Meg Winchester
@mswinche.bsky.social
senior editor @Health Affairs | medical anthropologist | health policy, climate, global health, social determinants, accountable care | views expressed are my own
Reposted by Meg Winchester
For those planning to watch the expected calamity of the ACIP meeting on December 4-5, they have switched the days for the topics. Now HBV vaccine will be discussed on Thursday and the entire childhood vaccine schedule on Friday.
The agendas are vague and no materials have been posted yet.
The agendas are vague and no materials have been posted yet.
December 2, 2025 at 9:45 PM
For those planning to watch the expected calamity of the ACIP meeting on December 4-5, they have switched the days for the topics. Now HBV vaccine will be discussed on Thursday and the entire childhood vaccine schedule on Friday.
The agendas are vague and no materials have been posted yet.
The agendas are vague and no materials have been posted yet.
Reposted by Meg Winchester
RFK Jr. is overhauling the program that helps maintain Americans' access to vaccines
RFK Jr. is overhauling the program that helps maintain Americans' access to vaccines
An effort to include autism cases could bankrupt the program. The secretary’s anti-vaccine allies prefer it collapse.
dlvr.it
November 29, 2025 at 5:19 PM
RFK Jr. is overhauling the program that helps maintain Americans' access to vaccines
Reposted by Meg Winchester
The State Department has warned employees not to use government funds to mark Dec. 1 as World AIDS Day and to “refrain from publicly promoting World AIDS Day through any communication channels.” nyti.ms/3KhPDrA
Trump Administration Will No Longer Commemorate World AIDS Day
The State Department warned employees not to use government funds for the occasion and to “refrain from publicly promoting World AIDS Day through any communication channels.”
nyti.ms
November 26, 2025 at 10:35 PM
The State Department has warned employees not to use government funds to mark Dec. 1 as World AIDS Day and to “refrain from publicly promoting World AIDS Day through any communication channels.” nyti.ms/3KhPDrA
Reposted by Meg Winchester
The 2025 UNAIDS report is out and it is a stark reminder that the HIV epidemic is not over. After a decade of progress, the global HIV response was shaken this year by abrupt, deep cuts in international funding. Clinics closed. Community programmes collapsed.
www.unaids.org/en/resources...
www.unaids.org/en/resources...
November 25, 2025 at 9:05 PM
The 2025 UNAIDS report is out and it is a stark reminder that the HIV epidemic is not over. After a decade of progress, the global HIV response was shaken this year by abrupt, deep cuts in international funding. Clinics closed. Community programmes collapsed.
www.unaids.org/en/resources...
www.unaids.org/en/resources...
Reposted by Meg Winchester
A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention webpage that previously stated "Vaccines do not cause autism" has been changed to cast doubt on the scientific research that supports the finding. n.pr/4oiyHPO
The CDC revives debunked 'link' between childhood vaccines and autism
A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention webpage that previously stated "Vaccines do not cause autism" has been changed to cast doubt on the scientific research that supports the finding.
n.pr
November 20, 2025 at 5:38 PM
A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention webpage that previously stated "Vaccines do not cause autism" has been changed to cast doubt on the scientific research that supports the finding. n.pr/4oiyHPO
Reposted by Meg Winchester
"Decision-based evidence-making" — that's how one former #CDC leader described the approach to scientific decision making under the HHS secretary in a meaty examination of Kennedy's unprecedented tenure by several @statnews.com colleagues. www.statnews.com/2025/11/18/r...
How RFK Jr., America's celebrity health secretary, is steamrolling science
RFK Jr. is plowing ahead with sweeping changes to U.S. health care that have thrilled supporters, purged opponents, and horrified critics.
www.statnews.com
November 18, 2025 at 2:47 PM
"Decision-based evidence-making" — that's how one former #CDC leader described the approach to scientific decision making under the HHS secretary in a meaty examination of Kennedy's unprecedented tenure by several @statnews.com colleagues. www.statnews.com/2025/11/18/r...
Reposted by Meg Winchester
Editors have a really hard job, and the good ones can make something unreadable readable, and the great ones can make something unreadable into something good. But they're basically invisible, until someone tries to write without one.
