NEW: Today, I’m releasing a Surgeon General’s Advisory on the causal link between alcohol consumption and increased cancer risk. Alcohol is the 3rd leading preventable cause of cancer in the U.S., contributing to about 100,000 cancer cases and 20,000 cancer deaths each year. Consuming any type of alcohol – beer, wine, or spirits – increases the risk for at least seven types of cancer, including cancers of the breast for women, colorectum, esophagus, liver, mouth, throat, and voice box (larynx).

NEW: As a father of two young children, I know the joys of parenting—but I also know the stress, loneliness, & uncertainty of parenting in a rapidly changing world. Today, I issued a Surgeon General’s Advisory on the Mental Health and Well-Being of Parents surgeongeneral.gov/parents
Raising children has always been a rewarding but stressful job. In addition to the expected challenges parents & caregivers face, like keeping kids safe and healthy and navigating finances, there are a host of new stressors.

NEW: Today, for the first time in the history of our office, I am issuing a Surgeon General’s Advisory on Firearm Violence. Firearm violence is a public health crisis in America that poses a serious threat to the health and well-being of our country. 1/10 Surgeongeneral.gov/firearm-violen…


A staggering 54% of adults report that they or a family member have experienced a firearm-related incident (been personally threatened with or injured by a firearm, lost a family member, witnessed a shooting, or shot a firearm in self-defense). 2/10

NEW: Today, I released a Surgeon General's Advisory on the epidemic of loneliness and isolation facing our country, the destructive impacts it has on our collective health, and the extraordinary healing power of our relationships. Surgeongeneral.gov/loneliness #Connect2Heal 1/8 At the height of the #COVID19 pandemic, we gained a greater appreciation for how crucial relationships are to our well-being. The pandemic led to greater loneliness for many, but there was widespread social disconnection even before #COVID19. 2/8

I'm grateful to @VP Kamala Harris for joining me today at @ChildrensNatl hospital to thank the staff for their heroic work and to announce my new Surgeon General’s Advisory on a growing threat to the nation’s health: health worker burnout. 1/7 Health workers nationwide have long grappled with systemic challenges that have driven burnout to record levels—from excessive workloads to physical/verbal abuse to poor access to mental health care. 2/7

NEW: Today, I released a Surgeon General’s Advisory calling the nation to address a growing threat to our individual and collective health: health worker burnout. Health workers have long had our back—it’s time for us to have theirs. surgeongeneral.gov/burnout 1/6 Over the past 2+ years, health workers have been on the frontlines of the #COVID19 pandemic, where they not only saved lives, but in too many cases, sacrificed their own health and the health of their families as they served others. 2/6

The recent court ruling has given travelers the option to choose whether or not to wear masks on flights, buses, and trains. Having been on a plane myself yesterday—and recognizing cases are on the rise in many states—here is why I will continue to wear a mask when I travel. 1/6 Even if you're low risk and aren’t concerned about #COVID19, you could transmit the virus to someone who isn’t so lucky—like the millions of Americans who can’t get vaxed (kids under 5), haven’t yet gotten vaxed, or have medical conditions that make them high risk. 2/6

On April 5, 2022 @POTUS Biden called on @HHSGov to coordinate across the federal government to develop and issue the first-ever interagency national research action plan on long COVID. 1/4 This will advance progress in the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and provision of services, support, and interventions for individuals experiencing long COVID and associated conditions. 2/4

Florida's recent law restricting discussion about gender identity in school has understandably raised serious concerns. The law concerns me too. Let me explain why: 1/4 Learning that people are different and that not all families look the same—these are important lessons that start early in life, including in school. They help create a society based on understanding and respect. They help children know they belong even if they are different. 2/4

Yesterday afternoon in Austin, I met with transgender youth and their parents to hear how they are coping in light of the state’s recent directive equating gender affirming care to child abuse. 1/5 The pain and fear in their voices was heartbreaking. Parents and kids are terrified about being separated. They described the repeated attacks on their families as profoundly traumatic. 2/5

Children shouldn't die from preventable illnesses. That's why we vaccinate them. It's why we vaccinate kids for polio, measles, mumps, varicella, and influenza. And it's why the @AmerAcadPeds and @CDCgov recommend kids get the #COVID19 vaccine. 1/5 Kids are less at risk for bad outcomes w/ COVID compared to older adults. But lower risk doesn't mean no risk. We've lost hundreds of kids to COVID. Thousands have been hospitalized, including previously healthy kids, & have had serious complications leading to organ damage. 2/5

