Latest news with #MakeAmericaHealthy
Gulf Insider
7 days ago
- Health
- Gulf Insider
CDC Halts COVID Shots for Healthy Kids, Pregnant Women
Confirming previous rumors, Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr confirmed via a post oin X that the CDC will no longer recommend COVID vaccines for children or pregnant women 'Today, the COVID vaccine for healthy children and healthy pregnant women has been removed from @CDCgov recommended immunization schedule. Bottom line: It's common sense and it's good science. We are now one step closer to realizing @POTUS 's promise to Make America Healthy Again.' Today, the COVID vaccine for healthy children and healthy pregnant women has been removed from @CDCgov recommended immunization schedule. Bottom line: it's common sense and it's good science. We are now one step closer to realizing @POTUS's promise to Make America Healthy Again. — Secretary Kennedy (@SecKennedy) May 27, 2025 And cue the outrage… As we previously reported , Kennedy noted that established side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine include a form of heart inflammation called myocarditis and a related condition called pericarditis. He also pointed out that 15 vaccinated participants in Pfizer's clinical trial died, compared with 14 participants who did not receive the company's vaccine Three COVID-19 vaccines are currently available for use in the United States: one from Pfizer, one from Moderna, and one from Novavax. Advisers to the CDC recommended in 2022 that the agency add COVID-19 vaccines to the schedule, concluding that the benefits of the shots outweighed the risks. The CDC in 2023 added them to the schedule. According to the schedule, all children who have never received a COVID-19 vaccine should receive at least one dose, depending on their age, while those who have received a vaccine in the past should receive at least one additional dose. Unlike many vaccines on the schedule, the COVID-19 vaccine has not been made compulsory for school attendance in states. Kennedy said during his confirmation hearings, 'I recommend that children follow the CDC schedule, and I will support the CDC schedule when I get in there if I'm fortunate enough to be confirmed.' Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), a physician, who had been considering voting against Kennedy, said in a speech on the Senate floor that Kennedy committed to maintaining the vaccine schedule without changes. Cassidy later wrote on social media platform X that the commitment 'never precluded him from conducting sound scientific research' and that he was 'confident any reputable review will further confirm settled science of the safety and efficacy of the childhood vaccine schedule.' Only 13 percent of children have received one of the COVID-19 vaccines with the 2024–2025 formula, according to CDC data. Children could still get a COVID-19 vaccine if it is removed from the schedule, but insurance may not pay for it if the removal happens. Also read: 'Razor Blade Throat': China Reports COVID-19 Resurgence With Painful Symptoms
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Dexcom CEO says CGMs fit MAHA agenda ‘very nicely'; Tandem preps for new products
This story was originally published on MedTech Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily MedTech Dive newsletter. Dexcom CEO Kevin Sayer touted the company's recent efforts to expand coverage of CGMs for people with Type 2 diabetes. On a May 1 earnings call, the CEO told investors that all three major U.S. pharmacy benefit managers now cover the company's G7 glucose monitor for anyone with diabetes. Dexcom expects to have coverage for nearly 6 million people with Type 2 diabetes who don't take insulin by the end of the year. 'While this still represents only a portion of this 25 million-person population in the U.S., we often see smaller and customized plans quickly follow suit of the larger PBM formularies,' Sayer said. Dexcom will seek coverage from Medicare for people with diabetes who don't take insulin. The company is working to gather evidence from a randomized controlled trial to submit a request to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Sayer said. Wolfe Research analyst Mike Polark on the earnings call noted comments by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. supporting CGMs. Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Martin Makary has also suggested making the devices more widely available. 