Appeals Court Blocks Trump Administration from Defunding Medical and Public Health Research

Thursday, January 15 – Attorney General Kathy Jennings today issued the following statement after the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit affirmed a lower court ruling permanently preventing the Trump Administration, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) from implementing a policy that would cut billions of dollars in funds that support cutting-edge medical and public health research at universities and research institutions across the country, regardless of whether their state joined the lawsuit:

“It continues to be beyond both belief and reason that this Administration is trying to gut life-saving medical and public health research. Fortunately, the Court has affirmed what we already knew: these proposed cuts are illegal. The groundbreaking work from these sectors is a crown jewel of both Delaware and America at large, and I will continue to fight tooth and nail to protect it.”

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Delaware Academy of Medicine and Public Health Supports the Use of Hepatitis B Vaccine at Birth

Friday, December 12, 2025 Last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted to downgrade its longstanding recommendation to vaccinate all newborns against hepatitis B at birth. The newly formed ACIP has, under the leadership of HHS Secretary RFK, Jr., become decidedly …

Tracking Key HHS Public Health Policy Actions

Since assuming office for a second term, President Trump and officials in his administration have instituted numerous policy actions through the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) affecting public health in the U.S. This KFF resource lists and briefly describes key actions in the order in which they were first issued, reported or announced, with subsequent linked actions and related outcomes also included with each entry. As new policy changes occur, they will be added.

Check out the list here: https://www.kff.org/other-health/tracking-key-hhs-public-health-policy-actions-under-the-trump-administration/

Delaware Academy of Medicine & Public Health Condemns Misinformation, Supports the Use of Vaccines to Protect Public Health

Friday, November 21, 2025

This week, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated their website with misinformation about vaccines and autism.

Dr. Kate Smith, Executive Director of the Delaware Academy of Medicine and Public Health, issued the following statement in response:

“Thanks to medical advances like safe and effective vaccines, people are living longer than ever before. Diseases that used to kill children regularly, like smallpox, are a thing of the past. Yet, the latest misinformation about vaccines coming from the U.S. CDC threatens that progress, and will likely lead to unnecessary suffering, and even death.

On Wednesday evening, a directive from HHS forced the CDC to publish scientifically false claims about vaccines and autism – claims the agency itself and scientists across the world have spent decades investigating. Study after study has found no link. There is no debate or misunderstanding, no new data has been presented. Politics overrode science in a place where accuracy, integrity, credibility, transparency, and honesty save lives.

We’re already seeing the impact of vaccine misinformation in the growing measles outbreak across the country. Measles is a vaccine-preventable disease, and was declared eradicated in the U.S. 25 years ago. However, today, there are more than 1,700 of people across the country who have been infected, the majority under age 5, and three people have died from this entirely preventable disease. North America has lost its measles elimination status. The United States will likely lose that status in January.

Earlier this year, the Academy joined thousands of public health and healthcare professionals in opposing the nomination of RFK Jr to lead HHS. This latest move underscores our opposition. RFK Jr. is turning a globally renowned health institution into a circus that the public cannot trust.

Vaccines save lives and we support their use to protect people from infectious diseases. We are fortunate here in Delaware to have leadership that advances evidence-based policies to protect our communities. If you have questions about vaccines, please consult your healthcare provider.”

Donate this Giving Tuesday!

Amid a rapidly changing public health and healthcare landscape, community programs like The Academy play a vital role in educating and inspiring the next generation of health professionals. This Giving Tuesday, your support helps us expand the Delaware Youth Medical Academy (DYMA), and strengthen statewide vaccine education through the Immunization …

Governor’s Public Health Alliance

Last week, the Governors of California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Guam, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Washington formed the Governor’s Public Health Alliance. The Alliance was formed to fill in gaps in pandemic preparedness, infectious-disease tracking, guideline writing, and vaccine stockpiling amidst …

Rebranding

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After several months of deliberation and revisions, we are pleased to unveil our new logo and agency name, condensing our previously long name into one shorter term that clearly states our mission – we are Delaware’s hub for public health.

The Academy is an alliance of doctors and other caring health professionals who seek to improve public health in Delaware. It is a membership organization that works both individually and cooperatively with other private and public organizations to assist the healthcare community in improving the health of all Delaware residents in a variety of ways.

 

Limited Edition NPHW Shirts

Celebrate Public Health with Purpose – Limited Edition NPHW T-Shirt Show your support for public health and this year’s National Public Health Week with our limited edition grey t-shirt, featuring the winning design from our NPHW Contest! Created by Shira Akoglu, the eye-catching artwork on the back of the shirt …

February Awareness

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Need more to celebrate? Check out the National Day Holidays and Awareness Days.com

We Urge You: Reconsider the Overhaul of the Childhood Immunization Schedule

MEDIA STATEMENT For Immediate Release: Tuesday, January 6, 2026 Contact: Kate Smith (ksmith@delamed.org) STATEMENT: We Urge The United States Department of Health and Human Services and the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to Reconsider Overhaul of Childhood Immunization Schedule Yesterday afternoon, the Deputy Secretary of Health and …