Latest news with #AshishJha
CNN
8 hours ago
- Health
- CNN
Former WH Covid Czar slams RFK Jr.'s firing of vaccine advisory panel
Dr. Ashish Jha, Dean of Brown University's School of Public Health, tells CNN's Wolf Blitzer why he calls HHS Secretary Kennedy's reasoning for firing all members of the CDC's vaccine advisory committee "nonsense."
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Community Focus: Brown University's Dr. Ashish Jha
EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — Dr. Ashish Jha, the dean of Brown University's School of Public Health and former White House COVID-19 response coordinator, joined 12 News at 4 Tuesday to discuss U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy's changes to the country's vaccine recommendations for the virus. Jha also explained a recent column he wrote regarding why Rhode Island should prioritize school air the and apps to get breaking news and weather alerts. Watch or with the new . Follow us on social media: Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Fashion Value Chain
23-04-2025
- Business
- Fashion Value Chain
M3M Foundation Brings Together Sustainability Experts, Corporates and Policy Makers for Pioneering Climate Action at CASCA'25 in New Delhi
A host of Environmental Experts, Corporates, Diplomats, and Indian Members of Parliament will join CASCA (Climate Action & Sustainability Conference & Awards) on April 23- 24 in New Delhi. In its pursuit to support initiatives leading to effective action towards climate, environment and sustainability, M3M Foundation has proudly partnered with CASCA (Climate Action & Sustainability Conference & Awards) as the Lead Partner for its inaugural edition. The event scheduled for April 24-26, 2025 will feature thought-provoking panel discussions, keynote addresses, and interactive sessions, culminating in the Climate Action & Sustainability Awards, honouring organizations & individuals making outstanding contributions toward a more sustainable and resilient future. Dr. Payal Kanodia, Chairperson & Trustee, M3M Foundation plants saplings as part of her ongoing commitment to environment protection and sustainability The CASCA concept is an extension of ongoing initiatives focused on health, environmental sustainability, and socio-economic development by M3M Foundation. In a powerful collaboration, TheCSRUniverse-India's leading impact advocacy platform for social change and climate action-has joined hands with M3M Foundation, the philanthropic arm of M3M Group, to drive this mission forward. Together, their shared commitment to fostering sustainable communities aligns seamlessly with CASCA's core mission: to recognize, amplify, and celebrate transformative efforts that address the pressing environmental challenges of our time. This partnership reflects a unified vision to be at the forefront of building a greener, healthier, and more equitable future. Dr. Payal Kanodia, Chairperson & Trustee, M3M Foundation, said, 'At M3M Foundation, we believe that sustainability is not just a goal but a responsibility that requires collective action. Partnering with CASCA as the LEAD Partner aligns with our commitment to driving meaningful change in climate action, environmental conservation, and sustainable development. We are excited to collaborate with thought leaders and changemakers at CASCA 2025 to inspire solutions that can create a lasting impact for future generations.' The CASCA will bring together a diverse range of stakeholders, including policymakers, corporate leaders, environmental experts, academicians, and grassroots changemakers, to share innovative ideas, best practices, and transformative solutions. 'At CASCA, we aim to amplify conversations and catalyse impactful actions towards a more resilient and sustainable future. We are delighted to welcome M3M Foundation as the LEAD Partner for CASCA 2025. Their extensive work in sustainability and community development adds immense value to our platform,' said Ashish Jha, Founder, TheCSRUniverse. The awards at the thought leadership platform will be evaluated by power-packed jury. The distinguished CASCA jury includes Prof. (Dr.) Anil K. Gupta, CEO & PI at ICARS, IIT Roorkee, known for his pioneering work in climate resilience; Prof. Anish Sugathan, Chair of the Centre for Sustainability and Corporate Governance at IIM Ahmedabad, a leading authority on sustainable business practices; and Dr. Charru Malhotra, Professor at IIPA, specializing in e-Governance and ICT for sustainability. The panel also features visionaries like Prof. Chetan Singh Solanki, Founder of Energy Swaraj Foundation and Professor at IIT Bombay, championing solar energy advocacy; Dr. Indu K Murthy, Sector Head for Climate, Environment & Sustainability at CSTEP, known for her groundbreaking climate policy work; Mr. Jagdish Bakan, IFS, DFO Hosur, Tamil Nadu, with rich field experience in forest conservation; and Dr. Anita Gupta, Head of Scientific Division, Climate Energy & Sustainable Technology (CEST), Department of Science & Technology (DST), Govt. of India who spearheads national strategies in critical areas such as solar energy, hydrogen, energy storage, smart grids, and carbon capture with her leadership role in advancing Indias decarbonization goals and fostering climate resilience. Other distinguished members include Mr. Jibin Thomas, Co-ordinator at M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF), driving agricultural sustainability; Dr. K K Upadhyay, Chairperson of Sustainability & CSR at BIMTECH, an