René F. Najera, MPH, DrPH, FCPP
@epiren.bsky.social
Father. Husband. Epidemiologist. Instructor at GMU and JHBSPH. Fellow at the College of Physicians of Philadelphia. Believer in Truth, Justice, and a Better Tomorrow. All opinions, my own.
Learn more: https://linktr.ee/rene.najera
Learn more: https://linktr.ee/rene.najera
The New Mexico Department of Health issued a public health order to ensure access to the newly approved COVID-19 vaccine after some pharmacies paused administration. The state expects vaccine shipments within weeks. More info: www.nmhealth.org/news/vaccine...
September 1, 2025 at 6:00 PM
The New Mexico Department of Health issued a public health order to ensure access to the newly approved COVID-19 vaccine after some pharmacies paused administration. The state expects vaccine shipments within weeks. More info: www.nmhealth.org/news/vaccine...
It’s weird waking up in a world with a virtually dead CDC and still heading out the door to do public health, teach public health, and benefit public health. But public health goes on. It’s more than any one person or institution.
August 28, 2025 at 9:17 AM
It’s weird waking up in a world with a virtually dead CDC and still heading out the door to do public health, teach public health, and benefit public health. But public health goes on. It’s more than any one person or institution.
Discover how oral health shapes lifelong wellness at the College of Physicians of Philadelphia’s upcoming grand rounds with Penn Dental Medicine experts. Uncover links between oral and systemic health in this special live event. Details: collegeofphysicians.org/events/grand...
August 27, 2025 at 2:50 PM
Discover how oral health shapes lifelong wellness at the College of Physicians of Philadelphia’s upcoming grand rounds with Penn Dental Medicine experts. Uncover links between oral and systemic health in this special live event. Details: collegeofphysicians.org/events/grand...
Two minutes on Google and a Google Spreadsheet. If Bernie needs a real data analyst, I volunteer as tribute.
August 7, 2025 at 12:37 PM
Two minutes on Google and a Google Spreadsheet. If Bernie needs a real data analyst, I volunteer as tribute.
HHS announced it will now restrict access to taxpayer-funded programs to American citizens only, reversing a policy from 1998. The update will leave vulnerable people without preventative care and treatment, making all of us unhealthy. www.hhs.gov/press-room/p...
July 29, 2025 at 12:35 PM
HHS announced it will now restrict access to taxpayer-funded programs to American citizens only, reversing a policy from 1998. The update will leave vulnerable people without preventative care and treatment, making all of us unhealthy. www.hhs.gov/press-room/p...
Day one of the 150-mile Great Allegheny Passage trail bike ride is in the books. Feeling good. Not great. But not awful, either. A little sore. Had some great Pizza at Fox’s Pizza Den.
July 16, 2025 at 7:48 PM
Day one of the 150-mile Great Allegheny Passage trail bike ride is in the books. Feeling good. Not great. But not awful, either. A little sore. Had some great Pizza at Fox’s Pizza Den.
The Parent Ren XIX: Time Flies When You’re Having Fun
I’ve been reflecting on what it’s like raising my almost eight-year-old daughter. She’s smart, athletic, and incredibly creative, and I love teaching…
https://epidemiologist.blog/2025/07/02/the-parent-ren-xix-time-flies-when-youre-having-fun/
I’ve been reflecting on what it’s like raising my almost eight-year-old daughter. She’s smart, athletic, and incredibly creative, and I love teaching…
https://epidemiologist.blog/2025/07/02/the-parent-ren-xix-time-flies-when-youre-having-fun/
July 2, 2025 at 11:10 PM
The Parent Ren XIX: Time Flies When You’re Having Fun
I’ve been reflecting on what it’s like raising my almost eight-year-old daughter. She’s smart, athletic, and incredibly creative, and I love teaching…
https://epidemiologist.blog/2025/07/02/the-parent-ren-xix-time-flies-when-youre-having-fun/
I’ve been reflecting on what it’s like raising my almost eight-year-old daughter. She’s smart, athletic, and incredibly creative, and I love teaching…
https://epidemiologist.blog/2025/07/02/the-parent-ren-xix-time-flies-when-youre-having-fun/
My latest on the History of Vaccines, the 1889 Russian Flu pandemic may have been a coronavirus and not influenza. The symptomatic evidence is there, but there are gaps in the knowledge.
historyofvaccines.org/blog/first-p...
historyofvaccines.org/blog/first-p...
June 2, 2025 at 7:04 PM
My latest on the History of Vaccines, the 1889 Russian Flu pandemic may have been a coronavirus and not influenza. The symptomatic evidence is there, but there are gaps in the knowledge.
historyofvaccines.org/blog/first-p...
historyofvaccines.org/blog/first-p...
