Simone Popperl
@simonepopperl.bsky.social
Editor for Broadcast at KFF Health News, NPR newsmag alum.
Audio stories on NPR, Marketplace, CBS radio, and in your podcast feed. Print stories everywhere.
Night owl in an early bird family
Audio stories on NPR, Marketplace, CBS radio, and in your podcast feed. Print stories everywhere.
Night owl in an early bird family
Reposted by Simone Popperl
New from me: After a whooping cough outbreak killed two infants, Louisiana health officials waited months to officially alert physicians or do public outreach.
www.npr.org/sections/sho...
www.npr.org/sections/sho...
Louisiana officials waited months to warn public of whooping cough outbreak
After a whooping cough outbreak killed two infants, Louisiana health officials waited months to officially alert physicians or do public outreach. That's not the typical public health response.
www.npr.org
October 28, 2025 at 12:50 PM
New from me: After a whooping cough outbreak killed two infants, Louisiana health officials waited months to officially alert physicians or do public outreach.
www.npr.org/sections/sho...
www.npr.org/sections/sho...
@rosemarywestwood.bsky.social spent months carefully reporting this important, nuanced, and chilling piece.
What happens when public health institutions don't follow their playbook during an infectious disease outbreak?
Take a look/listen:
What happens when public health institutions don't follow their playbook during an infectious disease outbreak?
Take a look/listen:
New from me: After a whooping cough outbreak killed two infants, Louisiana health officials waited months to officially alert physicians or do public outreach.
www.npr.org/sections/sho...
www.npr.org/sections/sho...
Louisiana officials waited months to warn public of whooping cough outbreak
After a whooping cough outbreak killed two infants, Louisiana health officials waited months to officially alert physicians or do public outreach. That's not the typical public health response.
www.npr.org
October 28, 2025 at 2:18 PM
@rosemarywestwood.bsky.social spent months carefully reporting this important, nuanced, and chilling piece.
What happens when public health institutions don't follow their playbook during an infectious disease outbreak?
Take a look/listen:
What happens when public health institutions don't follow their playbook during an infectious disease outbreak?
Take a look/listen:
In the spring, we reported on how pharmacies were trying to prepare for all these unknowns.
Bottom line: lots of independent pharmacies are probably in trouble. And they don’t know how to answer @lizzieohreally.bsky.social’s very reasonable question.
Radio and print story for NPR:
Bottom line: lots of independent pharmacies are probably in trouble. And they don’t know how to answer @lizzieohreally.bsky.social’s very reasonable question.
Radio and print story for NPR:
September 29, 2025 at 2:28 PM
In the spring, we reported on how pharmacies were trying to prepare for all these unknowns.
Bottom line: lots of independent pharmacies are probably in trouble. And they don’t know how to answer @lizzieohreally.bsky.social’s very reasonable question.
Radio and print story for NPR:
Bottom line: lots of independent pharmacies are probably in trouble. And they don’t know how to answer @lizzieohreally.bsky.social’s very reasonable question.
Radio and print story for NPR:
Reposted by Simone Popperl
I am a well educated, pretty media literate person whose job it is to be professionally annoying. I cannot figure out if my cancer medication, which costs $17k a month (I do not pay anything thanks to a combo of insurance/access programs), is going to be tariffed 100%.
September 29, 2025 at 1:51 PM
I am a well educated, pretty media literate person whose job it is to be professionally annoying. I cannot figure out if my cancer medication, which costs $17k a month (I do not pay anything thanks to a combo of insurance/access programs), is going to be tariffed 100%.
SO! Over the last two days, here's what the Advisory Committee on Immunizations Practices voted to do:
1. Recommend against the combo MMRV vaccine for kids under age 4. Instead, MMR + V as two shots is recommended. Most kids get it that way already. Second dose at age 4 can be the combo vaccine.
1. Recommend against the combo MMRV vaccine for kids under age 4. Instead, MMR + V as two shots is recommended. Most kids get it that way already. Second dose at age 4 can be the combo vaccine.
September 19, 2025 at 7:37 PM
SO! Over the last two days, here's what the Advisory Committee on Immunizations Practices voted to do:
1. Recommend against the combo MMRV vaccine for kids under age 4. Instead, MMR + V as two shots is recommended. Most kids get it that way already. Second dose at age 4 can be the combo vaccine.
1. Recommend against the combo MMRV vaccine for kids under age 4. Instead, MMR + V as two shots is recommended. Most kids get it that way already. Second dose at age 4 can be the combo vaccine.
