Misinterpreting Vaccine Data = More Clicks, Fewer Jabs

Dr. Rob and Dr. Kristin Lyerly break down major developments shaping the current health care and political landscape, including new threats to environmental health in the Boundary Waters, the detention of a physician serving an underserved community, and high-stakes judicial races in Georgia where abortion rights are once again on the ballot. They also examine early fallout from the GOP’s health care agenda and raise concerns about political interference in public health—highlighting suppressed CDC data on COVID-19 vaccines and cuts to mRNA research. In the second half, Dr. Rob sits down with pediatrician and public health expert Dr. David Higgins to unpack a viral POLITICO poll claiming Americans are increasingly skeptical of vaccines. Higgins breaks down why the data is being misinterpreted, what it actually reveals about public trust, and how misinformation spreads through media and social networks. Background reading: * Dr. Kristen Lyerly on Substack * The Dr. Kristen Lyerly Show on YouTube * CNBC: Senate overturns Boundary Waters protections, a boon for Chilean mining company * MedPage Today: Medical Groups Call for Release of Detained Doctor * News From The States: Abortion debate plays out in Georgia Supreme Court race * KFF Health News: Rural Nebraska Dialysis Unit Closes Despite the State’s $219M in Rural Health Funding * The Washington Post: CDC won’t publish report showing covid shots cut likelihood of hospital visits * CNN: HHS rejects publication of study showing Covid-19 vaccines prevent hospitalizations, ER visits * HHS press release: HHS Winds Down mRNA Vaccine Development Under BARDA * STAT: Kennedy’s case against mRNA vaccines collapses under his own evidence * NBC News: FDA refuses to review Moderna’s mRNA flu shot * CNN: After a year of turmoil, cancer researchers see promising signs for mRNA vaccines * NBC News: Pancreatic cancer mRNA vaccine shows lasting results in an early trial * Morning Brew: mRNA vaccines could treat aggressive pancreatic cancer * INC.: New Study Finds mRNA Cancer Vaccine Could Be a Game Changer * CIDRAP: Lyme disease vaccine shows over 70% efficacy in phase 3 trial * Boston Globe: RFK Jr. sat for his first congressional hearings this year. Here are some takeaways. * Bloomberg: RFK Jr. Has Stopped Talking About Vaccines. A Memo Shows Why. * The New York Times: Kennedy Shifts Tone on Vaccines in Congressional Hearing * MedPage Today: Kennedy Defends His Record on Measles, Prior Auth in Traditional Medicare * ABC News: RFK Jr. defends vaccine views, autism comments during House committee hearing * Sen. Elizabeth Warren questions RFK Jr. during HELP Committee hearing * POLITICO: More Americans doubt vaccine safety than trust it, POLITICO Poll finds * Community Immunity: Headlines Claim Vaccine Skepticism Is Widespread. The Data Say Otherwise. * DavidHigginsMD.com * Dr. David Higgins on LinkedIn * Dr. David Higgins’ Substack Community Immunity Join the fight at committeetoprotect.org. Subscribe, share, and leave a rating to help more people find Paging America. Have thoughts, questions, or your own health care story? Email us at [email protected]. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.pagingamerica.org/subscribe