Previously professor at Harvard Med and Public Health
I work hard to provide clear communications around science/medicine that experts and non-experts can understand
The number of changes to vaccine policy is dizzying & RFK Jr is just getting started!
Dissolving the group of experts that drive policy is declaring war on “what was”
I write in @nytimes.com about what is and is not working
www.nytimes.com/2025/06/11/o...
The number of changes to vaccine policy is dizzying & RFK Jr is just getting started!
Dissolving the group of experts that drive policy is declaring war on “what was”
I write in @nytimes.com about what is and is not working
www.nytimes.com/2025/06/11/o...
When @nytimes asked me in December whether RFK could kill the vaccine program - I said he’d have to remove CDCs ACIP
And… that’s exactly what he just did today
Not good-just like that we cannot trust CDC on vaccines
When @nytimes asked me in December whether RFK could kill the vaccine program - I said he’d have to remove CDCs ACIP
And… that’s exactly what he just did today
Not good-just like that we cannot trust CDC on vaccines
For many labs (including the one I led) many of the most advanced research is by international students and trainees
International trainees are core to Harvard’s research
1/
t.co/LjbaMQzTXr
For many labs (including the one I led) many of the most advanced research is by international students and trainees
International trainees are core to Harvard’s research
1/
t.co/LjbaMQzTXr
Learn more about #ResearchSavesLives: hub.jhu.edu/research-sav....
Learn more about #ResearchSavesLives: hub.jhu.edu/research-sav....
Here it is, in its entirety.
open.substack.com/pub/insideme...
"Measles in America: Causes, Risks, and Responses"
April 30: 4-5pm EST
bit.ly/measles-in-a...
Webinar by @johnshopkinssph.bsky.social
IVAC
Professor Bill Moss moderates with:
• me (@michaelmina.bsky.social)
• Walt Orenstein
• Daniel Salmon
"Measles in America: Causes, Risks, and Responses"
April 30: 4-5pm EST
bit.ly/measles-in-a...
Webinar by @johnshopkinssph.bsky.social
IVAC
Professor Bill Moss moderates with:
• me (@michaelmina.bsky.social)
• Walt Orenstein
• Daniel Salmon
Gift link
www.nytimes.com/2025/04/02/o...
Gift link
www.nytimes.com/2025/04/02/o...
Join us today in The Doctor’s Lounge at 3pm ET on Substack Live👇
open.substack.com/live-stream/...
Join us today in The Doctor’s Lounge at 3pm ET on Substack Live👇
open.substack.com/live-stream/...
Under vaccinated communities are getting bigger in size and number
Like bubbles, as these communities get bigger, they merge - the firewalls breakdown -
I’m deeply concerned we are at risk of not hundreds, but epidemics of tens of thousands of cases in US
t.co/C3heJrjwic
Under vaccinated communities are getting bigger in size and number
Like bubbles, as these communities get bigger, they merge - the firewalls breakdown -
I’m deeply concerned we are at risk of not hundreds, but epidemics of tens of thousands of cases in US
t.co/C3heJrjwic
is the right type of leader for the CDC today
We need a CDC with a renewed interest in innovating and engineering population health solutions (public healths roots) and drive positive impacts
My new piece in @TIME discusses why
t.co/ug9zmhzjg7
is the right type of leader for the CDC today
We need a CDC with a renewed interest in innovating and engineering population health solutions (public healths roots) and drive positive impacts
My new piece in @TIME discusses why
t.co/ug9zmhzjg7
The company is running into bankruptcy
But its impacts beyond its business, on society and science, will last
I wrote in @statnews
t.co/teNnEzRBsI
The company is running into bankruptcy
But its impacts beyond its business, on society and science, will last
I wrote in @statnews
t.co/teNnEzRBsI
Can your baby get a vaccine early?
YES
The vaccine is safe/effective even down to 6 months
(Note: Its recommended later bc maternal antibodies passed to the fetus vs measles wane around ~9 months and could limit vaccine benefit if not yet gone)
t.co/2rIkfk9qvH
Can your baby get a vaccine early?
