Mel
@melinblue.bsky.social
Epidemiologist and mom in Baltimore. Maternal and child health, evaluation, measurement.
I wonder if some people have no other outlet…like I work every day with people who despise this admin and we’re all doing our best to counteract its effects (public health). I also do stuff on my own time. When I get on here I want A Break.
January 4, 2026 at 9:13 PM
I wonder if some people have no other outlet…like I work every day with people who despise this admin and we’re all doing our best to counteract its effects (public health). I also do stuff on my own time. When I get on here I want A Break.
So many of my fave childhood books (and movies!) are A LOT darker than I remembered
December 27, 2025 at 10:29 AM
So many of my fave childhood books (and movies!) are A LOT darker than I remembered
Our 10 year old still wakes up and comes into our room sometimes at night 😬 (she gets nighttime anxieties). Our 3 year old is awake right now 😭
December 27, 2025 at 10:02 AM
Our 10 year old still wakes up and comes into our room sometimes at night 😬 (she gets nighttime anxieties). Our 3 year old is awake right now 😭
It looks like no birth dose in their vaccine schedule. But the broader issue is no equipoise and thus no justification for the trial.
December 17, 2025 at 6:52 PM
It looks like no birth dose in their vaccine schedule. But the broader issue is no equipoise and thus no justification for the trial.
A woman in my neighborhood is writing this! She’s working on a graphic non-fiction book about all the weird things that happen during/after pregnancy that no one tells you about
December 17, 2025 at 6:43 PM
A woman in my neighborhood is writing this! She’s working on a graphic non-fiction book about all the weird things that happen during/after pregnancy that no one tells you about
*details we don’t have
December 17, 2025 at 5:24 PM
*details we don’t have
I’m not an ethics specialist, and a lot depends on the details. My concern wouldn’t be the control, since they are getting standard of care. The concern would be all the participants being enrolled in a time consuming study, potentially with invasive procedures (eg blood draws) and no clear benefit
December 17, 2025 at 5:23 PM
I’m not an ethics specialist, and a lot depends on the details. My concern wouldn’t be the control, since they are getting standard of care. The concern would be all the participants being enrolled in a time consuming study, potentially with invasive procedures (eg blood draws) and no clear benefit
None of that to say that we need another efficacy study of the birth dose - this seems like a waste of $ unless it’s implementation research on *how* to introduce HepB 0 in this setting. But I would check country vaccine schedules before assuming that the vaccine will be withheld.
December 17, 2025 at 4:54 PM
None of that to say that we need another efficacy study of the birth dose - this seems like a waste of $ unless it’s implementation research on *how* to introduce HepB 0 in this setting. But I would check country vaccine schedules before assuming that the vaccine will be withheld.
Not sure whether the HepB birth dose is in the Guinea Bissau EPI schedule - it is recommended by WHO but not (yet) implemented in many countries
December 17, 2025 at 4:42 PM
Not sure whether the HepB birth dose is in the Guinea Bissau EPI schedule - it is recommended by WHO but not (yet) implemented in many countries
I don’t know anything about this specific study, but there is a long time health and demographic surveillance site (HDSS) in Bandim that has done a number of vax trials and is associated with that university.
December 17, 2025 at 4:41 PM
I don’t know anything about this specific study, but there is a long time health and demographic surveillance site (HDSS) in Bandim that has done a number of vax trials and is associated with that university.
Following a historic win, they are implementing anti-immigrant, anti- trans policies that are unpopular with their own voters, not to mention unpopular cuts to unis? They seem to be focused on winning over reform voters
December 17, 2025 at 11:27 AM
Following a historic win, they are implementing anti-immigrant, anti- trans policies that are unpopular with their own voters, not to mention unpopular cuts to unis? They seem to be focused on winning over reform voters
TY, I just don’t have time to do the comparisons myself right now!
I also cannot think of a legitimate reason to put Niger and Burkina on the ban list due to insecurity, but not CAR and DRC (besides mineral rights in DRC of course)
I also cannot think of a legitimate reason to put Niger and Burkina on the ban list due to insecurity, but not CAR and DRC (besides mineral rights in DRC of course)
December 17, 2025 at 3:12 AM
TY, I just don’t have time to do the comparisons myself right now!
I also cannot think of a legitimate reason to put Niger and Burkina on the ban list due to insecurity, but not CAR and DRC (besides mineral rights in DRC of course)
I also cannot think of a legitimate reason to put Niger and Burkina on the ban list due to insecurity, but not CAR and DRC (besides mineral rights in DRC of course)
insecurity/conflict also seems questionable as the basis for a ban unless it impacts the ability to vet people
December 17, 2025 at 2:56 AM
insecurity/conflict also seems questionable as the basis for a ban unless it impacts the ability to vet people
The stated rationales are overstay rates and insecurity.
