Plague News: Vaccine News - 6.2.25

In this issue:

• Bullshit
• Clarity on U.S. Government Vaccine Recommendations and New Vaccine Approvals
• More Bullshit
• Good? News
• Further Reading
• Get Involved

COVID vaccines, in particular the mRNA vaccines, are safe and effective at preventing severe disease in all human populations. I am not going to cite that, it should be common knowledge alike to rabies will fucking kill you. Vaccines are fucking miracles.

The purposefully confusing narrative from the current U.S. presidential administration is anti-vaccine and anti-science bullshit propaganda and misinformation with the intention to make health care less attainable for people most at risk; uninsured people and people living in poverty.

This is NOT supposed to make sense. Don't forget that. This is fascism. They want you confused and vulnerable. That's how they exert control.

If you care at all, about public health or your neighbors, or your children, you should be fighting for public vaccine access. The anti-vaccine assholes are not going to stop here, and are focused on pulling pediatric vaccines. They also have a shitload of money.

Listen: Posting shit on the internet is not real, clown-toilets posting amongst Twitter detritus don't create laws.

Ok. Get your shit together, stand up for yourself and don't forget your history.

"Any fool can make a rule and every fool will mind it." - Henry David Thoreau

I'm sorry for all the photos of this dude's face. Don't miss the bird flu tracker. First things first:

A New COVID Variant Is Here, And It’s More Transmissible — Here Are The Signs And Symptoms

A new COVID variant, known as NB.1.8.1, has made landfall in the United States, and it’s more transmissible than other variants.

HuffPostJulia Ries

Bullshit

RFK Jr. yanks pandemic vaccine funding as Moderna reports positive results

HHS said it pulled funding for testing because the shots are “under-tested.”…

Ars TechnicaBeth Mole

Inside the rise of Tracy Beth Høeg, the Covid contrarian shaping FDA vaccine policy

Høeg has been skeptical of the safety and value of some vaccines and mandates, raising questions about her approach at the FDA.

STATLizzy Lawrence

HHS cancels $766m bird flu vaccine contract with Moderna - Pharmaceutical Technology

The HSS has terminated a contract previously awarded to Moderna to help advance a vaccine candidate targeting bird flu.

Pharmaceutical TechnologyRobert Barrie

CDC updates COVID vaccine recommendations, but not how RFK Jr. wanted

Mixed messages only add to uncertainty about vaccine access for kids, pregnant individuals.

Ars TechnicaBeth Mole

Clarity on U.S. Government Vaccine Recommendations and New Vaccine Approvals

RFK Jr. Wants To Take COVID Shots Away From Pregnant People — But You Can Fight Back

A man who told people not to take his medical advice is now trying to take away vaccine access for healthy pregnant people — and that’s dangerous.

HuffPostJillian Wilson

Fight them. If you are pregnant or hoping to be pregnant:

• The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) strongly recommends that pregnant individuals be vaccinated against COVID-19.

COVID-19 Vaccines and Pregnancy: Conversation Guide for Clinicians

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends that pregnant individuals be vaccinated against COVID-19.

ACOG

The FDA just approved a new Covid vaccine

But without the CDC’s recommendation, the impact of the shot could be dulled.

Mother JonesJackie Flynn Mogensen

US CDC keeps COVID vaccine option for healthy children - Reuters 5.30.25

FDA approves a next-generation Covid vaccine from Moderna, with restrictions

The FDA has approved Moderna’s new Covid-19 vaccine, though it placed restrictions on its use that the company’s existing Covid shot does not currently face.

STATHelen Branswell

FDA approves Novavax COVID-19 shot but with unusual restrictions

The Food and Drug Administration has approved Novavax’s COVID-19 vaccine but with unusual restrictions.

AP NewsLAURAN NEERGAARD

Understand all of this could change, and hopefully will change for the better. These "recommendations" are for the fall, and these new vaccines.

If you live in Massachusetts you can access your vaccine records online.

More Bullshit

Yellow Fever Resurgence Could Make COVID Look ‘Pale’ by Comparison

Yellow fever is a dangerous mosquito-borne virus that, for hundreds of years, has caused sporadic, deadly outbreaks in the tropics of South America, Central America, and Africa.

ScienceAlertCarly Cassella

‘Devastating’: NIH cancels future funding plans for HIV vaccine consortia - Science 5.30.25

New Study Reveals Alarming Trend In Measles Vaccination Rates

The MMR vaccine rate is on the decline after years of stability, according to a study from Johns Hopkins University.

HuffPostLydia O’Connor

Good? News

Revolving Door Project made a bird flu tracker, I have not used this but the map checks out:

Bird Flu (H5N1) Tracker | Revolving Door Project

What is Bird Flu? How bad is it? Who is most vulnerable? What’s the solution? What’s going on right now? As of May 30, 2025, confirmed bird flu cases in humans (by state) are as follows: State: CA WA CO NV WY OR TX LA MO IA WI MI OH Cases: 38 11 10 1 […]

Revolving Door Projectaguilarrosenthal

Further Reading

Covid-19 vaccines, what just happened at the FDA, and why it matters

This is not how vaccine policy should be made.

Your Local EpidemiologistKatelyn Jetelina

RFK Jr.’s War on Vaccines Is Here

Anyone who thinks he’ll stop with COVID shots is deluding themselves. The time to raise hell is now.

The BulwarkWilliam Kristol

Great Week for Pandemic Flu Enthusiasts

If you’re feeling nostalgic for 2020, don’t worry. The next pandemic will be bigger than COVID.

Rasmussen RetortsDr. Angela Rasmussen

MAHA Report Appears to Plagiarize a 2023 Document Published During RFK Jr.’s Tenure at CHD

The report maintains a veneer of inquiry, but its structure and many of its claims closely mirror those of a document produced under RFK Jr.’s leadership at another organization.

InfoEpi LabInfoEpi Lab

Get Involved

Want to do something to help?

Call your reps and government officials and fucking yell at them.

Find Your Representative | house.gov

house.gov

Massachusetts:

Find My Legislator: https://malegislature.gov/Search/FindMyLegislator

Find Your Local Representative

Find Your Local Representative Use this guide to locate and connect with your local, state, and federal representatives. Your voice matters — make it heard. Why Contact Your Representative? Advocat…

Massachusetts Civics Online

If you want to purchase high-quality masks and PPE, I recommend Bona Fide Masks.

I accept donations for putting this blog together:

Three works of fiction I recommend for These Times:

• 1984 - George Orwell
• The Parable of the Talents - Octavia E. Butler (yes there's a sequel, read it)
• Severance - Ling Ma

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Plague News is a round-up of pandemic and infectious disease news focusing on so-called New England and the rest of the so-called United States.