There is exactly one vaccine that prevents several cancers. It's safe, effective, and puts the elimination of cervical cancer within reach. Even as the world reaches this medical moment, the U.S. faces a persistent challenge: human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine uptake has remained steady but is insufficient to achieve herd immunity. [MedPage Today} 

We should want broad community protection: a staggering 85% of people will get an HPV infection at some point in their lives. And with approximately 78% of 13- to 17-year-olds receiving at least one dose of the HPV vaccine, coverage lags significantly behind other routine childhood immunizations. HPV vaccination rates were on the rise until 2022, when initiation stagnated for the first time in about a decade. This stall is further complicated by geographic disparities, with rural areas showing dramatically lower rates compared to urban areas -- for example, the percentage of adolescents up to date with HPV vaccination ranged from 39% in Mississippi to nearly 80% in Massachusetts in 2024. This gap, and the knowledge gap about the virus' prevalence and impact, leaves individuals and the public vulnerable.

More>

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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today published draft guidance designed to facilitate the use of Bayesian methodologies in clinical trials of drugs and biologics, helping drug developers make better use of available data, conduct more efficient clinical trials, and deliver safe and effective treatments to patients sooner. [FDA US Food & Drug Administration] 

"Bayesian methodologies help address two of the biggest problems of drug development: high costs and long timelines,” said FDA Commissioner Marty Makary, M.D., M.P.H. “Providing clarity around modern statistical methods will help sponsors bring more cures and meaningful treatments to patients faster and more affordably.”

Bayesian approaches use a different framework from traditional statistical approaches. In a Bayesian analysis, data from a study are combined with relevant prior information to form a new distribution that can be used for inference and to draw conclusions about safety and efficacy. 

Examples of Bayesian calculations used in various ways in clinical trials can include:

• Determining futility or success earlier in adaptive trials.
• Informing design elements like dose selection in subsequent trials.
• Incorporating information from other sources, such as previous clinical study data, real-world evidence, and external or nonconcurrent controls.
• Facilitating subgroup analyses.
• Supporting primary inference in a trial.

The guidance provides recommendations on the appropriate use of Bayesian methods, with an emphasis on the use of these methods to support primary inference. Bayesian methods may be especially valuable for sponsors targeting rare or pediatric indications, where patient populations are smaller.

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All are Welcome- Don't Miss this Convening !!!!!!

10th State of Health of Chicago - 5:00 - 8:00 PM CT

Maggiano's Little Italy - Grand - Chicago 

Eight impact leaders discussing hot issues impacting healthcare and public health. This is a biennial event - current emphasis - what issues are impacting communities today and how to solve them. More details and to register here> 

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COVID-19 is still killing more than 100,000 Americans a year, new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) study shows—underscoring how the virus remains a major health threat even if the height of the pandemic has long subsided. [Newsweek: CDC and JAMA Internal Medicine]

In a study published in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine, CDC researchers estimated that there were 43.6 million COVID-19–associated illnesses and 101,300 resulting deaths in the U.S. in the period from October 2022 to September 2023, and 33.0 million illnesses and 100,800 deaths subsequently between October 2023 to September 2024.

The analysis shows that COVID-19 continues to add pressure to outpatient clinics and hospitals, particularly during cold winter flu seasons. The researchers also highlight how older people are more at risk of getting seriously ill from the virus, accounting for most hospitalizations and deaths.

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CHECK THIS OUT!!! 

January 21, 2026

10th State of Health of Chicago Convening 

Eight Impact Leaders, Networking, Interactive Panel, Small Plates, Lively Spirits, Delicious Desserts & More- 

Check the upcoming Jan. 21, 2026 10th State of Health of Chicago convening here>

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Healthcare providers head into 2026 in a more stable position than they’ve been in for several years. Labor markets have become more favorable, patient volumes have largely recovered from recent lows and operating margins are no longer sliding across the sector.

Still, that doesn’t mean the pressure has eased.

Experts told Healthcare Dive that the year ahead will hinge on execution. Health systems that use the current favorable environment to address costs, workforce planning and portfolio strategy may be better positioned as reimbursement headwinds intensify. Those who don’t may find their options narrowing. [Healthcare Dive]

“It’s a neutral outlook,” said Mark Pascaris, senior director and analytic lead for nonprofit hospitals at Fitch Ratings. “But that doesn’t mean it’s a passive one.”

