Latest news with #AmericaHealthyAgain
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
RFK made another dream come true for MAHA moms. Doctors are pushing back.
The COVID-19 vaccine will no longer be recommended to pregnant people or healthy children in the US. RFK Jr. made the announcement on X, but the CDC has not changed its website. Pregnancy puts people at a higher risk of serious illness or death from COVID-19. The COVID-19 vaccine will be removed from the list of recommended shots for healthy children and pregnant people, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the US Health Secretary, announced on X Tuesday. "I couldn't be more pleased to announce that as of today, the COVID vaccine for healthy children and healthy pregnant women has been removed from the CDC recommended immunization schedule," Kennedy said in a video. While unusual, it is in line with RFK's general health philosophy. He frequently shouts out "MAHA moms," a group of vocally vaccine-skeptical parents whose backing has played an important role in RFK's political success. The moms are a driving force behind the health secretary's "Make America Healthy Again" (MAHA) movement, and are fueled by a strong distrust in medical institutions, a rejection of vaccine safety, skepticism about fluoride in the water supply, and concerns about the health impact of seed oils, as well as ultra-processed foods. The Trump administration previously recommended that everyone six months and older get the COVID-19 vaccine, advice which still stands on the CDC website at the time of publication. The new policy will mean that the COVID-19 vaccine is only recommended to people older than 65 and those at high risk for severe COVID-19. That is a group that should — and does — include all pregnant women, according to obstetricians, professional associations, and even Dr. Marty Makary, the newly appointed commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Last week, Makary included pregnancy in a New England Journal of Medicine article listing medical conditions that would put someone at higher risk for the disease, alongside asthma and cancer. "There is no OB-GYN in this country that I know who is in agreement with this recommendation," Dr. Amanda Williams, a practicing obstetrician-gynecologist in northern California, who is the interim chief medical officer at March of Dimes, told Business Insider. "Pregnancy is a high-risk condition." Williams says people should ignore the latest government recommendation, and continue to follow the advice of professional associations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, which both continue to recommend COVID-19 vaccines to pregnant people. "ACOG's recommendations have not changed as the science has not changed," the organization told BI in a statement. Pregnancy suppresses the immune system, making people more vulnerable to infectious diseases like COVID. Pregnancy also prompts widespread changes to a person's vascular system and respiration, which can make it harder for a pregnant body to fight off the virus. "When patients have COVID, they are more likely to have miscarriage, stillbirth, preeclampsia, and preterm birth," Williams said. "When a patient gets COVID and is pregnant, they're more likely to need to be hospitalized, intubated, and unfortunately die because of COVID." She remembers the case of a healthy, young mother-to-be who contracted COVID during the height of the pandemic, had to be intubated, and ultimately died, a few days after giving birth. "The very last thing that she said to the obstetric team was, 'I wish I had gotten the vaccination and not listened to other people,'" Williams said. There are rumors online that COVID-19 vaccines mess with fertility and can cause miscarriages. Even though the claims have been widely discredited, they persist. "Any person who's been pregnant before knows it's really hard to get a deep breath and to walk up and down stairs, even in normal pregnancy — imagine what that's like then with COVID on top of it," Williams said. "I made it my personal mission to be vocal, especially in communities of color — where there is well-earned distrust — to talk about the vaccine, what the safety data has shown us, and to try to be a trusted messenger and bridge builder so that things like that wouldn't happen again." If given during the second or third trimester of pregnancy, vaccines can also help protect a newborn baby from COVID for roughly their first six months of life, through the transfer of maternal antibodies. "All the existing data shows that these vaccines can help protect children and they can help protect pregnant women and they can help protect even infants after they're born," Jesse Goodman, a former FDA chief scientist who is now director of Georgetown University's Center on Medical Product Access, Safety and Stewardship told STAT. "I'm pretty taken aback by this." Read the original article on Business Insider
