Our panel of medical experts discusses the biggest health headlines of the month, including:
- A federal vaccine committee has voted to end the long-standing recommendation that all newborns receive the hepatitis B vaccine at birth.
- Two Cochrane reviews confirm that the HPV vaccine is both safe and highly effective, reducing cervical cancer risk by 80% when given before age 16.
- A major nationwide analysis finds that sleeping fewer than seven hours a night was one of the strongest predictors of shorter life expectancy across U.S. counties.
- A new wave of GLP-1 drugs promising greater convenience, fewer side effects and more dramatic results could come to market as soon as next year.
- The U.S., now facing nearly 1,800 measles cases across 42 states, is at risk of losing its elimination status as linked outbreaks spread from Texas to South Carolina, Utah and Arizona.
- A new analysis shows how some hospitals are avoiding unnecessary cesarean procedures for first-time, low‑risk mothers.
- A new study suggests in‑car driving data could help flag early cognitive decline.
- How to distinguish a common cold from flu or COVID and why testing is critical.
Guests:
- Chad Neilsen, director of infection prevention and control at Nemours Children’s Health in Florida
- Dr. Donna G. Ivery, OB/GYN and author of Not Your Granny’s Menopause
- Dr. Joseph Drazkowski, neurologist at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine in Arizona
- Dr. Dacre Knight, internist at UVA Health in Charlottesville