Skip to main content

Public Health

Do soda taxes fight obesity? How did Juul hook American teens? Vox tackles all your questions about public health issues and trends.

The End of HIV
200,000 additional children under 5 will die this year — thanks to aid cuts200,000 additional children under 5 will die this year — thanks to aid cuts
The End of HIV

The historic increase in global child deaths, explained in one chart.

By Sara Herschander
Health
Your guide to the weirdest winter virus season we’ve ever hadYour guide to the weirdest winter virus season we’ve ever had
Health

As vaccination rates slide, there are still ways you can protect yourself from cold, flu, RSV, and Covid this year.

By Dylan Scott
Future Perfect
Want to help save the most lives possible? Here’s where to give money.Want to help save the most lives possible? Here’s where to give money.
Future Perfect

Supporting groups that work on malaria, lead poisoning, and other health issues can make a big difference with just a little money.

By Pratik Pawar, Dylan Matthews and 1 more
Future Perfect
A shocking new warning about global poverty should unsettle everyoneA shocking new warning about global poverty should unsettle everyone
Future Perfect

One of humanity’s biggest achievements may be slipping away.

By Bryan Walsh
The Highlight
Why peanut butter is back on the kids’ menuWhy peanut butter is back on the kids’ menu
The Highlight

How doctors learned to stop childhood food allergies.

By Bryan Walsh
The Logoff
The CDC’s troubling new second in command, briefly explainedThe CDC’s troubling new second in command, briefly explained
The Logoff

The former Louisiana surgeon general has shared debunked theories about vaccines and autism.

By Cameron Peters
Health
The hidden disease that spikes every ThanksgivingThe hidden disease that spikes every Thanksgiving
Health

Many Americans have high blood pressure and do not even know it.

By Dylan Scott
Podcasts
MAHA’s war on antidepressantsMAHA’s war on antidepressants
Podcast
Podcasts

RFK Jr. and his supporters are asking the wrong questions about these medications.

By Avishay Artsy and Noel King
The End of HIV
The US is fast-tracking this important HIV drug — for everyone except South AfricaThe US is fast-tracking this important HIV drug — for everyone except South Africa
The End of HIV

Why the Trump administration is cutting out a country that needs it most.

By Pratik Pawar
The Logoff
The vaccine tug of war inside the Trump administration, briefly explainedThe vaccine tug of war inside the Trump administration, briefly explained
The Logoff

Who’s really in charge on health policy?

By Dylan Scott and Cameron Peters
The 2025 Future Perfect 25
Future Perfect

Meet the heroes keeping global progress alive.

By Bryan Walsh
India’s drug industry saved the world once. Can it do it again?
The End of HIV

The “pharmacy of the world” needs to reinvent itself.

By Pratik Pawar
How to deliver a baby with no supplies
Future Perfect

These women save countless lives every year. We need more of them.

By Sara Herschander
Future Perfect
One of the world’s most influential philanthropies is changing its name. Here’s why it matters.One of the world’s most influential philanthropies is changing its name. Here’s why it matters.
Future Perfect

CEO Alexander Berger on how the funder’s second act aims to show that effective giving can scale up

By Bryan Walsh
Future Perfect
Your washing machine is actually a time machineYour washing machine is actually a time machine
Future Perfect

We’ve forgotten how radical household appliances are.

By Bryan Walsh
Future Perfect
Pandemics are a choicePandemics are a choice
Future Perfect

The end of pandemics is within reach. Why aren’t we acting like it?

By Stephanie Psaki
We can fix the goofy way we pay for vision care in the US
The Vox guide to using your benefits

My eyes are part of my body. Why do I have separate vision benefits?

By Dylan Scott
The Vox guide to using your benefits
Why are my health insurance premiums going up so much?Why are my health insurance premiums going up so much?
The Vox guide to using your benefits

One of the Democrats’ best political issues is to defend to Affordable Care Act. Is it worth defending?

By Dylan Scott
Future Perfect
The Ozempic effect is finally showing up in obesity dataThe Ozempic effect is finally showing up in obesity data
Future Perfect

The decline of one of America’s biggest health crises, in two charts.

By Bryan Walsh
Future Perfect
No, your protein powder isn’t poisoning youNo, your protein powder isn’t poisoning you
Future Perfect

The panic over lead in protein powder got the risk totally wrong.

By Jan Dutkiewicz
Future Perfect
Global health is facing major cuts. We still scored some surprising wins.Global health is facing major cuts. We still scored some surprising wins.
Future Perfect

From Maldives to the Democratic Republic of Congo, there has been stunning progress in tackling diseases.

