In his weekly clinical update, Dr. Griffin with Vincent Racaniello discusses vaccination trends, the changes COVID-19 vaccine recommendations for children and pregnant women, easing of vaccination exemptions in Texas, the ongoing measles outbreak globally before Dr. Griffin reviews recent statistics on RSV, influenza and SARS-CoV-2 infections the Wasterwater Scan dashboard, whether or not the NB.1.8.1 should be included in the fall 2025 vaccines and concern as confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 rise here and in China, different mechanisms by which to reduce transmission of respiratory pathogens, the May 22 VRBPAC COVID-19 vaccine meeting, where to find PEMGARDA, prolonged steroid and antibiotic therapies, provides information for Columbia University Irving Medical Center’s long COVID treatment center, where to go for answers to your long COVID questions, how spike protein may alter mast cells and the immune response and contacting your federal government representative to stop the assault on science and biomedical research.

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  • Vaccination trends (CDC: Respiratory Illnesses) 3:46
  • Weekly COVID-19 Vaccination Dashboard (CDC: COVIDVaxView)
  • RFK Jr ends coronavirus shot recommendation for healthy children and pregnant women (Washington Post) 3:21
  • Characteristics of Children Ages 1–17 Who Died of COVID-19 in 2020–2022 in the United States (American Academy of Pediatrics) 9:01
  • RFK Jr.’s War on Children (Paul Offit: Beyond the Noise) 9:58
  • AAP analyzes pediatric COVID-19 hospitalizations from 2020-’24 (American Academy of Pediatrics) 10:10
  • COVID-19–Associated Hospitalizations among Children and Adults — COVID-NET (CDC: National Center for Immunizations and Respiratory Diseases) 10:26
  • Long COVID in Children (CDC: NCHS) 13:36
  • Long COVID Prevalence and Associated Activity Limitation in US Children (JAMA Pediatrics)
  • The C.D.C. Now Says Healthy Kids Don’t Need Covid Shots. Is That True? (NY Times) 12:16
  • U.S. Will No Longer Recommend Covid Shots for Children and Pregnant Women (NY TImes)
  • Gregg Abbott (AP News) 14:00
  • US school-entry vaccination rates fall as exemptions keep rising (AP News)
  • Whooping cough cases are rising again in the US (AP News)
  • Amid measles outbreak, Texas is poised to make vaccine exemptions for kids easier (AP News) 14:00
  • Cardiac Events in Adults Hospitalized for Respiratory Syncytial Virus vs COVID-19 or Influenza (JAMA Network Open) 17:52
  • USDA reported H5N1 bird flu detection in wild birds (CDC: Avian Influenza) 21:11
  • USDA reported H5N1 in poultry (CDC: Avian Influenza) 21:11
  • HPAI Confirmed Cases in Livestock (USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspections Service) 21:11
  • H5 bird flu: current situation (CDC: Avian Influenza) 21:11
  • Bird flu (CDC: Avian Influenza) 21:11
  • Measles cases and outbreaks (CDC Rubeola) 21:56
  • Weekly measles and rubella monitoring (Government of Canada) 22:23
  • Measles (WHO)
  • Measles vaccine recommendations from NYP (jpg)
  • Get the FACTS about measles (NY State Department of Health)
  • Measles (CDC Measles (Rubeola))
  • Measles vaccine (CDC Measles (Rubeola))
  • Presumptive evidence of measles immunity (CDC)
  • Contraindications and precautions to measles vaccination (CDC)
  • Measles (CDC Measles (Rubeola)
  • Adverse events associated with childhood vaccines: evidence bearing on causality (NLM)
  • Measles Vaccination: Know the Facts(ISDA: Infectious Diseases Society of America)
  • Deaths following vaccination: what does the evidence show (Vaccine)
  • Influenza: Waste water scan for 11 pathogens (WastewaterSCan) 25:11
  • US respiratory virus activity (CDC Respiratory Illnesses) 25:11
  • Weekly surveillance report: clift notes (CDC FluView) 25:11
  • Respiratory virus activity levels (CDC Respiratory Illnesses)
  • Weekly surveillance report: clift notes (CDC FluView)
  • FDA-CDC-DOD: 2025-2046 influenza vaccine composition (FDA)
  • RSV: Waste water scan for 11 pathogens (WastewaterSCan)
  • US respiratory virus activity (CDC Respiratory Illnesses)
  • RSV-Network (CDC Respiratory Syncytial virus Infection)
  • Respiratory syncytial virus: an under-recognized healthcare-associated infection (Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology) 27:53
  • Waste water scan for 11 pathogens (WastewaterSCan) 30:20
  • COVID-19 deaths (CDC)
  • COVID-19 national and regional trends (CDC)
  • COVID-19 variant tracker (CDC)
  • SARS-CoV-2 genomes galore (Nextstrain)
  • Antigenic and Virological Characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 Variant BA.3.2, XFG, and NB.1.8.1 (bioRxiV) 32:25
  • New Covid variant NB.1.8.1 detected at US airports amid rise in cases
  • U.S. reports cases of new COVID variant NB.1.8.1 behind surge in China (CBS News)
  • WHO TAG-VE Risk Evaluation for SARS-CoV-2 Variant Under Monitoring: NB.1.8.1 (WHO)
  • New COVID variant NB.1.8.1 detected at US airports amid rise in cases (The Economic Times: News)
  • Infection Control Guidance: SARS-CoV-2 (CDC: COVID-19)
  • Isolating the burden of transmission-based precautions for COVID-19 (Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology) 35:19
  • A pilot study of coughing into the shirt to disrupt respiratory pathogen transmission (International Journal of Emergency Medicine) 38:50
  • Hybrid B- and T-Cell Immunity Associates With Protection Against Breakthrough Infection After Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Vaccination in Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) Participants (JID) 43:59
  • FDA panel is split on updates to COVID shots as questions loom for fall vaccinations(AP News) 46:15
  • COVID-19 Vaccines (2025-2026 Formula) for Use in the United States Beginning in Fall 2025(FDA) 46:15
  • Interim Clinical Considerations for Use of COVID-19 Vaccines in the United States (CDC: COVID-19)
  • Where to get pemgarda (Pemgarda)
  • EUA for the pre-exposure prophylaxis of COVID-19 (INVIYD)
  • Infusion center (Prime Fusions)
  • CDC Quarantine guidelines (CDC)
  • NIH COVID-19 treatment guidelines (NIH)
  • Clinical effectiveness of oral antiviral treatment for non-hospitalized high-risk patients with COVID-19 during Omicron JN.1 subvariant wave (Pneumonia) 48:43
  • Drug interaction checker (University of Liverpool)
  • Infectious Disease Society guidelines for treatment and management (ID Society)
  • A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of the Effectiveness of Remdesivir to Treat Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 in Hospitalized Patients (CID) 50:47
  • Molnupiravir safety and efficacy (JMV)
  • Convalescent plasma recommendation for immunocompromised (ID Society)
  • What to do when sick with a respiratory virus (CDC)
  • Managing healthcare staffing shortages (CDC)
  • Steroids, dexamethasone at the right time (OFID)
  • Anticoagulation guidelines (hematology.org)
  • Tocilizumab, sarilumab and anakinra in critically ill patients with COVID-19 (Thorax) 52:27
  • Daniel Griffin’s evidence based medical practices for long COVID (OFID)
  • Long COVID hotline (Columbia : Columbia University Irving Medical Center)
  • The answers: Long COVID
  • Spike proteins of coronaviruses activate mast cells for degranulation via stimulating Src/PI3K/AKT/Ca2+ intracellular signaling cascade (Journal of Virology) 53:24
  • Reaching out to US house representative
  • Letters read on TWiV 1222 55:36
  • Dr. Griffin’s COVID treatment summary (pdf)
  • Timestamps by Jolene Ramsey. Thanks!

Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees

Send your questions for Dr. Griffin to [email protected]

Content in this podcast should not be construed as medical advice.

TWiV reviews cuts in National Science Foundation budgets, cuts to Harvard University grants, judge blocks ban on Harvard enrolling international students, DOGE ordered cuts of NIH grants, endemic coronavirus infection induces Fc receptor binding antibodies to SARS-CoV-2, and inherited IFNAR1 deficiency causing adverse reactions to measles and yellow fever infectious vaccines.

Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Alan Dove, and Angela Mingarelli

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Weekly Picks 1:45:45

Angela – Contact lenses that give people infrared vision — even with their eyes shut (one, two)
Alan –  Autocrats are afraid of you – see the graphic, especially.
VincentHow One Company Secretly Poisoned The Planet

Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees

Send your virology questions and comments to [email protected]

Content in this podcast should not be construed as medical advice.

In his weekly clinical update, Dr. Griffin with Vincent Racaniello debate the changes in FDA vaccine approval policy especially how it is applied to COVID-19 vaccines and restricts vaccine availability/usage and Novavax’s vaccine, mpox on surfaces and in the air, “bird flu”, the ongoing measles outbreak globally before Dr. Griffin reviews recent statistics on RSV, benefits of vaccination for infants, influenza and SARS-CoV-2 infections, the Wasterwater Scan dashboard, the high number of childhood deaths during this “flu” season, the May 22 VRBPAC COVID-19 vaccine meeting, where to find PEMGARDA, prolonged steroid and antibiotic therapies, provides information for Columbia University Irving Medical Center’s long COVID treatment center, where to go for answers to your long COVID questions, cognitive impairment in long COVID and contacting your federal government representative to stop the assault on science and biomedical research.

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Download TWiV 1220 (33 MB .mp3, 54 min)
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Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees

Send your questions for Dr. Griffin to [email protected]

Content in this podcast should not be construed as medical advice.

TWiV reviews pause in the use of Chikungunya vaccine, HHS to stop recommending COVID shots for pregnant women and children, molecular basis for shifted receptor recognition by an encephalitic alphavirus, and evolution of koala retrovirus transcriptional silencing in wild koalas.

Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, and Rich Condit

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Weekly Picks 1:47:35

RichWhat’s that stuff in your bellybutton? Science has the answer.
VincentNew study reveals our skin’s own bacteria can help protect us from the bad effects of sunlight

Listener Pick

RonaMy Italian secret: the forgotten heroes and Italy and the Holocaust Foundation, Inc.

Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees

Send your virology questions and comments to [email protected]

Content in this podcast should not be construed as medical advice.

In his weekly clinical update, Dr. Griffin with Vincent Racaniello wail about the attack on science within the US, cancellation of CDC’s committee on infectious diseases, mpox in Sierra Leone, “bird flu” in cats, the ongoing measles outbreak globally, before Dr. Griffin reviews recent statistics on RSV, benefits of vaccination for infants, influenza and SARS-CoV-2 infections the WasterwaterScan dashboard, the high number of childhood deaths during this “flu” season, the May 22 VRBPAC COVID-19 vaccine meeting, where to find PEMGARDA, benefit of remedesivir, provides information for Columbia University Irving Medical Center’s long COVID treatment center, where to go for answers to your long COVID questions, weight and distinct symptoms of long COVID and contacting your federal government representative to stop the assault on science and biomedical research.

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Download TWiV 1218 (37 MB .mp3, 62 min)
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Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees

Send your questions for Dr. Griffin to [email protected]

Content in this podcast should not be construed as medical advice.

TWiV reviews new CBER chief at FDA, ending of Gates Foundation in 2045, gain of function executive order, origins of bat viruses ancestral to SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2, and single dose Sudan virus replicon vaccine protects guinea pigs from disease.

Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Alan Dove, and Rich Condit

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Weekly Picks 1:36:36

RichAndor Season 2
AlanSequencing Mendel’s pea plant traits, and a good Science news article on the work
Vincent 2023 summer warmth unparalleled over the past 2,000 years

Listener Pick

BrianVirology Capabilities Test (VCT): A Multimodal Virology Q&A Benchmark

Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees

Send your virology questions and comments to [email protected]

Content in this podcast should not be construed as medical advice.

In his weekly clinical update, Dr. Griffin with Vincent Racaniello bemoan the attack on science within the US, salt water controls for vaccines, return to 1938 technology for flu vaccines, mRNA vaccines as “bioweapons”, rise in pertussis, benefits of the shingles vaccine and reduced dementia occurrence, and growing measles outbreak globally before Dr. Griffin reviews recent statistics on RSV, influenza and SARS-CoV-2 infections, the WasterwaterScan dashboard, the May 22 VRBPAC COVID-19 vaccine,  meeting, where to find PEMGARDA, return to antibiotic treatment for respiratory viral diseases, provides information for Columbia University Irving Medical Center’s long COVID treatment center, where to go for answers to your long COVID questions and contacting your federal government representative to stop the assault on science and biomedical research.

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Download TWiV 1216 (30 MB .mp3, 50 min)
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Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees

Send your questions for Dr. Griffin to [email protected]

Content in this podcast should not be construed as medical advice.

From the 2024 International Hepatitis B virus meeting in Chicago IL, Rich Condit speaks with Thomas Tu about his experiences as a both a HepB scientist and patient.

Host: Rich Condit

Guest: Thomas Tu

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Download TWiV Special (36 MB .mp3, 25 min)
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Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees

Send your virology questions and comments to [email protected]

Content in this podcast should not be construed as medical advice.

TWiV reviews universal vaccine initiative at NIAID, shut down of the Integrated Research Facility at Ft. Detrick, modeling the reemergence of infectious diseases as vaccination rates drop, and bacterial outer membrane vesicles bound to bacteriophages modulate neutrophil responses to bacterial infection.

Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Alan Dove, and Jolene Ramsey

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Weekly Picks 1:49:41

AlanA Paradise Built in Hell, by Rebecca Solnit (and here’s my review of it)
JoleneVirology course student communication projects, Spring 2025
Vincent Vaccine Education Center

Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees

Send your virology questions and comments to [email protected]

Content in this podcast should not be construed as medical advice.

In his weekly clinical update, Dr. Griffin with Vincent Racaniello bewail the attack on science within the US and withdrawal from the global health communities, association between the shingles vaccine and reduced dementia occurrence, ending of Uganda’s ebola outbreak, undermining effective responses to human bird flu infections, growing measles outbreak in the US and dire predictions of the return of vaccine preventable diseases including polio if vaccination rates continue to decline, before Dr. Griffin reviews recent statistics on RSV, influenza and SARS-CoV-2 infections the WasterwaterScan dashboard, how HHS is undermining the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine, if Paxlovid reduces stroke, where to find PEMGARDA, provides information for Columbia University Irving Medical Center’s long COVID treatment center, where to go for answers to your long COVID questions and contacting your federal government representative to stop the assault on science and biomedical research.

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Download TWiV 1214 (29 MB .mp3, 49 min)
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Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees

Send your questions for Dr. Griffin to [email protected]

Content in this podcast should not be construed as medical advice.