Infectious disease physicians expressed alarm over how the Trump administration bypassed open and established processes for changing vaccine recommendations, and voiced particular concern over restrictions to COVID-19 vaccines in pregnancy.

During a briefing hosted by the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) on Friday, experts urged clinicians seeking information on COVID vaccination to look to specialty societies for evidence-based guidance in lieu of government websites.

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Illinois leaders reaffirmed Wednesday that state law requires pregnant women to have access to the full range of life-saving care, including abortions, when they are in emergency rooms. [Health News Illinois]

The comments come as the Trump administration said this week it will rescind a federal requirement that hospitals provide emergency abortions to women whose health is in peril, including in states where abortion is restricted or banned.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services said in its policy statement that hospitals would still be subject to a federal law requiring them to provide reproductive healthcare in emergencies, though it did not elaborate on what that means.

“This cruel action by the Trump administration creates confusion for healthcare providers and is one more example of how the Dobbs (v. Jackson Women's Health Organization) decision has diminished maternal health and healthcare for all women across the country,” Gov. JB Pritzker said in a statement.

Department of Public Health Director Dr. Sameer Vohra said they are working to ensure all Illinois hospitals are aware that a state law passed last year clarifies that life-saving treatment, including pregnancy termination, must be offered by providers. 

Those who do not comply can be penalized.

"Hospitals and healthcare providers have the responsibility to provide necessary healthcare to protect the life and health of everyone in a medical emergency, including abortions when warranted," Vohra said.

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The 3-year-old program has relieved the most debt for people on Chicago's South and West sides and in the south and west suburbs.  [Chicago Sun-Times]

Cook County has erased nearly $665 million in medical debt for local residents since launching the effort in 2022, according to new figures released Thursday.

County leaders are celebrating the latest milestone of the program, which has so far helped almost 557,000 people have some of their debt abolished.

The effort has relieved the most debt for people on Chicago’s South and West sides and in the south and west suburbs. The amount erased ranges from about $600 to $4,000 on average per person, depending on where they live.

“This has been a real boon to a substantial number of our residents,” said Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle. “This I think is what the president of the United States at the time, Joe Biden, and Congress intended — that we make a real impact on peoples’ lives in the aftermath of a really cataclysmic event, not just the health scare, but the very troubling economic impacts that followed the pandemic.”

The county has become a national model for how other local governments can use their resources to erase medical debt for residents. Cook County partners with the nonprofit Undue Medical Debt, which buys old uncollectible bills from hospitals and others for pennies on the dollar, and then forgives it. With $1, Undue Medical Debt leaders have said they can relieve as much as $100 of medical debt or more at a time.

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The Institute of Medicine of Chicago will award Dr. Archana Chatterjee, MD, PhD, the 2025 The Portes Foundation & IOMC Award for Prevention of Disease. This honor will be presented at the 2025 Leadership Awards & Annual Meeting on June 26, 2025, at Maggiano's-Chicago. The event is open to all and unites healthcare advocates, academic institutions, medical organizations, and community partners. For more details and to register, visit here.

Dr. Chatterjee has advocated for pediatric health throughout her academic career. She has trained the next generation of pediatricians in infectious diseases, her groundbreaking research on childhood vaccines has improved patients’ health, and her service in the American Pediatric Society, the Society for Pediatric Research, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the Pediatric
Infectious Diseases Society has been a model of leadership.

Beginning in 2000, she served as the Hospital Epidemiologist and Medical Director of Infection Control at the Children’s Hospital and Medical Center (CUSOM) in Omaha, NE, for 13 years. In 2006, she became the Chief of the Division of Pediatric Infectious Disease. From 2013 to 2020, she served as Professor and Chair of the Department of Pediatrics and Senior Associate Dean for Faculty Development at the University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine (USD SSOM).

During this extended 20-year period, Dr. Chatterjee was either the only or one of 2 to 3 pediatric infectious disease specialists caring for the children in the states of Nebraska and South Dakota.

Trained as an infectious disease specialist focusing on vaccinology, Dr. Chatterjee is board-certified in General Pediatrics and Pediatric Infectious Diseases by the American Board of Pediatrics. She is nationally recognized
for her work in vaccine development for human papillomaviruses, serving on the FDA’s Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC) since 2019.

