Jessica Nix

How the Government Shutdown Hits US Health Programs Hi, it’s Jessica in New York. The reality of the US government shutdown and its impact on public health has started to set in. More on that in a moment, but first …

In your inbox this morning: What public health functions are stopping during the government shutdown from the CDC, FDA and CMS: www.bloomberg.com/news/newslet...

Is Autism Linked to Tylenol? What the Research Says President Donald Trump on Sept. 22 advised pregnant women to avoid taking Tylenol, saying the painkiller might be linked to autism. Trump didn’t cite scientific evidence to support his recommendation,...

And for context: read more on why this debate between autism and Tylenol keeps coming up and what the science says. www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

HHS Reposts Old Tylenol Tweet Warning on Use During Pregnancy US Health and Human Services resurfaced an old social media post from an account that appeared to be Tylenol’s that cautioned against its use by pregnant women after the Trump administration linked th...

Kenvue's shares fell today after HHS dug up an old tweet from Tylenol. More from me and
@reddbrown5.bsky.social
on the continued reaction to the Trump administration linking autism to acetaminophen use in pregnant women - www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

HHS Reposts Old Tylenol Tweet Warning on Use During Pregnancy US Health and Human Services resurfaced an old social media post from an account that appeared to be Tylenol’s that cautioned against its use by pregnant women after the Trump administration linked th...

HHS is trolling Tylenol maker Kenvue with an eight-year-old tweet that appears to be from its own account warning against use during pregnancy.
@reddbrown5.bsky.social and @jessicanix.bsky.social have the details > www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

US Measles Cases Hit 1,514 on Fresh Outbreaks in Utah, Arizona Measles infections in the US have reached 1,514 this year, as outbreaks continue to spread and routine childhood vaccinations fall.

Measles cases in the US continue to rise -- now there are outbreaks in Utah and Arizona. @jessicanix.bsky.social has the details >
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

RFK Jr.’s Vaccine Panel Questions Use of Routine Childhood Shots Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s hand-selected vaccine advisers voted to change the way immunizations are given to millions of US children each year, recommending a tweak to the standard schedule that cast a l...

The CDC’s influential vaccine panel voted to split the MMRV shot today for kids under 4, there was confusion over how the votes for the federally funded vaccine program works and the hep B vote is delayed. Catch up for @bloomberg.com here:

www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

CDC Intends to Fund Investigation Into Vaccines and Autism The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention intends to fund a Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute study examining links between vaccines and autism — a widely debunked theory that Health and Human ...

SCOOP: The CDC intends to fund a study on the links between vaccines and autism, a disproven theory. More here for @bloomberg.com :

www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

How RFK Jr. Is Pushing the CDC to the Brink A small but vocal contingent has long been demanding changes at the agency. With an ally in RFK Jr., it’s finally getting what it wants—to the horror of the scientists he’s sidelined.

How RFK Jr. is pushing the CDC to the brink .

"These kinds of self-inflicted wounds are the worst kind, because it didn’t have to be this way," former acting director Rich Besser said.

With Madison Muller for @bloomberg.com :
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Kenvue Sinks After Report RFK Jr. Will Link Tylenol to Autism Kenvue Inc.’s shares fell after the Wall Street Journal reported that Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is likely to link the company’s Tylenol painkiller to autism, though the...

Tylenol maker Kenvue dropped today on a report that
RFK Jr.'s upcoming MAHA report plans to link autism to a mother's Tylenol use. HHS said “Until we release the final report, any claims about its contents are nothing more than speculation.”

www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

RFK Jr. Says Critics Are Lying, Conflicted in Senate Hearing Robert F. Kennedy Jr., head of Health and Human Services, batted away critics who questioned his moves to restrict vaccine access during a fiery Senate hearing Thursday by saying they’re lying or conf...

Well THAT was some hearing. Read @jessicanix.bsky.social and @steventdennis.bsky.social on the sharp exchanges between RFK. Jr. and senators on both sides of the aisle.
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Opinion | Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the CDC and Me I was fired after 29 days because I held the line and insisted on rigorous scientific review.

