LATEST NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
New Voices from the Field – Public Health Speaks Podcast: Empathy, Autonomy, and the Future of Health Communication
Recorded at the 2025 NCHCMM in Atlanta, NPHIC’s Public Health Speaks podcast continues its Voices from the Field series with a timely conversation on health autonomy, motivation, and artificial intelligence in communication. Amelia Burke-Garcia, PhD, Director of the Center for Health Communication Science at NORC, shares insights from her recent opinion piece and explores how Self-Determination Theory can strengthen practice.
She discusses designing empathetic, relevant messaging that supports autonomy while advancing population health goals, and how AI tools can help scale tailored, evidence-based communication. Tune in for practical insights for health communicators navigating today’s complex information landscape. Listen to the episode here.
California Becomes First State to Join WHO Disease Network After US Exit
Following the United States’ formal withdrawal from the World Health Organization, California has become the first U.S. state to join the WHO’s Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN), a global partnership focused on detecting and responding to infectious disease threats. The move positions California to collaborate directly with international public health experts on outbreak preparedness, surveillance, and rapid response.
State leaders framed the decision as a way to maintain global health connections and strengthen emergency readiness amid shifting federal policy. The announcement underscores how subnational governments may seek alternative pathways to engage in global disease monitoring and coordination during periods of federal disengagement. Read more from The Hill here.
Top CDC Vaccine Adviser Questions Need for Polio Shot, Other Longstanding Recommendations
Recent remarks by the new chair of the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices have sparked debate within public health circles. In a podcast interview, the chair questioned longstanding vaccine recommendations, including routine polio immunization, and emphasized prioritizing individual autonomy and shared decision-making over broad public health mandates.
These comments drew rebukes from major medical organizations concerned about maintain¬ing high immunization rates for diseases like polio and measles. While CDC continues to recommend standard childhood vaccines, the discussion highlights ongoing tensions between personal choice and established evidence-based prevention strategies in immunization policy. Read more from STAT News here.
FEATURED TOPICS
A State of Crisis’: record number of Americans are pessimistic about US healthcare system
A record share of Americans view the U.S. healthcare system as deeply troubled, with 23% describing it as “in a state of crisis” and nearly half citing major problems, according to new West Health–Gallup polling. Rising healthcare costs emerged as the most urgent concern, closely tied to worsening access and affordability.
Experts note that unpredictable expenses, an aging population, and inflation are driving financial strain that leads many to delay or skip care. Mental health access remains a particular challenge, with cost barriers creating a feedback loop between poor mental health and unmet care. State-level disparities further underscore uneven access nationwide. Read more from The Guardian here.
3 Issues to Watch in Public Health in 2026
Public health communicators are heading into 2026 amid mounting uncertainty and high-stakes challenges. Confidence in long-standing public health institutions is being tested as leadership changes, staffing losses, and political influence reshape how guidance and data are produced and received. At the same time, shifts in U.S. vaccine policy risk fueling skepticism at home and abroad, with potential consequences for routine immunization and measles control globally.
Compounding these concerns, investments in pandemic preparedness and international disease surveillance are shrinking just as the world moves further from — and closer to — the next pandemic. Together, these trends raise urgent questions about trust, prevention, and readiness in the year ahead. Read the full article from STAT News here.
Americans’ Social Media Use 2025
New Pew Research Center data show that social media use remains widespread in the U.S., with important implications for public health communication. YouTube (84%) and Facebook (71%) continue to reach the largest shares of adults, while Instagram now reaches half of the population. Use of TikTok, WhatsApp, and Reddit has grown steadily in recent years, particularly among adults under 30.
Daily use is highest on YouTube and Facebook, though younger adults are far more likely to use TikTok daily. The findings underscore the need for public health communicators to tailor messages by platform, age, and audience demographics to maximize reach and impact. Read the study from Pew here.
CDC Data Show Updated COVID-19 Vaccines Reduce Pediatric Emergency Visits
New CDC data highlight the continued public health value of updated COVID-19 vaccines for children. Analysis from the VISION Vaccine Effectiveness Network found that the 2024–2025 COVID-19 vaccines reduced COVID-19–associated emergency department and urgent care visits by 76% among children ages 9 months to 4 years and by 56% among those ages 5–17 during the first six months after vaccination.
While children experience lower hospitalization rates than older adults, infants and toddlers face comparatively high risk, and severe illness still occurs among school-aged children. These real-world effectiveness studies support evidence-based vaccine policy, strengthen vaccine confidence, and inform prevention strategies across public health systems. Read more from CDC’s MMWR here.