This year, she became the Chair-Elect for the American Board of Pediatrics, Sub-board of Pediatric Infectious Diseases. She has also written a book entitled “Vaccinophobia and Vaccine Controversies of the 21st Century” and is currently working on an updated version.

You can learn more about Dr. Chatterjee and our leadership award recipients at the event. Grab a ticket now!

2025 Leadership Awards & Annual Meeting
110th Anniversary
June 26, 2025
5:00 PM - 8:00 PM CT
Maggianos-Chicago

For more details and to register>

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Removing fluoride from U.S. public water systems would lead to a 7.5% increase in tooth decay and cost at least $9.8 billion over five years, according to a study published May 30 in the Journal of the American Medical Association Health Forum.. [Becker's Dental & DSO Review]

HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said in April that he plans to advise the CDC to stop recommending adding fluoride to public water supplies. His comments followed the National Toxicology Program’s report concluding that fluoride exposure above 1.5 milligrams per liter is associated with lower IQ in children. Although the NTP affirmed a lack of evidence for health effects associated with fluoride exposure less than 1.5 milligrams, the study has led to several states and municipalities to end their community water fluoridation programs. 

The JAMA study was conducted by researchers from the Harvard University School of Dental Medicine and Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. A cost-effectiveness analysis was conducted to estimate changes in tooth decay, quality-adjusted life years and the costs associated with fluoride removal. The study used data from more than 8,400 children ages 0-19 from the National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey, including dental utilization, oral health examinations and access to fluoride in public water systems in the U.S.

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The New York Times: CDC Issues New Advice On Covid Vaccines For Children That Contradicted RFK Jr.

Days after Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced that Covid shots would be removed from the federal immunization schedule for children, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued updated advice that largely countered Mr. Kennedy’s new policy. The agency kept Covid shots on the schedule for healthy children 6 months to 17 years old, but added a new condition. Children and their caregivers will be able to get the vaccines in consultation with a doctor or provider, which the agency calls “shared decision-making.” (Jewett, 5/30) [KFF Health News] 

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Grab your ticket - 30 days to the 2025 Leadership Awards. Join us in honoring LaRabida Children's Hospital with the 2025 Innovation in Health Care Delivery Award! June 26, 2025-open to all>

than 90% of patients are insured through Medicaid and Medicaid Managed Care. The hospital treats all patients,regardless of financial circumstances.

La Rabida’s Behavioral Health and Community Programs are making a profound impact throughout Cook County, offering critical mental health services to children and families affected by trauma. La Rabida is a leader in advancing mental health initiatives in Illinois. The team’s focus is centered around trauma-informed care.

Attend the 2025 Leadership Awards to learn more about their achievements, offer congratulations, and meet the other award recipients. This event brings together advocates, academic institutions, healthcare leaders, and community centers.

For more details and to register, visit this page>

The Institute of Medicine of Chicago will award Dr. LaMenta Conway, MD, MPH, the 2025 IOMC Award for Public Service for her leadership with the I Am Abel Foundation. This honor will be presented at the 2025 Leadership Awards & Annual Meeting on June 26, 2025, at Maggianos-Chicago. The event is open to all and unites healthcare advocates, academic institutions, medical organizations, and community partners. More details and to register here>

Dr. Conway is a board-certified physician who is trained in both Internal Medicine and Pediatrics. She graduated from Rush University Medical College and trained at the University of Illinois. With over 22 years of clinical experience and a transformative legacy of community service, she stands as an e x t r a o r d i n a r y candidate for the IOMC Award for Public Service.

Her leadership extends far beyond the clinic. As Deputy Chief of Medicine for the Illinois Department of Corrections, Dr. Conway oversees the healthcare of more than 30,000 incarcerated individuals—demonstrating both technical excellence and a deep humanitarian commitment. Yet, her greatest impact may lie outside institutional walls. Following the devastating loss of two young family members to gun violence, Dr. Conway channeled grief into action by founding the I AM ABEL Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to mentoring underrepresented youth in Chicago who aspire to careers in medicine, STEM, and service.

