Annual flu vaccine no longer required for U.S. military, Hegseth says The move alarmed some public health experts and legislators, who warned that it would weaken troop readiness.

In the military, vaccines have long been about readiness, not politics. As history has shown that disease can sideline more forces than the enemy, this is just a bad idea. #publichealth #readiness www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...

"Around 73% of all calls the Annapolis Fire Department responded to are for emergency medical services" - so, is this still a Fire Department? Seems to me that they need a new name. #EMS
www.ems1.com/legislation-...

NY Mandates That All Ambulances are Equipped with Dash Cameras New York State is requiring dash cameras for all ambulances and medical response vehicles, aiming to improve safety and accountability.

New York States new requirement for dash cameras in all ambulances promises gains in safety, accountability, and training. But without dedicated funding, the mandate is placing added financial strain on EMS agencies. #EMS #ambulance www.firehouse.com/apparatus/ty...

Join the FREE EMS Leadership Summit 🚨 The EMS Leadership Summit is back! 🚨Join 25+ top EMS leaders & industry experts for this FREE virtual event, packed with powerful insights on leadership, innovation, and the future of EMS. 🚑💡✅ Learn...

Will I be "seeing" you at the Seventh Annual EMS Leadership Summit in May? I will be speaking about the self-analysis that is critical to leadership. #EMS #leadership www.emsleadershipsummit.com

‘Babies become sitting ducks’: Measles resurges in South Carolina amid anti-vaccine push South Carolina’s measles outbreak, the worst in decades, is endangering babies as vaccination rates fall and anti-vaccine legislation gains momentum.

The measles outbreaks in the US are still ongoing. Per the latest CDC data (updated April 10, 2026, for cases through April 9): 1,714 confirmed cases reported in 2026 so far, across 33 jurisdictions. #measles #publichealth www.koaa.com/health/babie...

Why Preventing the Next Pandemic Involves Humanizing Public Health | Newswise Perry N. Halkitis, dean of the Rutgers School of Public Health, Halkitis says the greatest drivers of pandemics are often human: our emotions, beliefs, political systems and social conditions. Halkitis, author of the forthcoming book Humanizing Public Health: How Disease-Centered Approaches Have Failed Us, discusses why this shift is needed as the world prepares for future health crises.

I have often referred to this putting the public back in public health, but humanizing public health is another great term for it. And it is necessary. #pandemic #publichealth www.newswise.com/articles/why...

Ohio bill would require ambulance service statewide, target rural coverage gaps The proposal would require local governments to ensure ambulance coverage and offer incentives for those that consolidate services with other entities

Is this a step in the right direction? Yes. Ohio’s proposal to require ambulance coverage statewide is acknowledging a real problem—rural access gaps are growing. Making it work is the next critical step. #EMS #ambulance www.ems1.com/legislation-...

Is the future of EMS county-based?
As demand grows and systems strain, local models alone may not be enough. County-level leadership could be the key to stable funding, workforce sustainability and regional coordination. #EMS
www.hmpgloballearningnetwork.com/site/emsworl...

That's the thing about effective public health measures, they are working in the background to protect and save you, even if you don't know it. #publichealth

'Brink of collapse': rural EMS providers face challenges in New York A new report released by the state’s Rural Ambulance Services Task Force describes the rural EMS system in New York as "teetering on the brink of collapse” and in need of "urgent government interventi...

When people think of New York, they think NYC. But more than 2/3 of counties in New York are rural and those areas are seeing a growing EMS crisis with longer response times, fewer providers, and systems on the brink. #EMS www.dailygazette.com/cjfund/healt...

Unengineered: A Governance Argument for EMS Workforce Protection from First Shift to Last Paramedics face high rates of injury, burnout, and suicide. EMS must engineer workforce protection from training through retirement.

One of the most thoughtful pieces I’ve read on EMS provider mental health. The key point: protecting the EMS workforce isn’t just about resilience, it’s a system design and governance issue. A must-read. #EMS #mentalhealth www.linkedin.com/pulse/unengi...

US officer having a ‘mild anxiety attack’ took ambulance meant for man shot by police Dyshan Best later died after having to wait 10 extra minutes for next ambulance, according to Connecticut investigation

I’ve seen a lot of back-and-forth about this incident. So, what do you think? No one wants to play Monday morning quarterback, but there are real questions to be addressed here. #EMS #ambulance www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...

We study pandemics, and the resurgence of measles is a grim sign of what’s coming Controlling the spread of many infections, including measles, depends on trust in public health, which is eroding.

The resurgence of measles cases isn’t just about measles. It’s a sign that some of the basics of public health—vaccination coverage, trust in science, and prevention—are starting to slip. Makes me wonder what comes next. #measles #publichealth theconversation.com/we-study-pan...

She called 911 for an ambulance. She got a nightmare instead Seattle no longer is capping ambulance wait times for certain 911 patients, tracking those waits or penalizing its contractor when they run long.

Lots to unpack here but hopefully this incident will have the City reexamine some of its processes. #EMS #ambulance www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news...

I think the word failure is being nice, I think the more appropriate term here is "irreversible damage to public health" #publichealth

‘Impatient’ man arrested after moving ambulance as medics worked inside, Brevard sheriff says A 58-year-old man was arrested on Thursday after the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office say he climbed into a parked ambulance while paramedics were treating a patient and attempted to move the vehicle b...

I think every EMS provider has a story about impatient family or bystanders, but moving the ambulance while the medics are inside working is next level #EMS #ambulance
www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2...

