Hi, Welcome to my first Substack post—arriving on a day when the ACIP meeting has been indefinitely postponed, Texas is facing its worst measles outbreak in over 30 years, and influenza is everywhere. Let's navigate this together!
Your writing is clear and concise - very much appreciated. As a public health professional, I wonder what the health economics, and public health ramifications are of this outbreak. What does this do to the healthcare system in those locations, to the children's ability to go to school, to the ability of their parents to go to work? What about the fear those with new babies must feel during this outbreak. Also, with no reliable tracking of communicable diseases currently, how can we follow the infection rates with certainty? It is important to note, as you did, but worth reiterating, that had these children been vaccinated, this outbreak would most likely not have occurred. I look forward to more posts from you, thank you!
Thank you! You raise an important, often overlooked point. A smaller measles outbreak in 2018 was estimated to cost $2.3 million for the public health response and $3.4 million in total societal costs (including lost work and productivity) (citation below). Such expenses can devastate public health and healthcare communities, especially in rural areas where resources are already stretched thin, limiting their ability to provide essential services like clean water, sanitation, air quality improvements, injury prevention, and disaster response.
And yes, federal public health cuts and a lack of data are significant concerns during outbreaks—particularly since pathogens don’t respect state or local boundaries, underscoring the importance of a robust national public health system. That said, I have great confidence in and deep appreciation for the state and local public health professionals who are working tirelessly to track, contain, and manage this outbreak.
Your writing is clear and concise - very much appreciated. As a public health professional, I wonder what the health economics, and public health ramifications are of this outbreak. What does this do to the healthcare system in those locations, to the children's ability to go to school, to the ability of their parents to go to work? What about the fear those with new babies must feel during this outbreak. Also, with no reliable tracking of communicable diseases currently, how can we follow the infection rates with certainty? It is important to note, as you did, but worth reiterating, that had these children been vaccinated, this outbreak would most likely not have occurred. I look forward to more posts from you, thank you!
https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/68/wr/mm6840e2.htm
Thank you! You raise an important, often overlooked point. A smaller measles outbreak in 2018 was estimated to cost $2.3 million for the public health response and $3.4 million in total societal costs (including lost work and productivity) (citation below). Such expenses can devastate public health and healthcare communities, especially in rural areas where resources are already stretched thin, limiting their ability to provide essential services like clean water, sanitation, air quality improvements, injury prevention, and disaster response.
And yes, federal public health cuts and a lack of data are significant concerns during outbreaks—particularly since pathogens don’t respect state or local boundaries, underscoring the importance of a robust national public health system. That said, I have great confidence in and deep appreciation for the state and local public health professionals who are working tirelessly to track, contain, and manage this outbreak.
https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/147/4/e2020027037/180774/Societal-Costs-of-a-Measles-Outbreak?autologincheck=redirected
I think you will just have to sit back and let it all play out. Have you read Follow the Science by Sharyl Atkkisson?
I have not, but I will take a look at it.
Find her on X as well. Fair and balanced. Her show Full Measure. I think you will recognize her quickly.