RFK Jr., a self-professed "big fan" of peptides, wants to expand access to the popular products. FDA career scientists said there isn't enough evidence to do so. With @laurenweberhp.bsky.social

Among our findings: — Federal officials exploring re-creating ACIP — An effort to create a new CDC Office of Science — NIH urging scientists to do vaccine injury research — Analysis of data from a surveillance system remains in hands of health orgs bsky.app/profile/lena...

Before winning the GOP primary for Iowa governor, Zach Lahn attacked Big Ag, a stance once unthinkable for Republicans in the Corn Belt. — He beat a Trump-endorsed candidate. — Lahn had discussed his run with RFK Jr., who was supportive. W/ @laurenweberhp.bsky.social @ence.bsky.social

NEW: White House initially pushed aggressive monitoring of US hantavirus passengers who left Nebraska facility to finish quarantine at home, incl posting armed guards outside homes, before backing off. W @Bradydennis.bsky.social @RachelRoubein.bsky.Social 1/2 www.washingtonpost.com/health/2026/...

RFK Jr. wanted a health overhaul led by outsiders. Now some are gone, raising concerns from some MAHA allies about his influence. — Some officials argue leaders, like Wiles, are committed to MAHA & changes are to reduce "unnecessary noise" With @laurenweberhp.bsky.social & @ddiamond.bsky.social

A plea to Joe Rogan. An appeal to Trump: How Republicans came to embrace psychedelics Veterans and high-ranking officials, like RFK Jr., have pushed the issue. Policy proposals had been sketched out months before Trump sought to elevate the issue www.washingtonpost.com/health/2026/...

Casey Means blamed senators for blocking her nomination, calling it an "act of aggression" against MAHA. Saphier has been openly critical of some of Kennedy's moves on vaccines and Tylenol announcement. @laurenweberhp.bsky.social @ddiamond.bsky.social bsky.app/profile/laur...

Trump pulled Casey Means's nomination for surgeon general Means said it came down to "three disgruntled senators" & doesn't represent MAHA's momentum New pick Nicole Saphier has criticized RFK Jr.'s moves w @rachelroubein.bsky.social @ddiamond.bsky.social www.washingtonpost.com/health/2026/...

Top GOP senators Bill Cassidy and John Barrasso, both physicians, pressed RFK Jr. on vaccines amid his controversial moves. After the hearing, Cassidy told reporters the secretary’s remarks on immunizations were “illuminating.” Updated w/ @rachelroubein.bsky.social below @washingtonpost.com

KitKat, Gatorade or granola bars? Pushed by RFK Jr., what’s banned under new food stamp rules has been mixed, leading to maze of new restrictions. www.washingtonpost.com/health/2026/...

RFK Jr. begins a seven hearing blitz on Capitol Hill this morning. Here’s what we’re watching with updates throughout the day. With @laurenweberhp.bsky.social www.washingtonpost.com/health/2026/...

FDA weighs lifting peptide restrictions amid wellness craze and push from RFK Jr. The agency had previously restricted some peptides due to safety concerns. With @laurenweberhp.bsky.social www.washingtonpost.com/health/2026/...

Despite President Trump saying Sunday “we have a lot of great candidates for that” when asked about Casey Means’s stalled surgeon general nomination, the White House reiterated its support for her tonight. w/ @rachelroubein.bsky.social @washingtonpost.com www.washingtonpost.com/health/2026/...

The White House is delaying its pick of a new CDC director as they continue to interview candidates. Jay Bhattacharya will continue to oversee the agency on an interim basis. @lenasun.bsky.social @rachelroubein.bsky.social with a little help from me

MAHA’s political power tested as Casey Means's nomination stalls w/ @rachelroubein.bsky.social @washingtonpost.com www.washingtonpost.com/health/2026/...

