Molly Nowels
@nollymowels.bsky.social
health services researcher, postdoc studying palliative care and behavioral health, Guy Fieri fangirl
Reposted by Molly Nowels
Anti-vaxxers have long weaponized VAERS, which, as this article notes, is just a repository of *unverified* reports. An adverse reaction found in VAERS is not necessarily indicative of anything, but anti-vaxxers prey on low health and information literacy to sow doubt.
WaPo: RFK Jr's CDC are planning to claim COVID vaccines killed 25 children and will use this as justification for limiting vaccine access.
September 12, 2025 at 4:52 PM
Anti-vaxxers have long weaponized VAERS, which, as this article notes, is just a repository of *unverified* reports. An adverse reaction found in VAERS is not necessarily indicative of anything, but anti-vaxxers prey on low health and information literacy to sow doubt.
Reposted by Molly Nowels
Reposted by Molly Nowels
this needs to be a bigger story —
RFK is rushing to appoint SEVEN more anti-vaccine extremists to his phony vaccine panel so it’s packed with quacks.
my read? he’s panicking and accelerating his plans to take away all of our vaccines.
free to read: wapo.st/3JStzDh
RFK is rushing to appoint SEVEN more anti-vaccine extremists to his phony vaccine panel so it’s packed with quacks.
my read? he’s panicking and accelerating his plans to take away all of our vaccines.
free to read: wapo.st/3JStzDh
RFK Jr. weighs adding critics of coronavirus shots to key vaccine panel
Two urged removal of mRNA coronavirus vaccines. One said physicians “blindly believed” in them. Another said covid isn’t scary, noting Jesus touched lepers.
wapo.st
September 9, 2025 at 1:14 AM
this needs to be a bigger story —
RFK is rushing to appoint SEVEN more anti-vaccine extremists to his phony vaccine panel so it’s packed with quacks.
my read? he’s panicking and accelerating his plans to take away all of our vaccines.
free to read: wapo.st/3JStzDh
RFK is rushing to appoint SEVEN more anti-vaccine extremists to his phony vaccine panel so it’s packed with quacks.
my read? he’s panicking and accelerating his plans to take away all of our vaccines.
free to read: wapo.st/3JStzDh
More work with @pallipsych.bsky.social is out today! We asked nursing home staff about their perceptions of palliative care, their engagement with advance cafe planning and which components of pall care are most valuable to them. doi.org/10.1111/jgs....
Training and Practice Gaps in Nursing Home Palliative Care: A Cross‐Sectional Study
Background Palliative care needs are prevalent among nursing home (NH) residents. However, access to and integration of palliative care services remain limited. NHs often rely on a workforce with va...
doi.org
September 8, 2025 at 3:57 PM
More work with @pallipsych.bsky.social is out today! We asked nursing home staff about their perceptions of palliative care, their engagement with advance cafe planning and which components of pall care are most valuable to them. doi.org/10.1111/jgs....
Reposted by Molly Nowels
RFK Jr. just implied that antidepressants cause suicide.
This is false.
This is false.
September 4, 2025 at 4:03 PM
RFK Jr. just implied that antidepressants cause suicide.
This is false.
This is false.
Reposted by Molly Nowels
This should be the lead story in all major national news outlets. Public health people prefer to stay out of the limelight unless there is no other choice. I can’t overstate how bad things have to be for 9 former CDC directors to band together and pen an op-ed in the NYT warning the entire country.
9 CDC Directors going back to 1977 speak out. What RFK Jr has done to our nation’s public health system "should alarm every American."
It "is unlike anything we have ever seen at the agency, and unlike anything our country has ever experienced." www.nytimes.com/2025/09/01/o...
It "is unlike anything we have ever seen at the agency, and unlike anything our country has ever experienced." www.nytimes.com/2025/09/01/o...
Opinion | We Ran the C.D.C.: Kennedy Is Endangering Every American’s Health
www.nytimes.com
September 1, 2025 at 11:51 AM
This should be the lead story in all major national news outlets. Public health people prefer to stay out of the limelight unless there is no other choice. I can’t overstate how bad things have to be for 9 former CDC directors to band together and pen an op-ed in the NYT warning the entire country.