expert in corporate sustainability; and Dr. Kalachand Sain, Advisor at DST CoE for Climate Information, IIT Delhi, a leader in climate data research. The panel further includes stalwarts like Dr. Madhavan Nair Rajeevan, Vice-Chancellor at Atria University and former Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences; Dr. Ram Sharma, Vice-Chancellor of UPES, with deep insights into sustainability education; Ms. Shabnam Bassi, Deputy CEO & Secretary of GRIHA Council, TERI, a sustainability ratings expert; Lt Gen Suresh Sharma, Former Engineer-in-Chief & Director General, Border Roads, Ministry of Defence, with extensive experience in sustainable infrastructure; and Dr. T.V. Ramachandra, Coordinator of the Energy and Wetlands Research Group at IISc, a distinguished voice in environmental research. About M3M Foundation M3M Foundation is the philanthropic arm of the M3M Group and is committed to bringing equitable development that ensures a life of dignity for every individual. The Foundation works on key areas such as education, healthcare, environment, disaster management, skill development, and community welfare. Programs like iMpower, Lakshya, Sarvoday, Saakshar, and Sankalp are empowering communities across India with sustainable, inclusive development models. About CASCA CASCA (Climate Action & Sustainability Conference and Awards) is a premier platform dedicated to recognizing outstanding contributions in the fields of climate action, environmental protection, and sustainable development. The event, organised by India's leading Impact Advocacy Platform TheCSRUniverse brings together thought leaders, innovators, and changemakers to share knowledge, best practices, and strategies for a sustainable future. More details: CASCA'25
CNN
03-04-2025
- Health
- CNN
Measles vaccination rate may be even lower than estimated, leaving kids vulnerable amid outbreak
As the United States faces one of its worst measles outbreaks in decades, a new analysis finds that nearly a third of young children who were eligible to be vaccinated against the disease did not get their first shot on schedule. Measles is an extremely contagious airborne disease that can be especially dangerous for young and unvaccinated children. The measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine is highly effective, with one shot offering 93% protection against measles and a second shot raising it to 97%. The first dose is recommended between 12 and 15 months of age and the second dose between ages 4 and 6. In 2024, just 68.5% of children in the US had received their first dose by 15 months of age, according to a new report from Truveta, a health-care data and analytics company. This is a marked decline from 2020, when more than 77% of children had received their first shot by this age. 'The pool of children that could get really sick, could have severe complications and possibly die, has been bigger each year since Covid,' said Dr. Nina Masters, a senior research scientist at Truveta and former epidemiologist at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 'Especially among these outbreaks, it's just a very troubling thing to see in the data.' The US Department of Health and Human Services has set a goal that at least 95% of children in kindergarten will have gotten two doses of the MMR vaccine, a threshold necessary to help prevent outbreaks of measles. But leaving more than 30% of a particularly vulnerable population of young children without any protection from one dose creates unnecessary risk, experts say. 'Don't delay, and particularly not now,' Dr. Ashish Jha, dean of the Brown University School of Public Health who was federal Covid-19 response coordinator in the Biden administration, advises parents. At least 565 cases of measles have been reported in the US this year, according to a CNN tally using data from the CDC and state health departments. It's only the third year with more than 500 cases since measles was declared eliminated in the country a quarter-century ago. Oklahoma Sen. James Lankford downplays concerns over RFK Jr.'s handling of the worsening measles outbreak but urges people to get vaccinated. In Texas, the epicenter of the current outbreak, at least a third of all reported cases have been among children younger than 5, according to data from the state health department. Nearly all were unvaccinated. 'Once you get below 95% [vaccination], the ability of that virus to start circulating in the community goes up substantially,' Jha said. 'Even small decreases in the percentage of school-age kids being vaccinated could mean much bigger outbreaks in terms of the number of children who are involved.' Undervaccinated pockets of the US create broader vulnerabilities, he said. When eligible children are not vaccinated, it creates a greater risk that the virus will reach those who are too young to be vaccinated. 'It's essentially like dry timber waiting to be lit on fire,' Jha said. 