1. Your Local Epidemiologist – by Dr. Katelyn Jetelina
   Focuses on public health, COVID-19, vaccines, and debunking health myths with clear data and citations.
   yourlocalepidemiologist.substack.com

Publishes: YLE Health (Mis)communication

A newsletter addressing the latest viral health rumors and improving public health communication

No updates since January 2025

a shadow group was stood up University of Minnesota (called the Vaccine Integrity Project) backed by a philanthropic gift. This will be an eight-member committee to advise on vaccine protection, effectiveness, and recommendations outside of government.

What does it mean for you? The Vaccine Integrity Project won’t have formal authority. However, if ACIP’s role becomes politicized, it could serve as an important alternative. It’s another sign that public health groups are mobilizing to stay ahead of potential disruptions.

So, what’s really going on with seed oils?

Thanks to the thousands of you who submitted questions on YLE platforms—this post is driven by your curiosity. I hope it helps spark conversations, guide evidence-based decisions, and satisfy some of the questions you’ve been holding onto.

In 2019, Dr. Kevin Hall authored arguably the most important study—a randomized controlled trial, the gold standard—showing that ultra-processed foods (UPF) lead to weight gain. He then did the next natural thing: run studies on why. Was it because UPFs are addictive or something else? A follow-up study of his found that UPF may not be inherently addictive, as indicated by the brain’s dopamine response. Another study, still in progress, suggests that UPF is problematic due to its high calorie density and hyperpalatability (heightened taste pleasure).

These follow-up studies directly contradict RFK Jr.’s narrative—that UPF is addictive. Hall was initially restricted from publicly sharing the results. Once he was allowed to comment, the NIH press office edited his response, downplaying the significance. So, he announced his early retirement, citing censorship. He has been at NIH for 21 years.

What does this mean for you? When scientists are muzzled, it hurts the public’s health and doesn’t move us toward a healthier world and better food system. This also follows a concerning pattern echoing recent departures like Dr. Peter Marks (FDA vaccines) and Kevin Griffis (CDC communications).

The newly redesigned Covid.gov replaced vaccine and prevention information with a page focused on the lab leak—with no concrete calls to action for safety improvements. It’s political theater and a direct jab at scientists, as there isn’t any new evidence, and certainly doesn’t help the public navigate Covid-19.

With the lab leak theory, I always try to take the 30,000-foot view:

• The origin of Covid-19 is an ongoing scientific debate. Scientific consensus has not settled. We can all agree that the Wuhan market was an amplification event (i.e., super spreader), but I don’t think we will ever know how it got there. Disproving the lab leak will be close to impossible.

• The insinuation that nothing has been done. NIH has invested over $300 million last year in autism research. About 85%of autism is genetic. The rest? Environmental factors—an incredibly complex set of variables.
• The recent announcement of MMR and autism study.RFK Jr. just announced a study looking into a link between autism and the MMR vaccine. This is being led by David Geier—a prominent anti-vaxxer. It’s hard not to see where this is heading.

Chronic diseases are a major burden in the U.S. But contrary to popular belief, most are either declining or stable—not increasing.

• Diabetes rates are decreasing.
• Dementia is decreasing.
• Heart disease is decreasing.
• Cancer deaths are decreasing.
• Obesity trends are improving.

MAHA moms—a grassroots movement of parents fed up with modern healthcare and kids’ nutrition—has started meeting with RFK Jr.

• Promising appeal: Listening to parents and communities is a great step forward. Radical empathy is where real solutions begin.
• Potential setbacks: Focusing on issues like food dyes or seed oils sounds like low-hanging fruit, but these initiatives will not move the needle toward the change we need. Furthermore, focusing on issues like these can expedite the spread of alternative treatments that lack evidence (but generate plenty of profit for influencers).

• Potential setbacks:RFK Jr.’s claims imply that the current food system is unsafe. This not only creates unnecessary fear and distrust, but it’s simply not true. The U.S. has one of the safest food supplies in the world and recent federal efforts have secured billions of dollars in commitments and funding towards enhancing food safety, nutrition, and health. Last year, the FDA had the largest reorganization in its history, creating the Human Foods Program to further strengthen regulatory oversight.

Earlier this week, RFK Jr. claimed that measles cases had “flattened,” prompting CDC to pull their response team from West Texas. Then a measles-related death was reported—and the team was sent back.

Cases are still rising (not flattening). 

Dental caries (tooth decay) remains the most prevalent chronic disease among children. Yet, as part of his “Make America Healthy Again” tour, RFK Jr. praised Utah for banning fluoride and said he plans to instruct the CDC to stop recommending it.

A few important reminders:

• The CDC doesn’t mandate fluoride (or vaccines). It provides evidence-based guidance developed with outside experts.
• The CDC task force has recommended community water fluoridation since 2001.
• The CDC’s oral health team was fired last week—so it’s unclear who he’d even be instructing.
• In no coincidence, Geier (yes, the guy who is now leading an autism/vaccine study for RFK Jr.) published a new paper this week questioning fluoride’s safety.

What does it mean for you? You can still check your local fluoridation status on CDC’s tool (while it’s still online). I also suggest engaging with your representatives. Here is a YLE explainer to help ground the conversation in evidence. Yale School of Public Health also has a good explainer.

Your Local Epidemiologist https://yourlocalepidemiologist.substack.com/

YLE brings public health science directly to your inbox two times a week, making it understandable, relevant, and useful. While I’ve covered the twists and turns of the pandemic—from variants to vaccines and beyond—our focus has now shifted to a broader scope of public health topics.

Some highlights:

• The latest health rumors and what is (and is not) accurate about them.

Written by a team of 10; weekly newsletter with critical review of the week’s news

11 posts in April, including “What’s the deal with seed oils? The science and skepticism”