Reposted by Simone Popperl
Vote 2, recommending states require a prescription for COVID-19 vaccines TIES. 6-6.
The chair breaks the tie, and Kulldorff voted no. The motion fails.
The chair breaks the tie, and Kulldorff voted no. The motion fails.
September 19, 2025 at 7:26 PM
Vote 2, recommending states require a prescription for COVID-19 vaccines TIES. 6-6.
The chair breaks the tie, and Kulldorff voted no. The motion fails.
The chair breaks the tie, and Kulldorff voted no. The motion fails.
Reposted by Simone Popperl
Vote 1 passes 11-1. This is the one recommending the CDC add language about the risks Retsef Levi presented earlier to vaccine information statements for COVID-19 vaccines.
Chairman Kuldorff voted no, but didn't explain why.
Chairman Kuldorff voted no, but didn't explain why.
September 19, 2025 at 7:03 PM
Vote 1 passes 11-1. This is the one recommending the CDC add language about the risks Retsef Levi presented earlier to vaccine information statements for COVID-19 vaccines.
Chairman Kuldorff voted no, but didn't explain why.
Chairman Kuldorff voted no, but didn't explain why.
Reposted by Simone Popperl
Vote 4 passes 12-0, changing the recommendation for COVID-19 for all age groups to "individual decision-making," also know by this group as "shared clinical decision making," with some added nuance for those under age 64.
September 19, 2025 at 6:53 PM
Vote 4 passes 12-0, changing the recommendation for COVID-19 for all age groups to "individual decision-making," also know by this group as "shared clinical decision making," with some added nuance for those under age 64.
Reposted by Simone Popperl
Kulldorff says they're beginning with Vote 4: changing the COVID-19 vaccine schedule to "individual decision-making"
September 19, 2025 at 6:47 PM
Kulldorff says they're beginning with Vote 4: changing the COVID-19 vaccine schedule to "individual decision-making"
More than three hours into today's ACIP meeting. Lots of discussion around COVID-19 vaccines.
But we still have absolutely no idea what (if anything) they'll be voting on related to COVID.
But we still have absolutely no idea what (if anything) they'll be voting on related to COVID.
September 19, 2025 at 3:47 PM
More than three hours into today's ACIP meeting. Lots of discussion around COVID-19 vaccines.
But we still have absolutely no idea what (if anything) they'll be voting on related to COVID.
But we still have absolutely no idea what (if anything) they'll be voting on related to COVID.
Reposted by Simone Popperl
So the birth dose of the hepatitis B vaccine lives for now.
Kulldorff implies it will come up again at a future meeting.
Kulldorff implies it will come up again at a future meeting.
September 19, 2025 at 1:13 PM
So the birth dose of the hepatitis B vaccine lives for now.
Kulldorff implies it will come up again at a future meeting.
Kulldorff implies it will come up again at a future meeting.
Reposted by Simone Popperl
WOW. ACIP has decided it will NOT vote on whether to postpone the birth dose of hepatitis B at this meeting.
They are not at all aligned on why, though.
Some believe postponing to 1-month of age isn't long enough.
Meissner now pointing out the "overwhelming evidence" supporting the birth dose
They are not at all aligned on why, though.
Some believe postponing to 1-month of age isn't long enough.
Meissner now pointing out the "overwhelming evidence" supporting the birth dose
September 19, 2025 at 1:04 PM
WOW. ACIP has decided it will NOT vote on whether to postpone the birth dose of hepatitis B at this meeting.
They are not at all aligned on why, though.
Some believe postponing to 1-month of age isn't long enough.
Meissner now pointing out the "overwhelming evidence" supporting the birth dose
They are not at all aligned on why, though.
Some believe postponing to 1-month of age isn't long enough.
Meissner now pointing out the "overwhelming evidence" supporting the birth dose
Reposted by Simone Popperl
The federal vaccine advisory committee is going to redo the vote they took on restricting the MMRV combination vaccine for kids under age 4!!
Chairman Kulldorff says "we are rookies" with "the technical issues"
Chairman Kulldorff says "we are rookies" with "the technical issues"
September 19, 2025 at 12:42 PM
The federal vaccine advisory committee is going to redo the vote they took on restricting the MMRV combination vaccine for kids under age 4!!
Chairman Kulldorff says "we are rookies" with "the technical issues"
Chairman Kulldorff says "we are rookies" with "the technical issues"
Waiting for the video feed to start for today's ACIP proceedings.
After yesterday's voting confusion, the livestream captured several voting committee members trying to explain to each other what they just voted for.
You can watch here to see what today brings.