November 17, 2025 at 3:35 PM
Editors have a really hard job, and the good ones can make something unreadable readable, and the great ones can make something unreadable into something good. But they're basically invisible, until someone tries to write without one.
Reposted by Meg Winchester
The large uptick in federal unemployment insurance claims in the initial spate of layoffs last spring have been overshadowed nearly 10 fold by the UI claims of federal workers after the end of the fiscal year, in the longest ever government shutdown.
#NumbersDay #EconSky
#NumbersDay #EconSky
November 13, 2025 at 11:13 PM
The large uptick in federal unemployment insurance claims in the initial spate of layoffs last spring have been overshadowed nearly 10 fold by the UI claims of federal workers after the end of the fiscal year, in the longest ever government shutdown.
#NumbersDay #EconSky
#NumbersDay #EconSky
Reposted by Meg Winchester
Mostly accessible for whom?
For low-income women in Idaho and Texas who cannot afford to travel to Washington or Colorado to access health care?
For women on Medicaid who can’t pay OOP?
For women experiencing medical emergencies in states that want abortion bans to overtake EMTALA protections?
For low-income women in Idaho and Texas who cannot afford to travel to Washington or Colorado to access health care?
For women on Medicaid who can’t pay OOP?
For women experiencing medical emergencies in states that want abortion bans to overtake EMTALA protections?
November 13, 2025 at 3:34 PM
Mostly accessible for whom?
For low-income women in Idaho and Texas who cannot afford to travel to Washington or Colorado to access health care?
For women on Medicaid who can’t pay OOP?
For women experiencing medical emergencies in states that want abortion bans to overtake EMTALA protections?
For low-income women in Idaho and Texas who cannot afford to travel to Washington or Colorado to access health care?
For women on Medicaid who can’t pay OOP?
For women experiencing medical emergencies in states that want abortion bans to overtake EMTALA protections?
Reposted by Meg Winchester
Cop30 live: calls for ‘just transition’ plan grow as report warns world on track for 2.6C of heating
Cop30 live: calls for ‘just transition’ plan grow as report warns world on track for 2.6C of heating
Climate Action Tracker report finds pledges made in past year have not cut the forecast for global heating
In recent years, activism from civil society has been repressed at Cop negotiations. This year, it is having a major comeback, writes Dharna Noor, Guardian US fossil fuels and climate reporter.
Inside and outside the venue, people are holding protests, marches, and speaking events – a group of organisations even held a massive boat parade yesterday. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
November 13, 2025 at 2:47 PM
Cop30 live: calls for ‘just transition’ plan grow as report warns world on track for 2.6C of heating
Reposted by Meg Winchester
The US Digital Service was taken over by DOGE, and then destroyed the federal gov't. Our paper shows how the pre-DOGE USDS prevented 100,000s of eligible Medicaid beneficiaries from losing coverage. Implementing Medicaid work requirements with a gutted federal government will be disastrous
New at Can We Still Govern? New Medicaid work requirements will see an estimated 5 million lose coverage.
Small investments in in-house tech capacity could allow states to start preparing now to expand automatic renewal of clients. Here is the evidence 🧵
donmoynihan.substack.com/p/how-a-van-...
Small investments in in-house tech capacity could allow states to start preparing now to expand automatic renewal of clients. Here is the evidence 🧵
donmoynihan.substack.com/p/how-a-van-...
Lessons from Pandemic Era Medicaid Automation for Work Requirements
Small tech capacity investments offer big returns
donmoynihan.substack.com
November 10, 2025 at 3:35 PM
The US Digital Service was taken over by DOGE, and then destroyed the federal gov't. Our paper shows how the pre-DOGE USDS prevented 100,000s of eligible Medicaid beneficiaries from losing coverage. Implementing Medicaid work requirements with a gutted federal government will be disastrous
Reposted by Meg Winchester
As expected, Canada has lost its measles-free status because of the long-running outbreak there. With it goes the #measles elimination status of the entire zone of the Americas, the only division of the #WHO to ever have achieved measles elimination. www.statnews.com/2025/11/10/m...
