American health care

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has officially updated its website to reflect changes on its “Vaccine Safety” page at the direction of HHS Secretary RFK Jr. The changes highlight shifts in policy at the department, as they adhere to Kennedy’s policy and theories, with a note that there is no evidence that vaccines do not cause autism.

A review by the British Medical Association found no clear link between acetaminophen use during pregnancy and the development of autism. The finding comes after President Donald Trump said during a White House press conference, “It won’t be as easy, maybe, but don’t take it. If you’re pregnant, don’t take Tylenol.” The study cited a lack of evidence proving the painkiller caused abnormalities in babies.

The most common plans on HealthCare.gov are set to see price increases in 2026, averaging 30%. Premium tax credits favored by Democrats are facing major pushback from Republicans, and without the credits, many of these plans will see rising costs in 2026, impacting millions of Americans.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has changed its vaccine recommendation guidelines. The agency has moved to a “case-by-case” position regarding the COVID-19 vaccine, says parents should decide if their kids receive the shot and recommends children receive a separate chickenpox vaccine instead of the combined MMRV shot.

President Donald Trump issued a warning to pregnant women about the use of Tylenol. Trump cited a possible link between the drug and the development of autism in babies. The announcement followed the Federal Drug Administration’s new label noting the potential connection. Meanwhile, medical experts say there is no evidence that acetaminophen, the pain-relieving drug found in Tylenol, causes autism.

Florida Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo announced the end of some vaccine mandates across the state starting in December 2025. With school vaccine mandates coming to an end, Lapado said the goal is to give parents control over vaccine decisions. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump urged caution, saying some vaccines, such as those targeting polio, “should be used.”

After less than a month as head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Susan Monarez was ousted for refusing to change the agency’s vaccine policy, as suggested by RFK Jr.’s newly installed vaccine advisory panel.

HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. moved to halt funding to projects that use mRNA technology to develop vaccines. The Department of Health and Human Services has injected $500 million into nearly two dozen projects, with some being in their final stages of development. Some experts have called the move “dangerous” and warned against cutting funding for such projects.

Congress passed President Donald Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which includes significant reforms to Medicaid. Now, individuals between the ages of 18 and 65 must volunteer for a minimum of 20 hours per week or be enrolled in school on a half-time basis. Around 17 million Americans are expected to lose health coverage in the next decade, and states have until 2027 to comply with the new federal guidance.

In an unprecedented move, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. fired all 17 members of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. The panel advises the CDC on how vaccines should be used in the U.S. RFK said the move was necessary to restore public trust and that the panel was “plagued with persistent conflicts of interest.”

FDA approval of the first at-home cervical cancer screening tool may increase accessibility to testing and early detection, potentially reducing preventable cervical cancer cases and deaths.

The agreement includes measures on the global sharing of vaccines, drugs and technology among the dozens of nations that are members of the global health agency. However, the proposal will not impact the United States, as President Donald Trump signed an executive order in January withdrawing the country from the WHO.

Researchers announce that a new experimental vaccine shows signs of reducing the recurrence of pancreatic cancer, one of the deadliest forms of the disease. Only about 13% of people diagnosed with pancreatic cancer live more than five years, according to the American Cancer Society.

Luigi Mangione, charged with killing the chief executive of UnitedHealthcare outside a New York City hotel, was apprehended in Altoona, Pennsylvania, after a nationwide manhunt. The killing ignited debate over the power of health insurers and the ethics of vigilante action over the high cost of health care.

A report by The Commonwealth Fund found that, despite the United States spending almost twice as much on health care as other developed nations, the U.S. medical system ranked last among those in 10 high-income countries.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced that the H5N1 virus, commonly known as bird flu, had spread to dairy cows for the first time. The CDC also stated that, although the risk of transmission to humans remained low, the potential for further mutation by the virus meant the outbreak could develop into a pandemic.