In a recent PHCC webinar conversation, public health communicators explored how peacebuilding strategies can strengthen community trust amid growing polarization. Dr. John Paul Lederach, an international expert in conflict transformation, emphasized that evidence alone is not always enough to reach diverse audiences. He highlighted the value of intentional relationship-building, compassionate d…

A new Commonwealth Fund report highlights a persistent shortage of primary care physicians in rural America, where communities currently have only about two-thirds of the doctors they need—a gap expected to continue for at least the next decade. Nearly 92% of rural counties are classified as primary care shortage areas, leaving roughly 43 million residents with limited access to care. Rural p…

Public health experts are monitoring a rapidly spreading H3N2 influenza A strain, which emerged over the summer and differs from the strain included in this year’s flu vaccine. Early surges in the United Kingdom, Canada, Japan, and Hong Kong have led to hospitalizations, school closures, and warnings of a potentially severe flu season.   While not considered a pandemic-level threat, H3N2…

The federal Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) will revisit the childhood vaccine schedule, including hepatitis B, at its Dec. 4 meeting. The panel may vote on delaying the birth dose of hepatitis B, a long-standing recommendation credited with saving tens of thousands of lives. ACIP also may consider changes to the combined MMR vaccine and examine the safety of ingredients suc…

A federal judge has approved a $7 billion settlement with Purdue Pharma, the maker of OxyContin, requiring members of the Sackler family to contribute funds and relinquish ownership. The agreement resolves thousands of lawsuits over the company’s role in the U.S. opioid epidemic, which has contributed to nearly 900,000 deaths since 1999. Purdue will convert into a non-profit, Knoa Pharma, foc…

A new systematic review and meta-analysis shows childhood hypertension is more common than previously recognized, with prevalence estimates rising globally. In-office blood pressure measurements indicate 4.28% of children and adolescents have hypertension, while combining in-office and out-of-office readings raises the estimate to 6.67%, highlighting that traditional screening may miss many cas…

Global sharing of influenza virus samples has dropped sharply this year, creating concerns that next year’s flu vaccine may be less effective. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) received 60% fewer samples than last year, and worldwide shipments to WHO collaborating centers are down. Fewer samples limit scientists’ ability to track viral evolution, select appropriate vacci…

Germany’s Robert Koch Institute (RKI) reported the detection of wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) in a wastewater sample collected in Hamburg on October 6, 2025. Genomic analysis links the virus to a strain circulating in Afghanistan. No clinical cases have been identified, and high local polio vaccination coverage keeps population risk very low. WPV1, like vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDP…

At the APHA 2025 session “Discussion with Former CDC Leaders: The Way Forward,” three former CDC leaders explored strategies to strengthen public health amid ongoing federal challenges. Panelists emphasized the critical role of state and local health departments as the frontline of community protection, especially as federal support faces uncertainty. They highlighted the need to create public…