Read AMA Morning Rounds®’ most popular stories in medicine and public health from the week of Jan. 26, 2026–Jan. 30, 2026.
ACIP chair says polio, measles, other vaccines should be optional
The New York Times (1/23, A1, Mandavilli) reported Kirk Milhoan, MD, a pediatric cardiologist who is chair of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, “said shots against polio and measles—and perhaps all diseases—should be optional, offered only in consultation with a clinician.” In a series of text messages later on Thursday and Friday, “he elaborated on his view that personal autonomy was paramount.” In response to Milhoan’s comments, “outside experts had sharp words...saying the changes in vaccine policy he was suggesting would result in unnecessary deaths among children.”
Editor's Note: Read the AMA statement on ACIP chair's comments on polio, routine vaccinations.
Vaccination against herpes zoster was tied to significantly less dementia risk
MedPage Today (1/26, George) reports, “Vaccination against herpes zoster (shingles) was tied to significantly less dementia risk, data from Canada’s network of primary care records showed.” Investigators found that “being eligible for a free live-attenuated zoster vaccine (Zostavax) was associated with reduced probability of a new dementia diagnosis by an absolute difference of 2.0 percentage points (95% CI 0.4-3.5, P=0.012) over 5.5 years.” The findings were published in Lancet Neurology.
South Carolina measles outbreak reaches 789 cases
Reuters (1/27, Sunny, Mahatole) says, “South Carolina reported a surge to 789 measles cases on Tuesday, state health data showed, overtaking Texas’ 2025 tally of 762 infections and marking the biggest state-level outbreak in the country this year.” Officials confirmed 89 new cases since Friday, warning that “the widening outbreak could continue for weeks or months amid lagging vaccine uptake. The outbreak, which began in October, has been centered in the northwest part of the state, which includes Greenville and Spartanburg, according to the South Carolina Department of Public Health. There are currently 557 people in quarantine and 20 in isolation. The latest end of quarantine for these is February 19, the state health department said.”
CNN (1/27, Tirrell, McPhillips, Gumbrecht) reports that the “spread of measles over the past year has left the U.S. at risk of losing elimination status, which the Pan American Health Organization could decide to revoke when it meets in April.” The Department of Health and Human Services “said that it’s supporting the measles response in South Carolina by providing $1.4 million in requested aid. The agency also said that the CDC is working closely with state health officials to investigate measles transmission patterns and in regular coordination meetings.”
Study suggests night owls more likely to have poor heart health
NBC News (1/28, Leake) reports a study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association suggests “people who naturally stay up late, self-described night owls, are likelier to have poor heart health than people with more traditional sleep-wake schedules.” Researchers examined the “health and behaviors of nearly 323,000 adults in the U.K. Biobank,” and found that “compared with the intermediate group, night owls had a 79% higher prevalence of poor heart health. ... Meanwhile, early birds had a 5% lower prevalence. Across a median follow-up period of 14 years, night owls had a 16% higher risk of having heart attacks or strokes compared with the intermediate group.”
The AP (1/28, Neergaard) reports the research team observed that “night owls, especially women, also had overall worse cardiovascular health based on meeting” the AHA eight key factors for better heart health: “being more physically active; avoiding tobacco; getting enough sleep and a healthy diet; and controlling blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar and weight.” They noted that “unhealthy behaviors—smoking, insufficient sleep and poor diet—appear to be the main reasons” for the elevated risk.
U.S. life expectancy reached record high in 2024, CDC says
The AP (1/28, Stobbe) reports CDC data indicate that U.S. life expectancy increased “to 79 years in 2024—the highest mark in American history. It’s the result of not only the dissipation of the COVID-19 pandemic, but also waning death rates from all the nation’s top killers, including heart disease, cancer and drug overdoses.” According to the AP, U.S. life expectancy “rose at least a little bit almost every year” for decades, “thanks to medical advances and public health measures. It peaked in 2014, just shy of 79 years.” However, “it was relatively flat for several years before plunging as the COVID-19 pandemic killed more than 1.2 million Americans. In 2021, life expectancy fell to just under 76 1/2 years.” While it has started to rebound, experts note “the bad news is that the U.S. still ranks below dozens of other countries.”
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