Listen: Healthbeat staff talk vaccinations, bird flu and other public health stories on ‘What the Health’

Healthbeat staff dropped in on the “What the Health” podcast with Julie Rovner at KFF Health News in Washington, D.C., to talk about our work on public health and what stories to be watching.

Healthbeat Editor in Chief Charlene Pacenti, national reporter Amy Maxmen, and New York reporter Eliza Fawcett discuss vaccination rates - from Covid to childhood shots - bird flu, the importance of community trust in the public health system, and changes expected under a new administration in Washington.

The episode, “Public Health and the Dairy Cow in the Room,” was released Tuesday.

KFF Health News is Healthbeat’s national reporting partner.

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The leader of the Association of Food and Drug Officials told Healthbeat that the FDA has been slow to share distribution lists for recalled ByHeart formula. “I’m not sure they recognize the sense of urgency,” he said.

The law's broad language threatens the state’s ability to prevent illness and death from infectious diseases, and, if replicated elsewhere, it could unravel decades of progress in public health.

The screenings are not required, but are highly recommended for new arrivals from other countries. They include vision and hearing tests, as well as those for infectious diseases.

As we head into Thanksgiving, when many of us will be traveling to see loved ones, flu and RSV are top of mind. To reduce the spread of illness, consider masking in indoor crowded spaces.

The aim is to keep nurses in the workforce and ward off serious crises for them and their patients. At least 41 states have implemented such programs.

At least 31 infants in 15 states who have been fed ByHeart Whole Nutrition infant formula have been hospitalized with suspected or confirmed infant botulism.