HPV vaccination coverage among U.S. adolescents has stalled for the fourth consecutive year, leaving uptake well below national prevention goals. In 2025, 63.4% of teens ages 13–17 completed the HPV vaccine series, compared with the Healthy People 2030 target of 80%; 77.7% received at least one dose, down from 78.2% in 2024. HPV coverage also remained lower than Tdap and MenACWY vaccination…

Drug overdose deaths in the U.S. are declining, while CDC’s new Overdose Prevention Data Channel provides a centralized view of fatal and nonfatal overdose trends. From April 2025 through March 2026, the predicted provisional number of drug overdose deaths was 67,798—a 12.3% decrease from the previous year. The channel integrates data from the National Vital Statistics System, Nonfatal Drug O…

A cyclosporiasis outbreak that sickened more than 11,000 people across 20 states and caused two deaths exposed how limited public health surge capacity can disrupt routine services during a major foodborne illness event. Cases in Washtenaw County, Michigan, rose from a handful daily in late June to 80 per day by mid-July, forcing public health staff to pause vaccinations and restaurant inspec…

COVID-19 infections are increasing or likely increasing in 47 states, as updated vaccines become available for people at higher risk. The FDA approved new formulations from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna, along with a non-mRNA vaccine from Sanofi, designed to better target currently circulating strains. The shots are approved for adults 65 and older and younger people with at least one underlyin…

Shingles vaccination with the recombinant vaccine was associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease than the discontinued live attenuated vaccine among adults older than 60, with differences persisting for seven years. Among 72,920 vaccinated adults, recombinant vaccine recipients had 10% lower risk of ischemic heart disease, 12% lower risk of heart failure and 7% lower risk of atria…

Children’s Environmental Health Day is Thursday, October 8, highlighting the importance of healthy, safe environments for children and communities. Observed annually on the second Thursday of October, the awareness day focuses on increasing visibility of children’s environmental health issues and encouraging action to protect children from preventable health risks. Children’s environmental he…

Early-onset colorectal cancer (EOCRC) is increasing globally among people younger than 50, with many cases occurring before the recommended screening age. Incidence shows distinct geographic, birth-cohort, anatomical and sex-specific patterns, while established risk factors include obesity, metabolic conditions, poor diet and sedentary behavior. Emerging evidence also points to early-life and…

Older pedestrians face a higher risk of dying in motor vehicle crashes, even though they are not injured at greater rates than younger pedestrians. In 2023, nearly 8,200 pedestrians age 65 and older were injured and more than 1,500 died, with the death rate exceeding the average for all ages. Fatality rates for pedestrians 70 and older remained flat from 2008 through 2024. Slower walking an…

AI-assisted communication can improve speed and polish, but overreliance on it may weaken the authenticity and trust that make organizational communication effective. Communications professionals increasingly help leaders explain strategy, navigate change and connect with employees, making an authentic leadership voice more important as AI-generated content becomes widespread. When executives…