Chelsea Cirruzzo

Can an RFK Jr. action figure help cement the MAHA-MAGA alliance? He’s an action figure. He’s a milk-drinking rave-goer. He’s America’s health secretary.

HHS is drumming up memes + AI-generated versions of RFK Jr. to fuel fervor for his agenda, and they may be finding a sizable MAHA audience. (Not everyone, for a variety of reasons, is a fan.)

New from @chelseacirruzzo.bsky.social @danielpayne.bsky.social

www.statnews.com/2026/02/27/r...

Can an RFK Jr. action figure help cement the MAHA-MAGA alliance? He’s an action figure. He’s a milk-drinking rave-goer. He’s America’s health secretary.

He’s an action figure. He’s a milk-drinking rave-goer. He’s America’s health secretary — and he’s looking to cement the MAHA-MAGA alliance with political clout.

w/ @chelseacirruzzo.bsky.social

www.statnews.com/2026/02/27/r...

What to Know About TrumpRx | The Brian Lehrer Show | WNYC Chelsea Cirruzzo, Washington Correspondent for STAT news, explains what the Trump administration's new prescription drug marketplace aims to do, and who might save money by using it.

ICYMI, @chelseacirruzzo.bsky.social explains the new prescription drug website Trump RX:
www.wnyc.org/story/what-t...

After years of waiting, she wanted to start gender-affirming care. Politics interfered. Medicaid patients can’t use their insurance at Planned Parenthood, unless their state covers it. This is a major setback for trans health care.

Star realized something important a few months ago: She didn’t want to waste time pretending to be someone else.

So at 36, she sought out gender-affirming care.

But since she's on Medicaid, she can't go to the one place near her Ohio town where she feels safe at the doctor: Planned Parenthood

We found at least 18 of the drugs on TrumpRx have cheaper generics available ranging from potential savings of over $600 for Tikosyn to just around $2 for Diflucan. Most of the drugs are made by Pfizer.

So about TrumpRx: We crunched the numbers today and about half of the drugs on there have cheaper generics available already. www.statnews.com/2026/02/06/t...

CDC pauses billions in public health infrastructure grants to states The CDC has paused more than 100 grants to states and organizations to update infrastructure for public health projects.

CDC pauses billions in public health infrastructure grants to states

via @chelseacirruzzo.bsky.social

www.statnews.com/2026/01/24/p...

Hey! My beat is changing. I'm still covering LGBTQ+ news, but now I'm focused on how LGBTQ+ people are navigating the American health care system. I'm sure it's going great, right?

If you're struggling with insurance, care costs or access, then I want to hear about it. Text me on Signal @orionr.80

Top CDC vaccine adviser questions need for polio shot, other longstanding recommendations The chair of a federal vaccine advisory panel charted a new course for the committee in a podcast released Thursday, questioning longstanding recommendations.

President Trump is a believer in the importance of the polio vaccine. The CDC's top vaccine adviser, appointed by RFK Jr., isn't so sure.

Via @chelseacirruzzo.bsky.social @helenbranswell.bsky.social @danielpayne.bsky.social

www.statnews.com/2026/01/22/v...

RFK Jr.’s vaccine panel is laying the groundwork for more scrutiny of childhood shots RFK Jr.’s vaccine panel is laying the groundwork for more scrutiny of childhood shots.

The federal vaccine advisers laid the groundwork this week to reexamine the childhood vaccine schedule broadly.

Then, late Friday, Trump himself directed HHS to do exactly that.

w/ @chelseacirruzzo.bsky.social

www.statnews.com/2025/12/05/c...

C.D.C. Links Measles Outbreaks in Multiple States for the First Time

SCOOP: CDC officials on Monday linked for the first time the measles outbreak that began in Texas with another in Utah and Arizona, a finding that could end America’s status as a nation that has eliminated measles.
(Gift link)

www.nytimes.com/2025/11/17/h...

Many truck drivers don't live past 61. Could digital health help? Many truck drivers don't live past 61. Could digital health help?

