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It’s a dangerous time for mothers and babies in the U.S.

It’s a dangerous time for mothers and babies in the U.S.

Access to essential medications is at risk. Babies are dying because parents are refusing the vitamin K shot. And homicide and suicide are now the leading causes of death in pregnant women.

Dr. Jay K. Varma, Healthbeat
Dr. Jay K. Varma, Healthbeat
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Tick bites are rising: What to know about Lyme disease and alpha-gal syndrome

Tick bites are rising: What to know about Lyme disease and alpha-gal syndrome

The lone star tick is driving the rapid rise of alpha-gal syndrome, a delayed allergy to red meat, and cases may be undercounted. Meanwhile, a new vaccine for Lyme disease faces challenges.

Dr. Jay K. Varma, Healthbeat
Dr. Jay K. Varma, Healthbeat
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Psychedelics offer exciting promise for mental health — if rolled out right

Psychedelics offer exciting promise for mental health — if rolled out right

While there is substantial real-world data on the safety of most psychedelics, we need high-quality research to demonstrate the effectiveness of different dosages and treatment protocols.

Dr. Jay K. Varma, Healthbeat
Dr. Jay K. Varma, Healthbeat
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Most Americans believe vaccines are safe and effective

Most Americans believe vaccines are safe and effective

Headlines from a recent poll focused instead on doubt. The idea that vaccine skepticism is now the default is itself a public health threat.

Dr. Jay K. Varma, Healthbeat
Dr. Jay K. Varma, Healthbeat
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How politics and AI are making it harder to ‘follow the science’

How politics and AI are making it harder to ‘follow the science’

Who controls what counts as evidence, and what happens when that control is abused?

Dr. Jay K. Varma, Healthbeat
Dr. Jay K. Varma, Healthbeat
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How smoking fell to lowest level ever and other public health wins

How smoking fell to lowest level ever and other public health wins

Cuts to public health threaten gains on flu, TB, syphilis, and smoking.

Dr. Jay K. Varma, Healthbeat
Dr. Jay K. Varma, Healthbeat
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Measles and other consequences of a leaderless CDC

Measles and other consequences of a leaderless CDC

Vaccine policy is mired in confusion, states are losing public health funding, and measles is spreading as the Trump administration struggles to find a new CDC director.

Dr. Jay K. Varma, Healthbeat
Dr. Jay K. Varma, Healthbeat
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We’re taking too many antibiotics. And we need to make more of them.

We’re taking too many antibiotics. And we need to make more of them.

What to know: New research shows that even a single course of antibiotics may disturb the body. Dentists may be over-prescribing antibiotics. And the FDA is moving to address a shortage of one of our oldest antibiotics: penicillin.

Dr. Jay K. Varma, Healthbeat
Dr. Jay K. Varma, Healthbeat
NationalNational
How ICE and hospitals are failing at infection control

How ICE and hospitals are failing at infection control

As the size of ICE detention facilities grows, so do the risks of Legionella bacteria and measles, mumps, and tuberculosis outbreaks. Hospitals are also falling short of infectious disease prevention.

Dr. Jay K. Varma, Healthbeat
Dr. Jay K. Varma, Healthbeat
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Medicaid cuts over fraud claims punish those who need care the most

Medicaid cuts over fraud claims punish those who need care the most

Government officials must be rigorous stewards of the public’s money. But when it comes to programs that people's lives depend on, the bar for suspending funding should be extremely high.

Dr. Jay K. Varma, Healthbeat
Dr. Jay K. Varma, Healthbeat
NationalNational
U.S. may be slowing rollback of vaccine policy ahead of midterms

U.S. may be slowing rollback of vaccine policy ahead of midterms

Despite the increasing prominence of the anti-vaccine movement on social media and in politics, polls conducted in the past few months show that the American public still thinks highly of immunization efforts. The damage done this year could be long-lasting.

Dr. Jay K. Varma, Healthbeat
Dr. Jay K. Varma, Healthbeat
NationalNational
AI can be a transformative health tool. It can also cause real harm.

AI can be a transformative health tool. It can also cause real harm.

As AI systems grow more capable, many experts are wondering whether the risks outweigh the benefits. Some of those risks are distant, but catastrophic. Others are happening right now at a smaller scale.

Dr. Jay K. Varma, Healthbeat
Dr. Jay K. Varma, Healthbeat