Stephen Patrick, MD, MPH

Newborn hepatitis B vaccine under fire as RFK Jr. and GOP Senators question immunization The CDC's vaccine advisory panel is set to discuss and possibly vote on the vaccine at a meeting next week.

Vaccinating babies at birth has reduced hepatitis B infections by 99 percent. Is RFK’s new CDC committee about to stop recommending it?
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Poll: Americans Largely Don't Support Federal Changes to Child Health Programs A new national survey from Rollins School of Public Health revealed how American adults view recent federal actions and proposals that affect children's health and nutrition.

The new Emory-Rollins National Child Policy Poll reveals how U.S. adults view recent federal actions and proposals that affect children's health.

"Cuts to critical public health programs that serve the nation’s children are unpopular across the political spectrum.” - @stephenwpatrick.bsky.social

Vaccination Intentions During Pregnancy and Among Parents of Young Children This survey study of pregnant persons and parents of young children in the US examines vaccination intentions during pregnancy and vaccination behaviors after the child's birth for vaccines recommende...

Oh goodness. This is study is a sobering evaluation of parents’ and pregnant women’s vaccination intention (with the caveat that intent is not always equivalent to behavior).

We have so, so much work to do.
jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...

👀In the name of “protecting vulnerable Americans” the Trump Administration will rip away Medicaid coverage from babies and toddlers👀

CMS announces Medicaid demos that 8 states are implementing to cover babies and young children continuously w/o gaps due to red tape will no longer be allowed.

#bigbeautifulbill #snap #medicaid

We have to remember too, that must state budgets must be balanced. So when there's a budget crisis, what do they do? They cut programs. It could be SNAP and Medicaid, but it could also spill over to education and roads.

Following the funds flow over the next few years is going to be important.

They push new work requirements onto states which they must implement.

For states like West Virginia (my home state) and Kentucky, this is going to have a profound impact on state budgets and ultimately the people in the state.

One issue that I haven't heard as much attention paid to as it deserves regarding the Big Beautiful Bill is the effect on states - especially poor red Medicaid expansion states.

Changes to Medicaid and SNAP in the bill push a lot onto states. They make states far more responsible for costs.

A Texas boy needed protection from measles. The vaccine cost $1,400. Due to the ongoing U.S. measles outbreak, a Texas man worried that his young son was at risk and took him to get vaccinated. The cost of the shot? $1,400.

A sobering story about the price of vaccines in the current US health system for those who are under-insured.

And a cautionary tale for the future, should the government & insurers stop covering this essential part of preventive care.

www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/202...

In Georgia, Republicans Vote to Kill Green Jobs but Face Little Fallout

“Still, repealing the clean energy tax credits would threaten billions of dollars’ worth of economic investment. In Georgia alone, there have been more than $23.9 billion in new clean energy investments and more than 32,000 new jobs created since the law took effect”

www.nytimes.com/2025/06/07/c...

My mom, diagnosed with cancer at 88, wouldn't have gotten five more years of life without cancer research done at the National Institutes of Health.

I'd love to hear how NIH and other federal science agencies have benefitted you or your family. #ThanksNIH

The NOTUS reporters said they spent five days (!) going through the 522 citations in the report.

AAP: Removal of COVID vaccines from immunization schedules for healthy children, pregnant people disregards process, increases risk AAP experts say the move may leave families without the ability to decide whether to get a vaccine for their children. It is unclear how the change will impact insurance coverage.

“What is clear is that pregnant women, infants and young children are at higher risk of hospitalization from COVID, and the safety of the COVID vaccine has been widely demonstrated.”

publications.aap.org/aapnews/news...

Diseases are spreading. The CDC isn't warning the public like it was months ago Some of the CDC's main channels for communicating urgent health information to the public have gone silent.

Some of the CDC's main channels for communicating urgent health information to the public have gone silent.

Reminded of a story that @hannahnatanson.bsky.social + I did in early April about how DOGE’s cuts were inevitably creating new risks for Americans — including risks related to severe weather

Federal Funds for Rural Health Care May Be Cut This Medical News article discusses the impact that proposed federal funding cuts for rural health care programs would have on individuals and their communities.