Offshift helps truckers build a healthy lifestyle to prevent or manage chronic disease. They can be effective, and yet digital health solutions like those often struggle with like low adoption and engagement, @katiepalmer.bsky.social reports:

www.statnews.com/2025/11/18/t... via @statnews.com

How RFK Jr., America's celebrity health secretary, is steamrolling science RFK Jr. is plowing ahead with sweeping changes to U.S. health care that have thrilled supporters, purged opponents, and horrified critics.

"Decision-based evidence-making" — that's how one former #CDC leader described the approach to scientific decision making under the HHS secretary in a meaty examination of Kennedy's unprecedented tenure by several @statnews.com colleagues. www.statnews.com/2025/11/18/r...

How RFK Jr., America's celebrity health secretary, is steamrolling science RFK Jr. is plowing ahead with sweeping changes to U.S. health care that have thrilled supporters, purged opponents, and horrified critics.

New hard-hitting investigation from my friend @chelseacirruzzo.bsky.social and the excellent team at @statnews.com

How RFK Jr., America’s celebrity health secretary, is steamrolling science

How RFK Jr., America's celebrity health secretary, is steamrolling science RFK Jr. is plowing ahead with sweeping changes to U.S. health care that have thrilled supporters, purged opponents, and horrified critics.

New from me, Casey Ross and Sarah Todd: We got the inside story of how RFK Jr. has become the driving voice on America’s health — including running his department like Trump runs the White House and how his lifestyle has melded into his policy goals: www.statnews.com/2025/11/18/r...

How RFK Jr., America's celebrity health secretary, is steamrolling science RFK Jr. is plowing ahead with sweeping changes to U.S. health care that have thrilled supporters, purged opponents, and horrified critics.

A couple excellent stories from my colleagues today. First up, an inside look into how RFK Jr. is managing HHS, from
@chelseacirruzzo.bsky.social, @caseyross.bsky.social, and @sarah-todd.bsky.social: www.statnews.com/2025/11/18/r...

How RFK Jr., America's celebrity health secretary, is steamrolling science RFK Jr. is plowing ahead with sweeping changes to U.S. health care that have thrilled supporters, purged opponents, and horrified critics.

A new profile of RFK Jr offers fresh insights into how he works, the bond he shares with Trump, & how he's moved HHS “from evidence-based decision-making to decision-based evidence-making." Story by @chelseacirruzzo.bsky.social, @caseyross.bsky.social, & me:

www.statnews.com/2025/11/18/r...

Creatine-filled swag bags and an embrace from Vance: MAHA marks its ascendance in Trump’s Washington Creatine-filled swag bags and an embrace from Vance: MAHA marks its ascendance in Trump’s Washington.

Creatine-filled swag bags and an embrace from Vance: MAHA marks its ascendance in Trump’s Washington www.statnews.com/2025/11/12/m... via @statnews.com @chelseacirruzzo.bsky.social @danielpayne.bsky.social

Low-income children lack access to Covid vaccines because of approval delay Two weeks after vaccine advisers approved new Covid recs, Kennedy still hasn’t given his approval, leaving states unable to order updated shots for low-income kids.

Without high-level administration sign-off, states have so far been unable to order updated Covid shots for children from low-income families who depend on the Vaccines for Children program.

Via @aniloza.bsky.social @chelseacirruzzo.bsky.social

www.statnews.com/2025/09/30/c...

Low-income children lack access to Covid vaccines because of approval delay Two weeks after vaccine advisers approved new Covid recs, Kennedy still hasn’t given his approval, leaving states unable to order updated shots for low-income kids.

Low income children lack access to Covid vaccines because of approval delay, @aniloza.bsky.social and @chelseacirruzzo.bsky.social report

www.statnews.com/2025/09/30/c...

Low-income children lack access to Covid vaccines because of approval delay Two weeks after vaccine advisers approved new Covid recs, Kennedy still hasn’t given his approval, leaving states unable to order updated shots for low-income kids.