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Inside RFK Jr.'s Make America Healthy Again report
Good morning, all. Did you catch the mini 'planet parade' this week? If not, tonight may be your last chance. Now, on to the news. Subscribe to get this newsletter in your inbox each morning. A new report released by the Make America Healthy Again commission, led by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., pointed to key factors that it says are hurting U.S. children but didn't offer many solutions. The report: It claimed ultra-processed foods, environmental chemicals, digital behavior and 'overmedicalization' are hurting kids, blaming industry groups, the health system and parental choices. It barely mentioned the socioeconomic factors that harm health. [The Hill/Time] Reactions: Experts agreed that ultra-processed foods are contributing to a nutrition crisis but pushed back against the report's vaccine claims. Farmers and Republican lawmakers criticized its claims about pesticides, with one group calling them 'fear-based.' [AP] After the release: In interviews, Kennedy asserted that type 1 diabetes, an autoimmune disease, could be reversed and suggested that his office would find the cause of autism by March. Researchers say that's unlikely. A follow-up report is due in August. [NBC News/CNN] ⚖️ Kid Cudi testifies At Sean 'Diddy' Combs's trial, rapper Scott Mescudi — known as Kid Cudi — testified about his relationship with Combs's ex Cassie Ventura and alleged Combs broke into his home and torched his Porsche with a Molotov cocktail. [Yahoo News] 🏦 Peace out, penny The Treasury Department announced that the penny will begin phasing out next year, as its demand has dropped and its production costs have eclipsed its worth. So what does that mean when you're given change? Read on. [Yahoo Finance] ➡️ Trump vs. Harvard University The Trump administration barred Harvard from enrolling foreign students and said thousands of current ones must transfer or lose their legal status. It's the school's latest punishment for refusing to bow to White House policy demands. [CNN] 🏀 Thunder strikes twice Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander proved he really is the league's MVP, posting 38 points and eight assists in last night's 118-103 win against the Timberwolves to take a 2-0 lead in the Western Conference finals. [Yahoo Sports] 🎓 Muppet wisdom Kermit the Frog delivered the University of Maryland's commencement speech. His advice: Rather than jumping over others to get what you want, consider taking the leap side by side. 'Life is better when we leap together,' he said. Watch a clip. [AP] 🎬 Now in theaters: Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning, Tom Cruise's last film of the series. (Don't forget your popcorn.) [People] 📺 Now streaming: John Krasinski and Natalie Portman play siblings in the Indiana Jones-inspired adventure film Fountain of Youth, now on Apple TV+. Watch the trailer. [IndieWire] ⚾ On the field, it's an NLCS rematch when the Dodgers take on the Mets at 7:10 p.m. ET on Apple TV+. [SNY] 🏀 In the NBA playoffs, the Knicks will try to respond to the Pacers' stunning comeback win, starting at 8 p.m. ET on TNT. [Yahoo Sports] 🏒 In the NHL playoffs, the Stars and the Oilers meet for Game 2 of the Western Conference Final at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN. [AP] ☀️ And don't forget to: Read your daily horoscope. Play the crossword. Check the forecast in your area. In 1934, notorious American outlaws Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow were killed by police in an ambush in Louisiana. Their lives are now immortalized at the Bonnie and Clyde Ambush Museum, where you can see mementos about the duo and even eat their unwitting last meal: fried bologna and BLT sandwiches. [The Takeout] I asked Yahoo deals lead Izabella Zaydenberg, whose team has been tracking Memorial Day sales, about what looks good so far. When you buy through links in this article, Yahoo may receive compensation. Izabella: Some of the biggest markdowns I've spotted have been on Amazon Fire TV sticks, which are up to 43% off. The bestselling model is now $20, while an upgraded version with 4K streaming is $30. If you're in the market for a new TV, the 65-inch Samsung Frame is $1,300 — still a bit pricey, but that's $700 off. Izabella: It's hard to find a good deal on Hoka sneakers outside of Black Friday, so I was pleasantly surprised to see deals on some of the brand's most popular styles. I've had my eye on the Hoka Clifton 9 (on sale in men's and women's sizing) and the Arahi 7 (discounted for men and women too). Izabella: If you're looking for a new mattress, this is the best time to get one. Brands typically release new models over the summer, so you can get a tidy discount on older (but still great) models. Casper's mattresses are up to 35% off right now, and Nectar's are up to 50% off. Ready to shop? Here's a running list of the best Memorial Day sales. Emily Pham-Shirdon and Lorin James Shirdon II recently decided to do something special with the flowers from their wedding: They donated them to a local nursing home. 