Rita Rubin

Six years ago WHO declared COVID-19 a pandemic. Despite tens of millions of deaths, the world has not sufficiently addressed the ongoing impacts of COVID-19, and we are more vulnerable to future pandemics due to anti-science officials leading government agencies around the world.

I see that Tammy, who’s speaking on Thursday, wrote the forward to a book entitled “The Chelation Revolution: Breakthrough Detox Therapy,” which, according to the cover, is good for pretty much everything that ails ya.

Boy, 7, dies of brain condition caused by world’s most contagious disease — years after he had it as a baby Even those who make a full recovery from the initial infection face a lurking threat: a deadly disease that remains latent until striking — and killing — years later.

California boy dies of SSPE (measles complication) after being infected at age 7 months, when he was too young to be vaccinated.

Plasma Phosphorylated Tau 217 and Incident MCI and Dementia in Older Women This cohort study examines associations of baseline plasma phosphorylated tau 217 with incident mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or dementia and whether associations vary by age, race, APOE ε4 carrier ...

Predicting Alzheimer's disease up to 25 years in advance of any symptoms with the p-tau217 biomarker blood test, among 2,766 women mean age 70
jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...

My latest for @jama.com:

Measles is 'worse than expected' in Utah, officials say Measles patients in Utah are developing severe complications, health officials say, including potentially life-threatening anemia and liver inflammation.

Measles patients are developing severe complications including life-threatening anemia and liver inflammation. Measles is a life-threatening infection which can be prevented by vaccination.
www.nbcnews.com/health/healt...

It is wildly irresponsible to grant that authority to any single individual, much less one with no medical or health related training.

Texas anti-vax doctor calls for Covid shots to be scrapped, claiming vitamins are better than vaccines Paediatrician made a series of misleading claims during a TV debate

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Meet Dr. Angelina Farella, RFK Jr.'s new ACIP member. Texas pediatrician, decades of practice… and a noted anti-vaxxer. As if ACIP's credibility weren’t already flushed down the toilet 😬🩺

Measles reported in Massachusetts for first time in two years Share Email Facebook Twitter Doses of the measles, mumps and rubella virus vaccine. Boxes and vials of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine in a 2025 file photo. Jan Sonnenmair Getty Images North America Marilyn Schairer

Measles cases have now been confirmed in Mass.

Vaccines save lives—and our federal health leaders should be saying that loudly and clearly. Instead, RFK sows doubt about vaccine safety while his Surgeon General nominee won't commit to recommending the vaccine. Baystate families deserve better.

FDA probes internal Prasad complaints with outside help The FDA has been using an outside investigator in a probe of workplace complaints against CBER Director Vinay Prasad, a source familiar with the matter told Endpoints News.

"The FDA has been using an outside investigator in a probe of workplace complaints against CBER Director Vinay Prasad, a source familiar with the matter told Endpoints News."
via @endpts.com
endpoints.news/fda-probes-i...

Trump’s surgeon general pick won’t urge vaccines for measles, flu, whooping cough President Trump’s nominee for surgeon general, Casey Means, on Wednesday said she won’t broadly encourage parents to vaccinate their children against measles, the flu or whooping cough.  Means test…

Trump’s surgeon general pick won’t urge vaccines for measles, flu, whooping cough; Reminder: she's also without an active license to practice and has no real scientific credentials or clinical experience. thehill.com/policy/healt... via @thehill.com

This is what the battle against food coloring does.

It gives food makers and retailers a chance to look like they're doing something meaningful when they're doing absolutely nothing about the things that actually affect public health.
corporate.target.com/press/releas...

Once again: vaccines are popular, actually.

ACOG has withdrawn as a liaison organization from CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, citing concerns about recent changes that undermine the committee’s scientific integrity and evidence-based approach to vaccine policy. Read the press release: https://buff.ly/gKx1qor

ACOG Withdraws from CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices
www.acog.org/news/news-re...

2/23/54 the first mass polio vaccines begun by Dr. Jonas Salk in Pittsburgh, PA

142,000 participants!
The largest randomized trial of a multi-cancer early detection (MCED) test failed its primary endpoint
genomeweb.com/cancer/grail...
Had the enrollment been risk-based instead of age 50, it would likely have been very positive.

