Ed Belongia MD
@belongia.bsky.social
Vaccines & viruses | Epidemiology & public health | Former CDC & ACIP | Climate advocate | Dog walker & e-biker
Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=X2F2it0AAAAJ&hl=en
Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=X2F2it0AAAAJ&hl=en
CDC has been a global leader in public health & played a key role in smallpox eradication. Health depts in red states & blue states rely on CDC expertise & support. The CDC EIS program trains the next generation of public health leaders & disease detectives.
They are burning it to the ground.
They are burning it to the ground.
October 11, 2025 at 2:38 PM
CDC has been a global leader in public health & played a key role in smallpox eradication. Health depts in red states & blue states rely on CDC expertise & support. The CDC EIS program trains the next generation of public health leaders & disease detectives.
They are burning it to the ground.
They are burning it to the ground.
This large Swedish study found no association between acetaminophen & autism using matched sibling controls. Also no dose-response effect. Ppl who use acetaminophen while pregnant differ in many ways from those who do not, & using sibling controls was a great way to reduce unmeasured confounding
September 22, 2025 at 1:31 PM
This large Swedish study found no association between acetaminophen & autism using matched sibling controls. Also no dose-response effect. Ppl who use acetaminophen while pregnant differ in many ways from those who do not, & using sibling controls was a great way to reduce unmeasured confounding
Excellent ACIP presentation by Dr. Su on the robust vaccine safety monitoring system, using ischemic stroke signal evaluation as an example.
September 19, 2025 at 2:35 PM
Excellent ACIP presentation by Dr. Su on the robust vaccine safety monitoring system, using ischemic stroke signal evaluation as an example.
Some good news for Wisconsin residents.
September 16, 2025 at 1:47 PM
Some good news for Wisconsin residents.
Everyone in Congress should read this statement.
September 3, 2025 at 11:09 PM
Everyone in Congress should read this statement.
Opposition to RFKJr is ramping up.
Joint statement from Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) and 21 other organizations 👇
Joint statement from Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) and 21 other organizations 👇
September 3, 2025 at 11:03 PM
Opposition to RFKJr is ramping up.
Joint statement from Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) and 21 other organizations 👇
Joint statement from Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) and 21 other organizations 👇
Coadministration of COVID & flu vaccines is safe. A randomized trial found no difference in vax side effects, and observational studies have found either no difference or a mild increase in systemic symptoms with coadmin. This is not a safety concern.
wapo.st/45L7wqH
wapo.st/45L7wqH
September 3, 2025 at 6:36 PM
Coadministration of COVID & flu vaccines is safe. A randomized trial found no difference in vax side effects, and observational studies have found either no difference or a mild increase in systemic symptoms with coadmin. This is not a safety concern.
wapo.st/45L7wqH
wapo.st/45L7wqH
Dr. Meyer provided a comprehensive review of COVID vax safety monitoring at the June ACIP meeting.
www.cdc.gov/acip/downloa...
www.cdc.gov/acip/downloa...
August 29, 2025 at 12:14 AM
Dr. Meyer provided a comprehensive review of COVID vax safety monitoring at the June ACIP meeting.
www.cdc.gov/acip/downloa...
www.cdc.gov/acip/downloa...
New Danish cohort study with over 1 million kids confirms safety of aluminum in childhood vax. They looked at 50 different conditions, including autoimmune, allergic & neurodevelopmental (eg autism).
This should end further debate on this topic (but probably won't).
Annals Intern Med 15 July 2025
This should end further debate on this topic (but probably won't).
Annals Intern Med 15 July 2025
July 15, 2025 at 3:49 PM
New Danish cohort study with over 1 million kids confirms safety of aluminum in childhood vax. They looked at 50 different conditions, including autoimmune, allergic & neurodevelopmental (eg autism).
This should end further debate on this topic (but probably won't).
Annals Intern Med 15 July 2025
This should end further debate on this topic (but probably won't).
Annals Intern Med 15 July 2025
Dr Meissner suggests trial comparing Flublok to egg-based vax. This was done in adults 50+ & published in NEJM in 2017. Relative efficacy was 30% for Flublok vs egg-based vax. Also: Kaiser cluster randomized trial found 15% flu reduction in Flublok vs egg-based vax recipients 50-64 yrs (NEJM 2023).
