During Robert F. Kennedy, Jr’s confirmation hearings for his role as Health and Human Services Secretary, he made several promises on vaccines and funding for healthcare that he has broken. We are now living through the consequences of those broken promises. 

The Bad News: 

The US is rapidly losing its status as a measles-free country with multiple ongoing outbreaks. Earlier this year, a California study found that schools with low vaccination rates lost millions of dollars in state funding. Senator Bill Cassidy criticized Secretary of Defense (“War”) Pete Hegseth after he removed the flu mandate for the military, and a flu outbreak infected several hundred service members at an Air Force base in Texas. Senator Bernie Sanders released internal emails from the CDC and HHS showing Robert F. Kennedy, Jr’s hand in politicizing the health departments and working to eliminate vaccine recommendations and programs for children, among other egregious actions. Acting CDC Director Jay Bhattacharya attempted to block the publication of a COVID-19 study that confirmed that “COVID-19 vaccines reduced the likelihood of COVID-19-related hospitalization and severe illness among adults by about half”. This study has now been published in JAMA Network. 

The Better News: 

• Multiple outbreaks of measles may be driving parents to get their kids vaccinated. 

• The military is now reinstating its flu vaccine mandate as a result of the flu outbreak. 

• The American College of Obstetrics & Gynecology (ACOG) has released its own recommendations for a maternal immunization schedule that includes the COVID-19 vaccine. 

• A recent major study just found obtaining the flu shot and COVID-19 vaccine at the same time is no riskier than obtaining it separately. 

• The World Health Organization (WHO) is inviting youth to develop short videos highlighting the importance of influenza and/or COVID-19 prevention and control. This competition opens August 3rd, 2026 and runs through September 13, 2026. 

• Earlier this year, Stanford Medicine researchers developed a possible universal vaccine that was tested on mice and delivered via nasal spray that provided protection against a wide range of respiratory viruses and bacteria for several months. Since then, they’ve been awarded an $18 million grant by ARIA, a research and development funding agency based in the United Kingdom, to collaborate with researchers, to advance the platform towards human testing.

• mRNA vaccines show enormous potential in fighting multiple cancers, and studies are continuing despite federal cuts. 

• Multiple tech companies launched a $500 nonprofit called the Intercept Fund aimed at preventing the common cold and flu, looking into vaccines as well as air-cleaning systems. 

• After DOGE cuts last year, and increasing media scrutiny on HHS Secretary Robert F Kennedy, Jr’s controversial actions on vaccines, Senate Health & Finance Committees look to be moving forward in July with hearings on the nominations of Erica Schwartz (former deputy surgeon general) for CDC Director, Nicole Saphier (radiologist and former Fox News contributor) for Surgeon General, and Chris Klomps (current Medicare director) for deputy health secretary to bring stability to these agencies.  The nominees appear less overtly political or not staked out in controversial positions like vaccines policy. Previous nominees have not moved forward or have terminated.  FDA Commissioner position remains vacant.

What You Can Do To Protect Yourself and Others:

• Protect yourself by staying up-to-date on vaccines. In California, you can request a digital vaccine record for your own medical records. Follow the CDPH guidelines for immunization recommendations. 

• Support candidates who are pro-health. Dr. Richard Pan, pediatrician and advocate for public health, won his primary in CA-6 and is facing the general election in November. Aisha Wahab has delivered in the CA state senate on lowering prescription drug prices and expanding coverage for mental health and is running in the CA-14 race to replace Eric Swalwell in August and November. 

• Advocate and promote pro-health laws such as vaccine mandates and updated building ventilation standards.

• Did you make your comment on OMB’s proposed Regulation for Federal Financial Assistance yet? Comments are still open until July 13, 2026. (Remember to make your remarks original, as duplicate comments will be consolidated). As of today, more than 11,000+ comments have been submitted, and The Heritage Foundation is urging comments in support of the rule. Make your opposition heard!

• We heard about this free event from one of our ITV contributors. If you or someone you know needs dental care, please attend Sustainable Smiles’ first free annual dental care event on July 18, 2026. 

Have feedback for us? Comments or suggestions? Email us at itvhealth@proton.me.