The White House faces complicated political dynamics as it searches for a CDC director. About a half dozen are under consideration, including Mississippi's health director, a former KY governor & a cardiologist. With @lenasun.bsky.social & @ddiamond.bsky.social bsky.app/profile/lena...

NEW: White House faces fast-approaching deadline to name CDC director. Here are three ppl being considered. w/ @ddiamond.bsky.social @rachelroubein.bsky.social www.washingtonpost.com/health/2026/...

News: Some members of a key federal vaccine panel had been seeking to potentially stop recommending mRNA covid-19 shots. That plan is no longer moving forward. With @lenasun.bsky.social bsky.app/profile/lena...

SCOOP: A key federal vaccine panel has abandoned an attack on covid-19 mRNA vaccines — a shift that comes as some GOP warn that any more changes to vaccine policy could damage midterm prospects. Me + @rachelroubein.bsky.com www.washingtonpost.com/health/2026/...

Ahead of the midterms, RFK Jr. is messaging on food & drug pricing, and downplaying vaccines, as some Republicans warn vaccines could be a liability. This comes as influential MAHA leaders want to spend big for GOP. Tony Lyons wants to raise $100M. w/ @laurenweberhp.bsky.social

Trump's order to promote a widely used weedkiller sparked swift & fierce backlash from some MAHA supporters With @laurenweberhp.bsky.social washingtonpost.com/health/2026/...

FDA refuses to review Moderna’s application for first mRNA flu vaccine www.washingtonpost.com/health/2026/... @rachelroubein.bsky.social

We are absolutely heartbroken by the loss of two-thirds of our Washington Post health team. Editors, please hire these wonderful journalists.

We had devastating cuts to @washingtonpost. Our health team of 14 lost 9 reporters yesterday despite it being listed as part of the Post’s new focus. But I still have my job. Along w/a core team, we are still dedicated to covering public health, holding the powerful to account.

I’m stunned and heartbroken. I’ve been laid off, along with so many dear colleagues. Making my way to The Post nine years ago felt like a dream come true.

It takes all of us to make The Washington Post. Every section works together to create this authoritative, entertaining, worldwide news report. So, Jeff Bezos, #SaveThePost.

"While children in California, which does not allow for nonmedical vaccine exemptions, are vaccinated against measles at 96 percent, there is not a single county in Idaho, Louisiana, Oregon, Tennessee, Utah or Wisconsin whose kindergarten rates meet herd immunity protection."

“Bobby has asked for the following changes,” top Kennedy aide emailed HHS officials. Email reveals his previously undisclosed role in seeking vaccine policy changes in a highly unusual way, per experts/former/current officials. W/ @lenasun.bsky.social @laurenweberhp.bsky.social wapo.st/48YSPC1

BREAKING: US. plans to stop recommending most childhood vaccines, defer to doctors, per sources familiar. HHS consulted w chief science officer and top FDA official. Me and @rachel_roubein 1/4 www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...

BREAKING: The U.S. is preparing to stop recommending most childhood vaccines and defer to doctors instead. The plan, which is not finalized, marks a fundamental shift in the U.S. vaccine strategy, @lenasun.bsky.social & @rachelroubein.bsky.social report. Gift link: wapo.st/4aXfzn5

More from our story on FDA: —Officials have held meetings at the WH this week to discuss turmoil at agency —Prasad’s vaccine email wasn’t cleared with HHS or RFK Jr. with @ddiamond.bsky.social bsky.app/profile/ddia...

Ahead of Thanksgiving, Trump health officials thought they’d tamped down on the turmoil at the FDA. But in the last week, the turnover & public concern over the direction of the agency has only grown. Our latest w/ @ddiamond.bsky.social bsky.app/profile/ddia...