The White House's 2026 budget proposal recommends eliminating the Health Resources and Services Administration and cutting rural health funding by 25%, posing a threat to health care access and services in rural areas.

jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...

All NIH and NSF grants for my entire team--and for all of Harvard, I guess?--have been terminated.

As provocative as that sounds, the practical effect is probably not much. Everything was already frozen. 🤷‍♂️

On the upside, it makes tracking terminated grants easier. No more guesswork at Harvard!

Pool fences and life jackets could save hundreds of lives, CDC estimates The study was one of the CDC's last before its injury prevention teams were laid off.

A new CDC study estimates hundreds of drowning deaths could be prevented by more pool fences & life jackets while boating

It was one of last authored by agency's injury prevention researchers, before Secy Kennedy's layoffs largely eliminated them

www.cbsnews.com/news/pool-fe...

Cavities are common for kids. This is not a move supported by data.

Congrats!!

After the end of emergency allotments, there were increases in food insecurity and poor physical health days among SNAP participants.

ja.ma/43dp8ZN @rkwadhera.bsky.social

Most Georgia parents believe vaccines are safe, according to Emory survey A recent Emory survey on what Georgia parents think about the well-being of their children found that most believe childhood vaccines are safe. However, school quality, bullying and social media are a...

Bravo @stephenwpatrick.bsky.social and colleagues @emoryrollins.bsky.social for surveying Georgia parents' attitudes toward #vaccines (and many other family health topics) -- thanks @rgrapevine.bsky.social www.healthbeat.org/atlanta/2025...

A blue graphic with white text that says: "for every child, peace". There is a UNICEF logo in the bottom right corner.

Children pay the highest price in war and violence.

#ForEveryChild, peace and protection.

19 States, D.C. Sue Trump Administration Over HHS Layoffs Attorneys general in 19 states and Washington, D.C., filed a lawsuit challenging the Trump administration's plans to significantly reduce staffing at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS),...

Thoughtful insights from HPM's Ilana Graetz on the impact of recent cuts to HHS.

“These delays affect not only research institutions and investigators but also critical training programs for the next generation of public health and medical leaders.”

www.healthline.com/health-news/...

Emory study shows parents’ concerns about their child’s safety, mental health, and more Researchers are asking Georgia parents about their top concerns about issues like schools and school safety, mental health and suicide concerns, bullying and more.

These numbers aren’t just stats. They’re a call to action.
We can—and must—do better for Georgia’s kids.
Let’s make Georgia the best place to be a kid.
#PolicyMatters #HealthEquity #Georgia

www.wsbtv.com/news/local/a...

Some key findings:
• 1 in 3 households with children in Georgia face food insecurity
• 63% of kids diagnosed with mental health conditions aren’t getting care
• 13% of kids with Medicaid lost coverage last year
• 60% of parents think schools are less safe than 10 years ago
#Medicaid #MentalHealth

New Survey Reveals Top Health Concerns Among Georgia Parents | Rollins School of Public Health | Emory University | Atlanta GA Georgia parents ranked education and school quality as their most urgent concern. Social media and bullying closely followed.

🚨 New Report Out This Week
We just released The State of Child Health and Well-being in Georgia 2025 — the first statewide snapshot of what families are facing, based on nearly 1,000 parent voices.
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#GeorgiaKids #PublicHealth #ChildHealth

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Most Americans use federal science information on a weekly basis, a new poll finds Most Americans frequently use federal science information. But few are concerned that cuts to federal science spending could affect their access to such information, a new poll finds.

Most Americans frequently use federal science information. But few are concerned that cuts to federal science spending could affect their access to such information, a new poll finds.

🚨 New report drops Tuesday: The State of Child Health and Well-being in Georgia 2025.

From mental health to economic hardship, the data show where Georgia kids are struggling—and where there’s hope.

Let’s make Georgia the best place to be a kid. #ChildHealth #GeorgiaKids #DataToAction

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