1/ Nearly 3 million New Yorkers rely on SNAP for food, and the ongoing federal shutdown has left a huge funding gap. Marisa here, Your Local NY Epi, and today we’re breaking down what’s happening with #foodaid in New York, a decrease in youth tobacco use, and the current state of virus season 👇

What is so refreshing about the election is the unveiling of an offense. People have been stuck in defense for too long. While this is necessary to avoid going backwards, offense moves forward. This is something that everyone and every institution, including public health, needs.

1/ Today, the president announced he’s withholding funds for SNAP until the shutdown ends—not because the money isn’t there, but to use people’s empty stomachs as leverage.

1/ Open enrollment for Obamacare (ACA) kicked off this weekend, during which more than 20 million families will shop for health insurance coverage. There's some sticker shock though: prices are up ~30% this year if tax credits aren’t extended. Here’s what else is happening in #publichealth 👇

1/ Happy Halloween! 🎃 If you’re a parent, you probably have a few #candy questions rattling around in your head, and as a mom to two energetic girls, I’ve wondered the same things. So I asked our YLE dietitian, Megan Maisano, for answers — and her insights were too good not to share.👇

1/ Last week, LA County confirmed 3 cases of Clade 1b mpox, which historically, is a severe strain from Africa. This is the first time this strain has spread locally in the U.S. without a link to Africa. I’m Matt, your Local Epidemiologist in California, back with your weekly #publichealth update.

1/ Over two dozen states, including New York, are suing the federal government to keep SNAP running. Without it, more than 40 million Americans could lose access to food. Today we're breaking down what’s at stake along with other New York #publichealth news you should know👇

1/ If the headlines have felt heavy lately, you’re not alone. Between outbreaks, lawsuits, and fast spreading falsehoods, it’s easy to forget that #publichealth is still working. So today I'm sharing 4 pieces of good news worth celebrating from the past few weeks. 🧵

1/ SNAP benefits are set to expire Nov 1, and more than 40 million Americans could lose access to food they rely on. That’s an average of $190 per person per month. Here’s what’s at stake—and other #publichealth news you need to know this week 👇

The president demolished the East Wing to build a ballroom. It’s hard to think of a better metaphor for what’s happening to our health ecosystem—gutting Medicaid, weakening the CDC, and cutting SNAP. The symbolism isn’t subtle: luxury expands while the systems that keep people healthy contract.

1/ NYC's mayoral debate put food insecurity in the spotlight. And, as I'm sure you know, one of the most talked-about (and misunderstood) ideas for tackling this issue is city-owned grocery stores. Today we’re breaking down what they are, how they work, and where the candidates stand. 🧵

1/ Covid hospitalizations have been climbing in the UK, and with the respiratory virus season fast approaching, the US may not be far behind. We've seen a lot of questions about Long Covid, so now is like the perfect time to break down what we know, what’s still uncertain, and what it means for you👇

1/ Should you be concerned about lead in your protein powder? Consumer Reports found elevated levels in several popular brands, causing influencers to spread the results of the report. So we asked Megan, an RN and our nutrition contributor for YLE, to break it down. Here’s what you need to know 👇

1/ Fourteen states and Guam joined forces to launch a Governors’ Public Health Alliance. With federal support shifting and funding drying up, states are stepping up to coordinate, innovate, and protect your health. We're breaking this down along with some other #publichealth news you should know👇

1/ Valley fever, a serious infectious disease, is on the rise in central California. Last year set a record, with over 12,000 cases, and we’re on track to surpass that figure this year. I’m Matt, Your Local CA Epidemiologist, with this and more public health updates👇

1/ What's been going on with #seedoils? A few months ago, Steak ‘n Shake announced they were switching to butter & beef tallow. They called the move: “RFK’ing the fries,” and many restaurants have followed. But does that really make us healthier? What does the science say? Let’s break it down. 🧵