By Pratik Pawar
Future Perfect
The traffic revolution that’s making cities cleaner — and happierThe traffic revolution that’s making cities cleaner — and happier
Future Perfect

More cities are finally choosing bikes over cars.

By Bryan Walsh
Today, Explained newsletter
The disaster at the CDC, explained by its former bossThe disaster at the CDC, explained by its former boss
Today, Explained newsletter

The CDC has lost one-third of its staff this year. What now?

By Dylan Scott
Podcasts
Why are US medicines so darn expensive?Why are US medicines so darn expensive?
Podcast
Podcasts

And can Trump actually do something about it?

By Kelli Wessinger and Sean Rameswaram
Future Perfect
2024 was a record-setting year for lifesaving vaccines2024 was a record-setting year for lifesaving vaccines
Future Perfect

Vaccines delivered by Gavi saved the lives of 1.7 million people in poor countries

By Bryan Walsh
Health
Is the cancer surge among younger adults a mirage?Is the cancer surge among younger adults a mirage?
Health

A more complicated picture is emerging. Here’s what to know.

By Dylan Scott
Future Perfect
Lead batteries are poisoning millions of children. Here are 3 proven ways to stop it.Lead batteries are poisoning millions of children. Here are 3 proven ways to stop it.
Future Perfect

Informal recycling is deadly — and relatively simple to fix.

By Pratik Pawar
Podcasts
RFK Jr. is running a dangerous experiment on all of usRFK Jr. is running a dangerous experiment on all of us
Podcast
Podcasts

A pediatrician on why we should trust the vaccine schedule — even when Trump officials don’t.

By Ariana Aspuru and Noel King
Health
The flimsy evidence behind Trump’s big autism announcement, explainedThe flimsy evidence behind Trump’s big autism announcement, explained
Health

Trump is blaming Tylenol for autism. Here’s the context he’s missing.

By Dylan Scott
Technology
Your doctor might be using ChatGPT for a second opinion. Should you?Your doctor might be using ChatGPT for a second opinion. Should you?
Technology

The do’s and don’ts of asking an AI for health advice.

By Adam Clark Estes
Health
RFK Jr.’s biggest disruption yet to vaccine policy is comingRFK Jr.’s biggest disruption yet to vaccine policy is coming
Health

Kennedy’s support is fracturing. The childhood vaccine schedule could break it.

By Dylan Scott
Future Perfect
For the first time, more kids are obese than underweightFor the first time, more kids are obese than underweight
Future Perfect

The year child malnutrition flipped, in one chart.

By Pratik Pawar
Future Perfect
Is this the “sickest generation” in American history? Not even close.Is this the “sickest generation” in American history? Not even close.
Future Perfect

How MAHA gets American history wrong.

By Bryan Walsh
Today, Explained podcast
What RFK Jr. gets wrong — and right — according to a public health expertWhat RFK Jr. gets wrong — and right — according to a public health expert
Podcast
Today, Explained podcast

Zeke Emanuel on RFK Jr. and the crisis of faith in public health.

By Rebeca Ibarra and Sean Rameswaram
Health
What do I do about my family’s vaccinations now?What do I do about my family’s vaccinations now?
Health

Vaccine guidance has never been more confusing. Here’s how to navigate it.

By Dylan Scott
Future Perfect
A flesh-eating parasite is at our borders. What happens if it spreads? A flesh-eating parasite is at our borders. What happens if it spreads? 
Future Perfect

The US eradicated screwworm. Its return could cost America billions.

By Pratik Pawar
The Logoff
RFK Jr.’s alarming Senate hearing, briefly explainedRFK Jr.’s alarming Senate hearing, briefly explained
The Logoff

Even some Republican senators seem to be getting fed up with Trump’s health secretary.

By Cameron Peters
Exclusive: RFK Jr. and the White House buried a major study on alcohol and cancer. Here’s what it shows.
Health

Kennedy wants to “Make America Healthy Again” — but doesn’t want you to see a report that could do just that.

By Dylan Scott
Today, Explained podcast
The Covid revenge policyThe Covid revenge policy
Podcast
Today, Explained podcast

Trump brought us the Covid vaccine. Now he’s trying to take it away.

By Sean Rameswaram and Avishay Artsy
Health
The bigger story behind the mass exodus of CDC leadershipThe bigger story behind the mass exodus of CDC leadership
Health

The CDC is collapsing. Will America’s health follow suit?

By Dylan Scott