that one way, among many, is by fundamentally altering the value proposition for vaccine research and development. And so it begins.
More reporting: At the WEF in Davos, Moderna’s CEO said Moderna will "stop investing in late-stage vaccine trials that are a crucial part of the approval process," b/c “You cannot make a return on investment if you don’t have access to the U.S. market."
www.washingtonpost.com/health/2026/...
www.washingtonpost.com/health/2026/...
February 11, 2026 at 2:09 AM
Journalists have often asked me how vaccine policy in the US could impact Canadians. I've repeated that one way, among many, is by fundamentally altering the value proposition for vaccine research and development. And so it begins.
Is Canada ready for vaccine tourism?
NEW: The FDA just shot down Moderna's new flu shot. From me:
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
FDA declines to review Moderna application for new flu vaccine
Moderna requests meeting to discuss refusal as decision could have implications for all new and updated vaccines
www.theguardian.com
February 11, 2026 at 2:10 AM
Is Canada ready for vaccine tourism?
Journalists have often asked me how vaccine policy in the US could impact Canadians. I've repeated that one way, among many, is by fundamentally altering the value proposition for vaccine research and development. And so it begins.
More reporting: At the WEF in Davos, Moderna’s CEO said Moderna will "stop investing in late-stage vaccine trials that are a crucial part of the approval process," b/c “You cannot make a return on investment if you don’t have access to the U.S. market."
www.washingtonpost.com/health/2026/...
www.washingtonpost.com/health/2026/...
February 11, 2026 at 2:09 AM
Journalists have often asked me how vaccine policy in the US could impact Canadians. I've repeated that one way, among many, is by fundamentally altering the value proposition for vaccine research and development. And so it begins.
Reposted by Maxwell Smith, PhD
Hallway health care metric one of several 'to be retired' from health agency’s public report
One emergency physician calling it ‘utter malpractice’ to not release the data publicly
www.thetrillium.ca/news/health/...
#onpoli
One emergency physician calling it ‘utter malpractice’ to not release the data publicly
www.thetrillium.ca/news/health/...
#onpoli
Hallway health care metric one of several 'to be retired' from health agency’s public report
The metric was not included in the latest Ontario Health annual report, with one emergency physician calling it ‘utter malpractice’ to not release the data publicly
www.thetrillium.ca
February 5, 2026 at 5:54 PM
Hallway health care metric one of several 'to be retired' from health agency’s public report
One emergency physician calling it ‘utter malpractice’ to not release the data publicly
www.thetrillium.ca/news/health/...
#onpoli
One emergency physician calling it ‘utter malpractice’ to not release the data publicly
www.thetrillium.ca/news/health/...
#onpoli
Reposted by Maxwell Smith, PhD
When anti-mask-wearing laws were being proposed/passed, clinically vulnerable lives were devalued for what seemed like ridiculous argument that the COVID cautious were hiding faces for criming reasons. Now ICE et al are hiding their faces for criming reasons. Every accusation seems a confession.
The right-wing push against the average citizen masking was never just about COVID19.
Masking was banned in several jurisdictions because it hampers facial recognition.
Masking was banned in several jurisdictions because it hampers facial recognition.
ICE Agents Film Protesters & Immigrants as Part of Facial Recognition Push
ICE and CBP are using facial recognition technology to facilitate President Trump’s mass deportation campaign. With a smartphone app, immigration officers can scan faces of people they encounter and q...
www.democracynow.org
January 30, 2026 at 3:45 PM
When anti-mask-wearing laws were being proposed/passed, clinically vulnerable lives were devalued for what seemed like ridiculous argument that the COVID cautious were hiding faces for criming reasons. Now ICE et al are hiding their faces for criming reasons. Every accusation seems a confession.
Reposted by Maxwell Smith, PhD
Autonomy in vaccine decision-making is supported, not undermined, by expert recommendations and guidance. Thanks for emphasizing this, @kmpanthagani.bsky.social
Wondering why there's such a fuss about pushing some #vaccine recommendations to "shared clinical decision making"? The term is being conflated with "informed consent," suggesting it's about empowering parents. This isn't that; good take here. yourlocalepidemiologist.substack.com/p/shared-dec...