'What you have is just a lot of vulnerable communities around America. And I think we're sort of playing Russian roulette here with these outbreaks, because obviously, people don't stay local.' The new Truveta report also highlights the divide between vaccination rates for children in urban areas, where 75% of children had gotten a dose of MMR by 15 months of age, and rural areas, where only 65.5% of kids had gotten the shot. The reasons for this disparity can be 'divided into structural barriers and then vaccine hesitancy,' said Dr. Catherine Troisi, infectious disease epidemiologist with UTHealth Houston. In rural areas, there might be fewer medical providers in general, and people may have to travel father to get vaccinated, she said. Troisi said studies show that in rural areas, there are also more people who 'may buy into some of the misinformation about immunizations.' The Texas outbreak started in rural Gaines County, which now has 280 cases, according to the state health department, although experts say that is most likely a severe undercount. Coverage with the MMR vaccine is particularly low in Gaines County, where nearly 1 in 5 incoming kindergartners in the 2023-24 school year had not gotten the shot. Some other counties affected by the outbreak – which now includes New Mexico, Oklahoma and possibly Kansas – also fall below the 95% vaccination benchmark. Another new report from Truveta found that in 2024 just 80.4% of children had received two doses of the MMR vaccine by the time they turned 6, far lower than CDC estimates, which put coverage at just under 93% for kindergartners in the 2023-24 school year. The data analyses capture two different populations, and 'likely the truth lies somewhere in the middle,' said Masters, who has studied measles for the past decade. Truveta's database captures electronic health records for nearly a third of the US population and covers nearly a fifth of daily clinical care across the country, but the findings from its analysis of people seeking more regular primary care may not be fully representative of nationwide trends. But vaccination data from the CDC is an estimate too, based on surveys with varying representation, none of which would capture the growing share of children who are homeschooled. Other recent research also suggests that MMR vaccine coverage may be lower than federal data says. A survey of nearly 20,000 parents between mid-2023 and mid-2024 found that just 71.8% said their children had gotten at least one dose of MMR vaccine by age 5, according to a study published last month in the American Journal of Public Health. Although each analysis might differ in its approach, the consistent finding of declining vaccination rates is the most consequential takeaway, Masters said. 'Every analysis, every outbreak, always has the same conclusion that you end outbreaks with rapid, prompt mass vaccination. That's how you bring outbreaks under control,' she said. 'We're going in the wrong direction. We're not getting close to bringing this under control, and we're exposing a situation where there are more kids who are at risk instead of fewer.'
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
US is on track to have the worst measles outbreak of this century, former Covid response coordinator warns
As the deadly Texas outbreak at the heart of America's alarming measles resurgence continues to grow, a former Biden-era official is sounding the alarm about the upsurge. 'We are on track to have the worst measles outbreak of this century, of the last 25 years,' Dr. Ashish Jha, the former White House coronavirus response coordinator and dean of Brown University's School of Public Health, told ABC News Monday. He noted that measles infections are preventable with immunization. Two doses of the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine are 97 percent effective against measles, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 'We should not be at this point in our country,' he noted, 'And yet, here we are because of bad information being spread by Secretary [Robert] Kennedy and others.' Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., has promoted the measles vaccine as a way to broadly protect communities, but his support for individual vaccination against measles has been lukewarm. Concerns about continued spread – and potentially worse outbreaks among unvaccinated communities – come as West Texas has seen hundreds of cases. There were 400 reported across the Lone Star State on Friday, and more than 40 hospitalizations. The majority of those who were affected were unvaccinated, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services. More than 20 states and communities have reported cases this year. Health authorities in Colorado – which is not yet on the CDC list of affected areas – confirmed a case in an unvaccinated Pueblo resident. The patient had recently traveled to an area of Mexico experiencing an ongoing measles outbreak. According to federal data, there have been five outbreaks reported this year, and the majority of confirmed cases are outbreak-associated. While there are nearly 500 cases reported across the country, there were only 285 in total reported across the country last year. The CDC says that the risk to the American public remains low due to 'robust U.S. immunization and surveillance programs and outbreak response capacity.' Its response to measles also occurs as the agency and others within the Department of Health and Human Services are the current subjects of Department of Government Efficiency layoffs. However, the agency issued a health advisory ahead of warmer weather and the summer travel season. 'With spring and summer travel season approaching in the United States, CDC emphasizes the important role that clinicians and public health officials play in preventing the spread of measles,' the CDC advised. 'They should be vigilant for cases of febrile rash illness that meet the measles case definition and share effective measles prevention strategies, including vaccination guidance for international travelers.'
