Myra Batchelder
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myrabatchelder.bsky.social
Myra Batchelder
@myrabatchelder.bsky.social
4.7K followers 7.8K following 980 posts
Policy. Advocacy. Public Health.
Health Equity. SRHRJ. COVID-19.
New Yorker. Midwesterner.
She/her.
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myrabatchelder.bsky.social
Myra Batchelder @myrabatchelder.bsky.social · Sep 2
"Husband wins Ohio lottery scratch-off, plans to cover wife's cancer treatment"

The United States is one of the wealthiest countries in the world and should provide universal healthcare.

No one should have to win the lottery to afford cancer treatment.

www.freep.com/story/money/...
Husband wins Ohio lottery scratch-off, plans to cover wife's cancer treatment
A husband who won a $500,000 scratch-off ticket in Ohio, and said he planned to pay off his wife's medical debt for her cancer treatment.
www.freep.com
Reposted by Myra Batchelder
ericmgarcia.bsky.social
Tucked inside the Republican bill for health care subsidies, a clause that would restrict the money from being used for abortion (with exception for rape, incest or life of the mother) or for "any sex trait modification procedure or service."
www.finance.senate.gov/imo/media/do...
6 ‘‘(A) abortion, other than— 7 ‘‘(i) if the pregnancy is the result of 8 an act of rape or incest, or 9 ‘‘(ii) in the case where a woman suf10 fers from a physical disorder, physical in11 jury, or physical illness, including a life-en12 dangering physical condition caused by or 13 arising from the pregnancy itself, that 14 would, as certified by a physician, place 15 the woman in danger of death unless an 16 abortion is performed, or 17 ‘‘(B) any sex trait modification procedure 18 or service (as defined in section 156.400 of title 19 45, Code of Federal Regulations, as in effect on 20 the date of the enactment of this subsection), 21 shall not be treated as paid for medical care.’’.
December 8, 2025 at 11:53 PM
Reposted by Myra Batchelder
bhanlon15.bsky.social
Nature: 'Long-COVID research just got a big funding boost: will it find new treatments?'

'The German government has committed half a billion euros for research on long COVID and other post-infection syndromes.'

By Michael Marshall

www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Long-COVID research just got a big funding boost: will it find new treatments?
The German government has committed half a billion euros for research on long COVID and other post-infection syndromes.
www.nature.com
December 8, 2025 at 4:35 PM
myrabatchelder.bsky.social
"WHO launches new, unified plan for countries to manage coronaviruses: COVID-19 and beyond"

www.who.int/news/item/03...
WHO launches new, unified plan for countries to manage coronaviruses: COVID-19 and beyond
The World Health Organization (WHO) has released a new strategic plan for the management of coronavirus disease threats, including COVID-19, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV), and potential ...
www.who.int
December 8, 2025 at 7:22 PM
Reposted by Myra Batchelder
ameracadpeds.bsky.social
The decision by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to downgrade its recommendations to protect infants from hepatitis B is a dangerous move that will harm children.

Click here to read AAP's full statement: bit.ly/3Y9ZQJT
December 5, 2025 at 4:15 PM
Reposted by Myra Batchelder
cnn.com
Parents will still be able to get the hepatitis B vaccine for their children at no cost even though the CDC's vaccine advisers recommended a major change to the immunization practice.
https://cnn.it/3Ml3kqo
December 7, 2025 at 6:30 PM
Reposted by Myra Batchelder
thatingrid.bsky.social
Beautifully said, Ezra.
This social media ban for kids and teens is a poorly thought out knee jerk reaction and many kids will be harmed because of it.

www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
I’m 15 years old and have a disability. Social media has been a lifeline – why is the government kicking me off? | Ezra Sholl
As I come to terms with life as a quadriplegic, Instagram and TikTok are a reminder I’m not alone
www.theguardian.com
December 7, 2025 at 11:24 PM
myrabatchelder.bsky.social
More Special Elections this Tuesday!

Georgia, vote for Democrat Eric Gisler in special general election for Georgia House of Representatives District 121 in Clarke and Oconee Counties!

www.ericgisler.com
Home
Keep Healthcare Local and Affordable You shouldn't have to drive an hour or go broke just to see your doctor. Rural hospitals are closing or cutting services. People can't afford care, so they wait...
www.ericgisler.com
December 7, 2025 at 11:15 PM
Reposted by Myra Batchelder
ebthen.bsky.social
People keep telling me that private insurance providers will keep covering preventative care like vaccines because it costs them less in the long run—but I grew up in the before times. As in the times before the ACA.
ebthen.bsky.social Eb @ebthen.bsky.social · 3d
Before the ACA, insurance companies didn't cover a ton of preventative care even though the long-term effects resulted in sicker people. It's part of why the ACA had to mandate it.
December 6, 2025 at 10:50 AM
Reposted by Myra Batchelder
costasamaras.com
It could take decades to recover from where we are.
meadekrosby.bsky.social Meade Krosby @meadekrosby.bsky.social · 2d
My teen, who had dreamt of being an astrophysicist, just told me he wants to go to law school because, “Science isn’t going to be a priority in the US in the future…I don’t want a job where I’ll be constantly worried my funding will be taken away.”