It would be great if an enterprising journo could analyze overstay rates and numbers for countries on vs not on the list. Most of these countries (w/exceptions like Nigeria) receive very few visas, so the absolute # of overstays must be tiny
It would be great if an enterprising journo could analyze overstay rates and numbers for countries on vs not on the list. Most of these countries (w/exceptions like Nigeria) receive very few visas, so the absolute # of overstays must be tiny
December 17, 2025 at 2:48 AM
The stated rationales are overstay rates and insecurity.
It would be great if an enterprising journo could analyze overstay rates and numbers for countries on vs not on the list. Most of these countries (w/exceptions like Nigeria) receive very few visas, so the absolute # of overstays must be tiny
It would be great if an enterprising journo could analyze overstay rates and numbers for countries on vs not on the list. Most of these countries (w/exceptions like Nigeria) receive very few visas, so the absolute # of overstays must be tiny
We were very close to naming ours Leo, and I still have some name regret occasionally
(Also liked Samuel and Daniel - apparently we like old testament names despite neither of us being religious)
(Also liked Samuel and Daniel - apparently we like old testament names despite neither of us being religious)
November 28, 2025 at 9:26 PM
We were very close to naming ours Leo, and I still have some name regret occasionally
(Also liked Samuel and Daniel - apparently we like old testament names despite neither of us being religious)
(Also liked Samuel and Daniel - apparently we like old testament names despite neither of us being religious)
When my dad came to visit us after my youngest was born, he decided we didn’t have enough pairs of scissors and ordered a bunch for us. We now have scissors in every room (I will admit that I rolled my eyes a bit, but it is very convenient!)
November 20, 2025 at 5:34 PM
When my dad came to visit us after my youngest was born, he decided we didn’t have enough pairs of scissors and ordered a bunch for us. We now have scissors in every room (I will admit that I rolled my eyes a bit, but it is very convenient!)
Every one of her teachers since 2nd (she is now in 5th) has told us that writing is an issue for the whole cohort, and that it’s because virtual writing instruction for K specifically was very difficult. These are not anti-lockdown teachers - they, like us, thought that the lockdown was necessary.
November 15, 2025 at 10:10 AM
Every one of her teachers since 2nd (she is now in 5th) has told us that writing is an issue for the whole cohort, and that it’s because virtual writing instruction for K specifically was very difficult. These are not anti-lockdown teachers - they, like us, thought that the lockdown was necessary.
+ childcare. We had our kids 7 yrs apart, so we have a decent feel for this. 33% increase in costs for a 3y/o from 2018 to 2025. When you live in a major metro area, housing + childcare is pretty much your entire budget (and is why we spent 7 yrs in a 900 sq ft fixer upper)
November 9, 2025 at 5:55 AM
+ childcare. We had our kids 7 yrs apart, so we have a decent feel for this. 33% increase in costs for a 3y/o from 2018 to 2025. When you live in a major metro area, housing + childcare is pretty much your entire budget (and is why we spent 7 yrs in a 900 sq ft fixer upper)
Reposted by Mel
THIS!👏👏👏
Children’s books are an art form. Writing one requires skill (and not a little imagination/weirdness). Being a random celebrity does not give you that skill.
If you are a celebrity and you love kid’s books, use your platform to promote great ones.
Children’s books are an art form. Writing one requires skill (and not a little imagination/weirdness). Being a random celebrity does not give you that skill.
If you are a celebrity and you love kid’s books, use your platform to promote great ones.
November 4, 2025 at 3:10 PM
THIS!👏👏👏
Children’s books are an art form. Writing one requires skill (and not a little imagination/weirdness). Being a random celebrity does not give you that skill.
If you are a celebrity and you love kid’s books, use your platform to promote great ones.
Children’s books are an art form. Writing one requires skill (and not a little imagination/weirdness). Being a random celebrity does not give you that skill.
If you are a celebrity and you love kid’s books, use your platform to promote great ones.
THIS!👏👏👏
Children’s books are an art form. Writing one requires skill (and not a little imagination/weirdness). Being a random celebrity does not give you that skill.
If you are a celebrity and you love kid’s books, use your platform to promote great ones.
Children’s books are an art form. Writing one requires skill (and not a little imagination/weirdness). Being a random celebrity does not give you that skill.
If you are a celebrity and you love kid’s books, use your platform to promote great ones.
November 4, 2025 at 3:10 PM
THIS!👏👏👏
Children’s books are an art form. Writing one requires skill (and not a little imagination/weirdness). Being a random celebrity does not give you that skill.
If you are a celebrity and you love kid’s books, use your platform to promote great ones.
Children’s books are an art form. Writing one requires skill (and not a little imagination/weirdness). Being a random celebrity does not give you that skill.
If you are a celebrity and you love kid’s books, use your platform to promote great ones.