Reposted by Molly Nowels
New Mexico is overriding the federal government on the topic of COVID19 vaccines to ensure their residents can access them.
States hold a tremendous amount of public health power. They should use it.
States hold a tremendous amount of public health power. They should use it.
State steps in to ensure access to COVID-19 vaccine
Public health order counters potential limitations set by the USFDA
www.koat.com
August 31, 2025 at 2:53 AM
New Mexico is overriding the federal government on the topic of COVID19 vaccines to ensure their residents can access them.
States hold a tremendous amount of public health power. They should use it.
States hold a tremendous amount of public health power. They should use it.
Reposted by Molly Nowels
For 12 months, America had a limited proof of concept for universal healthcare, and it was so uniformly successful we had no choice but to obliterate our society
I keep thinking about how the COVID vaccine was rolled out for free for all Americans in 2021 by the federal & state governments with support from local health departments & universities. Since, we have seen the privatization of delivery thru commercial pharmacies & the need for insurance coverage.
NEWS: CVS, the largest pharmacy chain in the country, is currently not offering Covid vaccines in 16 states and DC — even to people who meet the new FDA criteria — because the CDC hasn't signed off and isn't expected to do so (if it does so) for at least three weeks.
August 29, 2025 at 2:22 AM
For 12 months, America had a limited proof of concept for universal healthcare, and it was so uniformly successful we had no choice but to obliterate our society
Reposted by Molly Nowels
Latest Gallup poll data reveal, once again, that the main obstacles to unions in the the US are broken labor laws and employer aggression
Two-thirds of the US public approves of labor unions, but unions only represent about 11 percent of the workforce
Two-thirds of the US public approves of labor unions, but unions only represent about 11 percent of the workforce
August 28, 2025 at 9:12 PM
Latest Gallup poll data reveal, once again, that the main obstacles to unions in the the US are broken labor laws and employer aggression
Two-thirds of the US public approves of labor unions, but unions only represent about 11 percent of the workforce
Two-thirds of the US public approves of labor unions, but unions only represent about 11 percent of the workforce
Reposted by Molly Nowels
Major update: As of this morning, CVS says it's decided it can offer the vax in 13 of the 16 states IF you get a prescription. Still a big new barrier for many people, but a change from its "no vaccines at all in these states" position yesterday.
The three remaining absolute-nos are MA, NV and NM.
The three remaining absolute-nos are MA, NV and NM.
NEWS: CVS, the largest pharmacy chain in the country, is currently not offering Covid vaccines in 16 states and DC — even to people who meet the new FDA criteria — because the CDC hasn't signed off and isn't expected to do so (if it does so) for at least three weeks.
CVS Holds Off on Offering Covid Vaccines in 16 States
www.nytimes.com
August 29, 2025 at 12:59 PM
Major update: As of this morning, CVS says it's decided it can offer the vax in 13 of the 16 states IF you get a prescription. Still a big new barrier for many people, but a change from its "no vaccines at all in these states" position yesterday.
The three remaining absolute-nos are MA, NV and NM.
The three remaining absolute-nos are MA, NV and NM.
My latest paper is out!! In Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE), we investigated areas that clinical staff identified needs for palliative care support. www.jamda.com/article/S152...
Staff-Identified Palliative Care Needs Among Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE): A Survey Study
The Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) program provides nursing
home–level care to older adults living in the community. We sought to characterize
provider perceptions of PACE patien...
www.jamda.com
August 29, 2025 at 1:13 PM
My latest paper is out!! In Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE), we investigated areas that clinical staff identified needs for palliative care support. www.jamda.com/article/S152...
Reposted by Molly Nowels
the expression "never the twain shall meet" is about how Mark Twain will never hear Man! I Feel Like A Woman
July 1, 2025 at 2:40 AM
the expression "never the twain shall meet" is about how Mark Twain will never hear Man! I Feel Like A Woman
Reposted by Molly Nowels
If any pro-vaccine study did something like this, the anti-vax movement would broadcast it so loud and make it the centerpiece of a documentary. But, bc the anti-vax movement is fundamentally about eugenics and propaganda, they'll just hand-wave it away, play the victim, and move on.