'We're very pleased with the comments of the administration,' Sayer said, adding that the company thinks its devices 'fit the Make America Healthy agenda very nicely.' Dexcom reported revenue of $1.04 billion in the first quarter, a 12% increase year over year. Tandem is seeking Europe's CE mark for its newer, smaller Mobi insulin pump, CEO John Sheridan said in an April 30 earnings call. Tandem received FDA clearance for the device in 2023. The company plans to launch Mobi outside of the U.S. with multiple sensor integrations by the year's end, Sheridan said. In February, Tandem received an expanded FDA indication for its Control-IQ+ algorithm for Type 2 diabetes. The algorithm pairs data from glucose monitors with the company's insulin pumps for automated dosing. Tandem hopes to launch the newer version of that algorithm internationally by the end of the year, pending regulatory approval, Sheridan said. The CEO also provided an update on Tandem's efforts to develop an insulin patch pump. The company is working on a tubeless feature for its Mobi pump that is now in verification testing and manufacturing buildout, Sheridan said. Meanwhile, the company has moved development of the Sigi patch pump that it acquired in 2022 to San Diego. Insulet, which received an expanded indication last year for its Omnipod 5 patch pump, said people with Type 2 diabetes represent a growing portion of new patients. Eric Benjamin, chief product and customer experience officer, told investors on May 8 that people with Type 2 diabetes made up more than 30% of new starts in the first quarter, an increase from 25% in the fourth quarter. The company grew revenue by nearly 29% to $569 million in the first quarter, compared to the year-ago period, and named longtime medtech executive Ashley McEvoy as CEO. Insulet estimated in February that the Type 2 indication expands the total addressable market for its patch pumps in the U.S. to more than 5.5 million people with Type 2 diabetes who take insulin. About 2.5 million of those people take multiple daily injections of insulin. Insulet estimated the market is less than 5% penetrated. Benjamin expects the company could double or triple that number, telling investors, 'Right now, we're making that market.' Recommended Reading New Insulet CEO Ashley McEvoy sets priorities Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Newsweek
13-05-2025
- Health
- Newsweek
RFK Jr. Moves to Get Rid of Fluoride Supplements for Kids: What to Know
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced Tuesday that it will move to phase out fluoride supplements used to strengthen children's teeth, the Associated Press (AP) reported. The Context Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has frequently railed against fluoride—which medical and dental experts say can be crucial in preventing tooth decay and cavities, especially in children who live in areas with lower levels of fluoride in drinking water. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has said fluoride makes teeth stronger and reduces cavities by replacing minerals lost during normal wear and tear. Federal officials backed adding fluoride to drinking water in 1950 and in 1962 introduced guidelines for how much should be added to water. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. looks on during an April 7 news conference in Salt Lake City about Utah's new fluoride ban, food additives and SNAP funds legislation. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. looks on during an April 7 news conference in Salt Lake City about Utah's new fluoride ban, food additives and SNAP funds legislation. Melissa Majchrzak/AP What To Know The FDA will conduct a scientific review of fluoride dental supplements for children by late October with the goal of removing them from the market, according to the AP. The agency does not plan to formally withdraw the products, since the process for doing so would take years. Instead, it will ask manufacturers to voluntarily pull their products from the market, the AP reported, citing an administration official. Tuesday's announcement from the FDA comes after Kennedy said last month that he would order the CDC to stop recommending that fluoride be added to tap water. Kennedy lauded the FDA's move to phase out fluoridated dental supplements for children, saying in a statement Tuesday: "Ending the use of ingestible fluoride is long overdue. This decision brings us one step closer to delivering on President [Donald] Trump's promise to Make America Healthy Again." The health secretary has strongly opposed the fluoridation of public water supplies, referring to fluoride as "industrial waste" and a "dangerous neurotoxin." His views have spurred a number of state-level bans and lawsuits targeting products containing fluoride. Utah became the first state to ban fluoride in drinking water after last month's announcement from Kennedy and lawmakers in Florida have also passed legislation aiming to implement a similar ban across the Sunshine State. Scientists and medical experts have sharply criticized Kennedy's views, arguing they are not backed by enough scientific evidence and could undermine public health initiatives to prevent tooth decay. Groups including the World Health Organization and the American Dental Association maintain that water fluoridation is a safe and effective public health measure. Critics of adding fluoride to drinking water say that doing so can negatively affect the gut microbiome and that too much fluoride ingestion can result in a lower IQ. This story is developing and will be updated as more information becomes available. AP reporting contributed to this article.