After yesterday's voting confusion, the livestream captured several voting committee members trying to explain to each other what they just voted for.
You can watch here to see what today brings.
Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) - September 19, 2025 – Day 2 of 2
YouTube video by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
www.youtube.com
September 19, 2025 at 12:26 PM
Waiting for the video feed to start for today's ACIP proceedings.
After yesterday's voting confusion, the livestream captured several voting committee members trying to explain to each other what they just voted for.
You can watch here to see what today brings.
After yesterday's voting confusion, the livestream captured several voting committee members trying to explain to each other what they just voted for.
You can watch here to see what today brings.
The meeting starts in less than 15 minutes....
As of 8am CDC's ACIP website does not have the proposed vote language for today's COVID vaccine recommendation posted. How is the public able to engage and provide informed comments? I testified before Senator Cassidy and @sanders.senate.gov on Wednesday- this is not radical transparency.
Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP)
ACIP develops recommendations on how to use vaccines to control disease in the United States.
www.cdc.gov
September 19, 2025 at 12:16 PM
The meeting starts in less than 15 minutes....
Reposted by Simone Popperl
Amazing moment at ACIP....the language of the votes was released so late that voting members of the committee say they're confused about what they're voting for/against.
September 18, 2025 at 9:31 PM
Amazing moment at ACIP....the language of the votes was released so late that voting members of the committee say they're confused about what they're voting for/against.
RFK Jr.’s handpicked federal vaccine advisory committee is talking now about whether to push back the first dose of the Hep B vaccine from birth to 1 month of age.
CDC experts prepared a really thorough presentation, including this stunning risk/benefit slide:
CDC experts prepared a really thorough presentation, including this stunning risk/benefit slide:
September 18, 2025 at 6:46 PM
RFK Jr.’s handpicked federal vaccine advisory committee is talking now about whether to push back the first dose of the Hep B vaccine from birth to 1 month of age.
CDC experts prepared a really thorough presentation, including this stunning risk/benefit slide:
CDC experts prepared a really thorough presentation, including this stunning risk/benefit slide:
Reposted by Simone Popperl
Ex-CDC director is telling the Senate right now that RFK Jr. pressured her to rubber stamp a new childhood vaccine schedule without evidence.
We learned that delaying the first dose of hepatitis B was part of RFK Jr.‘s plan.
Read @jackie-fortier.bsky.social’s brilliant story.
We learned that delaying the first dose of hepatitis B was part of RFK Jr.‘s plan.
Read @jackie-fortier.bsky.social’s brilliant story.
RFK Jr.’s Vaccine Panel Expected To Recommend Delaying Hepatitis B Shot for Children - KFF Health News
A federal vaccine panel, recently reshaped by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., is expected to vote on delaying the hepatitis B shot for newborns. Pediatricians warn that coul...
kffhealthnews.org
September 17, 2025 at 2:46 PM
Ex-CDC director is telling the Senate right now that RFK Jr. pressured her to rubber stamp a new childhood vaccine schedule without evidence.
We learned that delaying the first dose of hepatitis B was part of RFK Jr.‘s plan.
Read @jackie-fortier.bsky.social’s brilliant story.
We learned that delaying the first dose of hepatitis B was part of RFK Jr.‘s plan.
Read @jackie-fortier.bsky.social’s brilliant story.
Hep B has no cure and can cause cancer. We’ve virtually eliminated it in children thanks to universal newborn vaccination.
A former ACIP voting member who recommended hep B for newborns told us:
“We'll see cases of hepatitis B once again occur. We'll see transmission into the next generation”
A former ACIP voting member who recommended hep B for newborns told us:
“We'll see cases of hepatitis B once again occur. We'll see transmission into the next generation”
Sen. Rand Paul asking what the medical reason is for giving the hep B vaccine to babies of Hep B negative moms.
He could just read our story to find out! Published by NPR yesterday!
www.npr.org/sections/sho...
He could just read our story to find out! Published by NPR yesterday!
www.npr.org/sections/sho...
Kennedy's vaccine panel expected to recommend delaying hepatitis B shot in children
RFK Jr.'s hand-picked panel of vaccine advisors is expected to vote to delay the hepatitis B shot for newborns. Doctors warn that could fuel a return of a disease virtually eradicated in U.S. kids.
www.npr.org
September 17, 2025 at 3:07 PM
Hep B has no cure and can cause cancer. We’ve virtually eliminated it in children thanks to universal newborn vaccination.