Gutting. How many future scientists have we lost?
December 7, 2025 at 5:49 AM
Reposted by Myra Batchelder
warren.senate.gov
If you've earned student debt cancellation—after over 20 years of payments—you could get hit with a MASSIVE tax bill.

The Trump Administration should stop this “tax bomb” for working-class families NOW.
November 13, 2025 at 4:33 PM
myrabatchelder.bsky.social
“Young and middle-age adults who had at least one dose of a COVID-19 mRNA vaccine were less likely to die of any cause in the following 4 years compared with those who weren't vaccinated, a nationwide French cohort study found.”

www.medpagetoday.com/infectiousdi...
COVID Shots Tied to a Lower Risk of Death From Any Cause
Advantage held even after removing coronavirus-related deaths from the mix
www.medpagetoday.com
December 6, 2025 at 12:25 AM
Reposted by Myra Batchelder
atranscendedman.bsky.social
Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital studied 18 fetuses from women infected with COVID-19 and found SARS-CoV-2 in at least 32 fetal organs, including thymus, thyroid, and intestine.

The virus triggered immune imbalance and DNA damage.

www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Presence of SARS-CoV-2 in fetal organs via intraamniotic infection - Nature Communications
Infection with SARS-CoV-2 during pregnancy may result in maternal and fetal complications. Here, the authors analyze 18 fetuses following maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection and identify distribution in fet...
www.nature.com
November 21, 2025 at 7:11 PM
Reposted by Myra Batchelder
cidrap.bsky.social
Long #COVID takes $1 trillion global economic toll each year, analysis suggests

Study looks at COVID’s impact on national economies, healthcare systems, labor markets, and quality of life.

www.cidrap.umn.edu/c...
November 24, 2025 at 9:04 PM
Reposted by Myra Batchelder
thesicktimes.org
While all U.S. COVID-19 metrics remain at low-to-moderate levels as of mid-November, wastewater data show clear signs of this year’s winter wave getting started in the Northeast and Midwest.

Read @betsyladyzhets.bsky.social's full COVID-19 trends report at The Sick Times: bit.ly/4pgWQaD
Black text on a white graph paper background reads, “The Sick Times. COVID-19 trends report: December 2. While all U.S. COVID-19 metrics remain at low-to-moderate levels as of mid-November, wastewater data show clear signs of this year’s winter wave getting started in the Northeast and Midwest. The latest data are from before Thanksgiving, and the increases are likely to continue as outbreaks from holiday travel and gatherings show up in our numbers. — Betsy Ladyzhets CDC wastewater viral activity levels are calculated based on measurements in the last two years only. They do not account for the lower spread that could be possible with more widespread precautions.” A graph at the top of the graphic shows: 

WastewaterSCAN category for SARS-CoV-2 at “medium” with a slight decrease. 

CDC wastewater viral activity level for SARS-CoV-2 at “very low” with a significant increase. CDC COVID-19 test positivity at “moderate” with a slight decrease. Black text on a white graph paper background reads, “The Sick Times. COVID-19 trends report: December 2. National wastewater trends from the CDC and WastewaterSCAN disagree this week. The CDC reports a substantial increase in its national average between November 15 and 22, while WWSCAN reports a slight decrease between November 12 and 19. Both dashboards agree, however, that the Midwest and Northeast are seeing sustained increases of SARS-CoV-2 in their wastewater, while viral levels in the West and South remain lower and stable.” Black text on a white graph paper background reads, “The Sick Times. COVID-19 trends report: December 2. Healthcare system data and state-reported data similarly show that the Midwest and Northeast are seeing the start of a likely winter wave before the rest of the country. California reports very low SARS-CoV-2 levels in its wastewater. Kansas also reports low levels, in a new wastewater dashboard the state just launched. Meanwhile, Minnesota, Rhode Island, and Vermont (also with a new dashboard, upgrading from weekly reports) report increases in their wastewater.” Black text on a white graph paper background reads, “The Sick Times. COVID-19 trends report: December 2. "Vaccination rates in the U.S., fall 2025." The chart has four lines representing estimated vaccination rates: flu vaccines in adults and children (purple solid line and purple dashed line, respectively), and COVID-19 vaccines in adults and children (teal solid line and teal dashed line). The purple lines representing flu vaccines are much higher, going up toward 40%, than the teal lines representing COVID-19 vaccines. In the latest estimate, for November 22, only 15% of adults and 6% of children have received COVID-19 vaccines. Text below the title notes: "CDC estimates based on survey data from the National Immunization Survey-Fall Respiratory Virus Module, as of December 1, 2025." Text reads, “Seasonal flu spread is accelerating more rapidly and uniformly than COVID-19, at least in our pre-Thanksgiving data. Flu certainly merits some attention in the winter, but it does not pose as much of a chronic disease threat to every organ system as COVID-19 does. And yet, the CDC’s estimates of vaccinations so far show far more Americans getting their flu shots than their COVID-19 shots.”
December 3, 2025 at 11:05 PM
Reposted by Myra Batchelder
luckytran.com
Reminder: It's never too late to start wearing a mask again
December 3, 2025 at 9:22 PM
Reposted by Myra Batchelder
publichealthaction.bsky.social
The layered approach is the best way to reduce your chances of getting #COVID19. It's not just one mitigation. Layering multiple mitigations will help prevent you getting it or spreading it: masking, distancing, going virtual, air purifiers, ventilation, Far-UVC, and vaccines all add up.
Long COVID Defense guide showing the multiple COVID prevention strategies
November 24, 2025 at 8:26 PM
Reposted by Myra Batchelder
yalesph.bsky.social
Why do babies need the hepatitis B vaccine if they aren’t high-risk?