'We really hoped our flowers would make someone's day,' Emily said. [People] Have a great Memorial Day weekend. See you on Tuesday! 💡 P.S. Before you go, your daily advice: If you're grilling this weekend, follow these chef-approved tips for the juiciest burgers. [Simply Recipes] About The Yodel: The Yodel is a morning newsletter from Yahoo News. Start your day with The Yodel to get caught up on weather, national news, politics, entertainment and sports — in four minutes or less. Did you like this morning's newsletter? Subscribe to have it sent to you on weekdays. By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
RFK Jr. Makes Bizarre MAHA Comparison Between Trump and ‘Uncle' JFK
Robert F Kennedy Jr. has compared Donald Trump to his late presidential uncle over his quest to 'Make America Healthy Again,' saying John F. Kennedy had the same mission but ended up getting killed. At a White House event promoting the release of a damning report on America's health, Trump, well known for his McDonalds and coke diet, was hailed as a warrior against chronic diseases. 'Never in American history has the federal government taken a position on public health like this,' said a gushing Kennedy. 'My uncle tried to do this, but he was killed, and it never got done,' he added, in reference to JFK's assassination in 1963. 'And ever since then, we've been waiting for a president who would stand up and speak on behalf of the health of the American people.' Thursday's much-anticipated report is the product of a presidential commission led by Kennedy to address the alarming rise in chronic diseases among American children. It calls for increased scrutiny of the childhood vaccine schedule, a shift towards whole foods, and a health assessment on the effects of environmental toxins, including pesticides. But the report has sparked significant controversy, with critics claiming it promotes some unproven theories and neglects well-established health risks. It also coincides with massive budget cuts made by the administration and DOGE's slasher-in-chief, Elon Musk, including an $18 billion reduction in the National Institute of Health budget. 'We will not stop until we defeat the chronic disease epidemic in America,' said Trump.
NDTV
22-05-2025
- Health
- NDTV
Trump Administration To Release 'Make America Heathy Again' Report
Washington: The Trump administration is expected to release as soon as Thursday a highly anticipated report outlining Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s priorities to "Make America Healthy Again," with a likely focus on processed foods, environmental toxins, and vaccines. Kennedy has long emphasized the need to confront America's surging rates of chronic illness -- particularly in children -- even as critics say he downplays the continued threat of infectious disease. Since taking office, Kennedy has ordered the National Institutes of Health to investigate the drivers of autism -- a condition he spent years falsely linking to the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine. He has also urged the food industry to phase out synthetic food colorings, a move with bipartisan appeal, though experts have criticized the administration for making the change voluntary. Ultra-processed foods, expected to feature heavily in the report, are another area of broad concern as childhood obesity continues to climb. Yet the administration has simultaneously slashed funding for research aimed at improving children's diets. Kevin Hall, a leading government nutrition scientist, resigned earlier this year, citing censorship by federal officials, he told The New York Times. Even before the report's release, it has exposed a rift among Republicans over agricultural pesticides -- which Kennedy fought against as an environmental lawyer. The divide pits pro-industry lawmakers and lobbying groups against the "MAHA base" of vocal RFK Jr. supporters. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith, a Mississippi Republican, said she was "deeply concerned" by reports the assessment "may unfairly target American agriculture, modern farming practices, and the crop protection tools that roughly 2 percent of our population relies on to help feed the remaining 98 percent." A key flashpoint is glyphosate, the main ingredient in Monsanto's Roundup weedkiller, long scrutinized by environmentalists, wellness influencers, and so-called "MAHA Moms." "We urge you and the Commission to stand firm in the face of these demands, which seek to protect corporations at the expense of American families," wrote a group of 360 Kennedy supporters in an open letter ahead of the report's publication.
