health take | State's Drinking Water Action Plan + CDC Adjusts Vaccine Guidance
10.9.25
THIS MONTH: From UCare via Instagram, VERBATIM: “Free flu fighter clinics from UCare are coming your way all month long. Here’s what’s on tap this week. Thanks for protecting yourself and your loved ones.” SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4mPVDov (SPONSORED: UCare)
All Fluence tipsheets are now available to read and share online at our website, The Daily Agenda:
POLL: Via KFF, VERBATIM: “KFF’s latest Tracking Poll on Health Information and Trust, fielded a day after the Trump administration warned that taking Tylenol during pregnancy can cause autism in children despite no evidence of a causal relationship, finds that three-quarters (77%) of the public report having heard this claim, and many are unsure whether it is true. Overall, just 4% of adults say it is “definitely true” that taking Tylenol during pregnancy increases the risk of the child developing autism, while a much larger share (35%) say the claim is ‘definitely false.’” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3KEfz0t
MORE: Via NPR, VERBATIM: “‘What we see is that it’s hugely divided among partisans,’ says Ashley Kirzinger, the associate director of polling for KFF. The poll found 59% of Democrats believed President Trump’s statements about Tylenol were ‘definitely false.’ On the other hand, an almost equal percentage of Republicans — 56% — believed the claim to be either ‘definitely true’ or ‘probably true.’” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3VTEQ9j
RFK JR: Via CNN, VERBATIM: “Most of the American public does not approve of the way Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is running the nation’s health agencies, according to a new KFF poll, and there’s an erosion of trust in reliable vaccine information from the federal government in particular. Nearly 6 in 10 adults in the United States say they disapprove of Kennedy’s overall job performance as secretary of the US Department of Health and Human Services, KFF found.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/48jhXDD
Check out all the episodes of Sunday Take on 830 WCCO. CLICK: https://fluence-media.co/3KsuDrZ
LAWSUIT: Via KARE-TV, VERBATIM: “A newly filed federal lawsuit alleges that a Minnesota postal worker died after police officers and jail staff ignored clear signs he was suffering from a massive stroke - mistaking his medical emergency for drug impairment. The suit, filed in U.S. District Court, accuses the City of Eagan and Dakota County of deliberate indifference in the death of 50-year-old Kingsley Fifi Bimpong, a U.S. Postal Service employee and lawful permanent U.S. resident originally from Ghana. The lawsuit claims arresting officers failed to do a proper screening to determine whether Bimpong was having a stroke or experiencing a drug overdose – and it says jail guards allowed Bimpong to remain helpless on a jail cell floor in his own urine for hours without medical attention.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3IB5IrG
WATER: Via MDH, VERBATIM: “Well-known threats such as arsenic, nitrate and lead now compete with newer threats such as PFAS and a dwindling workforce for the attention and resources of those charged with protecting Minnesota’s drinking water. Fortunately, the state now has its first-ever Drinking Water Action Plan, which outlines strategies for protecting drinking water from source to tap over the next 10 years. Officials celebrated the launch of the plan today at the New Brighton Water Treatment Plant.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/48oSVmu
MORE: Via KSTP-TV, the announcement. WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4oiJlGF
VACCINATIONS: Via Politico, VERBATIM: “The CDC and its independent panel of vaccine advisers have quietly opened the door to wider access to Covid-19 vaccination during pregnancy, softening an earlier decision by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to stop recommending that pregnant women get the shots. The CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices voted in September to advise that adults get the Covid-19 shot through shared clinical decisionmaking between patients and providers. It did not specifically vote on whether the shot should be administered during pregnancy, yet the vote appears to encompass pregnant women, according to an update this month on the CDC website that reflects the new guidance.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/47gvlap