January 28, 2026 at 4:31 PM
Autonomy in vaccine decision-making is supported, not undermined, by expert recommendations and guidance. Thanks for emphasizing this, @kmpanthagani.bsky.social
Autonomy in vaccine decision-making is supported, not undermined, by expert recommendations and guidance. Thanks for emphasizing this, @kmpanthagani.bsky.social
Wondering why there's such a fuss about pushing some #vaccine recommendations to "shared clinical decision making"? The term is being conflated with "informed consent," suggesting it's about empowering parents. This isn't that; good take here. yourlocalepidemiologist.substack.com/p/shared-dec...
January 28, 2026 at 4:31 PM
Autonomy in vaccine decision-making is supported, not undermined, by expert recommendations and guidance. Thanks for emphasizing this, @kmpanthagani.bsky.social
Reposted by Maxwell Smith, PhD
This came in the same budget that axed a luxury tax on yachts. www.thestar.com/news/canada/...
Canada will require refugees and asylum seekers to co-pay for health care starting in May
They will have to pay 30 per cent of the costs of services such as dental, optometry and physiotherapy and a $4 flat rate on each prescription.
www.thestar.com
January 27, 2026 at 11:04 PM
This came in the same budget that axed a luxury tax on yachts. www.thestar.com/news/canada/...
Reposted by Maxwell Smith, PhD
Here is a post for all those “ethics” and “accountability” in AI folks.
Good luck with that!
Good luck with that!
The largest Trump superPAC donor so far this cycle is the president of OpenAI
January 26, 2026 at 2:39 AM
Here is a post for all those “ethics” and “accountability” in AI folks.
Good luck with that!
Good luck with that!
Reposted by Maxwell Smith, PhD
🤔"Tracking job cuts in the [Canadian] federal public service" www.hilltimes.com/story/2026/0...
January 23, 2026 at 7:48 PM
🤔"Tracking job cuts in the [Canadian] federal public service" www.hilltimes.com/story/2026/0...
Reposted by Maxwell Smith, PhD
⬇️. Precisely.
When people refuse to get vaccinated, simply piling on more evidence of their effectiveness is not enough. The same holds for politic leaders & the officials they appoint.
There are, however, powerful moral arguments that are more appropriate (& by extension political ones as well).
When people refuse to get vaccinated, simply piling on more evidence of their effectiveness is not enough. The same holds for politic leaders & the officials they appoint.
There are, however, powerful moral arguments that are more appropriate (& by extension political ones as well).
It's incongruous to suggest that invoking "a person's right to refuse a vaccine" entails a rejection of decades of science.
If one strongly believes people should have the right to refuse a vaccine, no amount of evidence rebuts this.
This is a moral claim, and we need to engage with it as such.
If one strongly believes people should have the right to refuse a vaccine, no amount of evidence rebuts this.
This is a moral claim, and we need to engage with it as such.
Rejecting Decades of Science, U.S. Vaccine Panel Chair Says Polio and Other Shots Should Be Optional. Dr. Kirk Milhoan said a person’s right to refuse a vaccine outweighed concerns about illness or death from infectious diseases. www.nytimes.com/2026/01/23/h... via @nytimes.com
January 24, 2026 at 5:40 PM
⬇️. Precisely.
When people refuse to get vaccinated, simply piling on more evidence of their effectiveness is not enough. The same holds for politic leaders & the officials they appoint.
There are, however, powerful moral arguments that are more appropriate (& by extension political ones as well).
When people refuse to get vaccinated, simply piling on more evidence of their effectiveness is not enough. The same holds for politic leaders & the officials they appoint.
There are, however, powerful moral arguments that are more appropriate (& by extension political ones as well).
It's incongruous to suggest that invoking "a person's right to refuse a vaccine" entails a rejection of decades of science.
If one strongly believes people should have the right to refuse a vaccine, no amount of evidence rebuts this.
This is a moral claim, and we need to engage with it as such.
If one strongly believes people should have the right to refuse a vaccine, no amount of evidence rebuts this.
This is a moral claim, and we need to engage with it as such.
Rejecting Decades of Science, U.S. Vaccine Panel Chair Says Polio and Other Shots Should Be Optional. Dr. Kirk Milhoan said a person’s right to refuse a vaccine outweighed concerns about illness or death from infectious diseases. www.nytimes.com/2026/01/23/h... via @nytimes.com
Rejecting Decades of Science, Vaccine Panel Chair Says Polio and Other Shots Should Be Optional
www.nytimes.com
January 24, 2026 at 2:13 PM
It's incongruous to suggest that invoking "a person's right to refuse a vaccine" entails a rejection of decades of science.