Politico
19-05-2025
- Health
- Politico
MAHA to reveal plan on kids' chronic diseases
Presented by Driving The Day CHRONIC DISEASE CHRONICLES — The Trump administration's Make America Healthy Again commission is set to release its much-awaited report this week that should shed light on its strategy to combat the chronic disease epidemic among American children. The report, to be released Thursday, is expected to identify the key drivers of chronic childhood illness, such as asthma and autoimmune diseases, in the U.S. It could indicate how HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. might shift key health policy and research focuses within the nation's health agencies as he seeks to further his MAHA agenda. Background: President Donald Trump signed an executive order establishing the MAHA commission in February, just after Kennedy was confirmed as secretary. The commission's goals align with Kennedy's MAHA agenda: identifying and addressing the root causes of chronic health issues and ending childhood chronic disease. Trump named Kennedy commission chair and directed the group to first study the scope of childhood chronic disease in the U.S. and any contributing factors — such as diet and environment — and provide government-wide recommendations on addressing the contributing causes. The order directed the commission to submit the 'Make Our Children Healthy Again Assessment' to the president by May 24. What to expect: The EO directs the commission to assess and recommend actions on childhood chronic disease, including: — Assessing the threat of potential overuse of medicine, certain food ingredients and chemicals — Identifying best practices for preventing childhood health issues, including through nutrition — Evaluating the effectiveness of existing federal programs and funding aimed at preventing and treating childhood health issues — Eliminating undue health industry influence in scientific findings and establishing a framework for transparency and ethics review in industry-funded projects Key context: Agriculture industry groups worry that the MAHA report could target pesticides and warn that a crackdown on the chemicals' use could negatively affect farmers and consumers. The report is widely expected to assess whether pesticides and other food ingredients are linked to health problems in children. What's next: By mid-August, the commission must submit to Trump a 'Make Our Children Healthy Again' strategy based on the initial report's findings. The strategy should address restructuring the federal government's response to the childhood chronic disease crisis and add new solutions to tackle chronic disease, according to the executive order. WELCOME TO MONDAY PULSE. Congrats to Journalism for meeting his deadline and winning the Preakness this weekend. Send your tips, scoops and feedback to khooper@ and ccirruzzo@ and follow along @Kelhoops and @ChelseaCirruzzo. In Congress GOP ADVANCES MEGABILL — The House Budget Committee voted to advance the GOP's sweeping domestic policy agenda late Sunday night, keeping alive House Speaker Mike Johnson's goal of getting the 'big, beautiful bill' across the finish line by Memorial Day. The legislation — central to President Donald Trump's agenda, including tax cuts, border security and energy policy — advanced through the committee in a 17-16 vote, with four conservatives voting 'present.' Key context: The bill, which would cut federal Medicaid spending by more than $600 billion, initially failed to get through the Budget Committee in a vote Friday, when five Republicans joined the panel's Democratic cohort by voting in opposition. Some conservatives took issue with the legislation's line on work requirements for Medicaid recipients, set to take effect in 2029, wanting them to start sooner. Just before the reconvened markup on Sunday night, Johnson told reporters that 'minor modifications' were promised to those holdouts. House Republican leaders haven't publicly detailed possible changes or briefed the full House GOP Conference, and those concessions to fiscal hawks could endanger support among moderate Republicans wary of changes like speeding up enforcement of Medicaid work requirements. Committee member Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas), one of the holdouts Friday who then voted 'present' Sunday night, said in a post on the social media platform X that the bill 'does not yet meet the moment' because it doesn't go far enough in slashing federal dollars going to state Medicaid programs. Roy joined three of his colleagues to 'vote 'present' out of respect for the Republican Conference and the President to move the bill forward,' he said. What's next: Top House Republicans want to push the megabill