Miriam Rabkin
@miriam2024.bsky.social
Physician, feminist, North Carolinian. Global Health consultant working on HIV and health systems. Mostly lurking/reposting for now…
Pinned
Reposted by Miriam Rabkin
CDC's @drdebhoury.bsky.social calls on Congress to act.
"It is a purposeful reshaping of CDC away from evidence-based practice & toward ideology-driven governance...I did not resign to make a symbolic point. I resigned because staying silent would have made me complicit." time.com/7338714/dr-d...
"It is a purposeful reshaping of CDC away from evidence-based practice & toward ideology-driven governance...I did not resign to make a symbolic point. I resigned because staying silent would have made me complicit." time.com/7338714/dr-d...
I Left the CDC 100 Days Ago. My Worst Fears About the Agency Are Coming True
"Things have not improved," writes Dr. Debra Houry. "They have worsened. And Congress has still failed to act."
time.com
December 5, 2025 at 4:36 PM
CDC's @drdebhoury.bsky.social calls on Congress to act.
"It is a purposeful reshaping of CDC away from evidence-based practice & toward ideology-driven governance...I did not resign to make a symbolic point. I resigned because staying silent would have made me complicit." time.com/7338714/dr-d...
"It is a purposeful reshaping of CDC away from evidence-based practice & toward ideology-driven governance...I did not resign to make a symbolic point. I resigned because staying silent would have made me complicit." time.com/7338714/dr-d...
Reposted by Miriam Rabkin
RFK may make measles common again. More kids will be hospitalized, some will lose hearing, some will die.
A comeback will be costly. A study estimates that an outbreak w/2 cases is >$240,000. An outbreak the size of West Texas' is estimated around $12.6 million.
www.texastribune.org/2025/12/05/t...
A comeback will be costly. A study estimates that an outbreak w/2 cases is >$240,000. An outbreak the size of West Texas' is estimated around $12.6 million.
www.texastribune.org/2025/12/05/t...
Texas outbreak could cause U.S. to no longer be measles-free
One study estimates that an outbreak the size of the one in West Texas earlier this year costs about $12.6 million.
www.texastribune.org
December 5, 2025 at 4:42 PM
RFK may make measles common again. More kids will be hospitalized, some will lose hearing, some will die.
A comeback will be costly. A study estimates that an outbreak w/2 cases is >$240,000. An outbreak the size of West Texas' is estimated around $12.6 million.
www.texastribune.org/2025/12/05/t...
A comeback will be costly. A study estimates that an outbreak w/2 cases is >$240,000. An outbreak the size of West Texas' is estimated around $12.6 million.
www.texastribune.org/2025/12/05/t...
"Defend Public Health’s cofounder and epidemiologist, Elizabeth Jacobs @elizabethjacobs.bsky.social described the attempt [by ACIP] to restigmatize hepatitis B infections as 'an epidemiological crime scene.'" @drjudystone.bsky.social www.forbes.com/sites/judyst...
Why The Hepatitis B Birth Dose Is At Risk From New CDC Vaccine Advisors
New members of the CDC vax advisory committee (ACIP) are opposed to newborn Hepatitis B vaccine, believing them not needed for most, and dangerous. Data contradicts that.
www.forbes.com
December 5, 2025 at 12:07 PM
"Defend Public Health’s cofounder and epidemiologist, Elizabeth Jacobs @elizabethjacobs.bsky.social described the attempt [by ACIP] to restigmatize hepatitis B infections as 'an epidemiological crime scene.'" @drjudystone.bsky.social www.forbes.com/sites/judyst...
Reposted by Miriam Rabkin
If a committee can’t clearly define the question, it shouldn’t be rewriting a 30-year-old, highly effective vaccine policy. This is not how evidence-based medicine is supposed to work. 1/2
ACIP just voted to delay 'til tomorrow morning their vote on its hepatitis B vaccine recommendations-- after much confusion about what, exactly, they were even going to be voting on.
