There's a flurry of health news happening these days: Decisions and announcements being made at federal agencies. State governments vowing to fight changes. 

It can be hard to know what the impacts will be at the ground level. 

We're going to set aside some time every now and then to check in with doctors and medical professionals about the latest developments -- and what they mean for you. 

In this segment, we're digging into the latest news on childhood vaccinations: Last week, a vaccine panel formed by Health and Human Services head Robert F. Kennedy Jr. met to discuss policy regarding measles, Covid-19 and Hepatitis B. 

There were a variety of actions taken by the panel -- some votes taken, some NOT taken. Two local doctors help us make sense of what all of this means. 

Guest:


Dr. Helen Chu, a professor of medicine at UW Medicine.
Dr. Amanda Kost, chief of service of family medicine at Harborview Medical Center. 

Related stories:
How RFK Jr.’s hand-picked CDC advisory panel voted on COVID vaccines and more | PBS News
RFK Jr.’s Vaccine Panel Votes Down Its Own Proposal to Require Prescriptions for Covid-19 Shots | WIRED
CDC's vaccine advisers add COVID vaccine rules in contentious meeting : Shots - Health News : NPR

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes.

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

There's a flurry of health news happening these days: Decisions and announcements being made at federal agencies. State governments vowing to fight changes.&nbsp;
It can be hard to know what the impacts will be at the ground level.&nbsp;
We're going to set aside some time every now and then to check in with doctors and medical professionals about the latest developments -- and what they mean for you.&nbsp;
In this segment, we're digging into the latest news on childhood vaccinations:&nbsp;Last week, a vaccine panel formed by Health and Human Services head Robert F. Kennedy Jr. met to discuss policy regarding measles, Covid-19 and Hepatitis B.&nbsp;
There were a variety of actions taken by the panel -- some votes taken, some NOT taken. Two local doctors help us make sense of what all of this means.&nbsp;
Guest:
<ul>
<li>
Dr. Helen Chu, a professor of medicine at UW Medicine.
</li>
<li>Dr. Amanda Kost, chief of service of family medicine at Harborview Medical Center.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
Related stories:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.pbs.org/newshour/health/how-rfk-jr-s-hand-picked-cdc-advisory-panel-voted-on-covid-vaccines-and-more">How RFK Jr.&rsquo;s hand-picked CDC advisory panel voted on COVID vaccines and more | PBS News</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.wired.com/story/rfk-jrs-vaccine-panel-votes-down-its-own-proposal-to-require-prescriptions-for-covid-19-shots/">RFK Jr.&rsquo;s Vaccine Panel Votes Down Its Own Proposal to Require Prescriptions for Covid-19 Shots | WIRED</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/shots-health-news/2025/09/19/nx-s1-5545946/cdc-covid-vaccine-acip-recommendations">CDC's vaccine advisers add COVID vaccine rules in contentious meeting : Shots - Health News : NPR</a></li>
</ul>
Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to&nbsp;<a href="http://kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes" data-stringify-link="http://kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes" data-sk="tooltip_parent">kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes.</a>
Soundside&nbsp;is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Soundside

Last week, a vaccine panel formed by Health and Human Services head Robert F. Kennedy Jr. met to discuss policy regarding measles, Covid-19 and Hepatitis B.  Two local doctors help us make sense of what all of this means. 

Advertisement