Treatment in place: The future of EMS … and yes, someone has to pay for it For decades, EMS reimbursement has depended on moving the ambulance. TIP flips that model, rewarding clinical judgment over mileage — if payers, protocols and QA can keep up.

"For decades, EMS reimbursement has depended on moving the ambulance. TIP flips that model, rewarding clinical judgment over mileage — if payers, protocols and QA can keep up." #EMS www.ems1.com/treat-in-pla...

W.Va. House votes to create permanent EMS funding source; counties to match state dollars The West Virginia House of Delegates has passed a bill aimed at stabilizing emergency medical services as squads across the state struggle with rising costs.

A permanent EMS funding source is a big step forward. I worry about the county match requirement. The places struggling the most are often the least able to come up with matching dollars. #EMS #funding wchstv.com/news/local/h...

UPMC to give Pittsburgh $10 million for new ambulances Mayor O’Connor announced a $10 million gift from UPMC that will pay for new ambulances in Pittsburgh, freeing up funds to buy 35 new trucks that can plow snow.

Grateful Pittsburgh EMS is getting new ambulances. But bigger question: why are core emergency services being “rescued” by hospital systems like UPMC? EMS is essential infrastructure and shouldn’t depend on charitable gifts to stay operational. #EMS www.publicsource.org/upmc-gifts-p...

Exit Light, Enter Dispatch: Chasing Sleep and Fighting Fatigue in EMS Fatigue in EMS poses risks to patient safety and provider health, with many providers reporting severe fatigue symptoms.

It's always impressive when authors come up with a title that is as eye-catching as the actual article content. #EMS #fatigue www.jems.com/mental-healt...

Have we already forgotten the lessons of COVID-19? We asked an expert in anticipating crises Bureaucracy, politics and fraying trust in institutions could mean that warnings about the next health crisis fall on deaf ears, says a leading expert.

The short answer is yes, we collectively have forgotten the hard-learned lessons of COVID. #publichealth #COVID www.gavi.org/vaccineswork...

Doctors bear the burden as ‘medical freedom’ fuels worst US measles outbreak in 30 years About a dozen times each day, medical staff at Parkside Pediatrics in Spartanburg, South Carolina, head to the clinic’s parking lot, reaching inside cars and minivans to check children and their paren...

This is what a vaccine-preventable disease looks like when vaccination rates drop — the U.S. is facing its largest measles outbreak in decades, and clinics are overwhelmed #publichealth #vaccineswork www.reuters.com/business/hea...

Exclusive: Key US infectious-diseases centre to drop pandemic preparation Staff members have been instructed to scrub this topic and ‘biodefense’ from the agency’s website.

This is just unacceptable. If we stop naming and prioritizing preparedness, what comes next — denial? neglect? dismantling? #publichealth #preparedness www.nature.com/articles/d41...

EMS at the Crossroads: How MS Can Lead a Rural Healthcare Revolution The One Big Beautiful Bill Act includes $100 million for Mississippi's EMS transformation.

Is it time to take the word "emergency" out of emergency medical services? This article seems to advocate for that change and I don't know that I disagree. #EMS www.jems.com/mobile-integ...

EMS at 60: The Past, Present, and Future of Our Profession In 2026, EMS in the United States marks its 60th anniversary, evolving from untrained services to evidence-based systems since the 1966 Highway Safety Act.

"The last 60 years have taken us from funeral homes and MAST pants to capnography, ultrasound, and whole blood. The next 60 will do the same, steady gains, mixed with stubborn struggles"

Amazingly solid read about the past, present and future of EMS. #EMS #ambulance www.jems.com/patient-care...

Bridging the Gap Between Administration and Operations in EMS Leadership Chief Clifford Mungavin emphasizes the need for EMS leaders to bridge administrative and operational gaps to prioritize patient care.

EMS leadership is about bridging the gap between administration and operations. Budgets and policies matter but so does understanding the reality of the street. The best leaders connect the why behind decisions to the work crews do every day. #EMS #leadership www.jems.com/ems-manageme...

Is the cost of readiness too steep? EMS services seek balance amid rising costs and little relief If ambulance services can’t cover their costs, they can’t cover the emergency needs of Butler County — and it’s becoming increasingly difficult to be ready for an emergency, according to the leaders o...

EMS system leaders, as well as elected officials, need to understand the "cost of readiness" and how that impacts their budgets and operations. #EMS #funding www.butlereagle.com/20260206/is-...

They ushered their states through covid. Now they want to lead them. Why doctors who led the pandemic response in their states are running for office.

This article shows how pandemic-era public health leadership is becoming political leadership and what that means for trust, governance, and experience on the campaign trail. These races will be interesting to watch. #publichealth #politics www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...

Illinois joins World Health Organization network, after Trump administration withdraws from group Joining the World Health Organization’s Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network is the state’s latest move into an area that was previously the domain of the federal government, before the…

I applaud the move but this is a patchwork approach to public health in the US and simply not optimal. Remember - diseases don't recognize borders. #publichealth www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/03/i...

States that once led in child vaccination fall as they expand exemptions • Stateline States that were leaders in childhood vaccination before the pandemic are among those losing ground as exemptions and unfounded skepticism take hold, encouraged by the Trump administration’s stance un...

"At least 33 states were below herd immunity in the 2024-25 school year, compared with 28 states before the pandemic in 2018-2019" #measles #publichealth stateline.org/2026/02/02/s...