December 4, 2025 at 6:29 PM
If a committee can’t clearly define the question, it shouldn’t be rewriting a 30-year-old, highly effective vaccine policy. This is not how evidence-based medicine is supposed to work. 1/2
Reposted by Miriam Rabkin
“At today's meeting, multiple speakers also attempted to re-stigmatize Hepatitis B infection by blaming US cases on ‘illegal immigrants,’ and tying the condition to men who have sex w/men…This is a disgraceful direction for a once scientifically-based committee. It is an epidemiological crime scene”
ACIP Meeting Turns into “Epidemiological Crime Scene” | Defend Public Health
Health experts with Defend Public Health expressed shock at the flood of antivaxxer disinformation that dominated the first day of the December meeting of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practi...
www.defendpublichealth.org
December 4, 2025 at 10:04 PM
“At today's meeting, multiple speakers also attempted to re-stigmatize Hepatitis B infection by blaming US cases on ‘illegal immigrants,’ and tying the condition to men who have sex w/men…This is a disgraceful direction for a once scientifically-based committee. It is an epidemiological crime scene”
Thread 👇
The US is close to an institutional collapse across multiple public health agencies. Trump/RFK have purged anyone with expertise, many have fled and they’ve been replaced w functionaries who are either incompetent or malicious. I don’t think many understand how close to the edge we are right now.
a night time view of a city with a few buildings lit up
ALT: a night time view of a city with a few buildings lit up
media.tenor.com
December 4, 2025 at 7:29 PM
Thread 👇
Reposted by Miriam Rabkin
It's Wednesday so it's time for @defendpublichealth.bsky.social Whopper of the Week! This week addresses Kennedy's love of "terrain theory," aka "germs won't hurt you if you're otherwise healthy" aka justification for his eugenic policies. By @erohealthcomms.com @benecal.bsky.social
Whopper of the Week: RFK Wants You to Fortify Your Immune System So He Can Deprive You of Modern Medicine | Defend Public Health
RFK Jr. believes that with a healthy diet, exercise, and the avoidance of environmental toxins and stresses alone, an individual can prevent disease. While these are good health practices, they are no...
www.defendpublichealth.org
December 3, 2025 at 11:29 PM
It's Wednesday so it's time for @defendpublichealth.bsky.social Whopper of the Week! This week addresses Kennedy's love of "terrain theory," aka "germs won't hurt you if you're otherwise healthy" aka justification for his eugenic policies. By @erohealthcomms.com @benecal.bsky.social
Reposted by Miriam Rabkin
The U.S. Is Funding Fewer Grants in Every Area of Science and Medicine www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
The U.S. Is Funding Fewer Grants in Every Area of Science and Medicine
A quiet policy change means the government is making fewer bets on long-term science.
www.nytimes.com
December 4, 2025 at 11:23 AM
The U.S. Is Funding Fewer Grants in Every Area of Science and Medicine www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
The Role and Safety of Aluminum Adjuvants in Childhood Vaccines - new open access article by @enirenberg.bsky.social, Yvonne Maldonado, and @sethahoffmanmd.bsky.social #vaccines
publications.aap.org/pediatrics/a...
publications.aap.org/pediatrics/a...
The Role and Safety of Aluminum Adjuvants in Childhood Vaccines
Aluminum salts have been used as adjuvants in vaccines for nearly a century, enhancing the immune response to purified antigens and ensuring durable protection against serious infectious diseases. Des...
publications.aap.org
December 4, 2025 at 11:27 AM
The Role and Safety of Aluminum Adjuvants in Childhood Vaccines - new open access article by @enirenberg.bsky.social, Yvonne Maldonado, and @sethahoffmanmd.bsky.social #vaccines
publications.aap.org/pediatrics/a...
publications.aap.org/pediatrics/a...
Reposted by Miriam Rabkin
Twelve former FDA Commissioners take Vinay Prasad to task!
December 3, 2025 at 11:56 PM
Twelve former FDA Commissioners take Vinay Prasad to task!
Reposted by Miriam Rabkin
Reposted by Miriam Rabkin
Thread 👇
It's very concerning that the ACIP may vote to delay hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccines for children, as reported by
@reuters.com
Here's why. 🧵
www.reuters.com/legal/litiga...
@reuters.com
Here's why. 🧵
www.reuters.com/legal/litiga...
December 3, 2025 at 6:24 PM
Thread 👇
Reposted by Miriam Rabkin
It’s Wednesday and that means it’s time for Defend Public Health’s Whopper of the Week!
Today the team took on RFK Jr.’s belief in miasma theory, which got cooked around the same time that humans discovered germ theory.
Thanks to @benecal.bsky.social, @erohealthcomms.com, and Aurora Horstkamp.
Today the team took on RFK Jr.’s belief in miasma theory, which got cooked around the same time that humans discovered germ theory.
Thanks to @benecal.bsky.social, @erohealthcomms.com, and Aurora Horstkamp.