A former ACIP voting member who recommended hep B for newborns told us:
“We'll see cases of hepatitis B once again occur. We'll see transmission into the next generation”
A former ACIP voting member who recommended hep B for newborns told us:
“We'll see cases of hepatitis B once again occur. We'll see transmission into the next generation”
Ex-CDC director is telling the Senate right now that RFK Jr. pressured her to rubber stamp a new childhood vaccine schedule without evidence.
We learned that delaying the first dose of hepatitis B was part of RFK Jr.‘s plan.
Read @jackie-fortier.bsky.social’s brilliant story.
We learned that delaying the first dose of hepatitis B was part of RFK Jr.‘s plan.
Read @jackie-fortier.bsky.social’s brilliant story.
RFK Jr.’s Vaccine Panel Expected To Recommend Delaying Hepatitis B Shot for Children - KFF Health News
A federal vaccine panel, recently reshaped by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., is expected to vote on delaying the hepatitis B shot for newborns. Pediatricians warn that coul...
kffhealthnews.org
September 17, 2025 at 2:46 PM
Ex-CDC director is telling the Senate right now that RFK Jr. pressured her to rubber stamp a new childhood vaccine schedule without evidence.
We learned that delaying the first dose of hepatitis B was part of RFK Jr.‘s plan.
Read @jackie-fortier.bsky.social’s brilliant story.
We learned that delaying the first dose of hepatitis B was part of RFK Jr.‘s plan.
Read @jackie-fortier.bsky.social’s brilliant story.
Reposted by Simone Popperl
I'm on The Daily today talking about my reporting on AI chatbots and how heavy users of ChatGPT can go into delusional, and sometimes tragic, spirals: www.nytimes.com/2025/09/16/p...
Also today, an OpenAI blog post from Sam Altman on "safety, freedom & privacy": openai.com/index/teen-s...
Also today, an OpenAI blog post from Sam Altman on "safety, freedom & privacy": openai.com/index/teen-s...
Trapped in a ChatGPT Spiral
www.nytimes.com
September 16, 2025 at 3:59 PM
I'm on The Daily today talking about my reporting on AI chatbots and how heavy users of ChatGPT can go into delusional, and sometimes tragic, spirals: www.nytimes.com/2025/09/16/p...
Also today, an OpenAI blog post from Sam Altman on "safety, freedom & privacy": openai.com/index/teen-s...
Also today, an OpenAI blog post from Sam Altman on "safety, freedom & privacy": openai.com/index/teen-s...
Reposted by Simone Popperl
NEWS: By vaccinating babies at birth, the U.S. nearly eradicated hepatitis-B in children.
Kennedy's vaccine advisory panel is expected this week to recommend delaying the shot, opening a window for kids to be infected.
Exclusive by @jackie-fortier.bsky.social
kffhealthnews.org/news/article...
Kennedy's vaccine advisory panel is expected this week to recommend delaying the shot, opening a window for kids to be infected.
Exclusive by @jackie-fortier.bsky.social
kffhealthnews.org/news/article...
RFK Jr.’s Vaccine Panel Expected To Recommend Delaying Hepatitis B Shot for Children - KFF Health News
A federal vaccine panel, recently reshaped by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., is expected to vote on delaying the hepatitis B shot for newborns. Pediatricians warn that coul...
kffhealthnews.org
September 16, 2025 at 12:54 PM
NEWS: By vaccinating babies at birth, the U.S. nearly eradicated hepatitis-B in children.
Kennedy's vaccine advisory panel is expected this week to recommend delaying the shot, opening a window for kids to be infected.
Exclusive by @jackie-fortier.bsky.social
kffhealthnews.org/news/article...
Kennedy's vaccine advisory panel is expected this week to recommend delaying the shot, opening a window for kids to be infected.
Exclusive by @jackie-fortier.bsky.social
kffhealthnews.org/news/article...
Reposted by Simone Popperl
This emergency department data demonstrated the disproportionate toll of the summer wave on very young children, at a time the Trump administration says they don’t need updated vaccines.
The CDC quietly neutered the best Covid data on the planet yesterday. ED data visualization has been stripped of age stratification, and state-by-state trends.
ED data has been far better for state by state trends than WW. Poof.
ED data has been far better for state by state trends than WW. Poof.
September 6, 2025 at 6:19 PM
This emergency department data demonstrated the disproportionate toll of the summer wave on very young children, at a time the Trump administration says they don’t need updated vaccines.
Reposted by Simone Popperl
This will help you find a public radio or television station that stands to lose 50 percent or more of its revenue:
Adopt A Station
adoptastation.org
July 20, 2025 at 7:18 PM
This will help you find a public radio or television station that stands to lose 50 percent or more of its revenue: