Luke O'Neill: RFK Jr's cuts to US vaccine programmes signal a return to the dark ages
Why is Robert F Kennedy Jr ignoring science? The US Department of Health and Human Services, which he runs, has cancelled 22 federal contracts for new vaccines based on the RNA technology that freed us from the Covid-19 pandemic.
The move has caused consternation among doctors in the US and Europe. Dr Jennifer Nuzzo, head of Brown University's Pandemic Centre, said it was 'profoundly disappointing'. Dr Michael Osterholm, director of the University of Minnesota's Centre for Infectious Disease Research and Policy, called it 'the most dangerous public health judgment that I've seen in my 50 years'.
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The Journal
4 hours ago
- The Journal
The ISPCA and DSPCA are merging and rebranding to crack down on animal cruelty
TWO LEADING ANIMAL welfare charities are merging to create a new national animal welfare organisation and improve delivery of services, as the country sees record breaking levels of animal welfare issues. DSPCA and ISPCA have signed an agreement to form a single, integrated national animal welfare organisation, the National SPCA, which will be up and running by October 1 2025. According to the charities, Ireland is currently experiencing an animal welfare crisis, with record numbers of animals requiring rescue, treatment and rehoming. Advertisement The Journal previously reported that since Covid-19 animal welfare organisations have been under significant strain, with some charities only having the resources to take the most urgent neglect cases . Chief Inspector for the ISPCA, Conor Dowling, told The Journal there has been a rise in animal neglect due to a 'lasting fallout from Covid and the lockdowns' when dog ownership and breeding increased. ISPCA and DSPCA are Ireland's largest animal welfare organisations in the country, they are coming together to benefit from 'combined resources, structure, expertise, facilities and geographical reach'. A kitten rescued by the DSPCA. According to a statement released today, the National SPCA plans to deliver a greater impact on animal welfare by having one strong voice for animal welfare and one national animal welfare inspectorate. Related Reads DSPCA calls for task force to address 'growing' horse welfare crisis in Dublin Increase in animal neglect since Covid-19 means Irish shelters can only take urgent cases The merger will also expand national animal welfare education programmes and operate national animal shelters. Paul Connell, Chair of the DSPCA, will be Chair of the new organisation and Pat Watt, CEO of DSPCA, will become CEO of the National SPCA when operational. The Board of the new organisation will include representatives of both the DSPCA and the ISPCA. Speaking at the announcement, DSPCA CEO, Pat Watt said; 'This is a transformational and exciting development for animal welfare in Ireland, bringing together the two largest animal welfare charities who share a mutual commitment, ambition and vision to form one integrated national animal welfare organisation.' Paul Connell, Chair of the DSPCA said: 'The new charity represents a positive pooling of resources, expertise, history and DNA to create a stronger national entity that will deliver a seamless national approach to benefit animal welfare policies, legislation, enforcement and on the ground animal welfare initiatives.' Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
The Journal
15 hours ago
- The Journal
Have you been having weird dreams?... It may be due to the heat
HOT WEATHER IS a common culprit for causing a bad night's sleep, but did you know it can also contribute to strange dreams? The warm spell we've been experiencing in Ireland this week may have led you to experience unusually vivid dreams which you remember more clearly than usual, according to sleep expert and health scientist Tom Coleman. Speaking to The Journal , he explained that heat can have a significant impact on sleeping patterns as the human body's brain and core temperature are 'key for quality sleep'. Dreaming occurs during the body's REM sleep cycle, which is a phase of 'light' sleep during which brain activity is high and body temperature is elevated. Coleman said that the warm weather spell could be causing people to wake up more during this light cycle, and then remember dreams more vividly. Your dreams may also be more intense than usual because the body has interpreted the heat as a threat, triggering the subconscious to attempt to figure out what's going on. Coleman said something similar happened during the Covid-19 pandemic, in a phenomenon known as 'pandemic dreaming'. Although dreams are not fully understood, he said the current best theory is that they are a 'virtual reality simulator where your brain practices solving problems without consequences'. Some patches of mist early this morning😶🌫️. These will clear and today will be largely dry and warm with good spells of sunshine☀️. Highest temperatures🌡️ of 20 to 26 degrees with light northeast breezes, warmest in the midlands and south. — Met Éireann (@MetEireann) August 15, 2025 The REM sleep cycle is when your subconscious engages in emotional regulation and problem solving, so vivid dreams may be your body's attempt at solving the threat and 'making sense of the world'. Advertisement During the pandemic, people's subconscious minds were aware of the 'unseen threat' of the pandemic, and while sleeping, their dreams attempted to make sense of this threat which caused them to become more intense or vivid. Coleman said that anxieties about global warming, or simply an unusually hot night, may be interpreted as another 'unseen threat' by the body. 'We don't like change. We always want to return to what is comfortable,' he said. So, although the dreams may be uncomfortable, they could actually be caused by your body trying to help you adapt to a change in environment and any dangers it may bring. The bad news is that this can cause more tiredness the next day. Coleman said: 'People will be tired, light sleep is very important. If you're waking up and you're getting fragmented sleep, you will be more fatigued. There might be grogginess and brain fog.' The sleep expert warned that if you've had a bad sleep, you should not drastically change your routine. In particular, if you don't tend to take naps, you shouldn't try to take one. 'Do the exact same thing you always do to get to sleep,' he said. Coleman explained that staying awake, and getting exercise and fresh air builds up 'sleep pressure', which helps you fall asleep more easily. If crazy dreams have disrupted your sleep, he advises sticking to a normal routine and going to bed the following night when your body feels tired. To reduce weird dreams, try to keep your room as cool as possible at night. Here's some advice about how to stay cool at night during the warm spell: ensure your bedroom is well ventilated – keep windows open and curtains closed during the day, stay hydrated, choose duvets, pillows and bed linens that dissipate heat (Coleman recommends using a material like wool as it can regulate temperature), have a cold water bottle instead of a hot water bottle, sleep in cool clothes or no clothes, avoid taking cold showers, keeping your room too cold or eating late at night, as these things can cause the body to heat up. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
RTÉ News
a day ago
- RTÉ News
Lilly to hike UK price of Mounjaro weight-loss drug by 170%
Eli Lilly said will raise the UK list price of its weight-loss treatment Mounjaro by up to 170%, amid a White House push to get drugmakers to raise medicine prices in Europe to allow for pricecuts in the United States. The new price, which also applies to Lilly's type 2 diabetes medicine that has the same name, is effective from price for a month's supply of the highest dose of the medicine will increase from £122 to £330, Lilly said. The higher price will affect those who pay for Mounjaro privately, but will not affect those prescribed the medicine through the British public healthcare system, which has a separate deal, a Lilly spokesperson said. The US drugmaker said that when it launched Mounjaro in Britain it agreed to a list price "significantly below" that in its three other European markets to prevent delays in availability through Britain's National Health Service (NHS). "We are now aligning the list price more consistently,"Lilly said. The move reflects how the pharmaceutical industry is navigating policy changes in the United States, by far its most lucrative market, where President Donald Trump is pushing for lower domestic prices and encouraging price hikes overseas. Last week Eli Lilly CEO David Ricks told an investor call that parity between US and European drug pricing was desirable in the long run, though he warned that European governments "are not signing up to pay more for drugs". The US pays more for prescription drugs than any other country, often nearly three times as much as other developed nations. President Trump says he wants to narrow this gap to stop Americans from being "ripped off." It was reported last week that the Trump administration has been talking to drugmakers about ways to level the playing field for medicine prices. A list price is set by the drug manufacturer before any rebates or discounts. Lilly said it was working with private UK healthcare providers, such as online pharmacies, who can set their own prices, to ensure continued access to the medicines. Lilly launched Mounjaro in the UK in February last year, while rival Novo Nordisk's Wegovy treatment has been available in the country since September 2023.
