Latest reporting from the Health desk, in reverse chronological order.
Health departments across the U.S. were whipsawed when a major federal public health grant program was suddenly paused and then quickly reversed, complicating planning for emergency preparedness and routine health operations.
Enhanced Affordable Care Act tax credits ended on January 1, 2026, driving sharp premium increases for many marketplace enrollees. Analysts warn millions could drop coverage unless Congress renews the subsidies, raising stakes for health policy fights this year.
International health authorities are expected to review whether the United States still meets the definition of measles elimination after a year of linked outbreaks. Experts say the milestone is largely symbolic, but the continued spread reflects weakened vaccination coverage and public health capacity.
The CDC announced changes to the U.S. childhood immunization schedule on January 5, 2026, shifting several vaccines into high-risk or shared decision-making categories while keeping coverage requirements; medical groups have sharply criticized the move.
State and local health departments were jolted after the federal government paused a large public health infrastructure grant and then reversed course. Officials said the episode disrupted planning and underscored how quickly administrative decisions can cascade into operational risk for disease response and emergency preparedness.
The CDC announced it accepted recommendations from a scientific assessment of U.S. childhood immunization practices, following a directive to compare schedules with other developed nations. The move has triggered immediate scrutiny from public-health stakeholders, and it arrives as the U.S. faces renewed pressure from vaccine-preventable disease outbreaks.
Federal health officials announced an updated U.S. childhood immunization schedule following a presidential memorandum directing HHS and the CDC to review international practices. The agency said vaccines remain covered without cost-sharing while recommendations are organized into categories, a change that has sparked debate among public health experts and clinicians.
The U.S. could lose its measles elimination status if transmission continues uninterrupted for 12 months, with international health authorities set to review the situation in April 2026. Public health experts say slipping vaccination coverage and repeated outbreaks have created the conditions for the virus to spread widely again.
The 2025–26 U.S. flu season has been marked by high levels of flu-like illness and substantial hospitalizations, prompting renewed public health messaging around vaccination, early treatment and protecting high-risk groups.
The CDC’s mid-January FluView update said influenza activity stayed elevated nationwide but decreased or held steady for two consecutive weeks. Officials noted they would keep monitoring for another wave that often follows the winter holidays.
CDC’s latest update says 416 measles cases have been confirmed in the U.S. in 2026 so far, with most linked to outbreaks that started in 2025 and cases spread across multiple jurisdictions.
U.S. health officials have characterized the 2025–26 influenza season as moderately severe, with millions of illnesses estimated so far. Public health experts point to holiday travel, vaccination gaps and misinformation as contributors as activity remains elevated.