June 26, 2025 at 2:22 PM
Dr Meissner suggests trial comparing Flublok to egg-based vax. This was done in adults 50+ & published in NEJM in 2017. Relative efficacy was 30% for Flublok vs egg-based vax. Also: Kaiser cluster randomized trial found 15% flu reduction in Flublok vs egg-based vax recipients 50-64 yrs (NEJM 2023).
Dr Dugan (CDC Flu Division): 250 pediatric flu deaths reported in 2024-25. This is highest # in any non pandemic season since reporting began in 2004. 42% did not have high risk medical condition.
June 26, 2025 at 1:40 PM
Dr Dugan (CDC Flu Division): 250 pediatric flu deaths reported in 2024-25. This is highest # in any non pandemic season since reporting began in 2004. 42% did not have high risk medical condition.
Excellent RSV presentations by Drs DeSilva & Daley highlight the importance of VSD for vaccine safety assessment. These are sophisticated & rigorous studies that support overall safety of RSV vax and nirsevimab to protect infants. 👇
June 25, 2025 at 8:26 PM
Excellent RSV presentations by Drs DeSilva & Daley highlight the importance of VSD for vaccine safety assessment. These are sophisticated & rigorous studies that support overall safety of RSV vax and nirsevimab to protect infants. 👇
Strong ACIP presentation by Dr MacNeil on benefits of maternal RSV vax & nirsevimab.
June 25, 2025 at 7:24 PM
Strong ACIP presentation by Dr MacNeil on benefits of maternal RSV vax & nirsevimab.
Dr Sarah Meyer did a great job summarizing the most intensive vaccine safety monitoring program in history. The system worked well: it found increased risk of myocarditis in adolescents/young adults with the primary series & 1st booster. The risk is not elevated after later doses.
June 25, 2025 at 4:54 PM
Dr Sarah Meyer did a great job summarizing the most intensive vaccine safety monitoring program in history. The system worked well: it found increased risk of myocarditis in adolescents/young adults with the primary series & 1st booster. The risk is not elevated after later doses.
This post is referring to COVID rather than measles, but it's still wrong. A case series published in Pediatrics in Nov 2024 found that a high risk condition was absent in 32% of children who died from COVID.
June 23, 2025 at 2:25 AM
This post is referring to COVID rather than measles, but it's still wrong. A case series published in Pediatrics in Nov 2024 found that a high risk condition was absent in 32% of children who died from COVID.
WMO Global Annual to Decadal Climate Update (2025–2029) projects that global temperatures are expected to continue at or near record levels in the next five years.
May 28, 2025 at 1:20 PM
WMO Global Annual to Decadal Climate Update (2025–2029) projects that global temperatures are expected to continue at or near record levels in the next five years.
Updated COVID vaccine effectiveness data presented at FDA VRBPAC by Ruth Link-Gelles from CDC.
👉2024-25 COVID vaccine provided substantial added protection in a population with a high level of preexisting immunity (prior infection or prior vax).
👉2024-25 COVID vaccine provided substantial added protection in a population with a high level of preexisting immunity (prior infection or prior vax).
May 22, 2025 at 2:21 PM
Updated COVID vaccine effectiveness data presented at FDA VRBPAC by Ruth Link-Gelles from CDC.
👉2024-25 COVID vaccine provided substantial added protection in a population with a high level of preexisting immunity (prior infection or prior vax).
👉2024-25 COVID vaccine provided substantial added protection in a population with a high level of preexisting immunity (prior infection or prior vax).
Excellent update on COVID epi and viral genomics by CDCs Natalie Thornburg at FDA VRBPAC meeting. There has been some drift but current viruses are neutralized by sera from ppl who received 2024-25 vaccine.
May 22, 2025 at 1:47 PM
Excellent update on COVID epi and viral genomics by CDCs Natalie Thornburg at FDA VRBPAC meeting. There has been some drift but current viruses are neutralized by sera from ppl who received 2024-25 vaccine.