Dear Colleagues, It is an honor to write to you as Acting Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. I step into this role with deep respect for the expertise, dedication, and public service that define this institution—and with clear recognition of the challenges we have faced together over the past several years. I also recognize the unique challenges faced by each of you over the past year due to abrupt changes in leadership, the tragic act of violence last summer, and overall uncertainty felt by all of you. One of my goals is to ensure that you all get the recognition you deserve for your efforts. The pandemic also tested this agency in unprecedented ways. Many of you worked tirelessly under extraordinary pressure, often at personal cost. Public trust is the foundation of public health. Without it, even our best science cannot achieve its full impact. It is undeniable that some of the federal government’s decisions, communications, and processes contributed to confusion, frustration, and a loss of that trust. Acknowledging this reality is a necessary step toward renewal. It is not a repudiation of your hard work; your work over recent years has been heroic, courageous, and essential. Our mission remains as vital as ever: to protect the American people from health threats, to base our guidance on rigorous and transparent science, and to serve as a trusted source of information in times of uncertainty. That mission has not changed—but how we carry it forward must evolve. The road ahead will require patience and perseverance. Rebuilding trust takes time. But I am confident that together we can strengthen this agency, restore confidence in our work, and ensure that the CDC remains a cornerstone of American public health for generations to come. Thank you for your service, your resilience, and your continued dedication to our shared mission. Sincerely, Jay Bhattacharya, MD, PhD Acting Director Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Our new acting CDC director (also the NIH director) Jay Bhattacharya has graced us with an email. Reading it feels like being given conflict resolution advice by someone punching you in the face.

It’s an observation for which Arendt was sharply criticized for at the time, but which has been acknowledged more and more to be correct as time has passed.

Jeezus

(If we don’t report, nobody will ever find out how bad it is, so we won’t get blamed— or we will blame it on the illegals)

there are a few rx meds that should probaby safely be OTC, eg ondansetron (zofran)

my colleague @wickerperlis.bsky.social has argued for OTC SSRIs (www.statnews.com/2024/04/08/t...)

but overall this seems like a… really bad idea for lots of safety and cost/economics and again, safety, reasons

In addition to emotional distress to the family and child, think of the economic costs. Hospitalization and treatment; the father's lost work time; potential for months or years of rehab for the child, or lifelong disability.

Multiply this times thousands going forward.

#measles #Medsky #IDsky

Experts warn NIH director now leading CDC will push ‘RFK Jr’s agenda’ RFK Jr ally Jay Bhattacharya was named acting director of the CDC and will be fourth leader in a year to head agency

Story out in The Guardian re Bhattacharya.

@jenna-m-norton.bsky.social , @malar0ne.bsky.social , and I were asked direct questions and gave direct answers.

www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...

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Your anti-ageing stack should include this vaccine The shingles vaccine seems to reduce the risk of dementia. There is speculation that it might slow down ageing

We live in a bizarre world where longevity influencers tell millions to take rapamycin, sit in hyperbaric oxygen chambers, blast themselves with red light therapy, and take 50+ supplements daily. Meanwhile something that cuts dementia risk by 20% Is invisible.

open.substack.com/pub/overmatt...

I’m sure these decisions - to first refuse to even give a cursory review to an extremely promising new vaccine then backtracking and deciding to fully review it after public backlash to the first refusal - are being made solely based on scientific evidence and concern for American health and safety

My latest for @jama.com:

'Take the vaccine, please,' a top US health official says in an appeal as measles cases rise A leading U.S. health official is urging people to get inoculated against the measles at a time of outbreaks across several states

ICYMI: Dr. Oz goes off-message from RFK.

#IDsky #publichealth #measles #vaccines #MMR #outbreak #immunization

Line graph titled 'Incident dementia' shows hazard ratio (95% CI) vs. caffeinated coffee intake. The curve starts at 1.0, declines until about 3 c/d intake, then slightly rises. Intake c/d ranges from 0 to >5. No. of cases and person-years are also provided.

Moderate consumption of caffeinated coffee or tea was linked to reduced #dementia risk and modest improvements in cognitive outcomes; no benefit was seen for decaffeinated coffee in an observational study of US adults.

bit.ly/4bEUa2F

JAMA Insights | WOMEN'S HEALTH: Cesarean Delivery on Maternal Request. Published online February 9, 2026. CME at jamacmelookup.com. Discusses cesarean deliveries, maternal outcomes, and risks associated with vaginal and cesarean delivery.

Cesarean delivery on maternal request accounts for 2.5% of US births and is linked to lower rates of #PelvicFloorDisorders, but increased future risks such as placenta accreta and hysterectomy.

💡 Learn more in this JAMA Insights:
bit.ly/4rIIlgK

Wowsers.