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
"This is a seductive argument to a layperson, but it is ethically bankrupt." Worth a read.
Why comparing the U.S. vaccine schedule to European countries’ is a red herring
If any ambiguity remained about the ultimate goal of the current administration’s public health policy, last week shattered it. On Friday, following a
www.statnews.com
December 9, 2025 at 6:31 PM
"This is a seductive argument to a layperson, but it is ethically bankrupt." Worth a read.
Reposted by Simone Popperl
RFK Jr has warned doctors that failing to follow federal vaccine panel’s recommendations puts them at legal risk.
Not true, experts say.
And many pediatricians say they won’t change their advice to patients.
www.cidrap.umn.edu/childhood-va...
Not true, experts say.
And many pediatricians say they won’t change their advice to patients.
www.cidrap.umn.edu/childhood-va...
Pediatricians reject CDC advisers’ guidance, plan to continue vaccinating all newborns against hepatitis B
www.cidrap.umn.edu
December 9, 2025 at 12:28 PM
RFK Jr has warned doctors that failing to follow federal vaccine panel’s recommendations puts them at legal risk.
Not true, experts say.
And many pediatricians say they won’t change their advice to patients.
www.cidrap.umn.edu/childhood-va...
Not true, experts say.
And many pediatricians say they won’t change their advice to patients.
www.cidrap.umn.edu/childhood-va...
Reposted by Simone Popperl
AAP is not changing its recommendations in response to the CDC vaccine panel; they diverged on covid shots as well
The decision by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to downgrade its recommendations to protect infants from hepatitis B is a dangerous move that will harm children.
Click here to read AAP's full statement: bit.ly/3Y9ZQJT
Click here to read AAP's full statement: bit.ly/3Y9ZQJT
December 5, 2025 at 6:30 PM
AAP is not changing its recommendations in response to the CDC vaccine panel; they diverged on covid shots as well
Reposted by Simone Popperl
Babies get far more aluminum from food, including breast milk, than from vaccines. In the first 6 mos of life, a breast-fed baby takes in 10 mg of aluminum; a baby given a milk-based formula takes in 30 milligrams; a soy formula-fed baby gets 120 milligrams. #acip
www.usatoday.com/story/news/2...
www.usatoday.com/story/news/2...
Vaccines: Facts vs. myths
Serious side effects to vaccines are very rare, studies show.
www.usatoday.com
December 5, 2025 at 6:26 PM
Babies get far more aluminum from food, including breast milk, than from vaccines. In the first 6 mos of life, a breast-fed baby takes in 10 mg of aluminum; a baby given a milk-based formula takes in 30 milligrams; a soy formula-fed baby gets 120 milligrams. #acip
www.usatoday.com/story/news/2...
www.usatoday.com/story/news/2...
Reposted by Simone Popperl
If you’re curious about what‘s at stake in today’s #ACIP discussions, check out our story on the real risks of “horizontal transmission” of hep B among babies:
www.npr.org/sections/sho...
www.npr.org/sections/sho...
Doctors warn delaying hepatitis B shot for newborns could revive a deadly threat
As RFK Jr.'s new vaccine panel ponders changing the hepatitis B vaccination schedule, some doctors recall past patients, including children, who died painful deaths before there was a vaccine.
www.npr.org
December 4, 2025 at 3:12 PM
If you’re curious about what‘s at stake in today’s #ACIP discussions, check out our story on the real risks of “horizontal transmission” of hep B among babies:
www.npr.org/sections/sho...
www.npr.org/sections/sho...
Reposted by Simone Popperl
If you are used to attending or watching ACIP metings, it is difficult to describe just how disturbing this one has been. People talking over one another, confusion, outright ignorance. Compare this to the very orderly, sedate, consideration of facts of previous meetings for years and years.
December 5, 2025 at 4:17 PM
If you are used to attending or watching ACIP metings, it is difficult to describe just how disturbing this one has been. People talking over one another, confusion, outright ignorance. Compare this to the very orderly, sedate, consideration of facts of previous meetings for years and years.
#ACIP member Cody Meissner: “I take strong issue with each of the three presentations we just heard“ on the hep B birth dose.
“There were so many statements that I disagree with that it’s hard to be succinct”
“There were so many statements that I disagree with that it’s hard to be succinct”
December 4, 2025 at 2:49 PM
#ACIP member Cody Meissner: “I take strong issue with each of the three presentations we just heard“ on the hep B birth dose.
“There were so many statements that I disagree with that it’s hard to be succinct”
“There were so many statements that I disagree with that it’s hard to be succinct”
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: