HHS to mandate placebo testing on 'all new vaccines'

News 5 Cleveland (Your Health Matters) 5/1 6:45A Scripps News Group

The U.S. Department of Health and Human services says it will require all new vaccines to be tested in placebo-controlled trials before they can be licensed for use. According to an HHS spokesperson, this policy change reflects Health Secretary...

Florida poised to become 2nd state to ban fluoride from public drinking water

News 5 Cleveland (Your Health Matters) 4/30 2:15A Scripps News Group

Florida is set to eliminate fluoride from public water systems after lawmakers passed a bill on Tuesday that indirectly bans the substance. The legislation, SB 700 also referred to as the Florida Farm Billdoes not explicitly mention fluoride, but...

Kennedy's hopes for swift autism research answers on hold

News 5 Cleveland (Your Health Matters) 4/23 2:25A Justin Boggs

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had said that he expected to have answers by the fall on why the number of autism diagnoses has increased in recent years. But it appears Kennedy will have to wait a little longer....

Women and low-income families hit hardest by increasing rates of depression

News 5 Cleveland (Your Health Matters) 4/16 8:36A Scripps News Group

A new study found that depression rates among adolescents and adults are rising, with most cases going untreated. revealed that 13% of people age 12 and older experienced symptoms of depression, up from 8% compared to data from 10 years ago....

RFK Jr. disputes CDC conclusion on why autism rates have jumped in US

News 5 Cleveland (Your Health Matters) 4/16 4:03A Justin Boggs

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Wednesday addressed a new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that found that 1 in 31 children born in 2014 were diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. "There are many...

CDC says it can't help with lead exposure crisis in Milwaukee schools because of layoffs

News 5 Cleveland (Your Health Matters) 4/14 9:59A Scripps News Group

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention told health officials in Wisconsin it could not help with an ongoing lead exposure investigation because the Trump administration had eliminated its response team. In an email obtained by the Scripps...

Measles cases surge to six-year high with over 700 confirmed in 24 states

News 5 Cleveland (Your Health Matters) 4/14 8:06A Scripps News Group

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports a troubling rise in measles cases across the United States, with over 700 confirmed cases in 24 states. This marks the highest number of cases recorded in six years and reflects an increase...

Alabama woman has pig kidney removed after record 130 days

News 5 Cleveland (Your Health Matters) 4/14 6:13A Scripps News Group

An Alabama woman who received a pig kidney transplant had the organ removed after her body began rejecting it. Towana Looney lived with the kidney for a record 130 days before it was taken out on April 4 at NYU Langone Health in New York, doctors...

Travel and outbreaks: Should you vaccinate your child earlier for measles?

News 5 Cleveland (Your Health Matters) 4/10 8:44A Justin Boggs

A measles outbreak spanning multiple states has already surpassed 600 cases, and experts say it might only be the beginning. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said there have been at least 607 confirmed measles cases in 2025 across...

US flagship HIV/AIDS prevention program faces shaky future: ‘PEPFAR was never meant to go forever’

News 5 Cleveland (Your Health Matters) 4/8 9:50A Kadia Tubman

Public health advocates on Tuesday warned a House subcommittee against a 'chaotic, rapid retreat' by the U.S. from a flagship global HIV/AIDS initiative a program that has saved over 25 million lives. We have the opportunity to have not only the...

UnitedHealthcare and Humana stocks surge following Medicare Advantage announcement

News 5 Cleveland (Your Health Matters) 4/8 8:27A Justin Boggs

The Trump administration announced a $25 billion increase for Medicare Advantage plans in 2026, marking a significant rise over previous projections. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) stated that projected payments should increase...

As measles spreads to another state, how early can babies be vaccinated?

News 5 Cleveland (Your Health Matters) 4/8 6:32A

The Indiana Department of Health reported its first confirmed case of measles in the state since early 2024. Officials said the child from Allen County, which includes Fort Wayne, had not been vaccinated. The patient is recovering, and no other...

Second child died from measles-related causes in West Texas, where cases are nearing 500

News 5 Cleveland (Your Health Matters) 4/6 6:23A AP via Scripps News

A second school-aged child in West Texas has died from a measles-related illness, a hospital spokesman confirmed Sunday, as the outbreak continues to swell. Aaron Davis, a spokesperson for UMC Health System in Lubbock, Texas, said that the child...

Supreme Court sides with the FDA in dispute over sweet-flavored vaping products

News 5 Cleveland (Your Health Matters) 4/2 6:22A AP via Scripps News

The Supreme Court on Wednesday ruled for the Food and Drug Administration in its crackdown on sweet-flavored vaping products following a surge in teen electronic cigarette use. But the justices' unanimous decision throwing out a federal appeals...

422 measles cases confirmed in Texas as state continues to battle an outbreak

News 5 Cleveland (Your Health Matters) 4/1 9:05A Scripps News Group

A measles outbreak in West Texas is continuing to grow in cases as state health officials work to contain the spread of the highly-contagious disease. The Texas Department of State Health Services said Tuesday 422 cases have been identified in...