The New York Times has found at least two more fake citations in the MAHA report.
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/29/w...
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/29/w...
White House Health Report Included Fake Citations
www.nytimes.com
May 29, 2025 at 10:04 PM
If any pro-vaccine study did something like this, the anti-vax movement would broadcast it so loud and make it the centerpiece of a documentary. But, bc the anti-vax movement is fundamentally about eugenics and propaganda, they'll just hand-wave it away, play the victim, and move on.
Reposted by Molly Nowels
I will never understand why the media feels the need to whitewash RFK Jr constantly.
www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...
www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...
May 28, 2025 at 3:53 PM
I will never understand why the media feels the need to whitewash RFK Jr constantly.
www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...
www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...
Reposted by Molly Nowels
this guy is out here proudly being a eugenicist freak while people at mainstream and "respectable publications" make excuses for him or even muse about whether he has a "few good points"
RFK Jr talking about the need for doctors to know how to treat measles for those who are unvaccinated.
“Only very sick kids should die from measles.”
No. They shouldn’t. That was the point of the vaccine. We eradicated the virus so children didn’t die.
Sick & disabled kids are not expendable!
“Only very sick kids should die from measles.”
No. They shouldn’t. That was the point of the vaccine. We eradicated the virus so children didn’t die.
Sick & disabled kids are not expendable!
May 12, 2025 at 1:33 AM
this guy is out here proudly being a eugenicist freak while people at mainstream and "respectable publications" make excuses for him or even muse about whether he has a "few good points"
Reposted by Molly Nowels
tl;dr- egotistical edgelord intoxicatingly enamored with the (false) idea that he's far smarter than everyone else and therefore superior
Vinay Prasad, in his own words, outlines the philosophy he’ll bring to the FDA
Vinay Prasad, tapped to be a top official at the FDA, has never shied from speaking his mind.
www.statnews.com
May 6, 2025 at 10:00 PM
tl;dr- egotistical edgelord intoxicatingly enamored with the (false) idea that he's far smarter than everyone else and therefore superior
Reposted by Molly Nowels
As others have commented, this requirement has ethical problems. It would unethical to use a placebo as a control if an effective vaccine exists.
HHS to require placebo testing of ‘all new vaccines,’ raising questions about approval of updated Covid-19 shots via @megtirrell.bsky.social www.cnn.com/2025/04/30/h...
HHS to require placebo testing of ‘all new vaccines,’ raising questions about approval of updated Covid-19 shots | CNN
The US Department of Health and Human Services said it will require that all new vaccines be tested in placebo-controlled trials before they’re licensed for use, raising urgent questions about the sys...
www.cnn.com
May 2, 2025 at 6:33 PM
As others have commented, this requirement has ethical problems. It would unethical to use a placebo as a control if an effective vaccine exists.
Reposted by Molly Nowels
There has been a significant reduction in the number of kids getting the flu vaccine over the past 5 years—a drop from 64% to 49%.
Consequently, there have been 216 pediatric flu deaths so far this flu season, the highest number since the swine flu 15 years ago (link below).
Vaccinate.
Consequently, there have been 216 pediatric flu deaths so far this flu season, the highest number since the swine flu 15 years ago (link below).
Vaccinate.
May 2, 2025 at 7:44 PM
There has been a significant reduction in the number of kids getting the flu vaccine over the past 5 years—a drop from 64% to 49%.
Consequently, there have been 216 pediatric flu deaths so far this flu season, the highest number since the swine flu 15 years ago (link below).
Vaccinate.
Consequently, there have been 216 pediatric flu deaths so far this flu season, the highest number since the swine flu 15 years ago (link below).
Vaccinate.
Reposted by Molly Nowels
"If you look at a long period of time, a lot of our increase in living standards seems to be coming from public investment in scientific research."
