Two new reports this week from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provide more detail on the deadliest flu season for US children in more than a decade. [CIDRAP -Center for Infectious  Disease Research & Policy Research and Innovation Office, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN,] 

The reports, published yesterday in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), include data on the 280 US children who died during the 2024-25 flu season, along with information on 109 children who died from a rare and severe neurologic complication of flu during the season. The 280 pediatric flu deaths are the highest number reported in the United States since the 2009-10 H1N1 pandemic and the highest for a non-pandemic flu season since child deaths became nationally notifiable in 2004.

The reports add further information on what the CDC has previously described as a high-severity flu season.

Highest mortality rate seen in infants

In first report, researchers with the CDC's National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases analyzed data from the Influenza-Associated Pediatric Mortality Surveillance System, which collects reports on pediatric flu deaths from state and local health departments.

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The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has launched effort aimed at reducing the rate of preventable stillbirths in the United States. Investigators will develop tools, devices and other technologies that have the potential to affect diagnosis and prevention efforts relevant to stillbirth, which occurs in 1 in 160 deliveries in the U.S. About 23,600 stillbirths at 20 weeks or greater gestation are reported annually. [NIH]

More than 60% of the nearly 24,000 stillbirth cases annually remain unexplained.

More than 60% of stillbirth cases remain unexplained even after exclusion of common causes, such as congenital abnormalities, genetic factors, and obstetric complications. NIH will fund the Stillbirth Research Consortium for more than $37 million over five years, pending the availability of funds, with $750,000 in co-funding from the Department of Health and Human Services.

“This consortium will provide an integrated, collaborative program to support cutting edge research to identify the root causes of stillbirth and inform evidence-based strategies to address stillbirth risks,” said Alison Cernich, Ph.D., acting director of NIH’s Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. “Too many families needlessly face the grief of stillbirth.”

People who have experienced stillbirth are almost five times as likely to experience another stillbirth or other pregnancy associated complication. The rate of stillbirth is considerably higher among Black, American Indian, and Alaska Native people. About 40% of stillbirths that occur during labor and birth are considered potentially preventable.  

The Stillbirth Consortium will consist of four research centers and a data coordinating center.

• The Data Coordinating Center at RTI International, Research Triangle, North Carolina, will facilitate development and implementation of common projects across the research centers and ensure rigor in study data and data sharing. The center will support common data elements, standard measures, and uniform data collection across research centers. The project will be led by Elizabeth McClure, Ph.D., and Carla Bann, Ph.D.
• The University of California San Diego Center for Stillbirth Prevention Center specializes in identifying the causes of placental dysfunction that underlie fetal growth restriction and contribute to stillbirth. The project is led by Mana Parast, M.D., Ph.D., director of the Perinatal Pathology Service; and Cynthia Gyamfi-Bannerman, M.D., chair and professor of obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive services.
• The Collaborative Action for Research to End Stillbirth (CARES) Research Center at Columbia University, New York City, has expertise in electronic health records and artificial intelligence-aided analysis to develop automated algorithms specifically for early identification of stillbirth risk and to develop novel biomarkers of underlying placental dysfunction for predicting stillbirth. The project is led by Uma Reddy, M.D., professor of obstetrics and gynecology; and Xiao Xu, Ph.D., associate professor of reproductive sciences.
• The University of Utah Stillbirth Research Center has expertise in education, bereavement/mental health and advocacy. The center will evaluate decreased fetal movement, stratification of stillbirth risk based on decreased fetal movement, and optimal strategies for managing it. This project is led by Robert Silver, M.D., professor of obstetrics and gynecology, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City.
• The Nutrition and Outcomes of Reproductive Injury and Stillbirth related Harms (NOURISH) Research Center at Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, has expertise in the role of nutrition, chronic stress, cardiometabolic health, and placental dysfunction to identify promising interventions aimed at reducing preventable stillbirth. This project is led by Karen Gibbins, M.D., assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology; and Leslie Myatt, Ph.D., professor and director of perinatal research.

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Mental health will be a primary focus for the first time at an United Nations General Assembly session [ on Sept. 25].  [Becker's Behavioral Health] 

World leaders are expected to adopt a declaration that outlines global priorities to improve mental healthcare access, according to a Sept. 25 report. The declaration calls for expanded access to primary care, recognition of shared risk factors between noncommunicable diseases and mental health, and the creation of a mechanism for sustainable financing — particularly in low- and middle-income countries. 

“This is the first time that we can report more than 1 billion people have a mental health condition,” Devora Kestel, MD, director ad interim director of noncommunicable diseases and mental health at the World Health Organization said. “Only 9% of people with depression … receive support. Only 40% of people with psychosis receive help.”

The proposed declaration prioritizes integrated, community-level services and cross-sector collaboration in areas such as nutrition, air quality and economic policy, according to the report. WHO leaders also emphasized the need to amplify the voices of people with lived experience and reduce stigma around mental health.

The meeting aims to elevate mental health as a core global health issue and spur coordinated political action across UN member states, according to the report. 