Short answer: Because hepatitis B is a tricky virus.

Longer answer: Continue reading ⬇️

🧵1/9 @kkjetelina.bsky.social @meganranney.bsky.social @jasonlschwartz.bsky.social @enirenberg.bsky.social
February 19, 2025 at 2:46 PM
Reposted by Myra Batchelder
yalesph.bsky.social
2️⃣ Hepatitis B virus requires only a very tiny dose to cause infections, which means that even though it is bloodborne and sexually transmitted, it can be spread casually, like through sharing a toothbrush or even through being bitten by an infected person (such as at daycare).

4/9
Illustration shows toothbrush with a small virus on it.
February 19, 2025 at 2:46 PM
myrabatchelder.bsky.social
All internships should be paid.
December 5, 2025 at 11:25 PM
myrabatchelder.bsky.social
Remote paid summer internship opportunity for college rising juniors & seniors who are passionate about expanding health care access!
December 5, 2025 at 11:25 PM
myrabatchelder.bsky.social
More special elections coming up this month!
myrabatchelder.bsky.social Myra Batchelder @myrabatchelder.bsky.social · 7d
"This guide starts on Dec. 2 in Georgia, New Jersey and Tennessee, and continues on Dec. 9 in Florida, Georgia (again), and New Mexico. Then, we’re watching runoffs in Texas on Dec. 13, and special legislative elections in Kentucky on Dec. 16 and Iowa on Dec. 30." 👀

boltsmag.org/whats-on-the...
The 25 Elections to Watch This December - Bolts
On the heels of their sweeping wins in November, Democrats have opportunities to gain further ground in December runoffs and special elections. They’re hoping for upsets in conservative territory, fro...
boltsmag.org
December 5, 2025 at 11:13 PM
Reposted by Myra Batchelder
joshuaerlich.bsky.social
"the USPS is a miracle. it's in the constitution. for the price of a single stamp you can send a letter across the country, from Hawaii to Maine. Trump is trying to take that away from you. He's attacking Christmas cards and wedding invitations. It's un-American and it has to stop."
February 21, 2025 at 10:32 PM
Reposted by Myra Batchelder
southernequality.bsky.social
More than 100 activists marched on the White House, denouncing the Trump-Vance administration for gutting HIV/AIDS programs and ignoring World AIDS Day altogether. Read the full article here ▶️
HIV/AIDS activists block intersection near White House
World AIDS Day provided backdrop for calls to fully fund PEPFAR
buff.ly
December 5, 2025 at 9:26 PM
Reposted by Myra Batchelder
rockshrimp.bsky.social
It wasn’t until I visited the homes of some of my friends in college I realized how many different levels there are between middle class, upper middle class, and “billionaire.”
December 5, 2025 at 4:15 PM
Reposted by Myra Batchelder
rockshrimp.bsky.social
There’s a difference between being economically anxious and poverty, even in high cost/high income cities.
toobigtofail.bsky.social Too Big to Fail @toobigtofail.bsky.social · 4d
As somebody who grew up in actual for-real poverty and is now well off, this conversion is so tone deaf. Here's a list of things my kids get that I couldn't afford as a kid:
1) New clothes
2) Heat in the winter
3) Fresh fruit
4) Cable television
5) Backpacks
6) School supplies
7) Liquid milk
8) Etc.
tomlevenson.bsky.social Boston Tom Levenson @tomlevenson.bsky.social · 4d
3/ $140,000 in many urban areas in the US is a family income that is at least precarious, and at worst, one or two missed paychecks from having to make rent-or-food choice.

To the details...

Fed., state, and FICA taxes take almost $34K. Health insurance on MA's ACA mkt: $18K...
December 5, 2025 at 4:04 PM