through the Rules Committee and the House floor by Thursday when lawmakers are set to leave for Memorial Day recess. HEALTH CARE BIDEN'S DIAGNOSIS — Former President Joe Biden has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer, according to a statement from his personal office Sunday, POLITICO's Adam Wren and Gregory Svirnovskiy report. Doctors diagnosed Biden last week with a prostate nodule after he experienced increasing urinary symptoms. By Friday, they diagnosed him with cancer, which has spread to the bone. Biden's office said the cancer 'appears to be hormone-sensitive which allows for effective management.' The former president, who is 82, and his family are reviewing treatment options with his doctors, the statement said. What to know: Metastatic prostate cancer is not curable, but it is treatable and can typically be managed for a number of years, according to Dr. Geoffrey Sonn, an associate professor of urology at Stanford University School of Medicine who specializes in treating patients with prostate and kidney cancer. Sonn is not involved in Biden's care. About 1 in 8 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime, and it is more common among older men — with about 60 percent of cases diagnosed in men 65 and older, according to the American Cancer Society. 'People can live for years on these hormonal therapy medicines, and there are other backup treatments once the initial ones start to fail, too, and those work longer, too,' he said. 'There's been a number of new medicines that have been improved and shown to be effective in the last 10 years or so.' The hallmark treatment for prostate cancer that's spread to the bones is hormone therapy, which typically involves reducing the patient's testosterone level and can cause the cancer to shrink or stop growing, Sonn said. The median survival for patients undergoing the treatment is four years, though it can vary widely and sometimes be extended when patients use additional therapies or participate in clinical trials. Quality of life with the diagnosis 'can be quite good with appropriate exercise and diet,' though the hormone treatment does have side effects, including sexual dysfunction and weakened bone density, according to Sonn. 'This is very different than if you hear someone that shows up with metastatic pancreatic cancer, where you know most are going to be dead within three to six months,' he said. 'Prostate cancer is very different in that regard, in that it can be managed for years.' Even so: Prostate cancer is typically slow-moving, but Biden's advanced diagnosis suggests it's a faster-moving tumor, which could make it more difficult to treat, said Dr. Cory Abate-Shen, a professor of urologic sciences at Columbia University. Abate-Shen is not involved in Biden's care. 'It's pretty serious if it's so advanced, because you wouldn't imagine that from someone who's being monitored,' she said. Vaccines NOVAVAX COVID SHOT APPROVED — The FDA on Friday green-lighted Novavax's Covid-19 vaccine — but with some restrictions. The FDA granted the company full approval for the protein-based and non-messenger RNA Covid shot, which previously had only emergency authorization for use in people 12 and older. But the agency approved the shot for use only in people 65 and older or for those ages 12 to 64 who have at least one underlying condition putting them at high risk for severe Covid outcomes. Novavax competitors Pfizer and Moderna received full approval for their mRNA Covid-19 vaccines for certain age groups during the pandemic. Why it matters: The vaccine's approval for certain groups of people comes amid uncertainty over whether the Trump administration will continue to recommend yearly Covid shots for all Americans ahead of a meeting of the CDC's top vaccine advisers next month. HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a longtime vaccine skeptic, also plans to stop recommending routine Covid vaccines for pregnant women, teenagers and children, The Wall Street Journal reported Friday. Key context: The agency had initially set an April 2025 deadline to decide whether to license the shot. But the decision was delayed after a top FDA official directly intervened in the agency's review and asked for more data on the shot — a highly unusual move that cut against longstanding precedent at the FDA designed to shield scientific assessments from political interference. WHAT WE'RE READING The Associated Press' Eric Tucker, Gene Johnson and Alanna Durkin Richer report on the FBI investigating an explosion at a California fertility clinic as an act of terrorism. POLITICO's Hassan Ali Kanu reports on the Trump administration asking the Supreme Court to allow mass layoffs of federal workers.