The devastating cuts to science funding aren't just academic, they threaten our livelihoods and wellbeing. www.nytimes.com/2025/04/30/b...
The devastating cuts to science funding aren't just academic, they threaten our livelihoods and wellbeing. www.nytimes.com/2025/04/30/b...
Trump’s Cuts to Science Funding Could Hurt U.S. Economy, Study Shows (Gift Article)
Reducing federal support for research and development could cause long-run economic damage and reduce government revenue.
www.nytimes.com
April 30, 2025 at 11:13 AM
"If you look at a long period of time, a lot of our increase in living standards seems to be coming from public investment in scientific research."
The devastating cuts to science funding aren't just academic, they threaten our livelihoods and wellbeing. www.nytimes.com/2025/04/30/b...
The devastating cuts to science funding aren't just academic, they threaten our livelihoods and wellbeing. www.nytimes.com/2025/04/30/b...
Reposted by Molly Nowels
6/ HHS Sec.'s job is to oversee med. product safety (e.g., FDA) & ensure public trust. Thus, RFK Jr. shld be saying, "HHS is here to protect your kids. Instead, he's saying the opposite: Parents (Moms): don't trust us to do this technical work. It's your parental responsibility to do it yourself.
April 30, 2025 at 10:01 AM
6/ HHS Sec.'s job is to oversee med. product safety (e.g., FDA) & ensure public trust. Thus, RFK Jr. shld be saying, "HHS is here to protect your kids. Instead, he's saying the opposite: Parents (Moms): don't trust us to do this technical work. It's your parental responsibility to do it yourself.
Reposted by Molly Nowels
4/ He promotes what sociologists call "intensive parenting," as a superior way to ensure kids are safe. That's a time/labor-intensive & stressful form of parenting many US *mothers* feel pressured to follow due to cultural norms/expectations around mothers as primary caregivers.
...
...
April 30, 2025 at 10:01 AM
4/ He promotes what sociologists call "intensive parenting," as a superior way to ensure kids are safe. That's a time/labor-intensive & stressful form of parenting many US *mothers* feel pressured to follow due to cultural norms/expectations around mothers as primary caregivers.
...
...
Reposted by Molly Nowels
“Do your own research” also implies that research cannot be a collective enterprise, that there is no purpose to funding actual scientific research, and that you should just manage your child’s healthcare with no guardrails.
7/ More irony of his comment: As HHS Sec., RFK Jr. oversees NIH (the article pic shows him w/ NIH head J. Bhattacharya & FDA Head M. Makary).
Yet, after RFK Jr. took office, NIH:
-targeted misinfo research (www.statnews.com/2025/03/26/n...)
-stopped funding vax hesitancy research (see below)
Yet, after RFK Jr. took office, NIH:
-targeted misinfo research (www.statnews.com/2025/03/26/n...)
-stopped funding vax hesitancy research (see below)
NIH cuts research grants on vaccine hesitancy—with mRNA vaccine studies the next target
Some of the terminated grants focused on boosting uptake in minority populations, with the cuts covering a range of vaccines.
www.cidrap.umn.edu
April 30, 2025 at 12:05 PM
“Do your own research” also implies that research cannot be a collective enterprise, that there is no purpose to funding actual scientific research, and that you should just manage your child’s healthcare with no guardrails.
Reposted by Molly Nowels
Toxicologist here! This will improve the health of zero Americans. Current synthetic food dyes are not causing health problems, and are often times used because they are actually safer than natural food dyes. Reminder that guns are the #1 cause of death of children but we are going to ban food dyes.
BREAKING: The FDA has officially announced they will be banning artificial dyes in the food supply by the end of 2026
This includes Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6, Blue 1, Blue 2, Green 3
This includes Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6, Blue 1, Blue 2, Green 3
April 23, 2025 at 3:45 PM
Toxicologist here! This will improve the health of zero Americans. Current synthetic food dyes are not causing health problems, and are often times used because they are actually safer than natural food dyes. Reminder that guns are the #1 cause of death of children but we are going to ban food dyes.