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Program of Interest?  Attend the 10th State of Health of Chicago on Jan. 21, 2026 and learn more about the latest challenges and opportunities.  More details and to register> 

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As the Illinois Medicaid program prepares for significant changes and cuts, state and Chicago area officials on Tuesday urged residents to stay informed. [Health News Illinois]

“We want Cook County residents to know that if you qualified for Medicaid yesterday, you still qualify for it today,” Aaron Galeener, the chief administrative officer of Cook County Health’s CountyCare, said during a press conference in Chicago. “We will share information about any changes to your eligibility or new requirements to keep your coverage. Enrollees should renew their Medicaid plan as they have in the past, schedule primary and preventive care and fill their prescriptions.”

The Department of Healthcare and Family Services has estimated that between 270,000 and 500,000 Illinoisans are expected to lose Medicaid coverage due to the work requirement set to go into effect next year, many due to the administrative burden.

Agency Director Elizabeth Whitehorn said Tuesday that they will “continue to fight to protect coverage, minimize harm and champion care for all Illinoisans.”

“Medicaid is a lifeline for the millions of customers we serve across the state, and the new federal cuts and requirements will very likely drive up the uninsured rate, exacerbate disparities and lead to poorer health outcomes,” she said.

Cook County Health CEO Dr. Erik Mikaitis said Medicaid enrollment had already begun to decline nationally, falling 7.6 percent last year. Last September, 15,600 fewer Cook County residents were enrolled in Medicaid than in July.

While they will continue to provide charity care and help residents with their coverage, Mikaitis said there is only so much they can do with the pending changes to the Medicaid program.

We continue to reiterate that we will do as much as we can for as long as we can, but our resources are finite,” he said. “There may come a time when tough choices have to be made.”

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Public health leaders have urged Illinoisans to receive their flu shots and take other precautions as influenza cases continue to rise across the state. [Health News Illinois] 

The Department of Public Health said Monday that flu activity in the state has climbed to “Very High,” the most severe of five categories of respiratory illness activity as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Just over 5 percent of hospital admissions in the week ending on December 27 were connected to flu cases, more than double the rate from the prior week.

Nearly 22 percent of Illinoisans have received their flu shot this season, while only 6.8 percent have received the COVID-19 immunization.

“Illinois is facing a significant winter surge in seasonal respiratory illnesses with flu activity at very high levels,” IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra said in a statement. “IDPH is monitoring the situation closely and working with our partners in public health and healthcare to protect Illinois families across the state.”

Illinois recently reported its first influenza death in a child this season. Last year, there were 12 pediatric deaths from influenza, 6 from RSV and 3 from COVID. 

The CDC reported Monday that visits to the doctor for fever plus a cough or sore throat, common flu symptoms, are at their highest level of respiratory illness since at least the 1997-98 flu season.

Nationally, about 8.2 percent of doctor visits were for flu-like symptoms during the last week of 2025. At the same point last season, that number was 6.7 percent.

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Multidose human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination is efficacious, yet the vaccine has been underused globally. Emerging data suggest that a single dose may provide protection. Whether a single dose of HPV vaccine would provide similar protection to two doses is uncertain.

Methods

In this trial, we assessed whether one dose of an HPV vaccine was noninferior to two doses. Girls 12 to 16 years of age were randomly assigned, in a 1:1:1:1 ratio, to receive one or two doses of a bivalent HPV vaccine or one or two doses of a nonavalent HPV vaccine. The primary end point was new HPV type 16 or 18 infection occurring from month 12 to month 60 and persisting for at least 6 months. The prespecified noninferiority margin was 1.25 infections per 100 participants. We also assessed vaccine effectiveness by comparing HPV16 or HPV18 infection among the trial participants with that among girls and women enrolled in a nonrandomized survey.

Results

A total of 20,330 participants were enrolled and underwent randomization, and 3005 unvaccinated participants were enrolled in the survey. The noninferiority analysis showed that one vaccine dose was noninferior to two doses in preventing HPV16 or HPV18 infection. The rate difference between one and two doses of the bivalent vaccine was −0.13 infections per 100 participants (95% confidence interval [CI], −0.45 to 0.15; P<0.001 for noninferiority), and the difference between one and two doses of the nonavalent vaccine was 0.21 infections per 100 participants (95% CI, −0.09 to 0.51; P<0.001 for noninferiority). The vaccine effectiveness was at least 97% in each of the four trial groups. No safety concerns were identified.

More>

Webinar - may be of interest? January 14, 2026 HPV > 

From Awareness to Action: Increasing HPV Vaccine Referrals in Dental Settings

(Second in the Oral Health Series & Preventive Health) 

Sponsors- contact us at sponsorship@iomc.org for more information

Overview

Human papillomavirus (HPV), the most common sexually transmitted infection in the US, responsible for over 70% of oropharyngeal cancers (OPC). The HPV vaccine can prevent these cancers. Dental providers are uniquely positioned to address this public health concern through regular oral examinations, patient interactions during critical vaccination periods, and trusted relationships. However, many lack confidence discussing the HPV-cancer link and vaccine referral. This session shares findings from implementation research integrating HPV vaccine promotion into dental practice. Attendees will learn how dental teams successfully incorporate the "Educate, Recommend, Refer" approach into daily workflows, transforming routine dental visits into cancer prevention opportunities.