Canada loses measles elimination status — as does the entire Americas region
Canada has formally lost its measles elimination status, the country’s public health agency announced, triggering the loss of that status throughout all of the Americas.
www.statnews.com
November 10, 2025 at 2:49 PM
As expected, Canada has lost its measles-free status because of the long-running outbreak there. With it goes the #measles elimination status of the entire zone of the Americas, the only division of the #WHO to ever have achieved measles elimination. www.statnews.com/2025/11/10/m...
Reposted by Meg Winchester
One analytical model shows that, as of November 5th, the dismantling of U.S.A.I.D. has already caused the deaths of 600,000 people, two-thirds of them children. https://newyorkermag.visitlink.me/jUzNSc
The Shutdown of U.S.A.I.D. Has Already Killed Hundreds of Thousands
The short documentary “Rovina’s Choice” tells the story of what goes when aid goes.
newyorkermag.visitlink.me
November 6, 2025 at 9:00 PM
One analytical model shows that, as of November 5th, the dismantling of U.S.A.I.D. has already caused the deaths of 600,000 people, two-thirds of them children. https://newyorkermag.visitlink.me/jUzNSc
Reposted by Meg Winchester
Democrats have secured a 5-2 majority on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, a key swing state.
November 5, 2025 at 3:56 AM
Democrats have secured a 5-2 majority on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, a key swing state.
Reposted by Meg Winchester
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. n.pr/4obRAo5
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.
n.pr
October 28, 2025 at 7:39 PM
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. n.pr/4obRAo5
Reposted by Meg Winchester
Josh Hawley voted for historic cuts to SNAP, which is indispensable to 42 million Americans' food security.
October 28, 2025 at 2:19 PM
Josh Hawley voted for historic cuts to SNAP, which is indispensable to 42 million Americans' food security.
Reposted by Meg Winchester
Astonishing: The cost of health insurance for a family jumps to $27,000 from @tarabannow.bsky.social www.statnews.com/2025/10/22/h...
October 22, 2025 at 1:44 PM
Astonishing: The cost of health insurance for a family jumps to $27,000 from @tarabannow.bsky.social www.statnews.com/2025/10/22/h...
Reposted by Meg Winchester
UNAids is set to close in 2026 – four years early. Are experts right to be alarmed?
UNAids is set to close in 2026 – four years early. Are experts right to be alarmed?
The move to shut the agency comes as aid budgets are being slashed, leading to fears that global progress on HIV may be reversed
www.theguardian.com
October 20, 2025 at 4:42 AM
UNAids is set to close in 2026 – four years early. Are experts right to be alarmed?
Reposted by Meg Winchester
my latest investigation for @consumerreports.org is based on months of reporting and 60+ lab tests of leading protein supplements
we found that most protein powders and shakes have more lead in one serving than our experts say is safe to have in a day (🧵)
www.consumerreports.org/lead/protein...
we found that most protein powders and shakes have more lead in one serving than our experts say is safe to have in a day (🧵)
www.consumerreports.org/lead/protein...
Protein Powders and Shakes Contain High Levels of Lead - Consumer Reports
CR tests of 23 popular protein powders and shakes found that most contain high levels of lead.
www.consumerreports.org
October 14, 2025 at 4:37 PM
my latest investigation for @consumerreports.org is based on months of reporting and 60+ lab tests of leading protein supplements
we found that most protein powders and shakes have more lead in one serving than our experts say is safe to have in a day (🧵)
www.consumerreports.org/lead/protein...
we found that most protein powders and shakes have more lead in one serving than our experts say is safe to have in a day (🧵)
www.consumerreports.org/lead/protein...
Reposted by Meg Winchester
MAHA: We’re deeply concerned about chronic diseases, but please don’t try to track their prevalence.
Ugh... This study has existed for decades, providing valuable health data for all sorts of topics and publications. This is just more awful news. 🛟😷 Sociology medsky
CDC team running top survey on health and nutrition is laid off
NHANES has collected data on eating patterns, diabetes, and other common diseases for decades. The CDC team that runs it has been fired.
www.statnews.com
October 15, 2025 at 1:04 AM
MAHA: We’re deeply concerned about chronic diseases, but please don’t try to track their prevalence.