2 weeks ago RFK's ACIP voted to change recommendations for Covid vaccines

The CDC director has yet to sign off on them, so states aren't able to order vaccines through the vaccines for children program (which covers ~50% of kids)

w/ @chelseacirruzzo.bsky.social

www.statnews.com/2025/09/30/c...

With Trump’s anti-vaccine comments, Kennedy’s influence grows RFK Jr. is moving rapidly to reshape vaccine policy, and Trump's remarks raise questions about how far the two may go.

New: For a brief time, it seemed like RFK Jr.'s criticism of Covid vaccines could spell trouble for him with the White House. Instead, he appears to retain as much political influence as ever.

Via @chelseacirruzzo.bsky.social @danielpayne.bsky.social

www.statnews.com/2025/09/23/t...

With Trump’s anti-vaccine comments, Kennedy’s influence grows RFK Jr. is moving rapidly to reshape vaccine policy, and Trump's remarks raise questions about how far the two may go.

Where Trump's anti-vaccine comments came from, what they mean for RFK Jr. — and how it could shape federal health policy

w/ @chelseacirruzzo.bsky.social

www.statnews.com/2025/09/23/t...

Vaccine Status and Other Public Health News | The Brian Lehrer Show | WNYC Chelsea Cirruzzo talks about some of the recent federal public health directives on autism and immunizations, and what the science shows.

Hear @statnews.com Washington correspondent @chelseacirruzzo.bsky.social talks about the president's comments on Tylenol and autism, plus the results of last week's meeting of the federal advisory committee on vaccines: www.wnyc.org/story/vaccin...

Trump, questioning vaccine safety, pushes major changes to how kids get shots At a White House event, Trump linked vaccines to autism and urged major changes in how kids get their shots.

Trump also veered into an extended rant, asserting the disproven link between autism and vaccines and calling for an overhaul of the childhood vaccine schedule.

from: @danielpayne.bsky.social @aniloza.bsky.social @chelseacirruzzo.bsky.social

www.statnews.com/2025/09/22/t...

if you're in the D.C. area: @emmasarappo.bsky.social is talking to @tricialockwood.bsky.social about her new book tomorrow night at Politics and Prose! politics-prose.com/events?srslt...

The Brian Lehrer Show | WNYC | New York Public Radio, Podcasts, Live Streaming Radio, News Brian Lehrer leads the conversation about what matters most now in local and national politics, our own communities and our lives.

💥 @chelseacirruzzo.bsky.social on Brian Lehrer talking about vaccines and public health 💥 www.wnyc.org/shows/bl

Key federal vaccine panel tables vote on delaying newborn hepatitis B shot A CDC advisory panel voted Friday to postpone a vote on whether to delay infants’ first hepatitis B vaccine — temporarily alleviating health experts' fears.

Good morning from Atlanta where a panel of federal vaccine advisers pushed a vote to delay the hepatitis B shot in some newborns to a later meeting. @aniloza.bsky.social has why: www.statnews.com/2025/09/19/c...

Key federal vaccine panel tables vote on delaying newborn hepatitis B shot A CDC advisory panel voted Friday to postpone a vote on whether to delay infants’ first hepatitis B vaccine — temporarily alleviating health experts' fears.

RFK's ACIP ended up voting to ... table the vote on delaying the hep B vaccine

“There’s enough ambiguity here and enough remaining discussion about safety, effectiveness, & timing that I believe that a vote today is premature,” a member of the committee said

www.statnews.com/2025/09/19/c...

follow @chelseacirruzzo.bsky.social as she reports from Atlanta on the CDC's vaccine advisory panel for @statnews.com — she's a dogged reporter and a health policy expert, not to mention a great friend

Federal advisory committee restricts access to MMRV shot by some low-income children A CDC advisory committee has voted to restrict access to the MMRV shot by some low-income children, though separate MMR and varicella shots will still be available.

Breaking, from @chelseacirruzzo.bsky.social ar @stat

www.statnews.com/2025/09/19/m...