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The CDC made a strong recommendation based on a high certainty of evidence to use the long-acting injectable lenacapavir (Yeztugo) for HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), but will that ensure the treatment's place in the nation's health plan formularies? [MEDPAGE Today]

"[Lenacapavir] is a highly effective and safe PrEP option administered every 6 months, which provides the potential to improve PrEP adherence and thus enhance HIV prevention in the United States," the CDC's PrEP Guidelines Work Group stated in its clinical recommendation, published last week in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

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— The same measures can help prevent both atrocities |

For American kids, the new school year marks the return of active shooter drills. While events like Columbine and Sandy Hook are flash-points in the debate over gun rights and safety, some experts suggest these drills may do more psychological harm than good. Our priorities are misguided because a far greater firearm threat is the leading cause of death among children and teens: suicide. [MEDPAGE Today]

Since the Columbine High School massacre, the total number of deaths from school shootings is dwarfed by the number of young lives lost to firearm suicide. Estimates suggest upwards of 500 K-12 students have have died in U.S. school shootings since 1999; in contrast, over 3,400 young people (ages 10-24) die by firearm suicide each year in our country. At the individual level it is worse. American children are 20 times more likely to die by firearm suicide at home than in a shooting at school.

This preventable loss of life from suicide and school shootings shares a common thread: easy access to firearms. In fact, 76% of firearms used in school shootings and 79% used in suicides are obtained from the home of a family member. One way to prevent these deaths is secure storage, as promoted by campaigns like Be SMARTand proposed federal legislation like Ethan's Law.

The problem of youth suicide isn't going away: research confirms a rise in suicidal ideation among American teens. A CDC report based on 2023 data showed that nearly 40% of U.S. high school students reported persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness.

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The Department of Public Health said Tuesday it will adopt new fall vaccine guidance that recommends COVID-19 vaccines for all adults and most children. [Health News Illinois]

The recommendations come from IDPH’s Immunization Advisory Committee Meeting, which voted Monday to recommend vaccinations for all Illinoisans 18 and older. 

The agency also adopted the committee’s COVID-19 vaccine recommendations for those between 6 and 23 months old, and for children between 2 and 17 years old if they are in a higher-risk category or if parents want them to have the vaccine.

The guidance also covers RSV immunization and flu vaccinations.

IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra also said Tuesday that he has issued a standing order to allow eligible providers in pharmacies and other clinical settings to administer vaccines recommended by the agency.

IDPH said it recommends that healthcare providers follow Centers for Disease Control and Prevention immunization schedules for children and adults issued as of last month, which it said are based on years of science, research, data and best practices.”

“All Illinoisans, including concerned parents and healthcare providers, deserve credible, transparent, science-based vaccine guidance,” Vohra said. “(Our) recommendations, made in consultation with our Immunization Advisory Committee, will ensure that residents can protect themselves and their family members this upcoming respiratory season.”

Monday’s meeting comes as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices voted last week on a more restrictive approach to coronavirus vaccines by recommending that everyone consult a clinician before getting a shot.

The CDC must still adopt the recommendation before it becomes official.

State-regulated insurers will be required to cover vaccines based on IDPH recommendations. That includes seasonal and routine child and adult vaccines.

Illinois health leaders said Tuesday they were grateful for the state’s efforts to lead on vaccine policy.

“These vaccine recommendations provide clear guidance to patients, physicians and payers,” said Dr. Richard Anderson, president of the Illinois State Medical Society. “As we enter the fall respiratory virus season, it’s important for children and adults to get timely immunizations to protect themselves, their loved ones, and the community from these easily transmissible diseases.”

AHIP, the national association for health insurance, recently said its member health plans will continue to cover all the vaccines that they covered as of Sept. 1, including updated COVID-19 vaccines, through the end of 2026.

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For American kids, the new school year marks the return of active shooter drills. While events like Columbine and Sandy Hook are flash-points in the debate over gun rights and safety, some experts suggest these drills may do more psychological harm than good. Our priorities are misguided because a far greater firearm threat is the leading cause of death among children and teens: suicide. [MedPage Today]

Since the Columbine High School massacre, the total number of deaths from school shootings is dwarfed by the number of young lives lost to firearm suicide. Estimates suggest upwards of 500 K-12 students have have died in U.S. school shootings since 1999; in contrast, over 3,400 young people (ages 10-24) die by firearm suicide each year in our country. At the individual level it is worse. American children are 20 times more likely to die by firearm suicide at home than in a shooting at school.

This preventable loss of life from suicide and school shootings shares a common thread: easy access to firearms. In fact, 76% of firearms used in school shootings and 79% used in suicides are obtained from the home of a family member. One way to prevent these deaths is secure storage, as promoted by campaigns like Be SMARTand proposed federal legislation like Ethan's Law.

The problem of youth suicide isn't going away: research confirms a rise in suicidal ideation among American teens. A CDC report based on 2023 data showed that nearly 40% of U.S. high school students reported persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness.