You’ve probably never heard of ACIP or VRBPAC—but they’re the reason vaccines in the U.S. are safe, effective, and available. These expert committees shape the immunization policies that keep us healthy. No politics. Just science. Full story: historyofvaccines.org/blog/how-two...
May 28, 2025 at 4:19 PM
You’ve probably never heard of ACIP or VRBPAC—but they’re the reason vaccines in the U.S. are safe, effective, and available. These expert committees shape the immunization policies that keep us healthy. No politics. Just science. Full story: historyofvaccines.org/blog/how-two...
Shortly after giving his Gettysburg Address, President Abraham Lincoln fell ill with smallpox. William Johnson, who cared for Lincoln, died from the disease. Read more here: historyofvaccines.org/blog/lincoln...
May 27, 2025 at 12:35 PM
Shortly after giving his Gettysburg Address, President Abraham Lincoln fell ill with smallpox. William Johnson, who cared for Lincoln, died from the disease. Read more here: historyofvaccines.org/blog/lincoln...
Working on something for you for the Biostats Night School. Can you guess what that is? Subscribe now to learn the math behind most public health decisions and what helps us know if what we see in studies and investigations is just by chance or a real effect.
phnightschool.substack.com
phnightschool.substack.com
May 23, 2025 at 10:05 PM
Working on something for you for the Biostats Night School. Can you guess what that is? Subscribe now to learn the math behind most public health decisions and what helps us know if what we see in studies and investigations is just by chance or a real effect.
phnightschool.substack.com
phnightschool.substack.com
On May 14, 1796, Edward Jenner changed the world. By testing the first smallpox vaccine, he launched the science of immunization and saved millions of lives. Today, we remember his bold idea: protecting people could start with a simple observation on a farm.
historyofvaccines.org/history/edwa...
historyofvaccines.org/history/edwa...
May 14, 2025 at 1:30 PM
On May 14, 1796, Edward Jenner changed the world. By testing the first smallpox vaccine, he launched the science of immunization and saved millions of lives. Today, we remember his bold idea: protecting people could start with a simple observation on a farm.
historyofvaccines.org/history/edwa...
historyofvaccines.org/history/edwa...
This #NationalNursesWeek, we honor Isabel Zendal, the world’s first #publichealth nurse. In 1803, she cared for orphaned children who carried the smallpox vaccine across the ocean in history’s first global vaccination campaign, shaping the future of vaccination.
historyofvaccines.org/blog/isabel-...
historyofvaccines.org/blog/isabel-...
May 9, 2025 at 4:19 PM
This #NationalNursesWeek, we honor Isabel Zendal, the world’s first #publichealth nurse. In 1803, she cared for orphaned children who carried the smallpox vaccine across the ocean in history’s first global vaccination campaign, shaping the future of vaccination.
historyofvaccines.org/blog/isabel-...
historyofvaccines.org/blog/isabel-...
Immigration enforcement doesn’t just separate families. It leaves lasting scars on public health. Fear, trauma, and barriers to care ripple through entire communities. Read why the costs are higher than we think.
open.substack.com/pub/phnights...
open.substack.com/pub/phnights...
April 27, 2025 at 3:16 PM
Immigration enforcement doesn’t just separate families. It leaves lasting scars on public health. Fear, trauma, and barriers to care ripple through entire communities. Read why the costs are higher than we think.
open.substack.com/pub/phnights...
open.substack.com/pub/phnights...
The latest measles data dump today reveals the historic nature of this international epidemic. Total cases: 1,282 | US Cases: 768 | Mexico Cases: 514
Four deaths: 2 adults, 2 children (1 adult in Mexico)
Biggest measles epidemic since elimination of measles in 2000
Four deaths: 2 adults, 2 children (1 adult in Mexico)
Biggest measles epidemic since elimination of measles in 2000
April 25, 2025 at 6:44 PM
The latest measles data dump today reveals the historic nature of this international epidemic. Total cases: 1,282 | US Cases: 768 | Mexico Cases: 514
Four deaths: 2 adults, 2 children (1 adult in Mexico)
Biggest measles epidemic since elimination of measles in 2000
Four deaths: 2 adults, 2 children (1 adult in Mexico)
Biggest measles epidemic since elimination of measles in 2000
The measles epidemic in Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, and the Mexican state of Chihuahua continues to spread. But many more cases are probably unaccounted. Well over 500 cases in the US and 95 in Mexico, all centered around the Mennonite communities in those states.
April 1, 2025 at 9:02 PM
The measles epidemic in Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, and the Mexican state of Chihuahua continues to spread. But many more cases are probably unaccounted. Well over 500 cases in the US and 95 in Mexico, all centered around the Mennonite communities in those states.
History of Vaccines is not the one and only place for you to get good and credible vaccine information. Let me recommend some books and websites for you: historyofvaccines.org/educational-...