The top drug regulator abruptly resigned. Staff complaints piled up. Outside experts warned FDA was in trouble. That was a month ago, prompting urgent meetings. Leaders soon claimed problems were fixed. Then it all happened again in the past week. On FDA chaos w @rachelroubein.bsky.social

RICK PAZDUR is now planning to resign at the end of the year — three weeks after taking the job as FDA's top drug regulator. Big shake-up after a year of turbulence at the agency. Story w @rachelroubein.bsky.social. (And credit to Stat's @lizzylawrence.bsky.social, who beat us out the door.)

The FDA's top vaccine regulator laid out a stricter approach for federal vaccine approvals in an internal email. More on the changes and what this could mean with @ddiamond.bsky.social bsky.app/profile/ddia...

Big change: FDA to impose strict new vaccine requirements under RFK Jr ally Vinay Prasad signaled changes to annual flu shots, concurrent vaccines + more Prasad said his team found link between covid-19 shots and kids' deaths, necessitating a new approach overall with @rachelroubein.bsky.social

Pazdur, a longtime FDA employee, has taken issue with Commissioner Marty Makary's plans to reduce the number of research studies needed to justify more drug-related decisions — with Makary arguing just one study is sufficient. Also has warned that new Trump drug voucher plan may not be legal.

exclusive: Rick Pazdur, the official just tapped by Trump administration to be FDA's top drug regulator has privately warned that some of the agency's new initiatives could be illegal and dangerous. w @rachelroubein.bsky.social

RFK Jr.'s campaign against artificial colors has sent the food industry scrambling. Inside one lab where scientists are inventing food dyes of the future ⬇ & photos by Andrew Spear www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...

New from this a.m.: ByHeart recalls all baby formula amid botulism outbreak. www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...

BREAKING: ByHeart, the organic baby formula maker, is recalling all of its formula after an infant botulism outbreak linked to its product. @rachelroubein.bsky.social with the scoop www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...

A new WaPo-KFF poll found bipartisan support among American parents for much of RFK Jr.'s concerns about the food supply. But support for his MAHA movement skews along partisan lines. w/ @sfcpoll.bsky.social & Paige Winfield Cunningham bsky.app/profile/sfcp...

NEW: A Washington Post deep dive into surgeon general nominee Casey Means found she blurred sponsorship lines as she promoted supplements and products outside the medical mainstream. Here’s one example. And a gift link to read more: wapo.st/46LWoKQ

Casey Means left her surgical residency in 2018. She's frequently suggested Americans should question advice from medical authorities. Now, she’s HHS Sec. Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s pick for surgeon general, one of the nation’s most trusted medical posts. https://wapo.st/3KMq0im

She left the medical mainstream and rose to be RFK Jr.'s surgeon general pick Read my and @rachelroubein.bsky.social @washingtonpost.com deep dive on Casey Means www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...

NEW: RFKJr’s handpicked vaccine panel met this week. They were unprepared, misunderstood or ignored key data + highlighted flawed or inconclusive research often trumpeted by vaccine critics, per medical/scientific experts who watched meeting @davidovalle.bsky.social @rachelroubein.bsky.social + me.

Sen. Bill Cassidy's decision to support RFK Jr. came down to the morning of a crucial committee vote. Now, he's publicly pressing the nation's top health official to endorse common vaccines & set to quiz a CDC head ousted by RFK. w/ @ddiamond.bsky.social www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...

Exclusive at WaPo: RFK Jr's aides are prepping new bid to crack down on covid vaccine by linking it to 25 child deaths They appear to be citing submissions to vaccine-report database VAERS — despite caution that it's unreliable. @lenasun.bsky.social @rachelroubein.bsky.social w little help from me

SCOOP: Trump health officials plan to link covid vaccines to the deaths of 25 children as they consider limiting which Americans should get the shots, per sources. W @rachelroubein.bsky.social @ddiamond.bsky.social www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...

Seven months after they voted to confirm longtime anti-vaccine activist RFK Jr, some Republican senators are having second thoughts after his moves — as public health experts and Democrats warned — to limit access to vaccines. w @theodoricmeyer.bsky.social @rachelroubein.bsky.social