• Illinois: According to a new study published in JAMA, the median rate of nonmedical vaccine exemptions increased from 0.6% in 2010-2011 to 3.1% in 2023-2024. In comparison, the median rate of medical exemptions for vaccines has remained steady. For the study, researchers analyzed vaccine exemption data for children entering kindergarten in 3,053 U.S. counties or substate administrative units in 45 states and the District of Columbia. The researchers found that nonmedical vaccine exemptions began increasing during the COVID-19 pandemic. Between 2010 and 2020, the median nonmedical exemption rate increased by 0.11 percentage points every year. However, between 2021 and 2024, it increased by 0.52 percentage points each year. Of the 2,842 counties with data available during both time periods, over half reported an increase of over 1%, and 5.3% reported an increase of over 5%. As school-based vaccination exemptions increase, so will the risk of infection, the researchers warn. "The impact of a rise in nonmedical vaccine exemptions is a drop in vaccination and high risk of outbreaks of vaccine-preventable illnesses," said Nathan Lo, one of the study's authors from Stanford University. "Parents making decisions on vaccination should seek out their pediatrician as a trusted source for reliable and accurate information on the safety and efficacy of vaccines." (Rudd, MedPage Today, 1/14)
• Indiana: Eli Lilly has acquired Ventyx Biosciences for $1.2 billion. Ventyx is a clinical-stage company developing treatments for different inflammatory disorders. In recent years, Ventyx has focused its research efforts on drugs that inhibit the NLRP3 inflammasome, a protein complex that regulates signals for inflammation. Currently, there are no FDA-approved treatments targeting NLRP3. According to Ventyx CEO Raju Mohan, Lilly is an "ideal strategic partner" with "unparalleled resources, a passion for innovative oral drugs and a commitment to advance novel therapies." After the deal was announced, Daniel Skovronsky, Lilly's chief scientific and product officer, said "Ventyx's clinical-stage pipeline addresses a critical need for better treatment options across diseases mediated by chronic inflammation and further strengthens our ability to deliver meaningful advances for patients living with challenging diseases across focus areas of cardiometabolic health, neurodegeneration and autoimmunity." (Vinluan, Med City News, 1/8; Waldron, Fierce Biotech, 1/8)
• New Jersey/Washington: Bristol Myers Squibb and Microsoft have partnered to launch a new digital health collaboration that uses AI-driven radiology workflows to accelerate early detection of lung cancer. The initiative will use FDA-cleared algorithms in Microsoft's Precision Imaging Network to analyze X-ray and CT images, detect lung nodules, and identify early-stage diseases. The organizations hope the collaboration will help reduce diagnostic delays, improve operational efficiency, and expand access to early detection in medically underserved communities, including rural clinics. (Jeffries, Becker's Hospital Review, 1/21)

Over the last few months, vaccine recommendations and policy have changed rapidly, leading to growing confusion and uncertainty among both patients and providers. Radio Advisory's Rae Woods outlines the impacts of these changes, what to expect in the near term, and what leaders can do to prepare.