1/ Last Friday, 1300 CDC employees were fired. The next day, about half were reportedly reinstated. While this is better news than we all expected, I'm worried that people aren't fully aware of what's at stake if we lose these initiatives. So, I'm breaking down my experience in one of these programs

1/ Bird flu is back, and more than 4.4 million birds have been sick in the past month. The uptick has been detected among backyard flocks, commercial farms, and wild birds. Katelyn here, Your Local Epidemiologist, and here’s what you need to know about this and other #publichealth news this week 👇

1/ I'm sure you've heard by now, but on Friday, about 1,300 CDC employees, including top scientists & vaccine experts, were abruptly fired. In a stunning reversal the next day, hundreds were then reinstated. We're not sure why the administration reversed course, but the damage has still been done.

1/ A Stanford study found that wildfire smoke could cause nearly 5,000 deaths per year in California by 2050, which is more than any other state. I’m Matt, Your Local Epidemiologist in California, and I’m back with your public health updates for the week. Now, back to that wildfire study 👇

1/ In case you missed it, earlier today RFK Jr. implied in a Cabinet meeting that babies who circumcised early have double the risk of autism because they took Tylenol. He’s previously made the same claim about Tylenol with pregnant people. This idea is spreading and it’s scaring parents.

1/ Hey, do you need some #goodnews? I know I do. Between the noise and the chaos, it helps to stop and remember what progress actually looks like. Here are four public health wins to give you some good news for the week 👇

1/ A lot of people have genuine questions about #routinevaccines. Between headlines, politics, and fear, it can be hard to find nuanced answers. Let’s walk through some FAQs. 👇

1/ We’re almost a week into the #governmentshutdown. Beyond the headlines, it's triggering a slow-moving breakdown in public health systems services —impacting food programs, disease tracking, and potentially your insurance bill. The longer it goes, the more it will impact public health and you.

Headlines are atrocious given federal government confusion on fall vaccines. What questions do you have about the flu, Covid or RSV vaccines?

1/ A deadly #Listeria outbreak has been linked to precooked pasta, and four people have already died. 20 others became severely ill, with all but one landing in the hospital. Katelyn here, Your Local Epidemiologist, and here’s what you need to know about this and other public health news this week👇

1/ Happy Friday California! This week I have updates for you on H5N1 in cats, Juul’s boost from the FDA, and the government shutdown. I’m Matt, your Local Epidemiologist, here to break down what’s happening and what it means for your health 👇

1/ Last week, a woman on Long Island tested positive for chikungunya, a mosquito born illness from abroad. But surprisingly, she hasn’t traveled recently. I’m Marisa, Your New York Local Epi, and I’m back with your #publichealth updates for the week. Now, back to chikungunya 👇

1/ Happy October! Time for this week’s Dose: measles is climbing, colds are surging, USDA is stopping food insecurity tracking, and the abortion pill is under review. But don't worry, we have some good news to share too. Here’s what you need to know in #publichealth 🧵

1/ At midnight, the government officially shutdown. For those of you avoiding the news (fair) or maybe you're just hearing about this now, the shutdown happened because of a stalemate over health care coverage. I'm breaking down what’s at stake for Californians and why it matters for all of us. 👇

1/ Last week, RFK Jr.’s promised autism “report” finally dropped. But instead of new science, we got far-reaching claims drawn from decades of existing research. As a mom, I saw the fallout firsthand. I got texts from my friends who were wracked with guilt and fear.

