Chelsea Cirruzzo

Low-income children lack access to Covid vaccines because of approval delay Two weeks after vaccine advisers approved new Covid recs, Kennedy still hasn’t given his approval, leaving states unable to order updated shots for low-income kids.

Without high-level administration sign-off, states have so far been unable to order updated Covid shots for children from low-income families who depend on the Vaccines for Children program.

Via @aniloza.bsky.social @chelseacirruzzo.bsky.social

www.statnews.com/2025/09/30/c...

Low-income children lack access to Covid vaccines because of approval delay Two weeks after vaccine advisers approved new Covid recs, Kennedy still hasn’t given his approval, leaving states unable to order updated shots for low-income kids.

Low income children lack access to Covid vaccines because of approval delay, @aniloza.bsky.social and @chelseacirruzzo.bsky.social report

www.statnews.com/2025/09/30/c...

Low-income children lack access to Covid vaccines because of approval delay Two weeks after vaccine advisers approved new Covid recs, Kennedy still hasn’t given his approval, leaving states unable to order updated shots for low-income kids.

2 weeks ago RFK's ACIP voted to change recommendations for Covid vaccines

The CDC director has yet to sign off on them, so states aren't able to order vaccines through the vaccines for children program (which covers ~50% of kids)

w/ @chelseacirruzzo.bsky.social

www.statnews.com/2025/09/30/c...

With Trump’s anti-vaccine comments, Kennedy’s influence grows RFK Jr. is moving rapidly to reshape vaccine policy, and Trump's remarks raise questions about how far the two may go.

New: For a brief time, it seemed like RFK Jr.'s criticism of Covid vaccines could spell trouble for him with the White House. Instead, he appears to retain as much political influence as ever.

Via @chelseacirruzzo.bsky.social @danielpayne.bsky.social

www.statnews.com/2025/09/23/t...

With Trump’s anti-vaccine comments, Kennedy’s influence grows RFK Jr. is moving rapidly to reshape vaccine policy, and Trump's remarks raise questions about how far the two may go.

Where Trump's anti-vaccine comments came from, what they mean for RFK Jr. — and how it could shape federal health policy

w/ @chelseacirruzzo.bsky.social

www.statnews.com/2025/09/23/t...

Vaccine Status and Other Public Health News | The Brian Lehrer Show | WNYC Chelsea Cirruzzo talks about some of the recent federal public health directives on autism and immunizations, and what the science shows.

Hear @statnews.com Washington correspondent @chelseacirruzzo.bsky.social talks about the president's comments on Tylenol and autism, plus the results of last week's meeting of the federal advisory committee on vaccines: www.wnyc.org/story/vaccin...

Trump, questioning vaccine safety, pushes major changes to how kids get shots At a White House event, Trump linked vaccines to autism and urged major changes in how kids get their shots.

Trump also veered into an extended rant, asserting the disproven link between autism and vaccines and calling for an overhaul of the childhood vaccine schedule.

from: @danielpayne.bsky.social @aniloza.bsky.social @chelseacirruzzo.bsky.social

www.statnews.com/2025/09/22/t...

if you're in the D.C. area: @emmasarappo.bsky.social is talking to @tricialockwood.bsky.social about her new book tomorrow night at Politics and Prose! politics-prose.com/events?srslt...

The Brian Lehrer Show | WNYC | New York Public Radio, Podcasts, Live Streaming Radio, News Brian Lehrer leads the conversation about what matters most now in local and national politics, our own communities and our lives.

💥 @chelseacirruzzo.bsky.social on Brian Lehrer talking about vaccines and public health 💥 www.wnyc.org/shows/bl

Key federal vaccine panel tables vote on delaying newborn hepatitis B shot A CDC advisory panel voted Friday to postpone a vote on whether to delay infants’ first hepatitis B vaccine — temporarily alleviating health experts' fears.

Good morning from Atlanta where a panel of federal vaccine advisers pushed a vote to delay the hepatitis B shot in some newborns to a later meeting. @aniloza.bsky.social has why: www.statnews.com/2025/09/19/c...

Key federal vaccine panel tables vote on delaying newborn hepatitis B shot A CDC advisory panel voted Friday to postpone a vote on whether to delay infants’ first hepatitis B vaccine — temporarily alleviating health experts' fears.

