Craig Spencer MD MPH Profile picture
Mar 6, 2021 16 tweets 7 min read Read on X
Here’s a roundup of the weekly #COVID19 pieces I’ve written as a @Medium contributor.

My first piece in early February set my intentions for this project:

“My goal is to explore the stories and issues that are critically important, but under-reported”.

link.medium.com/rnNMsJdCpeb
This ⤵️ examined the inequities of the global #COVID19 vaccine rollout. Wealthy nations need to help the rest of the world get vaccinated - not just for moral and humanitarian reasons, but also to tamp down variants and soften the global economic impact.

link.medium.com/XkTnoweCpeb
This ⤵️ outlined the precarious place we’re at in the pandemic. The next phase will depend on vaccines, variants, and how well we adhere to public health measures.

The recent lifting of restrictions & mask mandates may unnecessarily prolong the pandemic.
link.medium.com/wCfDk8eCpeb
Here ⤵️ I reflect on the anniversary of the pandemic in NYC. Its hard to describe all the sadness healthcare workers saw this past year.

But theres reason for hope. Thankfully many of us are vaccinated against a disease we feared, bringing some comfort.

link.medium.com/xZEP8IfCpeb
In ⤵️ piece I wrote about the global shortage of medical oxygen.

I know it might sound boring. But oxygen is something we take for granted. Like running water or nurses, we can’t even imagine a hospital without it. The global reality is very different.
link.medium.com/Z8irQT9cAeb
In ⤵️ piece I discuss the promise and perils of vaccine passports.

Even with their obvious upsides, there are many unanswered questions on how they’ll be used and who will be left out. Let’s collectively consider their limitations before it’s too late.

link.medium.com/ulH1ky4bOeb
I wrote about how this summer will be weird. Going back to normal—whatever the hell that even means—will be a shock for many.

I know because I've had to do it before.

Some of us will bounce back differently, faster, or more completely. And that's okay.
elemental.medium.com/its-about-to-g…
Recently as part of a monthly update I wrote an update about vaccinations, variants and adherence to public health measures.

“If the trajectory of the pandemic in the U.S. was determined only by vaccinations, we’d be in great shape. But it isn’t.”

link.medium.com/dFmnvEOQAfb
In ⤵️ piece I wrote how the decision to pause the J&J vaccine seemed short-sighted. But for the health of our patients and for the long-term credibility of our public health institutions in the future, it was absolutely the right one.

link.medium.com/ny7auLsRAfb
In ⤵️ piece I wrote about the most common misconceptions when it comes to herd immunity.

FYI: it’s not a set, single, or even known threshold. Nor is it a country-level on/off switch where everything magically changes once we reach it. Want more deets? 👇
link.medium.com/Zs9wg1IaUfb
While the U.S. and other wealthy nations vaccinate their way out of our pandemic nightmare, Covid is raging around the world.

But only 0.2% of all Covid vaccines are going to low-income countries.

⤵️ I outline how the 🇺🇸 can help get the 🌎 vaccinated.
link.medium.com/nzALSYdfUfb
The CDC recently issued new guidance on masks. The hot takes were mixed.

Some were glad to see updated recommendations on what’s safe. But many found them too cautious and confusing.

I wrote about the important takeaways from the new recommendations.⤵️

link.medium.com/2wtkm9NhWfb
I wrote about Fox News fraudster @TuckerCarlson and his deliberate lies about the Covid vaccines.

In pushing disingenuous disinformation about the vaccines, Carlson is doing his viewers a huge disservice. Hopefully, none of them pay the ultimate price.

link.medium.com/zoHOGdJQtgb
The U.S. vowed to be an ‘arsenal of vaccines’ for the world. So what are we waiting for?

My latest for @Medium on the state of the pandemic in the U.S. and globally, and why lofty promises won’t end this pandemic👇

link.medium.com/BYG0Epiiwgb
"We're fully vaccinated but our kids aren't - can we still have fun this summer?"

Parent friends have asked for my advice on navigating the next few months with unvaccinated kids.

This @Medium piece outlines how my family is approaching the summer 👇

link.medium.com/2lMOoM3OJgb
Over 115,000 health care workers around the world have died from Covid-19. Like many of my frontline colleagues, I've lost too many of my friends to this virus.