Whopper of the Week: RFK Wants You to Fortify Your Immune System So He Can Deprive You of Modern Medicine | Defend Public Health
RFK Jr. believes that with a healthy diet, exercise, and the avoidance of environmental toxins and stresses alone, an individual can prevent disease. While these are good health practices, they are no...
www.defendpublichealth.org
December 3, 2025 at 6:03 PM
It’s Wednesday and that means it’s time for Defend Public Health’s Whopper of the Week!
Today the team took on RFK Jr.’s belief in miasma theory, which got cooked around the same time that humans discovered germ theory.
Thanks to @benecal.bsky.social, @erohealthcomms.com, and Aurora Horstkamp.
Today the team took on RFK Jr.’s belief in miasma theory, which got cooked around the same time that humans discovered germ theory.
Thanks to @benecal.bsky.social, @erohealthcomms.com, and Aurora Horstkamp.
Reposted by Miriam Rabkin
Hepatitis B vaccine experts—both inside & outside CDC—were left out of the agency's preparations for this week's meeting of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, ACIP. The panel is likely to alter the hep B vax recommendations. New ACIP panelist—all anti-vaxxers—were handpicked by RFK👇
As vaccine panel prepares hepatitis B review, CDC and industry experts are excluded
CDC experts and manufacturers haven't been consulted for an ACIP review of hepatitis B vaccine, raising concerns over any change in the vaccine schedule.
www.statnews.com
December 3, 2025 at 5:39 PM
Hepatitis B vaccine experts—both inside & outside CDC—were left out of the agency's preparations for this week's meeting of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, ACIP. The panel is likely to alter the hep B vax recommendations. New ACIP panelist—all anti-vaxxers—were handpicked by RFK👇
Reposted by Miriam Rabkin
The hepatitis B birth dose is safe, effective, and a critical shield against lifelong infection. Delaying it puts infants at risk for preventable, chronic HBV. Universal newborn vaccination saves lives and remains essential public health practice. #HepatitisB #VaccinesWork #IDSky
💬Viewpoint: Eliminating universal hepatitis B birth dose vaccination risks an estimated 8% increase in annual perinatal #HepatitisB infections in the US, increasing preventable chronic disease burden. ja.ma/3Me0zHh
December 3, 2025 at 4:43 PM
The hepatitis B birth dose is safe, effective, and a critical shield against lifelong infection. Delaying it puts infants at risk for preventable, chronic HBV. Universal newborn vaccination saves lives and remains essential public health practice. #HepatitisB #VaccinesWork #IDSky
Reposted by Miriam Rabkin
The destruction of the legitimacy of ACIP is so complete that the vague agenda on the left is all they have up for tomorrow’s meeting.
It looks like no CDC scientists will present. No materials are posted.
Usually ACIP posts a detailed agenda which includes materials (see example on right).
It looks like no CDC scientists will present. No materials are posted.
Usually ACIP posts a detailed agenda which includes materials (see example on right).
December 3, 2025 at 2:04 PM
The destruction of the legitimacy of ACIP is so complete that the vague agenda on the left is all they have up for tomorrow’s meeting.
It looks like no CDC scientists will present. No materials are posted.
Usually ACIP posts a detailed agenda which includes materials (see example on right).
It looks like no CDC scientists will present. No materials are posted.
Usually ACIP posts a detailed agenda which includes materials (see example on right).
Reposted by Miriam Rabkin
Hard to square all the talk about “gold-standard science” with an ACIP process that bars CDC hepatitis B experts and sidesteps the people holding the primary safety data. That’s not how you do science-driven policy.
On Thursday, members of a committee that advises #CDC on vaccine policy will vote on changes to #hepatitisB vaccine use in babies. Manufacturers (who have safety data) & CDC experts who study the vaccine aren't involved in the planning for the votes. #ACIP www.statnews.com/2025/12/02/a...
As vaccine panel prepares hepatitis B review, CDC and industry experts are excluded
CDC experts and manufacturers haven't been consulted for an ACIP review of hepatitis B vaccine, raising concerns over any change in the vaccine schedule.
www.statnews.com
December 3, 2025 at 12:51 AM
Hard to square all the talk about “gold-standard science” with an ACIP process that bars CDC hepatitis B experts and sidesteps the people holding the primary safety data. That’s not how you do science-driven policy.