MINNESOTA: Via Sahan Journal, VERBATIM: “Over the past few years, the increase of COVID-19 cases during the fall and winter months has become a pattern. Officials from the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) say that it may be too early to declare a consistent seasonal nature of COVID-19 as seen with the flu and RSV but strongly encourage Minnesotans to get updated vaccines this fall.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3J1suc9
MORE: Via WCCO-Radio, VERBATIM: “Minnesota State Epidemiologist Ruth Lynfield says there will be broad access to vaccines for all who live in this state - adding that the illness is still active.” LYNFIELD: “Over this past year, we did continue to have hospitalizations,” she says. “We had over 500 deaths due to COVID-19. So, you know, if you can take a vaccine that can prevent that, that is a wonderful thing.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/48Uqlth
MEDICAID SUPPORTS HEALTH CARE FOR ALL OF US: Medicaid keeps Minnesota’s hospitals strong and ensures communities across the state have access to care. Policymakers must protect Medicaid so every Minnesotan — regardless of income or health status — can get the care they need, when they need it. LEARN MORE: https://fluence-media.co/3FtrCuH (SPONSORED: Minnesota Hospital Association)
TAX CREDIT: Via Axios, VERBATIM: “Some moderate Senate Democrats say they are open to placing an income cap on eligibility for Affordable Care Act tax credits to help facilitate a deal with Republicans. Why it matters: The way high earners can tap ACA tax credits is helping drive Republican resistance to renewing the subsidies. An income cap is almost essential to a potential deal, whether as part of negotiations to reopen the government or as part of a health care package later this year.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3L2EHxP
MORE: Via Northern News Now, VERBATIM: “Minnesota insurance companies say those enhanced tax credits ‘have helped to cover costs for more individuals and families who buy health insurance on their own.’ However, the credit is set to expire at the end of the year. ‘If Congress doesn’t act, we expect 90,000 Minnesotans to feel an increase in their monthly premium bill, and over 19,000 of them will lose access to all financial help,’ said CEO of MNsure Libby Caulum.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4hdD1xF
POLITICS: Via The New York Times, VERBATIM: “Health care hasn’t been front and center for years. In the final New York Times/Siena poll of the 2024 campaign, less than 1 percent of voters said health care was the most important issue to their vote. To the extent there’s a political battle over health care today, it’s mostly because Democrats forced a government shutdown over it. That’s not to say there haven’t been major developments in health policy. The Republicans’ spending bill this summer derived most of its savings through health care cuts. And an expiration of Obamacare subsidies will affect millions of people. These developments have laid the groundwork for the Democrats to force a shutdown over health care, and they may ultimately benefit from it politically. But if you want to understand the depth of the challenge facing them in the Trump era, it’s telling that the party needed to use its leverage and force a shutdown in order for health care to capture any significant attention.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4nJUrVe
SOCIAL MEDIA: Via Reuters, VERBATIM: “New York City filed a new lawsuit accusing Facebook, Google, Snapchat, TikTok and other online platforms of fueling a mental health crisis among children by addicting them to social media. Wednesday’s 327-page complaint in Manhattan federal court seeks damages from Facebook and Instagram owner Meta Platforms, Google and YouTube owner Alphabet, Snapchat owner Snap and TikTok owner ByteDance. It accuses the defendants of gross negligence and causing a public nuisance.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4q3NBLy
SUBSTANCE USE: Via Northern News Now, VERBATIM: “An event in Duluth is hoping to reduce the stigma around pregnant women experiencing substance use. Wilderness Health, which is a network of nine hospitals and health care systems in the Northland, hosted the panel event at Pier B on Wednesday evening. The discussion focused on root causes and systemic challenges for pregnant and postpartum women who suffer from substance abuse.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4mTESc3
NARCAN: Via WCCO-Radio, VERBATIM: “The Minneapolis Fire department is adding a third Narcan vending machine at Station 5, one of the top stations responding to the highest number of overdose calls in the city. The previous two locations have distributed more than 6,000 doses of NARCAN since the initiative began last year.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4h2wXrH