RFK's ACIP ended up voting to ... table the vote on delaying the hep B vaccine

“There’s enough ambiguity here and enough remaining discussion about safety, effectiveness, & timing that I believe that a vote today is premature,” a member of the committee said

www.statnews.com/2025/09/19/c...

follow @chelseacirruzzo.bsky.social as she reports from Atlanta on the CDC's vaccine advisory panel for @statnews.com — she's a dogged reporter and a health policy expert, not to mention a great friend

Federal advisory committee restricts access to MMRV shot by some low-income children A CDC advisory committee has voted to restrict access to the MMRV shot by some low-income children, though separate MMR and varicella shots will still be available.

Breaking, from @chelseacirruzzo.bsky.social ar @stat

www.statnews.com/2025/09/19/m...

STAT News reporter shares tips for accurate coverage of vaccine policy - Journalism Institute Florida announced the move to end vaccine mandates earlier this month, reflecting a nationwide trend of rising vaccine hesitancy. While this repeal won’t take effect for at least 90 days, the announce...

For journalists covering public health & vaccine policy:
✔️ Avoid amplifying harmful talking points
✔️ Build strong sources in the medical & science communities
✔️ Track state-level vaccine battles

More tips from @statnews.com's @chelseacirruzzo.bsky.social: www.pressclubinstitute.org/2025/09/16/s...

Vaccine policy threatens to put Kennedy at odds with Trump HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s aggressive moves to change U.S. vaccine policy may be putting him at odds with President Trump himself.

Health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s aggressive moves to change U.S. vaccine policy — adopted by leaders at other federal health agencies — may be putting him at odds with President Trump himself.

w/ @chelseacirruzzo.bsky.social

www.statnews.com/2025/09/08/v...

Why MAHA’s push on Coca-Cola and ice cream is 'nutritionally hilarious' Getting Coca-Cola to use cane sugar rather and ice cream manufacturers to stop their use of synthetic dyes are the latest achievements trumpeted by the Make America Healthy Again movement.

Make America Healthy Again celebrated “MAHA wins” like switching from corn syrup to cane sugar in Coke & synthetic dye-free ice cream. Nutrition experts say it’s not doing much to make Americans healthier, my colleague @sarah-todd.bsky.social reports: www.statnews.com/2025/07/17/c...

Hi yes! My email is Chelsea.Cirruzzo@statnews.com

the LOCK love island has on Chappell Roan songs is actually crazy

Spending my bday keeping tabs on who is writing happy birthday on my Facebook wall

I’m so behind on love island I need peacock to allow me watch on 2x speed

Are they a zombie or just a runner who knows

I’m afraid

one thing about dc runners is …. they WILL be out there in 100 degree weather

Trump’s pick to run the CDC walks a fine line on RFK Jr. at Senate hearing Monarez was careful with her words at a Senate hearing on her nomination to run the CDC.

A fine line indeed, @chelseacirruzzo.bsky.social tells us at @statnews.com

www.statnews.com/2025/06/25/c...

Bill Cassidy is challenging RFK Jr. about his changes to ACIP, the CDC's vaccine advisory panel. I chatted with @chelseacirruzzo.bsky.social a couple weeks ago about why Cassidy is uniquely positioned to question RFK Jr.'s decisions @statnews.com

when @chelseacirruzzo.bsky.social says companies made similar pledge in 2018 that wasn't lived up to, one of Oz's first responses is things are different now "there's violence in the streets over these issues."

Supreme Court ruling on gender-affirming care delivers major setback for transgender rights Tennessee’s ban on gender-affirming care for minors can stand after the Supreme Court ruled that it does not constitute sex-based discrimination, in a 6-3 decision.

#Breaking: Supreme Court ruling on gender-affirming care delivers major setback for transgender rights

www.statnews.com/2025/06/18/s...

one of the many and funny joys of being a dc reporter is that no matter where I’ve gone to work, no matter what beat I cover the library of congress WILL find my work email and WILL send me a press release about summer movies on the lawn

I’m only here a couple times a week so take this with a grain of salt or two

Supreme Court upholds Tennessee's transgender care ban. www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/24p...