I wrote about how vaccinating every health care worker should be an immediate global priority.
coronavirus.medium.com/why-are-my-col…

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More from @Craig_A_Spencer

Jun 26
Everyone’s saying cutting GAVI funding means more diseases will come to the U.S.—and that's true.

Others are pointing out a LOT of kids will die—also true!

But everyone’s missing the most important part of this video—this is RKF Jr taking his anti-vaccination crusade global 🧵
For the record, GAVI has been incredible.

Co-founded by the US back in 2000, GAVI has saved MILLIONS of lives around the world

All by making vaccines to kids—to date, they've vaccinated over a billion children.

I go deeper into GAVI here 👇

In today's video announcing the U.S. is withdrawing its previous funding commitment to GAVI, RFK Jr spends more time attacking vaccines than GAVI itself.

And he justifies the death of millions of children because he didn't like GAVI's social media policies on Covid vaccines. Image
Read 10 tweets
Jun 10
I was seeing patients in the ER when I got a text from a friend

"How bad is this thing about RFK Jr removing ALL 17 experts from a CDC vaccine advisory committee?"

Theres been a lot of hot takes on here already

But heres why this makes me worry, from a clinical perspective 🧵
For background, if you haven't heard yet:

There are 17 members of an advisory committee on immunization practices at the CDC. It's called ACIP.

It's made up of brilliant volunteers who review reams of data and make recommendations on vaccines.

They all got booted today.

hhs.gov/press-room/hhs…
There was almost unanimous rebuke from clinical organizations that should give us all pause.

These are the doctors that take of every American — from obstetricians to pediatricians to family practitioners—that ALL came out today to denounce RFK's move today.
Read 13 tweets
May 30
There were disturbing developments this week that will undoubtedly affect your health.

But most people didn't notice, because they weren't so splashy, or may not seem like a big deal.

But I want to talk to you about each of them, why they matter, and why we should be worried:
Earlier this week, RFK Jr stood alongside the FDA and NIH directors and announced a change in COVID vaccine recommendations...

On X. And only X.

No reports, no science, no reflection on the discussion or decision-making process behind this.

This is very concerning...
Over and over, RFK Jr promised 'radical transparency'.

But the process here is just radical.

His official announcement—by tweet—is that Covid vaccines are no longer recommended for kids and pregnant women.

There were scant details. And he doesn't discuss the data, at all.
Read 15 tweets
Apr 7
Today we learned the sad news another kid died from measles in Texas.

We also learned what RFK Jr. will and will not say

And we got a clearer glimpse of the playbook being used to discredit the proven measures to tackle measles outbreaks

Let me tell you why I'm worried 🧵 Image
Let's start with what we know

The death announced today was in an 8 year old girl

The hospital reports she died of 'measles pulmonary failure'

They also report she was unvaccinated

And had no other health conditions

An absolute tragedy. And completely preventable. Image
Her death was the third measles death in the past few months

And the second in a child

There have been more pediatric deaths from measles in the past 2 months as there have been in the previous 2 decades

This isn't just a coincidence

Read 28 tweets
Mar 26
The U.S. has actively dismantled the global disease-detection programs we all—including Americans—rely on to stay safe

Today this administration’s short-sighted global health agenda got even even worse

It’s ending its support for vaccine programs around the world

Why?? 🧵 Image
With unnecessary haste, the Trump administration is pulling funding from GAVI.

GAVI is a massive force in global health.

Since starting in 2000, it has saved millions of lives around the world through vaccination

Gift link to @nytimes story by @snolen
nytimes.com/2025/03/26/hea…
It is focused on getting vaccines to people around the world who need them

For routine immunization…

And also for really important but less common diseases like Ebola

To date, they’ve vaccinated over a billion kids!!!

They are irreplaceable. Losing GAVI would be disastrous.
Read 17 tweets
Mar 12
I just watched the whole RFK Jr—Hannity interview where they discuss measles.

I don't know what to say.

I'm really just speechless.

Listening to health leadership bungle basic facts at best—and tell outright lies about long-settled science at worst—is just SO disappointing.
No, the measles vaccine does NOT wane by 4.5% every year!

He's confusing the measles vaccine for the mumps vaccine, which does wane.

No, Vitamin A is NOT a cure-all, even if it CAN help.

The vaccine is BY FAR the safest way to stay safe.
He keeps saying natural immunity gives you better protection long-term...

But he never says that a measles infection can cause 'immune amnesia', suppressing your immune system immediately and for years after.
Read 5 tweets

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