Strong op-ed from the now fired CDC director hours before RFK Jr’s Senate hearing:

“The Senate confirmed me to ensure that unbiased evidence serves our nation’s health, and for doing that, I lost my job. America’s children could lose far more.”

www.wsj.com/opinion/robe...

RFK Jr. tore up vaccine policy. Now for a Senate showdown. Podcast Episode · Apple News Today · 09/04/2025 · 15m

Joined Apple News Today to talk about vaccine policy, Florida ending vaccine mandates for schools, a new coalition to the west and a preview of RFK Jr’s highly anticipated congressional hearing today -

podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/r...

After Seven Deaths, NYC Declares Legionnaires’ Outbreak Over New York City closed its investigation into a Legionnaires’ outbreak on Friday and announced more stringent testing requirements, after the disease sickened 114 people and caused seven deaths.

NYC Health has officially closed the legionnaires' outbreak in Harlem following 114 infections and seven deaths. The city also proposed new regulations for testing including requirements to test every 30 days rather than every 90. For @bloomberg.com www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

RFK Jr. Taps Top Health Aide to Lead CDC After Ousting Director The Trump administration is tapping a deputy of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as the acting director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, after moving to oust...

And now it's official - Jim O'Neill is acting director of the CDC per and email sent to CDC staff tonight and viewed by Bloomberg News. www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

RFK Jr. Taps Top Health Aide to Lead CDC After Ousting Director The Trump administration is tapping a deputy of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as the acting director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, after moving to oust...

And Jim O'Neill - Current HHS Deputy Secretary - is in as the acting director of the CDC. The move comes a day after the director Susan Monarez was fired by the Trump admin.
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

CDC Director Susan Monarez Has Been Ousted Weeks Into Tenure The Trump Administration moved to oust US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Susan Monarez just weeks into her tenure, and several senior leaders have resigned, as disputes with Healt...

Wild development this afternoon. HHS moved to oust the CDC director after a confrontation over vaccines, merely weeks into her tenure. Three senior leaders resigned today. With Madison Muller and Josh Eidelson - www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Why Weight Loss Drugs Can Make You Feel Sad Hi, it’s Jessica in New York, where I’ve been digging into a lesser-known side effect of weight-loss drugs. More on that in a minute, but first …

In your inbox today! One lesser known side effect of taking a GLP-1 drug could be loosing the joy you feel from every day life. Read more in a gift link for today's Prognosis: @bloomberg.com www.bloomberg.com/news/newslet...

HHS Starts Cutting Off Collective Bargaining Rights for Staff Some employees in the US Health and Human Services Department have been told they are no longer eligible to participate in collective bargaining, according to people familiar with the matter, part of ...

SCOOP with Nyah Phengsitthy and @rachelcohrs.bsky.social : HHS started to cut off collective bargaining rights for staff on Monday, latest escalation in the Trump admin’s effort to strip federal workers of union rights. Gift link:
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Clashing With RFK Jr., OB-GYNs Back Covid Shots During Pregnancy The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommended Covid vaccines for pregnant women in its updated immunization schedule issued Friday, signaling another split between practicing doc...

The @acog.org released its immunization guidelines this morning and backed Covid shots during pregnancy, another split between practicing doctors and RFK Jr. Read more for @bloomberg.com: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

CDC Gunman Attempted to Enter Campus Days Before the Shooting The man who attacked the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention likely attempted to enter the Atlanta campus days before the shooting earlier in the month.

New details continue to emerge about the shooting at CDC's main campus in Atlanta on Aug. 8. The gunman likely tried to enter campus days before, according to an internal email shared with staff. @bloomberg.com www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Stuck in their homes, stuck in their jobs: why Americans feel frozen Podcast Episode · Apple News Today · 08/21/2025 · 14m

I joined the Apple News Today podcast this morning to talk about all the confusion around vaccine policy from competing guidelines, how immunization insurance coverage works and a new flu vaccine you can take at home. Take a listen! podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/s...

