A report, cleared by the CDC’s scientific review process and scheduled for publication in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, utilized the same methodology also employed by numerous leading medical journals to assess vaccine efficacy. This report, obtained by the Post, found that between September and December 2025, healthy adults vaccinated against COVID-19 experienced a 50 percent reduction in urgent care or emergency room visits and a 55 percent decrease in COVID-related hospitalizations compared to their unvaccinated counterparts. The agency had previously published a similar report on the flu vaccine using this methodology.
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Influenza levels in the U.S. have surged to their highest point since the 2009 swine flu pandemic, with nearly 8% of outpatient respiratory illness visits attributed to the flu. This second wave of the season surpasses recent years’ peaks, driving overall respiratory illness levels to “very high.” While most states currently exhibit high or very high influenza activity, a decline is anticipated in many areas. Despite the severity, current cases are attributed to typical seasonal variants, not a novel strain.
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In a significant development, drug overdose deaths in the U.S. experienced a record 17% decrease between July 2023 and July 2024, according to a new CDC report. This follows record-high overdose numbers in 2022, exceeding 108,000 deaths. Attributed to increased naloxone access, targeted law enforcement efforts, and expanded treatment options, this substantial drop marks a major turning point in the fight against the opioid crisis. The White House credits the administration’s comprehensive strategy, which includes international cooperation, for contributing to this positive trend.
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John Q. Hosedrinker