Reposted by Miriam Rabkin
Latest CHAI HIV Market Report:
📉 26,000 children with HIV missing from care
📉 PrEP initiations ↓37%
📉 HIV testing ↓8%
📉 New diagnoses ↓22%
📉 Adult loss-to-follow-up ↑10%
and in the meantime we are witnessing this unjustified regulatory strategy for LEN with many left behind #idsky
📉 26,000 children with HIV missing from care
📉 PrEP initiations ↓37%
📉 HIV testing ↓8%
📉 New diagnoses ↓22%
📉 Adult loss-to-follow-up ↑10%
and in the meantime we are witnessing this unjustified regulatory strategy for LEN with many left behind #idsky
December 2, 2025 at 9:23 AM
Latest CHAI HIV Market Report:
📉 26,000 children with HIV missing from care
📉 PrEP initiations ↓37%
📉 HIV testing ↓8%
📉 New diagnoses ↓22%
📉 Adult loss-to-follow-up ↑10%
and in the meantime we are witnessing this unjustified regulatory strategy for LEN with many left behind #idsky
📉 26,000 children with HIV missing from care
📉 PrEP initiations ↓37%
📉 HIV testing ↓8%
📉 New diagnoses ↓22%
📉 Adult loss-to-follow-up ↑10%
and in the meantime we are witnessing this unjustified regulatory strategy for LEN with many left behind #idsky
Reposted by Miriam Rabkin
Commemorating #WorldAIDSday is an act of defiance against ideology driven policies that will end our progress to end the epidemic.
December 1, 2025 at 10:13 PM
Commemorating #WorldAIDSday is an act of defiance against ideology driven policies that will end our progress to end the epidemic.
Reposted by Miriam Rabkin
How the cuts have shaken HIV/Aids care to its core and will mean millions more infections ahead
How the cuts have shaken HIV/Aids care to its core and will mean millions more infections ahead
Reports highlight devastating impact of slashed funding, especially in parts of Africa, that could lead to 3.3m new HIV infections by 2030
www.theguardian.com
December 1, 2025 at 6:41 AM
How the cuts have shaken HIV/Aids care to its core and will mean millions more infections ahead
Reposted by Miriam Rabkin
After Marty Makary claimed, with no evidence, that COVID19 vaccines killed children, Defend Public Health published this report on the topic.
Now Prasad is making the same claims.
These are not “unbiased” people. We don’t trust them & neither should you.
www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...
Now Prasad is making the same claims.
These are not “unbiased” people. We don’t trust them & neither should you.
www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...
Scientific evidence shows no link between COVID19 vaccines and child deaths | Defend Public Health
In response to claims by the Trump administration that COVID19 vaccines caused 25 pediatric deaths, Defend Public Health reviewed the scientific evidence from rigorous vaccine safety surveillance syst...
www.defendpublichealth.org
November 29, 2025 at 3:42 PM
After Marty Makary claimed, with no evidence, that COVID19 vaccines killed children, Defend Public Health published this report on the topic.
Now Prasad is making the same claims.
These are not “unbiased” people. We don’t trust them & neither should you.
www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...
Now Prasad is making the same claims.
These are not “unbiased” people. We don’t trust them & neither should you.
www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...
Thread 👇
Dr. Prasad send an email to CBER suggesting changes to the approval for respiratory vaccines based, apparently, on the conclusion of an unpublished investigation into VAERS report by unknown people. A few thoughts beyond what was already reported, based on the full email: 1/n
November 29, 2025 at 7:23 PM
Thread 👇
👇”This is not normal: a call for HIV activism” by @drdemetre.bsky.social in JIAS @iasociety.bsky.social onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
November 29, 2025 at 1:28 AM
👇”This is not normal: a call for HIV activism” by @drdemetre.bsky.social in JIAS @iasociety.bsky.social onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
Reposted by Miriam Rabkin
On the day the Trump administration stops observing world AIDS day, Defend Public Health has a post about RFK Jrs’ denialism about HIV and AIDS.
www.defendpublichealth.org/opinion/whop...
www.defendpublichealth.org/opinion/whop...
Whopper of the Week: RFK Jr. Has Plainly Stated His Belief in the Falsehoods of AIDS Denialism | Defend Public Health
In June 2023, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. told New York Magazine, "There are much better candidates than HIV for what causes AIDS." This is blatantly false, contradicted by mountains of data and real-world ...
www.defendpublichealth.org
November 26, 2025 at 10:14 PM
On the day the Trump administration stops observing world AIDS day, Defend Public Health has a post about RFK Jrs’ denialism about HIV and AIDS.
www.defendpublichealth.org/opinion/whop...
www.defendpublichealth.org/opinion/whop...