2009 post by Kim Stanley Robinson is more relevant than ever today👇
"climate change skeptics are now simply in denial..science is telling us that if we keep living the way we do, we will trigger an unstoppable...climate change that may de-ice the planet & acidify the oceans, causing mass extinction"
"climate change skeptics are now simply in denial..science is telling us that if we keep living the way we do, we will trigger an unstoppable...climate change that may de-ice the planet & acidify the oceans, causing mass extinction"
May 21, 2025 at 9:05 PM
2009 post by Kim Stanley Robinson is more relevant than ever today👇
"climate change skeptics are now simply in denial..science is telling us that if we keep living the way we do, we will trigger an unstoppable...climate change that may de-ice the planet & acidify the oceans, causing mass extinction"
"climate change skeptics are now simply in denial..science is telling us that if we keep living the way we do, we will trigger an unstoppable...climate change that may de-ice the planet & acidify the oceans, causing mass extinction"
New FDA regulatory framework for COVID vax relies on long list of high risk conditions for ppl <65
👉Most COVID vax are given in pharmacies & this will restrict access
👉FDA is bypassing CDC ACIP process for recs based on public health impact, benefits/risks, & feasibility/acceptability
NEJM May 20:
👉Most COVID vax are given in pharmacies & this will restrict access
👉FDA is bypassing CDC ACIP process for recs based on public health impact, benefits/risks, & feasibility/acceptability
NEJM May 20:
May 20, 2025 at 9:41 PM
New FDA regulatory framework for COVID vax relies on long list of high risk conditions for ppl <65
👉Most COVID vax are given in pharmacies & this will restrict access
👉FDA is bypassing CDC ACIP process for recs based on public health impact, benefits/risks, & feasibility/acceptability
NEJM May 20:
👉Most COVID vax are given in pharmacies & this will restrict access
👉FDA is bypassing CDC ACIP process for recs based on public health impact, benefits/risks, & feasibility/acceptability
NEJM May 20:
And an additional reminder that the HPV vaccine is safe---It's been thoroughly assessed in pre-licensure trials and post-licensure studies (including the CDC-funded Vaccine Safety Datalink).
Pediatrics, Dec 2019:
Pediatrics, Dec 2019:
February 21, 2025 at 9:00 PM
And an additional reminder that the HPV vaccine is safe---It's been thoroughly assessed in pre-licensure trials and post-licensure studies (including the CDC-funded Vaccine Safety Datalink).
Pediatrics, Dec 2019:
Pediatrics, Dec 2019:
This is stunning. EIS has been a CDC rapid response team & training prgm since 1951. They investigate outbreaks & work with state public health. Many EIS alums become public health leaders. Without EIS, the US is unprepared for the next public health crisis.
👇 Good book on EIS by Mark Pendergrast
👇 Good book on EIS by Mark Pendergrast
February 14, 2025 at 10:04 PM
This is stunning. EIS has been a CDC rapid response team & training prgm since 1951. They investigate outbreaks & work with state public health. Many EIS alums become public health leaders. Without EIS, the US is unprepared for the next public health crisis.
👇 Good book on EIS by Mark Pendergrast
👇 Good book on EIS by Mark Pendergrast
This is dystopian. The article is paywalled but please subscribe to Wired if you can. They are doing great investigative journalism.
@justinling.ca 👇
@justinling.ca 👇
February 12, 2025 at 9:51 PM
This is dystopian. The article is paywalled but please subscribe to Wired if you can. They are doing great investigative journalism.
@justinling.ca 👇
@justinling.ca 👇
I’m with you on the first 3, but #4 is canine at our house.
February 7, 2025 at 4:22 AM
I’m with you on the first 3, but #4 is canine at our house.
We can expect a lot more vaccine refusals & a resurgence in childhood vaccine-preventable diseases if RFK Jr is confirmed. His confirmation will be a day of infamy for public health.
wapo.st/4hp2NOR
wapo.st/4hp2NOR
February 6, 2025 at 3:41 AM
We can expect a lot more vaccine refusals & a resurgence in childhood vaccine-preventable diseases if RFK Jr is confirmed. His confirmation will be a day of infamy for public health.
wapo.st/4hp2NOR
wapo.st/4hp2NOR