If one strongly believes people should have the right to refuse a vaccine, no amount of evidence rebuts this.
This is a moral claim, and we need to engage with it as such.
If one strongly believes people should have the right to refuse a vaccine, no amount of evidence rebuts this.
This is a moral claim, and we need to engage with it as such.
Reposted by Maxwell Smith, PhD
If given the opportunity, a journalist needs to ask Milhoan the incidence of hospitalization and death he would need to see from this 'experiment' to concede that these vaccinations are important and ought to be strongly recommended/required. Put a figure on his indifference to suffering and death.
RFK Jr. appointee Kirk Milhoan has just clearly stated, out loud, that he wants to experiment on the people of the United States by seeing what happens as vaccination coverage plummets and infectious diseases spread.
January 23, 2026 at 11:28 PM
If given the opportunity, a journalist needs to ask Milhoan the incidence of hospitalization and death he would need to see from this 'experiment' to concede that these vaccinations are important and ought to be strongly recommended/required. Put a figure on his indifference to suffering and death.
If given the opportunity, a journalist needs to ask Milhoan the incidence of hospitalization and death he would need to see from this 'experiment' to concede that these vaccinations are important and ought to be strongly recommended/required. Put a figure on his indifference to suffering and death.
RFK Jr. appointee Kirk Milhoan has just clearly stated, out loud, that he wants to experiment on the people of the United States by seeing what happens as vaccination coverage plummets and infectious diseases spread.
January 23, 2026 at 11:28 PM
If given the opportunity, a journalist needs to ask Milhoan the incidence of hospitalization and death he would need to see from this 'experiment' to concede that these vaccinations are important and ought to be strongly recommended/required. Put a figure on his indifference to suffering and death.
Reposted by Maxwell Smith, PhD
WHO removing Us Flag
January 23, 2026 at 9:45 PM
WHO removing Us Flag
When I see tragic figures like this, I sometimes wonder what the public's reaction would be if they learned 44 kids have died this year from an *unknown* cause. Front page news. And I suspect they'd demand swift action to prevent additional deaths.
But child flu deaths? That are preventable? 🤷♂️
But child flu deaths? That are preventable? 🤷♂️
1. A #flu update:
12 more kids have died, bringing the 2025-26 pediatric death toll to 44 so far. This time last year the total was 27 — & last year went on to be a record year for kids dying from flu. These deaths are reported on a lag; more will come, sadly.
CDC says ~90% weren't vaxed.
12 more kids have died, bringing the 2025-26 pediatric death toll to 44 so far. This time last year the total was 27 — & last year went on to be a record year for kids dying from flu. These deaths are reported on a lag; more will come, sadly.
CDC says ~90% weren't vaxed.
January 23, 2026 at 6:16 PM
When I see tragic figures like this, I sometimes wonder what the public's reaction would be if they learned 44 kids have died this year from an *unknown* cause. Front page news. And I suspect they'd demand swift action to prevent additional deaths.
But child flu deaths? That are preventable? 🤷♂️
But child flu deaths? That are preventable? 🤷♂️
Reposted by Maxwell Smith, PhD
1. A #flu update:
12 more kids have died, bringing the 2025-26 pediatric death toll to 44 so far. This time last year the total was 27 — & last year went on to be a record year for kids dying from flu. These deaths are reported on a lag; more will come, sadly.
CDC says ~90% weren't vaxed.
12 more kids have died, bringing the 2025-26 pediatric death toll to 44 so far. This time last year the total was 27 — & last year went on to be a record year for kids dying from flu. These deaths are reported on a lag; more will come, sadly.
CDC says ~90% weren't vaxed.
January 23, 2026 at 6:01 PM
1. A #flu update:
12 more kids have died, bringing the 2025-26 pediatric death toll to 44 so far. This time last year the total was 27 — & last year went on to be a record year for kids dying from flu. These deaths are reported on a lag; more will come, sadly.
CDC says ~90% weren't vaxed.
12 more kids have died, bringing the 2025-26 pediatric death toll to 44 so far. This time last year the total was 27 — & last year went on to be a record year for kids dying from flu. These deaths are reported on a lag; more will come, sadly.