WeightWatchers Will Lean Into Its Support-Group Roots Hi, it’s Jessica in New York, where I talked with WeightWatchers executives about community. More on that in a moment, but first …

WeightWatchers is finding itself in the telehealth boom, and part of that is going back to its roots: boosting in-person, community driven events. More details on the @bloomberg.com conversation with their executive team in your inbox! www.bloomberg.com/news/newslet...

Covid Shots for Kids Still Recommended by US Pediatric Group in Break With CDC The American Academy of Pediatrics updated its recommendations for immunizations Tuesday, including Covid shots for healthy kids, differing from advice from the federal government.

The American Academy of Pediatrics broke with the federal government and recommended all children get the Covid vaccine Tuesday. AAP has released vaccine guidelines since the 1930s. Gift link for @bloomberg.com :

www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Texas Declares Measles Outbreak Over With No Cases Since July Texas declared an end to the state’s measles outbreak on Monday, after a surge of infections this year drove the US to its highest rate in three decades.

Texas has declared the measles outbreak over after no new infections since July. The state has recorded 762 infections since Jan, a surge that sent the US to the highest infections in 3 decades. The state will continue to track infections. @bloomberg.com www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Vaccine Panel Conflicts Hit Record Low Before RFK Jr. Headed HHS Financial conflicts of interest among experts who help guide US vaccination policy were at record lows in 2024, just before Robert F. Kennedy Jr. took the nation’s top health spot and vowed to clean o...

Conflicts of interest for HHS vaccine panels hit record lows before RFK Jr took over as the top health secretary. Kennedy has repeatedly said he wants to "clean out" corruption and fired the CDC's panel over supposed conflicts. @business

www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

How Taylor Swift’s Dad Discovered His Heart Condition Hi, it’s Jessica in New York, where I’ve been digging into stress tests after Taylor Swift talked about her dad’s heart surgery. But first …

Obviously watched Taylor Swift on the @newheightsofficial.bsky.social, but her comments about how her dad discovered his heart problems with a stress test sent me on a deep dive. Combining public health and my love for Taylor in today's Prognosis for @bloomberg.com www.bloomberg.com/news/newslet...

Costco Forgoes Sale of Abortion Pill, Emboldening Religious Groups A coalition of faith-based activists had pressured the retailer to not offer the abortion pill mifepristone in its pharmacy locations. The group now turns its focus to CVS and Walgreens.

Costco decided not to dispense the abortion pill mifepristone at its more than 500 pharmacy locations, a decision hailed by a group of faith-based activists. Now, they are eyeing CVS and Walgreens. From me and Jeff Green for @business www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Chaotic Vaccine Policies Create Confusion for Back to School Hi, it’s Jessica in New York, where back-to-school season is upon us. More on that in a moment, but first …

It's August! Back to school season is here and this year it comes amid a very confusing time for immunizations. Read about this confusing time in today's prognosis @bloomberg.com : www.bloomberg.com/news/newslet...

CDC Leader’s Staff Meeting After Shooting Fails to Reassure US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Susan Monarez vowed to rebuild trust with the American public after the agency was the target of a deadly shooting last week, but some staff were...

After the CDC shooting, its new director has an all-hands meeting today to talk about rebuilding trust with the American public.
She didn't talk about safety.
@jessicanix.bsky.social > www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

CDC Director’s Vow to Rebuild Trust Meets Skepticism After Attack US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Susan Monarez vowed to rebuild trust with the American public after the agency was the target of a deadly shooting last week, but some staff were...

CDC held its first all-hands meeting since the deadly shooting on the agency, and its first since Director Monarez took the helm at the agency. It was riddled with technical errors and failed to meet the moment, staff said. NCIRD held a call earlier. @bloomberg.com
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...