Through this mission, she has:
● Mentored hundreds of students via one-on-one physician pairings, academic advising, and leadership training.
● Led clinical and global health immersion programs in Haiti, Costa Rica, and Cuba.
● Established the Urban Bridges Medical Mentoring Pipeline Program, one of the Midwest’s most comprehensive, community-based physician pipeline initiatives.
● Launched the Chicago Health, Medical & Law Conference, now in its 8th year, which has provided thousands of students with exposure to healthcare professions and hands-on experiences.

The I Am Abel Foundation is a 501 (c) (3) Chicago-area non-profit organization incorporated in 2015, whose mission is to identify, engage, and curate the large pool of untapped gifts, talent, and intellect among inner-city youth.

You can learn more about Dr. Conway and our leadership award recipients at the event. Grab a ticket now- visit this page> 

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Here are 10 new shortages and discontinuations, according to drug supply databases from the FDA and the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists.  [Beckers Hospital Review]

Editor’s note: The drugs listed are in alphabetical order.

Cholestyramine powder: Upsher-Smith Laboratories has discontinued the 4g/5.5g powder presentations of cholestyramine, used to lower cholesterol and treat certain cardiovascular conditions, due to a business decision.
Conjugated estrogens injection: Pfizer’s Premarin 25mg lyophilized powder vials, used for hormone replacement therapy, is in shortage due to manufacturing delays. No resupply date is available.

Imatinib acetate tablets: Several manufacturers, including Major, Strides Pharma, Teva Pharmaceuticals and Upsher-Smith Laboratories, have reported shortages of imatinib tablets, used in oncology for chromic myeloid leukemia and other cancers. Apotex estimates resupply in late 2025, Teva anticipates a release of early to mid-July and Upsher-Smith has tablets on allocation for primary customers. Alternative products such as Novartis’ Gleevec and Mylan remain available.

Megestrol acetate tablets: Major, Strides Pharma and Teva Pharmaceuticals have placed megestrol acetate, used to treat loss of appetite and weight loss in cancer and AIDS patients, on back order with no current resupply dates provided.

Minocycline hydrochloride capsule: Teva Pharmaceuticals has discontinued the 75 mg capsule presentation of minocycline hydrochloride, an antibiotic used for bacterial infections, for business reasons.
Nortiptyline hydrochloride capsule: Teva Pharmaceuticals has discontinued the 75 mg capsule of Nortiptyline Hydrochloride, used for psychiatry, due to business reasons.

Oxybutynin chloride tablet: Upsher-Smith Laboratories discontinued all 5 mg tablet presentations used to treat overactive bladder and other renal-related conditions.

Phenytoin oral suspension: Mylan and Sun Pharma report shortages of 125 mg/mL oral suspensions, used as an anticonvulsant to prevent seizures. No resupply dates are available. Alternative Dilantin 125 suspension remains available.

Potassium chloride capsule, extended release: Used to treat potassium deficiency related to endocrine/metabolic and gastrointestinal conditions. Teva Pharmaceuticals has discontinued all extended release capsules in 600 mg and 750 mg strengths.

Propafenone hydrochloride capsule, extended release: Upsher-Smith Laboratories discontinued all extended release 225 mg, 325 mg and 425 mg capsules, used in cardiovascular treatments to manage arrhythmias, based on a business decision.

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The CDC no longer recommends that healthy children and pregnant women receive routine COVID-19 vaccinations, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said May 27. [Beckers Clinical Leadership]

The CDC removed COVID-19 vaccines from its recommended immunization schedule for these populations, effective immediately. The agency had previously recommended vaccination for everyone six months and older.

“Bottom line: it’s common sense and it’s good science,” Mr. Kennedy wrote in a May 27 post on X. “We are now one step closer to realizing @POTUS’s promise to Make America Healthy Again.”

The move comes a week after the FDA shared a new regulatory framework for COVID-19 vaccine approvals that could limit access to updated shots this fall for healthy individuals under age 65. Boosters are still expected to be available for adults 65 and older, as well as individuals over six months old with at least one underlying condition that increases their risk of complications. 

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