Public Health On Call

Public Health On Call

Evidence and experts to help you understand today's public health news—and what it means for tomorrow.

Episodes

January 8, 2026 13 mins

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Pertussis—more commonly known as "whooping cough—is on the rise, with more than 25,000 cases and a number of child deaths recorded in the U.S. in 2025. In thi...

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Citing a memorandum from President Trump, health officials in the Trump Administration are ending routine recommendations for vaccinating against meningitis, ...

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HHS leadership started 2026 with an unexpected announcement changing federal childhood vaccine recommendations. In this episode: Dr. Josh Sharfstein joins Lin...

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January 5, 2026 14 mins

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The U.S. marked its lowest birth rate on record in 2024 with American women having—on average—1.6 children. Does this mean that the country has a fertility cr...

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December 18, 2025 12 mins

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The only thing increasing faster than the number of new pickleball players is the number of pickleball injuries. Between 2017 and 2022, sports medicine expert...

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December 17, 2025 17 mins

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For decades, cosmetics and medicine developers have relied on animal testing to assure product safety for humans. Today, more ethical and accurate alternative...

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Attacking health care facilities and providers is becoming a standard strategy of war in places like Colombia, Lebanon, Ukraine, and Gaza, and it is increasin...

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December 11, 2025 20 mins

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The decline in journalism and the explosion of social media have converged to form an information crisis, with millions exposed to misleading and false information relevant to their health. In this episode: Joanne Kenen, Lymari Morales, and Josh Sharfstein—authors of a new book exploring this issue—talk about the diagnosis of "information sick,...

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    December 10, 2025 16 mins

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    In 1979, the town of Woburn, MA, raised the alarm as unusual numbers of children fell ill with leukemia. An investigation determined that this cancer cluster ...

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    After recovering from an illness like the flu or mononucleosis, most of us will return to our normal lives without complications. But for some, viruses can li...

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    December 4, 2025 18 mins

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    Whether it's a social media post claiming that CBD oil can cure cancer or a very conv...

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    Injury prevention—a field focused on preventing injuries from falls, choking, homicides, car crashes, and other incidents—saves lives and money. Now, the Unit...

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    December 1, 2025 16 mins

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    For over two years, the city of Bangor, ME, has been in the throes of a serious HIV outbreak, exacerbated by a combination of local political battles and nega...

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    Since 2015, the American Academy of Pediatrics has recommended that parents and caregivers introduce peanuts to children's diets at around four to six months ...

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    As hesitancy about human vaccines rises, so too does skepticism of routine pet immunizations. In this episode: Veterinarians Meghan Davis and Kaitlin Waite ex...

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    November 19, 2025 15 mins

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    Robotic telesurgery allows providers to conduct minimally invasive surgeries across long distances, reaching remote communities. In this episode: Binita Ashar...

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    November 17, 2025 14 mins

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    Long-cited research has promoted potential health benefits of moderate alcohol consumption. But updated information disproves these claims and links drinking ...

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    A single court case in North Carolina is holding skilled nursing facilities accountable to adopt anti-discrimination policies for those with a history of subs...

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    November 12, 2025 24 mins

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    Between lawsuits, layoffs, and lags in funding, NIH has undergone significant changes in how it reviews and approves grant proposals for critical research. In...

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