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CMS Administrator Mehmet Oz, MD, has moved quickly to advance President Donald Trump’s “Make America Healthy Again” agenda in 2025. The push comes after President Trump this summer signed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, a sweeping package of reforms targeting Medicaid, Medicare and the ACA marketplace. [Becker's Hospital Review]

From plans to close a Medicaid funding “loophole” to probing hospitals over gender care for minors and clamping down on states using federal Medicaid funds to treat undocumented migrants, here are 20 key actions CMS has taken since Dr. Oz was confirmed as administrator:

Editor’s note: This is an updated version of an article originally printed in July 2025. This is not an exhaustive list.

1. CMS plans to add prior authorization for some traditional fee-for-service Medicare services as part of its newly launched Wasteful and Inappropriate Service Reduction model. The agency said it will work with companies specializing in AI and machine learning to test ways to improve and expedite prior authorization for services including epidural steroid injections, cervical fusion, arthroscopy for knee osteoarthritis and skin and tissue substitutes. The news came one week after the wider insurance industry announced reforms that aim to reduce and streamline prior authorization processes across commercial, Medicare Advantage and managed Medicaid plans.

Full article> 

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Key Takeaways

• Women vaccinated against HPV had a 37% lower risk of developing high-grade vulvovaginal lesions compared with unvaccinated women. [MedPage Today]
• This increased to 55% for those vaccinated between the ages of 10 and 16, emphasizing the benefits of early immunization.
• Benefits were observed even in women who received only one dose of the vaccine.

Women vaccinated against human papillomavirus (HPV) had a significantly lower risk of high-grade vulvovaginal lesions, a large cohort study from Sweden showed.

Vaccinated women had a 37% lower risk of developing lesions, which increased to 55% among women who were vaccinated at younger ages. The protection applied equally to vulvar and vaginal lesions. The vaccinated cohort included women who received as few as one of the recommended three doses of the quadrivalent vaccine.

Risk was reduced by 37-55% in vaccinated versus unvaccinated women in Sweden

More>

Check out IOMC's Upcoming Programs: 

1.14.2026  Webinar: From Awareness to Action: Increasing HPV Vaccine Referrals in Dental Settings. More details and to Register> 

2.17.2026 Webinar: Addressing the Health Needs of Justice Involved Individuals during Reentry. More details and to Register> 

Sponsors: Interested in sponsoring a webinar or program? Contact us at sponsorship@iomc.org. 

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Flu season is off to a rough start this year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. While the virus arrived as expected, cases are rising faster, compared with previous years. [NPR & CDC]

Last week, more that 19,000 patients with influenza were admitted to hospitals, up about 10,000 from the previous week, according to new CDC data. To date, the CDC estimates at least 7.5 million people have been sickened, and over 3,100 people have died from the flu.

The surge seems to be driven primarily by a new strain of the virus — subclade K of influenza A(H3N2) — that emerged in Australia over the summer.

"Anywhere we detect this virus, you can see a large surge of influenza cases coming afterwards," says Andrew Pekosz, a virologist at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. In the U.S., "the timing is not that much different from other flu seasons, but the number of cases, and how quickly those cases are increasing is something that is not usually seen this time of year."

New York has been hit especially hard, with state health officials announcing over 71,000 cases last week — the most cases ever recorded in a single week in the state. But other states are seeing high levels of flu activity, particularly in the northeast, midwest and south.

"The map is mostly red," says Pekosz, indicating high levels of disease that will likely increase over the coming weeks.

What's driving the upswing?

So far, there's no indication that this new strain is more severe, or even more contagious than previous years, says Florian Krammer, a virologist at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.

But there have been changes to the virus that may allow it to get around our immune defenses, he says. "There's less immunity to it, and that's allowing the virus to spread very quickly and extensively."

More>

Check out IOMC's Upcoming Programs: 

1.14.2026  Webinar: From Awareness to Action: Increasing HPV Vaccine Referrals in Dental Settings. More details and to Register> 

2.17.2026 Webinar: Addressing the Health Needs of Justice Involved Individuals during Reentry. More details and to Register> 

Sponsors: Interested in sponsoring a webinar or program? Contact us at sponsorship@iomc.org. 

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