Following the removal of some types of medical data from government websites, the reduction of public information campaigns on hot topics such as vaccination, and new limitations on the publication of current and in-progress scientific research, other sources are emerging to fill the gaps.
“The removal of critical data from the CDC [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention]’s website poses significant challenges for clinicians, as it limits our access to up-to-date recommendations on managing infectious diseases, public health threats, essential preventive care, and chronic conditions,” said David M. Higgins, MD, a pediatrician and preventive medicine specialist at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, in an interview.
“This loss of readily available information undermines patient care, complicates research efforts, and weakens our ability to respond effectively to public health emergencies,” he said.
“Considering these challenges and growing concerns about the credibility of CDC vaccine resources and messaging, many clinicians, including myself, have turned to alternative sources for reliable, evidence-based information,” Higgins said.
These sources include the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, American College of Physicians (ACP), and Immunize.org, Higgins told Medscape Medical News. “These organizations continue to provide trusted guidance to support clinical decision-making and public health efforts about vaccines,” he said.
In February, the JAMA Network of journals announced its intention to continue to support clinicians in their research. The American Medical Association (AMA) published an opinion editorial in JAMA titled “Reaffirming the JAMA Network commitment to the health of patients and the public” in the wake of executive orders and restructuring of government agencies that have extended to medical science and healthcare.
Medscape Medical News summarized the op-ed in a previous story.
Measles Vaccination Urged
In March, the AMA issued a statement encouraging the public to get vaccinated against measles in advance of spring travel.
“With measles outbreaks occurring in multiple states and spring break travel approaching, the AMA urges everyone who isn’t already vaccinated to get the