More>

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 The U.S. Census Bureau today (9.9.20250 announced that real median household income was $83,730 in 2024, not statistically different from the 2023 estimate of $82,690. The official poverty rate fell 0.4 percentage points to 10.6% in 2024. The following 2024 findings were all not statistically different from 2023. The Supplemental Poverty Measure (SPM) rate in 2024 was 12.9%. Meanwhile, 92.0% of the U.S. population had health insurance coverage for all or part of 2024. An estimated 27.1 million or 8.0% of people did not have health insurance at any point during 2024, according to the 2025 Current Population Survey Annual Social and Economic Supplement (CPS ASEC). 

These findings come from three Census Bureau reports: “Income in the United States: 2024,” “Poverty in the United States: 2024,” and “Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2024.” While the official poverty measure is based on the concept of money income, which is pretax and does not include tax credits, the SPM is a post-tax and transfer poverty measure. The SPM provides an alternative way of measuring poverty in the United States and serves as an additional indicator of economic well-being. The Census Bureau has published poverty estimates using the SPM annually since 2011 in collaboration with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

For consistency with past reports, the income estimates in the “Income in the United States: 2024” report are based on the concept of money income. Appendix B of the income report provides post-tax estimates of median household income and income inequality metrics.

All three reports are based on data from the CPS ASEC. The Current Population Survey (CPS), sponsored jointly by the Census Bureau and BLS, is conducted monthly and is a primary source of labor force statistics for the U.S. population. Supplements are added in most months. The CPS ASEC — conducted in February, March and April — is designed to provide annual, national estimates of income, poverty and health insurance, collecting information about job status, income and health insurance coverage for the prior calendar year.

Although the 2025 CPS ASEC was collected using standard procedures, response rates are still lower than they were before the pandemic. The weighted response rate for the 2025 CPS ASEC was 62.0%, compared to 61.7% for the previous year.

As response rates decline, the risk of bias increases. To reduce the bias, the CPS ASEC program includes adjustments to survey weights for nonresponse and controls them to population totals to ensure the CPS ASEC results are representative of the U.S. population.

Since response rates remain below pre-pandemic levels, examining how respondents differ from nonrespondents is important, as this difference could affect the accuracy of the estimates. For more details on how sample differences and the associated nonresponse bias impact income and official poverty estimates, refer to the Research Matters blog,

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You may be interested- The U.S. Centenarian Population Grew by 50% Between 2010 and 2020>

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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's vaccine recommendations committee on Friday wrapped two days of meetings that involved votes on a range of recommendations regarding COVID-19, measles and more. {CBS]

The recommendations panel, known as the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, or ACIP, has undergone changes in recent months, with all new members picked by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

The ACIP's recommendations are not the final say — they must be reviewed and approved by the CDC director to become official guidance, but CDC directors have almost always accepted the recommendations.

MMRV vaccine recommendations

The panel voted Thursday to change a recommendation on the combined measles, mumps, rubella and varicella (MMRV) vaccine, supporting separate, not combined, MMR and varicella shots for those under the age of 4. 

More> https://www.cbsnews.com/news/cdc-acip-recap-measles-mmrv-covid-vaccines/

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Gov. JB Pritzker is the latest Illinois official to urge Congress to extend enhanced premium tax credits for marketplace plans.[Health News Illinois]

Pritzker joined 16 other Democratic governors in a letter to the four Congressional leaders, saying lawmakers needed to act soon on the tax credits, which are set to expire at the end of the year.

“If Congress acts quickly, states can lock in lower premiums and spare families a wave of sticker shock this fall,” the governors said. “If not, the damage will be felt for years.”

The deadline for government funding has put the tax credits in the limelight as Democrats seek to pressure Republicans into extending subsidies that have helped expand health insurance coverage.

Some Republicans have shown openness to an extension by year’s end, with Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., saying he is open to discussing legislation to extend the subsidies if it is not part of a government funding deal.  

Get Covered Illinois Director Morgan Winters joined other state-based health insurance marketplace leaders earlier this month to ask Congress to support an extension.

A recent analysis found most Illinois insurers will seek double-digit rate increases on next year’s exchange, with officials pointing to rising healthcare costs and the expiration of temporary subsidies.

The average requested rate change in Illinois ranges from 9.3 percent sought by MercyCare HMO to 38.6 percent pursued by Centene’s Celtic Insurance Company.

KFF reported that the median proposed premium increase nationwide is 18 percent, about 11 percentage points higher than last year and the largest change insurers have asked for since 2018.

The Illinois Department of Insurance said preliminary estimates would place the average rate increase at approximately 10 percentage points lower if the tax credits are reinstated.

“Families shouldn’t have to choose between having healthcare and putting food on the table,” Pritzker said in a statement. “Republicans in Congress had no issue cutting taxes for billionaires, so they should have no issue extending tax relief for their own constituents who will suffer if they expire. This shouldn’t be a partisan issue – it’s common sense.”

KFF data show that 330,216 Illinoisans received enhanced tax credits last year, saving an average of $548 monthly on premiums.

Nearly 466,000 Illinoisans enrolled in health plans during the 2025 open enrollment period.

Illinois is set to launch its state-based marketplace for the coming plan year. Open enrollment begins in November and runs through January 15.

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