Today, I'm making an official request to the general public for stories and research on #HealthMisinformation. This includes a public call to tech companies to transparently share what they know about the impact of misinfo on their platforms. To succeed, we need YOUR help. 1/7 When YOU respond to this request by sharing your personal story, you’re providing key evidence about the reach and influence of #HealthMisinformation. Your experience also helps prove why it’s so crucial for tech companies to publicly share the research they have. 2/7

My wife Alice, my two kids and I have recovered from #COVID19. I’m immensely grateful for the kind wishes while we were ill. Now that we’ve joined millions who have gotten #COVID19, a few reflections on our recent experience: Each of us had a different experience. Our symptoms were different and they lasted for different periods of time. I had fevers and sore throat. Alice did not. One of our kids had GI symptoms. The other did not. It was a reminder that #COVID19 hits each person differently.

Dr. Roselyn Epps was a life-long advocate for women's and children's health and for underserved communities. She was recognized for her leadership in medicine and should continue to be celebrated for her contributions to public health this #BlackHistoryMonth. 1/4 Born in Little Rock, AK, and educated at Howard University, Dr. Epp became many "firsts," including the first African American president of the Washington, D.C., chapter of the @AmerAcadPeds and the first acting commissioner of public health in Washington D.C. 2/4

Update: my 5 year old son, my wife Alice, and I have all tested positive for COVID-19. Our son has a runny nose and low grade fever but is otherwise eating, drinking, playing with his sister, and watching his favorite cartoons. My four year old daughter who tested positive first is doing ok. Fevers are starting to improve. She’s still congested and is now hoarse from all the coughing, but thankfully she’s still smiling and enjoying her arts and crafts.

Charles R. Drew was a groundbreaking and influential Black physician, surgeon, and researcher. He is remembered as the "Father of the Blood Bank" and is my next #BlackHistoryMonth highlight. 1/7 Drew was a pioneer in the field of blood preservation and the leading authority in the field during WWII, when the need for blood plasma was greater than ever. 2/7

This weekend, my 4 y/o daughter tested positive for COVID-19. She’s had a fever and sore throat, and she isn’t her usual bubbly self. But thankfully she is eating, drinking, and breathing fine. We’re keeping a close eye on her. Worrying about her has prompted a few reflections: Trying to isolate a small child from her 5 y/o brother and parents in a small home is pretty tough. Which is why I’m grateful that my son, my wife, and I are all vaccinated. Even if we contract the virus, it’s unlikely to cause severe illness because we have protection.

Like so many parents, I was thrilled and relieved when my 5-year-old son got his #COVID19 vaccine last week. He was a little nervous when the time came but all smiles afterward. He’s been proudly showing off his "I'm vaccinated" sticker! [1/5] My wife and I are two of millions of parents who have been waiting all this time for the opportunity to protect our kids from COVID-19. Now, we finally have that chance. There are few things that feel better than knowing your child is more safe. [2/5]

There’s been a lot of news in the last few days about #Omicron. I can understand that many people are worried and exhausted at the prospect of another variant. Let’s review what we know and don’t know. Remember to be cautious about speculations you hear in the next few days: 1/12 #Omicron has raised concern among scientists because of its unusual mutations and rapid spread in South Africa. Cases have been detected in Europe, Asia, North America and other parts of Africa. We should expect more cases will be reported in the days ahead. 2/

I was deeply disappointed to read this story. Health misinformation has harmed people’s health and cost lives. In the Surgeon General’s Advisory on Health Misinformation, I stated clearly that tech platforms have a responsibility to improve our health information ecosystem.

https://twitter.com/washingtonpost/status/1453739285123719178

What continues to be lacking from Facebook and other tech companies is transparency and accountability. Only the companies understand the full extent of misinformation’s spread and impact – yet they have not yet shared this data with independent researchers and the public.

Last week, the FDA and CDC gave us one more tool to protect the health of Americans during the #COVID19 pandemic: a Pfizer vaccine booster shot for people in three high risk groups. Here's what you need to know. You are eligible for a booster if you're 6 months out from your last Pfizer dose and if any of the following apply:

1) You are 65+
2) You have a medical condition that increases risk of severe COVID-19
3) You work or live in a setting that puts you at higher risk of exposure