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Who Is Casey Means? What to Know About Trump's New Surgeon General Nominee — and Her Ties to Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
On May 7, President Donald Trump announced that he had chosen Dr. Casey Means as his new surgeon general nominee Means and her brother were key advisers on Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s presidential campaign, and have been prominent supporters of his "Make America Healthy" agenda The holistic medicine doctor has voiced anti-vaccine views and focused her work on treating chronic illnesses by focusing on nutritionPresident Donald Trump has made his new pick for surgeon general: Dr. Casey Means. On May 7, the president announced on Truth Social that he would nominate Means for the role, confirming that he had withdrawn his first pick, former Fox News contributor Dr. Janette Nesheiwat. As a holistic medicine doctor and wellness influencer, Means previously wrote in a newsletter that there were several things she wanted to "see happen at the policy level to improve the health of Americans." "More than anything, I would like to see our future White House rally Americans to be healthy and fit," she continued. "We need inspirational national leaders helping to inspire people to care about their health, the food they eat, and their fitness. We also need leaders who understand the relationship between human health and environmental health, which are inextricably linked." She added, "We cannot go on poisoning the earth without destroying our own health; we are one with nature." From her education to her career, here's everything to know about Casey Means, Trump's new nominee for surgeon general. After graduating from The Madeira School in 2005, Means went on to attend Stanford University, per her LinkedIn. In 2009, she graduated from Stanford with a bachelor's degree in human biology. She then continued her education there to receive her medical degree. Means pursued a surgical residency at Oregon Health & Science University, per NPR, but dropped out before her final year. "During my training as a surgeon, I saw how broken and exploitative the healthcare system is and left to focus on how to keep people out of the operating room," Means wrote on her website. According to her LinkedIn, she returned to Stanford University in 2020 as a lecturer, teaching a course on food, design and technology. Means' MD postgraduate license was granted in 2014 but shifted to inactive status in 2019, per the Los Angeles Times. The Stanford alum describes herself on her LinkedIn as a "former surgeon turned metabolic health evangelist" who is "striving to create a happier and healthier world and planet." The wellness guru has also taken her passion to the tech space. In August 2019, she co-founded Levels, a digital health company dedicated to helping people see how food affects their health by using personalized data, per her LinkedIn. In her newsletter plea to the White House, Means expressed wanting the administration to "reform the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986 and increase unbiased research on the safety of the cumulative effects of vaccines on the CDC vaccine schedule." "There is growing evidence that the total burden of the current extreme and growing vaccine schedule is causing health declines in vulnerable children," she continued. "This needs to be investigated." According to the CDC, millions of children safely receive vaccines every year, and the U.S. currently has "the safest vaccine supply in its history." Means and her brother Calley Means, who is a former lobbyist, served as key advisers to Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s 2024 presidential bid, per AP News. According to the outlet, they also helped arrange Kennedy's endorsement of Trump. The sibling duo are vocal advocates of Kennedy's "Make America Healthy Again" (MAHA) agenda, which views pharmaceutical and food companies as corrupt and responsible for a rise in chronic disease, per BBC. In Trump's Truth Social announcement, he praised Means' work on chronic diseases. "Casey has impeccable 'MAHA' credentials, and will work closely with our wonderful Secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., to ensure a successful implementation of our Agenda in order to reverse the Chronic Disease Epidemic, and ensure Great Health, in the future, for ALL Americans," he wrote. Means has made several podcast appearances throughout her career, often speaking about the rise of chronic diseases, including diabetes, heart disease and obesity. In August 2024, she appeared on right-wing political commentator Tucker Carlson's podcast and said that chronic illnesses