This TWiV clinical update with Dr. Daniel Griffin addresses a range of critical public health issues, beginning with a stark critique of the "MAHA" report for its inclusion of fictitious citations, highlighting a concerning trend of misinformation. The episode delves into the ongoing controversy surrounding RFK Jr.'s statements contradicting CDC's COVID-19 vaccine recommendations for children, underscoring the growing importance of "shared clinical decision-making." Dr. Griffin also reveals a worrying decline in MMR vaccine coverage across the US and examines the implications of recent bird flu outbreaks, including the controversial cancellation of a Moderna vaccine contract and inhumane depopulation methods in poultry farms. He then reviews the latest statistics on RSV, influenza, and SARS-CoV-2 infections, noting a potential summer COVID-19 spike. The discussion covers the recent FDA approval of Moderna's mNEXSPIKE vaccine and updated childhood immunization guidance. Finally, Dr. Griffin provides an update on PEMGARDA, a long-acting monoclonal antibody for COVID-19 prevention, and discusses groundbreaking research linking the FOXP4 gene to long COVID, concluding with a call to action against what he describes as an "assault on science and biomedical research."
Clinical Update with Dr. Daniel Griffin: Key Insights and Public Health Concerns
0:00 Introduction & Support: Dr. Daniel Griffin joins Vincent Racaniello, emphasizing the importance of listener support for Parasites Without Borders and acknowledging Dixon's birthday.
2:23 Critique of "MAHA" Report: The Trump administration's "Make America Health Again" report is exposed for including at least seven fictitious studies among its 522 references, demonstrating a concerning example of confirmation bias and potential AI authorship.
11:35 CDC Contradicts RFK Jr.: The CDC maintains its COVID-19 vaccine recommendations for children aged 6 months to 17 years, contradicting RFK Jr.'s earlier statements, and introduces "shared clinical decision-making" for childhood immunizations.
10:21 Expert Resignation: Pediatric infectious disease expert Dr. Lakshmi Panaga Takopulos resigned from the ACIP, stating she could no longer effectively advocate for vulnerable US populations.
13:35 Declining MMR Vaccination Rates: A JAMA study reveals a significant national decline in childhood Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) vaccination coverage between 2019 and 2024, with major drops in states like Texas, Florida, and Alabama, although New York maintained high rates.
21:12 Ongoing Measles Outbreaks: The US has recorded over 1,088 confirmed measles cases across 33 jurisdictions, with a recent Colorado outbreak linked to an unvaccinated international traveler, highlighting the risk of non-vaccination. Wastewater monitoring for measles is also being developed.
14:38 Bird Flu Vaccine Contract Canceled: The US government canceled a nearly $600 million contract with Moderna for a bird flu vaccine, a decision that is criticized as unscientific and potentially jeopardizing pandemic preparedness.
16:03 Controversial Ostrich Proposal: RFK Jr. and Dr. Oz controversially offered to save H5N1-infected Canadian ostriches by relocating them to Florida for "herd immunity" research, a proposal heavily criticized as ridiculous and potentially dangerous.
18:45 Inhumane Depopulation Methods: The widespread H5N1 outbreak in Arizona chicken farms, resulting in over 5 million bird deaths, exposes the inhumane "ventilation shutdown plus" (VSD+) method of depopulation (cooking birds to death), with calls for more humane CO2 alternatives despite higher costs, especially given federal compensation to farmers.
24:09 GAO Report on Pandemic Testing: The US Government Accountability Office (GAO) has instructed HHS to address "persistent deficiencies" in infectious disease testing and develop a coordinated national strategy to prepare for future pandemics.
25:47 Respiratory Virus Update: While flu and RSV levels remain low, observations in emergency rooms suggest a potential summer spike in COVID-19 cases, despite promising wastewater data.
26:26 COVID-19 Vaccine Access Challenges: Patients face challenges in accessing COVID-19 vaccines, with some pharmacies refusing eligible individuals due to unclear guidelines, emphasizing the need for better communication regarding vaccine timing for year-round protection.
28:23 New Moderna Vaccine Approval: The FDA approved Moderna's mNEXSPIKE mRNA COVID-19 vaccine for fall 2025, indicated for individuals aged 65 and older or those 12-65 with risk factors, showing improved efficacy over the original vaccine in an active-controlled trial.
38:13 Pemivibart (PEMGARDA) Efficacy: Interim Phase 3 clinical trial results demonstrate that Pemivibart, a long-acting monoclonal antibody, significantly reduces symptomatic COVID-19 incidence by 84% in both immunocompromised and immunocompetent individuals, offering a valuable pre-exposure prophylaxis option.
42:44 Long COVID Genetic Association: A large genomewide association study identified a significant association between the FOXP4 gene and long COVID, independent of severe acute COVID-19, potentially opening new avenues for understanding and treating the condition.
46:58 Call to Action: Dr. Griffin urges listeners to contact their federal representatives to counter what he describes as an "assault on science and biomedical research" and reinforces the message that "no one is safe until everyone is safe" in the context of global health.