CDC says ~90% weren't vaxed.
Reposted by Maxwell Smith, PhD
Anyone working in feminist and other critical approaches to bioethics with expertise in global health/policy willing to write a blog post for the International Journal of Feminist Approached to Bioethics blog on this? Would love to have your piece on the blog if so.
The US has officially left the World Health Organization.
The damage that has been done in the past year to our health institutions will take years to rebuild, if we get the opportunity to do so.
www.reuters.com/business/hea...
The damage that has been done in the past year to our health institutions will take years to rebuild, if we get the opportunity to do so.
www.reuters.com/business/hea...
US withdraws from the World Health Organization
The United States officially left the World Health Organization on Thursday after a year of warnings that doing so would hurt public health in the U.S. and globally, saying its decision reflected fail...
www.reuters.com
January 23, 2026 at 12:22 AM
Anyone working in feminist and other critical approaches to bioethics with expertise in global health/policy willing to write a blog post for the International Journal of Feminist Approached to Bioethics blog on this? Would love to have your piece on the blog if so.
Reposted by Maxwell Smith, PhD
RFK Jr. appointee Kirk Milhoan has just clearly stated, out loud, that he wants to experiment on the people of the United States by seeing what happens as vaccination coverage plummets and infectious diseases spread.
January 22, 2026 at 7:47 PM
RFK Jr. appointee Kirk Milhoan has just clearly stated, out loud, that he wants to experiment on the people of the United States by seeing what happens as vaccination coverage plummets and infectious diseases spread.
Reposted by Maxwell Smith, PhD
Holy shit. HHS says the Africa CDC "is a powerless, fake organization attempting to manufacture credibility by repeating its claims publicly. It is not a reliable source, and its statements should be treated accordingly."
NEW: We're publishing an astonishing outburst the Dep of Health and Human Services left in our inbox.
In an unsolicited email about our coverage of a horrific vaccine experiment, the HHS insisted the Africa CDC was an unreliable source for information, calling it "fake" and "powerless."
In an unsolicited email about our coverage of a horrific vaccine experiment, the HHS insisted the Africa CDC was an unreliable source for information, calling it "fake" and "powerless."
Trump's HHS Trashes Top African Health Organization as "Fake" and "Powerless"
The HHS is disparaging its colleagues at the Africa CDC in coarse terms, that are striking even by the standards of the Trump administration.
futurism.com
January 20, 2026 at 7:38 PM
Holy shit. HHS says the Africa CDC "is a powerless, fake organization attempting to manufacture credibility by repeating its claims publicly. It is not a reliable source, and its statements should be treated accordingly."
Reposted by Maxwell Smith, PhD
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 20, 2026 at 10:29 PM
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...
Reposted by Maxwell Smith, PhD
We have the CDC-funded Hepatitis Vaccine trial in Guinea-Bissau protocol.
It’s worse than you thought.
Check it out, first in Inside Medicine…
with @pauloffit.bsky.social David Boulware and others.
insidemedicine.substack.com/p/scoop-the-...
It’s worse than you thought.
Check it out, first in Inside Medicine…
with @pauloffit.bsky.social David Boulware and others.
insidemedicine.substack.com/p/scoop-the-...
Scoop: The leaked protocol of the CDC-funded Hepatitis B vaccine trial in Guinea-Bissau. “This is another Tuskegee.”
The protocol reveals that the trial will withhold the Hepatitis B birth dose from thousands—without placebos, without universal maternal screening, and with endpoints critics call indefensible.
insidemedicine.substack.com
January 15, 2026 at 10:57 AM
We have the CDC-funded Hepatitis Vaccine trial in Guinea-Bissau protocol.
It’s worse than you thought.
Check it out, first in Inside Medicine…
with @pauloffit.bsky.social David Boulware and others.
insidemedicine.substack.com/p/scoop-the-...
It’s worse than you thought.
Check it out, first in Inside Medicine…
with @pauloffit.bsky.social David Boulware and others.
insidemedicine.substack.com/p/scoop-the-...
Asking questions about vaccines is fine. Repeatedly ignoring the answers is not.
Can you hear the clapping from the antivaxxers? That's the sound of Jay's legacy.
January 14, 2026 at 8:02 PM
Asking questions about vaccines is fine. Repeatedly ignoring the answers is not.