are "driven by our toxic food system and our toxic environment." "These subtle insidious forces that are creating slow progressive illness … that allow patients to be profitable and on the pharma treadmill for their entire lives," she said. "They make us sick but they don't kill us, and then we are drugged for life." In addition to working with her brother on Kennedy Jr.'s campaign, the sibling pair also co-wrote a book. In 2024, Means and her brother published Good Energy: The Surprising Connection Between Metabolism and Limitless Health, a book focused on "what is causing symptoms and diseases, and how to feel amazing now and in the future," per her website. "Good Energy is the simple answer to achieving incredible health: for ourselves, our children, our parents, and the planet," she continued. Read the original article on People
International Business Times
08-05-2025
- Health
- International Business Times
Who Is Casey Means? Trump Withdraws Janette Nesheiwat's Nomination for Surgeon General and Replaces Her with 'MAHA' Physician Close to RFK Jr
President Trump withdrew his nomination of Dr. Janette Nesheiwat for U.S. surgeon general, just a day before her scheduled confirmation hearing. Instead, he chose to promote a new candidate who he described as someone with "impeccable 'MAHA' qualifications." Trump replaced Nesheiwat and nominated Dr. Casey Means for the coveted role. Trump wrote on Wednesday on Truth Social, "I am pleased to announce that Dr. Casey Means, will be nominated as our next Surgeon General of the United States of America," replacing Nesheiwat, who will now be assigned to a separate position within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). However, the exact role Nesheiwat will be given remains unclear. Trump's New Surgeon General "Casey has impeccable '[Make America Healthy Again]' credentials and will work closely with our wonderful Secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., to ensure a successful implementation of our Agenda in order to reverse the Chronic Disease Epidemic, and ensure Great Health, in the future, for ALL Americans," Trump further wrote. "Her academic achievements, together with her life's work, are absolutely outstanding. Dr. Casey Means has the potential to be one of the finest Surgeon Generals in United States History. Congratulations to Casey!" he added. Nesheiwat is the sister-in-law of Mike Waltz, who was recently fired from his role as national security adviser but was soon after nominated to become the next U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. According to sources close to the White House, Trump faced "massive backlash" from his political base over Nesheiwat's nomination as Surgeon General. Critics included supporters of the MAHA movement, anti-COVID vaccine activists, and members of the "frontline doctors" group, many of whom had opposed her from the beginning. One insider said that "a poor showing on Fox News" also worked against Nesheiwat, especially after she had previously written op-eds for the network's website encouraging Americans to follow strict Covid safety measures, including the recommendation to "wear two masks." "Everyone hated her," one source said of Nesheiwat, adding that "Casey Means being so close to RFK means no one can oppose [her]." Nesheiwat Disliked by All "She's Waltz's sister in law so [I] feel that that ultimately didn't help," another source said after Trump changed his nomination, adding, "Meanwhile, Casey is strongly aligned with the MAHA movement and is seen as highly credible." A source also pointed that Trump's decision reflects his "respect" for Kennedy's influence in shaping the HHS team, potentially bringing Casey Means together with her brother Calley, who is already working there as a special government employee. Calley Means, a former political lobbyist who shifted his focus to health advocacy, co-wrote the 2024 book "Good Energy" with his sister. The book was widely praised by MAHA supporters and prominent media personalities, including Tucker Carlson. In an interview with Tucker Carlson, Calley Means shared that he played a key role in bringing Kennedy and Trump together after the 45th and 47th president survived an assassination attempt during a campaign event in Butler, Pennsylvania, last July. Reacting to the news on X, Donald Trump Jr. called Casey Means an "excellent pick" and said her nomination was "huge for MAHA!!!" Trump had earlier praised Nesheiwat as well, saying he was "a big fan" in a birthday video message he sent her in August 2023. "You do a fantastic job letting us know what's happening with health," he said in the video, which was shared by Julia Nesheiwat — Janette's sister and Waltz's wife — on X.
