EVERYTHING
RFK Jr. Abruptly Fires CDC Vaccine Advisory Panel
What: HHS Sec. Kennedy fired the entire expert panel advising the CDC on immunizations to "re-establish public confidence.' The move shocked experts and raised concerns about vaccine-related policy changes in the future.
Key Line: "Appointing replacement members to the advisory panel would give Kennedy broad latitude to reshape the government’s childhood immunization schedule and other vaccines advice. New members haven’t yet been named, but it would appear they may have been selected, because a statement from Kennedy’s department said that a meeting scheduled for late June will take place. In normal times, ACIP candidates go through a vetting process that can take upwards of a year."
Source: STAT
Women's Health Research Funding Needs a Makeover
What: American women face increasing maternal mortality rates, mostly due to pregnancy and postpartum complications, but research funding is not keeping up. Researchers argue that funding for pregnancy research is remarkably low, and most of the money focuses on the developing fetus rather than the pregnant individual's health.
Key Line: "Because of the emphasis on the child as the focus of perinatal research, a majority of pregnancy research (and much of women’s health research in general) has historically been supported by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD). Yet the NICHD is substantially less well-resourced than other institutes, such as the National Cancer Institute. The inadequacy of these resources is so profound that the NICHD has had to adopt remarkably low funding percentiles, which make building research programs in maternal health extremely challenging. "
Source: JAMA Health Forum
PREGNANCY + POSTPARTUM
AI Impact on Obstetrics: Recent Trends and Future Prospects
What: An article in Obstetrics &Gynecology reviews the use AI in OBGYN, finding most studies have been conducted outside the U.S and focus on risk prediction.
Key Line: "Most studies had patient groups differing considerably from U.S. populations, rendering their generalizability to U.S. patients uncertain. Artificial intelligence ultrasound applications focused on imaging issues are those most likely to influence current obstetric care."
Source: Read the full article here
ABORTION ACCESS
A Day With an Abortion Pill Prescriber
What: The New York Times follows nurse practitioner Debra Lynch as she runs a service prescribing abortion pills to patients in states with abortion bans. Lynch provides medical guidance and implements unique measures to protect patient privacy, like sending pills in plain envelopes.
Key Line: "Given the stakes, most prescribers sending pills to states with bans keep their names and other identifying information out of public view. Ms. Lynch was willing to be named, saying that to 'step forward and identify who you are as an actual real live human' might help some women needing abortions feel less fearful. ...She says she believes the risks she is taking pale in comparison to the risks patients take in seeking abortions. 'They are the ones who are really being brave, you know?' she said."
Source: New York Times
ONCOLOGY
Home HPV Testing Doubles Cervical Cancer Screening Rates
What: An editorial from JAMA Internal Medicine looks at sending self-collected HPV testing kits to people overdue for cervical cancer screenings more than doubled screening rates compared to in-office visits. This home-based testing method may help address barriers like discomfort and logistical challenges associated with traditional in-office screenings.
Key Line: "More than 90% of the study participants were from racial and ethnic minoritized populations, and most were covered by the county’s publicly funded financial assistance program, speaking to the potential role that home-based testing could play in reducing racial and economic disparities."
Source: JAMA Internal Medicine
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