Vaccination policies are a cornerstone of public health, but anti-vaccine activists have been adamantly pushing for legislation that would weaken and dismantle the public health infrastructure, the authors write. In this issue brief, they examine vaccine policy challenges leading up to and during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the future of vaccine legislation in Texas and the United States.
The authors identify key themes that emerged from anti-vaccine testimonies during the 2021 Texas legislative session and consider the implications of these discussions as the next legislative session draws near.
As false or inaccurate information about stem cell interventions continues to circulate widely, the authors write that immediate action is needed to improve patient education and safety — and to combat misinformation more broadly.
Information and cyber action have been important but ancillary components of the Ukraine war since its outbreak on February 24, 2022. We offer a set of observations:
Christopher Bronk, Gabriel Collins, Dan WallachSeptember 6, 2022
There have been promising developments in recent years in the fight to reduce overdose deaths. But barriers to drug checking and other overdose prevention tools remain throughout the country, writes fellow Katharine Neill Harris.
Scientists and members of the public exploring the controversial area of U.S. human embryo and embryoid research will find a complex and sometimes bewildering assortment of federal and state laws. The authors recommend additional guidance, but note slow progress in the development of embryo research policy.
Companies developing stem cell-based interventions should work with policymakers and patient advocates to address risks for current and future patients and to protect clinical research and the reputation of the field, write the authors. Read their full article in Cell & Gene Therapy Insights (free registration).
The intense marketing of unproven stem cell interventions has become an international health concern. The authors offer resources and suggestions for physicians seeking to effectively counsel patients and respond to their questions about various stem cell therapies.
The authors examine a proposal for new human embryo and embryoid guidelines, writing that before conducting any research beyond day 14, scientists must develop clear, thoughtful and culturally sensitive guidelines that include limitations and oversight procedures to ensure that science responds to societal needs and values.
Kirstin R.W. Matthews, Ana S. Iltis, Sam LoweDecember 21, 2021