DESPITE THE CHALLENGES OF RURAL HEALTH CARE, ESSENTIA IS RECOGNIZED FOR PROVIDING TOP CLINICAL CARE: According to the latest report from Minnesota Community Measurement, a statewide resource on health care quality, costs and equity, Essentia ranked as a high performer with 19 of 20 clinical quality metrics scoring above statewide averages. According to Dr. Maria Beaver, chief quality and patient safety officer at Essentia: “This is a testament to the amazing care provided by all our clinical care teams and all our colleagues who support them.” LEARN MORE: https://fluence-media.co/4dCxy1D (SPONSORED: Essentia Health)
BACK SURGERIES: Via Axios, VERBATIM: “U.S. hospitals performed more than 200,000 unnecessary back surgeries on older adults that cost taxpayers $1.9 billion, according to a new analysis of Medicare and Medicare Advantage claims data. Why it matters: The findings from the Lown Institute track with earlier studies but come as Medicare administrators step up scrutiny of low-value services that often have limited effectiveness, by using clinical reviews and AI.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4nKPZFG
MENTAL HEALTH: Via KEYC-TV, a report on a walk Wednesday in Saint Peter to raise awareness of mental health needs in rural communities. VERBATIM: “The South-Central Community Based Initiative is working to remove the stigma around the topic of mental health. Organizers say it’s important to know what mental health services are locally available, especially in rural communities. That way, those who know people struggling with their mental health can direct them to the proper resources.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4q1Tn0r
MUSHROOMS: Via WCCO-Radio, VERBATIM: “While most wild mushrooms growing in Minnesota and many other states won’t cause severe illness if consumed, there is one known as the ‘destroying angel’ which is cause for concern. Dr. Jon Cole is the medical director of the Minnesota Regional Poison Center at Hennepin County Medical Center.” COLE: “One mushroom, if you ate the whole thing, is enough to cause full on liver failure and even death.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4q321M7
FRESH15: The latest season of Fresh15 includes interviews with new Minnesota House members. So far, five new members have shared their goals, background and fun facts before they take office in a historic session this January.
Rep. Kari Rehrauer
Rep. Wayne Johnson
Rep. Julie Greene
Rep. Keith Allen
Rep. Peter Johnson
Follow on your favorite podcast platform, or at www.TheDailyAgenda.com/Podcasts. (SPONSORED: Minnesota Telecom Alliance)
PRINTED SKIN: Via University of Minnesota, VERBATIM: “Researchers in the University of Minnesota College of Science and Engineering have successfully 3D printed realistic human tissue simulants that can be used for medical training for surgeons and doctors. Previous methods have made simple, rigid tissue simulants, but this new technique, published in Science Advances, can mimic the complex directional strength, softness and stretchiness found in real tissues like skin and other organs.” READ/PHOTOS: https://fluence-media.co/4nMPNFY
MERGER: Via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Two Minnesota manufacturers making medical devices and components for other companies are combining to command more stages of the medtech supply chain. Altaris Capital Partners, a New York-based private equity firm, is combining its Minnesota companies Minnetronix Medical and Intricon to create Forj Medical, offering system design, precision molding, microelectronics and advanced manufacturing services. Jeremy Maniak, who was CEO of Minnetronix, will helm the new firm as chief executive.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/46HQBWy
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
PROTEIN: Via Mayo Clinic, VERBATIM: “Mayo Clinic researchers have identified a protein that acts like a traffic controller for DNA, preventing damage during cell division — a discovery that could lead to new cancer therapies, according to a study published in Nature.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/48V9B5a
HEATER: From WashU Medicine via Science Daily, VERBATIM: “Scientists have uncovered a surprising new way the body can burn energy and stay warm. Deep inside fat tissue, they found a hidden system that helps the body use up calories, even without exercise. By studying mice, researchers discovered that brown fat — the type that keeps us warm — has a backup ‘heater’ that kicks in when needed.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4mWDXHQ
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