Reposted by Meg Winchester
#Chikungunya spread in New York by a home grown infected mosquito apnews.com/article/chik...
#medsky Important: #WestNile entered the US in New York and has now spread across the continent. Another mosquito-borne disease.
#medsky Important: #WestNile entered the US in New York and has now spread across the continent. Another mosquito-borne disease.
New York health officials confirm state's first locally acquired case of chikungunya virus
New York health officials have confirmed the state’s first locally acquired case of chikungunya virus and the first such case in the country in six years.
apnews.com
October 15, 2025 at 2:12 PM
#Chikungunya spread in New York by a home grown infected mosquito apnews.com/article/chik...
#medsky Important: #WestNile entered the US in New York and has now spread across the continent. Another mosquito-borne disease.
#medsky Important: #WestNile entered the US in New York and has now spread across the continent. Another mosquito-borne disease.
Reposted by Meg Winchester
Democrats’ funding proposal would restore access to Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act marketplace for legal immigrants who will lose access once certain provisions of the Republicans’ tax and spending law take effect. kffhealthnews.org/news/article...
GOP Falsely Ties Shutdown to Democrats’ Alleged Drive To Give All Immigrants Health Care - KFF Health News
Immigrants living in the U.S. without legal status are generally ineligible for federally funded health care programs. Democrats’ funding proposal would restore access to Medicaid and the Affordable C...
kffhealthnews.org
October 6, 2025 at 6:08 PM
Democrats’ funding proposal would restore access to Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act marketplace for legal immigrants who will lose access once certain provisions of the Republicans’ tax and spending law take effect. kffhealthnews.org/news/article...
Reposted by Meg Winchester
1/2
No, this isn’t satire.
But banning words doesn’t erase reality.
---
A few months ago: “bias” was flagged. (Funny thing—science articles are full of statistical biases we work hard to fix.)
No, this isn’t satire.
But banning words doesn’t erase reality.
---
A few months ago: “bias” was flagged. (Funny thing—science articles are full of statistical biases we work hard to fix.)
Energy Dept. adds ‘climate change’ and ‘emissions’ to banned words list
It is the latest in a series of Trump administration efforts to dispute, silence or downplay climate change.
www.politico.com
September 29, 2025 at 7:25 PM
1/2
No, this isn’t satire.
But banning words doesn’t erase reality.
---
A few months ago: “bias” was flagged. (Funny thing—science articles are full of statistical biases we work hard to fix.)
No, this isn’t satire.
But banning words doesn’t erase reality.
---
A few months ago: “bias” was flagged. (Funny thing—science articles are full of statistical biases we work hard to fix.)
Reposted by Meg Winchester
Senate hearing today, Dr. Monarez testified:
Kennedy directed her to commit to approving every recommendation "regardless of the scientific evidence" and also directed her to "dismiss career officials responsible for vaccine policy, w/o cause"
"He said if I was unwilling to do both, I should resign"
Kennedy directed her to commit to approving every recommendation "regardless of the scientific evidence" and also directed her to "dismiss career officials responsible for vaccine policy, w/o cause"
"He said if I was unwilling to do both, I should resign"
September 17, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Senate hearing today, Dr. Monarez testified:
Kennedy directed her to commit to approving every recommendation "regardless of the scientific evidence" and also directed her to "dismiss career officials responsible for vaccine policy, w/o cause"
"He said if I was unwilling to do both, I should resign"
Kennedy directed her to commit to approving every recommendation "regardless of the scientific evidence" and also directed her to "dismiss career officials responsible for vaccine policy, w/o cause"
"He said if I was unwilling to do both, I should resign"
Reposted by Meg Winchester
About 8% of people lacked any form of health insurance in 2024. Unfortunately that rate will dramatically increase in the coming years, from 27 million to more than 40 million thanks to Republicans who cut Medicaid and ACA marketplace subsidies
September 9, 2025 at 2:33 PM
About 8% of people lacked any form of health insurance in 2024. Unfortunately that rate will dramatically increase in the coming years, from 27 million to more than 40 million thanks to Republicans who cut Medicaid and ACA marketplace subsidies