YES
The vaccine is safe/effective even down to 6 months
(Note: Its recommended later bc maternal antibodies passed to the fetus vs measles wane around ~9 months and could limit vaccine benefit if not yet gone)
t.co/2rIkfk9qvH
Many originate from pathogen exposures and are difficult to identify after acute infection has cleared
A silver lining of COVID is it has highlighted this issue and is driving new research
Many originate from pathogen exposures and are difficult to identify after acute infection has cleared
A silver lining of COVID is it has highlighted this issue and is driving new research
Important wake up call
#H5N1 BirdFlu just sequenced by @CDCgov from severe Louisiana patient
Most important, the H5 virus mutated inside the single patient to gain an ability to bind human receptors in the upper respiratory tract
It takes just one
www.cdc.gov/bird-flu/spo...
Important wake up call
#H5N1 BirdFlu just sequenced by @CDCgov from severe Louisiana patient
Most important, the H5 virus mutated inside the single patient to gain an ability to bind human receptors in the upper respiratory tract
It takes just one
www.cdc.gov/bird-flu/spo...
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Maybe… probably not
There is SO much to know
On “Incubation” Podcast (produced by Gladwell), we cover
Measles
Immune Memory
Immune Amnesia
The true toll of the Virus
Measles as a cancer treatment
A short terrific podcast!
www.pushkin.fm/podcasts/inc...
Maybe… probably not
There is SO much to know
On “Incubation” Podcast (produced by Gladwell), we cover
Measles
Immune Memory
Immune Amnesia
The true toll of the Virus
Measles as a cancer treatment
A short terrific podcast!
www.pushkin.fm/podcasts/inc...
20 years ago today the Indian Ocean Tsunami killed 250,000 ppl
I was a Buddhist monk in Sri Lanka when the wave hit the country
It was the survivors in the refugee camp I lived afterwards that cemented for me a life path in public health
1/
20 years ago today the Indian Ocean Tsunami killed 250,000 ppl
I was a Buddhist monk in Sri Lanka when the wave hit the country
It was the survivors in the refugee camp I lived afterwards that cemented for me a life path in public health
1/
@Labcorp just rolled out access to #H5 #BirdFlu test
This is extremely important & shows Criticality of Lab Developed Tests/LDTs (outside of FDA) for the nimbleness required to deal w emergencies and to advance diagnostics
www.labcorp.com/tests/140046...
@Labcorp just rolled out access to #H5 #BirdFlu test
This is extremely important & shows Criticality of Lab Developed Tests/LDTs (outside of FDA) for the nimbleness required to deal w emergencies and to advance diagnostics
www.labcorp.com/tests/140046...
Most parents today have never seen measles
It is not good for many reasons
www.nytimes.com/2024/12/18/h...
Most parents today have never seen measles
It is not good for many reasons
www.nytimes.com/2024/12/18/h...
The tests detect Flu A (as well as Flu B and COVID)
H5N1 is a Flu A virus
So it will detect H5 with a positive Flu A line but will not differentiate if it’s H5 vs H3 or H1
CA declared State of Emergency & now a severe D1.1 case in Louisiana
Two main lineages in US - in cattle (B3.13) & in birds (D1.1)
The US should not wait to prepare
So, again, we’ll need fast tests for starters
www.latimes.com/environment/...
The tests detect Flu A (as well as Flu B and COVID)
H5N1 is a Flu A virus
So it will detect H5 with a positive Flu A line but will not differentiate if it’s H5 vs H3 or H1
CA declared State of Emergency & now a severe D1.1 case in Louisiana
Two main lineages in US - in cattle (B3.13) & in birds (D1.1)
The US should not wait to prepare
So, again, we’ll need fast tests for starters
www.latimes.com/environment/...
CA declared State of Emergency & now a severe D1.1 case in Louisiana
Two main lineages in US - in cattle (B3.13) & in birds (D1.1)
The US should not wait to prepare
So, again, we’ll need fast tests for starters
www.latimes.com/environment/...
But pandemic put grants/publishing into new perspective
Here’s a new interview covering *some* of why I left
1/
www.harvardmagazine.com/2025/01/harv...
But pandemic put grants/publishing into new perspective
Here’s a new interview covering *some* of why I left
1/
www.harvardmagazine.com/2025/01/harv...
@pennmedicine.bsky.social + @mcuban.bsky.social
www.pennmedicine.org/news/news-re... a 1st-of-its-kind deal
@pennmedicine.bsky.social + @mcuban.bsky.social
www.pennmedicine.org/news/news-re... a 1st-of-its-kind deal