Notices by Dr. Lucky Tran :verified: (luckytran@med-mastodon.com), page 6

Gilead has announced that lenacapavir, the game-changing HIV prevention drug just approved by the FDA will cost $28,218 USD per person per year.

Researchers say a generic version could be made for just $25 per person a year.

Capitalism kills.

Wow. Lenacapavir, a twice-yearly shot that prevents HIV spread was just approved by the FDA.

The problem? Due to government cuts to Medicaid, PEPFAR, and Global Fund, it's unlikely this game-changing drug will reach the many people who need it most in the US and globally.

You want to talk about government efficiency? Every $1 spent on childhood immunizations in the US returns a savings of $11, thanks to preventing illnesses, and saving millions of lives.

A new Trump executive order may allow doctors at Department of Veterans Affairs hospitals to refuse to treat someone on the basis of their marital status or political affiliation. Unacceptable. It is a violation of the Hippocratic oath for physicians to decide who to treat based on their identity.

"Language requiring healthcare professionals to care for veterans regardless of their politics and marital status has been explicitly eliminated."
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jun/16/va-doctors-refuse-treat-patients?utm_term=685007425455cdd23cf820219afbcaf1&utm_campaign=GuardianTodayUS&utm_source=esp&utm_medium=Email&CMP=GTUS_email

Masks are under serious threat at being banned widely due to politicization. This would be a public health disaster. If you are only wearing a mask at protests, please consider also wearing them elsewhere. The more people mask, the more we normalize masks and protect them against bans.

NEW: After firing expert scientists on the CDC's vaccine advisory committee, RFK Jr. has named their replacements.

The new committee contains many figures known for spreading disinformation about vaccines and COVID including Robert Malone and Martin Kulldorff.

This is bad.

"You can get another job, but you can not get another soul" - anonymous NIH scientist on why they signed a letter of dissent against Administration policies

RFK Jr justifies firing scientists on the CDC’s vaccine advisory committee due to “conflicts of interest.”

Yet RFK Jr made almost $100K a year from anti-vax lawsuits and almost $90K a month from his anti-vax nonprofit.

The person with the biggest conflict of interest at HHS is the one leading it.

Wow. RFK announced via a Wall Street Journal opinion piece that he is removing all 17 members of the Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices, which is the expert panel at the CDC that decides who is eligible for vaccines and whether insurers should cover them.

The US now has no vaccine advisory committee, no CDC director, and an anti-vaxxer as Health Secretary.

"We are speaking on behalf of hundreds of NIH staff who are standing up together to say: WE DISSENT.

I am so scared about doing this but I am trying to be brave for my kids because it's only gonna get harder to speak up."

Thank you to Dr. Jenna Norton and NIH staffers for your courage.

Read the Bethesda Declaration and sign on to support here: https://www.standupforscience.net/bethesda-declaration

Six infants in Ontario have been born with congenital measles since last fall. They were infected in the womb through mothers who were not vaccinated. This is heartbreaking, preventable and a result of the spread of anti-vax disinformation.

Elastomeric respirators can protect you against:

- airborne viruses like COVID
- toxic compounds in wildfire smoke
- tear gas

It’s a great idea to have one on hand and ready to go in these uncertain times.

South Florida meteorologist John Morales told his viewers live on air that he can no longer accurately predict hurricane season, due to federal government cuts.

#climatechange #science #scicomm

Wildfires across Canada are causing smoke to spread across North America, as far as Florida. A reminder that particulates in wildfire smoke can cause short- and long-term health issues. An excellent way to protect yourself is to wear a well-fitting mask like an N95.

Disinformation kills

CDC now says all kids "may receive" COVID vaccines. This means insurance companies will likely still cover the shots.

BUT the new guidance is more confusing than a broad recommendation, and COVID vaccines during pregnancy are now listed as "No Guidance/Not Applicable," which will decrease uptake.

Including fake studies and using AI to generate a report should instantly disqualify anyone to lead a scientific agency.

Breaking: HHS is canceling a $600 million contract with Moderna to develop, test, and license vaccines for flu strains that could trigger future pandemics, including the dangerous H5N1 bird flu virus.