1/ Weeks ago, a family buried their child. That child survived measles as a baby when she was too young to be vaccinated. She initially survived, but measles doesn’t always let go. The virus quietly lingered in the brain and came back as SSPE, a rare, fatal disease that robs children of their future

1/ Last week’s HELP Committee hearing pulled back the curtain on chaos inside the CDC. Former Director Susan Monarez revealed bombshell details about RFK Jr.’s push to change the childhood vaccine schedule without evidence. 👇

1/ Happy Thursday California! This week, we're talking about a few big #publichealth updates including what our kids eat in school to the latest virus trends and new vaccine data. Let’s break it all down and talk about what it means for your health. 👇

1/ RFK Jr.’s promised autism “report” landed this week. Instead of new science, we got headlines, a press conference, and far-reaching claims drawn from decades of existing research. Parents and pregnant people were left with overwhelming anxiety. Here’s what the evidence actually says 👇

1/ #BayArea friends: Today we’re under both an extreme heat advisory and an air quality alert for high smog. This mix of heat and smog hits California urban areas hard and strains our hearts and lungs. Here’s what you should know 🧵

1/ It’s Monday, which means a brand-new edition of The Dose. This week we're looking at the messy #vaccine headlines after last week's ACIP meeting, falls among older adults, loneliness among young people, and a top question on Covid shots at pharmacies. Here’s what you need to know 👇

1/ RFK Jr. promised to “find the cause of autism” by September. Well, it’s September—and as many of you may have heard, word is his report drops today (or this week). It's rumored he will announce that #Tylenol "causes" autism along with a few other possibilities, so let's see what the studies say👇

1/ Happy Friday California! There's a lot going on this week from Covid surges and RSV vaccine news to new laws protecting abortion and vaccine access. Here’s your weekly #publichealth update 👇

1/ Hey New York! We’ve got a lot tot talk about this week, so let’s dive in. This week’s #publichealth updates: Covid, vaccines, Legionnaires’, West Nile, and even a new grassroots movement for immunizations. Here’s what you need to know 👇

1/ Today and tomorrow, #ACIP —the external body that sets vaccine policy—is holding a special session. One item on the agenda is the highly anticipated vote for the Covid vaccine. We’re expecting VAERS data to be misused to suggest 25 pediatric deaths were caused by the vaccine. Here are the facts👇

1/ As you may know, on Thursday & Friday, ACIP—the external body that sets vaccine policy—will hold a special session. They are discussing three vaccines, one of which is the Hepatitis B (HepB) birth dose. Some false claims are likely to spread about this vaccine. Here’s what you should know 👇

1/ On Thurs and Fri, ACIP—the external body that sets vaccine policy—will hold a special session. The MMRV vaccine will be discussed and we’re expecting a few falsehoods to start making the rounds about the vaccine and febrile seizures. Here’s a quick breakdown of what you should know👇

1/ You're going to see #vaccine headlines a lot this week. And I know you've probably been seeing a lot of them, but I mean more than usual. This week is a big week for vaccine access, because there will be two key developments in the vaccine policy space this week 👇

1/ Happy Monday! Today we're covering disease and vaccine news, as well as another public health crisis: the reality that gun violence is a #publichealth problem in the United States, and guns are the number one killer of children. Public health is about protecting health and safety in every sense.👇

1/ Hey California! This week we have big updates on Covid, vaccine access, and a new concern: kratom. Here’s what’s happening, what it means for our health, and how to stay protected 👇

1/ Big vaccine news for New York! Last week, Gov. Hochul signed Executive Order 52 to make #Covid-19vaccines more available. You can now get a shot at a pharmacy without a prescription. Here’s why this matters, what it means for you, and what’s next 👇

1/ Pharmaceutical ads in the United States are annoying. Absurd. And almost uniquely American. This week, a new executive memo and an accompanying #FDA press release claimed to step up enforcement against drug ads. But why haven’t we stopped them already? Let’s break down the top questions. 🧵

1/ Covid-19 vaccine access in the U.S. right now depends on your zip code. Even people 65+ or high risk face different rules across state lines. And if you’re younger and healthy, access is basically blocked, except in a few states. Let's break down state variability for Covid-19 vaccine access🧵

1/ Happy Tuesday! This week’s update is a day late because I spent the weekend fully unplugging with friends—highly recommend. That said, today we're breaking down Covid-19 vaccine access, flu on the horizon, grandparents organizing, Florida’s school rollback, and food safety cuts. Let’s dive 👇