April 1, 2025 at 7:02 PM
History of Vaccines is not the one and only place for you to get good and credible vaccine information. Let me recommend some books and websites for you: historyofvaccines.org/educational-...
Advocates of "alternative" or "delayed" vaccination schedule don't tell you the risks, or they exaggerate the benefits. I won't do that. Here is an analysis of the risks and benefits of "personalized" vaccine schedules.
historyofvaccines.org/getting-vacc...
historyofvaccines.org/getting-vacc...
March 31, 2025 at 4:19 PM
Advocates of "alternative" or "delayed" vaccination schedule don't tell you the risks, or they exaggerate the benefits. I won't do that. Here is an analysis of the risks and benefits of "personalized" vaccine schedules.
historyofvaccines.org/getting-vacc...
historyofvaccines.org/getting-vacc...
Today is the last day to nominate a student, professional, and/or organization doing Public Health work in the Philadelphia region. The award will be given on May 1 at the Public Health Student Poster symposium at the College of Physicians of Philadelphia.
forms.office.com/Pages/Respon...
forms.office.com/Pages/Respon...
March 31, 2025 at 1:07 PM
Today is the last day to nominate a student, professional, and/or organization doing Public Health work in the Philadelphia region. The award will be given on May 1 at the Public Health Student Poster symposium at the College of Physicians of Philadelphia.
forms.office.com/Pages/Respon...
forms.office.com/Pages/Respon...
The epidemic of Measles in Tx, NM, Ok., and Chih. (Mexico) continues. Updated data today from official sources. We obtained information from the ministry of health in Chihuahua, where measles cases are happening among the Mennonite community there. Over 500 cases total.
March 25, 2025 at 7:39 PM
The epidemic of Measles in Tx, NM, Ok., and Chih. (Mexico) continues. Updated data today from official sources. We obtained information from the ministry of health in Chihuahua, where measles cases are happening among the Mennonite community there. Over 500 cases total.
You know those rapid tests you take for things like pregnancy, Strep throat, the flu, etc.? They're all subject to the rules of math in their accuracy. How? Let me explain…
open.substack.com/pub/phnights...
open.substack.com/pub/phnights...
March 21, 2025 at 10:45 PM
You know those rapid tests you take for things like pregnancy, Strep throat, the flu, etc.? They're all subject to the rules of math in their accuracy. How? Let me explain…
open.substack.com/pub/phnights...
open.substack.com/pub/phnights...
The measles epidemic in western Texas and eastern New Mexico (and now Oklahoma and one county in eastern Texas) continues to grow and has surpassed 355 cases. This is more than all the cases in 2024. Three additional counties in Texas reported cases since the last update three days ago.
March 21, 2025 at 7:31 PM
The measles epidemic in western Texas and eastern New Mexico (and now Oklahoma and one county in eastern Texas) continues to grow and has surpassed 355 cases. This is more than all the cases in 2024. Three additional counties in Texas reported cases since the last update three days ago.
Join me for a live code-along session to explore Baltimore's health needs using publicly available data—all with the power of R! Whether you're a public health professional, enthusiast, or just curious about how coding can help uncover health trends, this session is for you. buff.ly/fHevqIY
March 19, 2025 at 11:10 PM
Join me for a live code-along session to explore Baltimore's health needs using publicly available data—all with the power of R! Whether you're a public health professional, enthusiast, or just curious about how coding can help uncover health trends, this session is for you. buff.ly/fHevqIY
Join me for a live code-along session on March 21 at 7 pm. We'll explore Baltimore's health needs using publicly available data—all with the power of R!
Link: youtube.com/live/Y6hr7cs...
Don't forget to subscribe and hit the notification bell so you don’t miss it!
Link: youtube.com/live/Y6hr7cs...
Don't forget to subscribe and hit the notification bell so you don’t miss it!
March 18, 2025 at 12:45 AM
Join me for a live code-along session on March 21 at 7 pm. We'll explore Baltimore's health needs using publicly available data—all with the power of R!
Link: youtube.com/live/Y6hr7cs...
Don't forget to subscribe and hit the notification bell so you don’t miss it!
Link: youtube.com/live/Y6hr7cs...
Don't forget to subscribe and hit the notification bell so you don’t miss it!
Still waiting on a data dump from New Mexico. But look at East Texas. Four (4) cases of Measles in Lamar County are troubling. There are also two cases in OK associated with this epidemic. And there is a cluster of measles in the Mexican state of Chihuahua, also centered in the Mennonite community.
March 15, 2025 at 12:35 PM
Still waiting on a data dump from New Mexico. But look at East Texas. Four (4) cases of Measles in Lamar County are troubling. There are also two cases in OK associated with this epidemic. And there is a cluster of measles in the Mexican state of Chihuahua, also centered in the Mennonite community.