In a study in mice, researchers have identified genes associated with the dramatic transformation of the mammary gland in pregnancy, breastfeeding, and after breastfeeding as it returns to its resting state.
Their results form the most detailed atlas of genetic expression ever produced for the adult developmental cycle of the mammary gland. They are published today in the journal Nucleic Acids Research.
The mammary gland is made up of different cell types, each with a different function – such as fat cells that provide structural support, and basal cells that are crucial for milk ejection.
The team analysed the cellular composition of the mammary gland at ten different time-points from before the first pregnancy, during pregnancy, during breastfeeding, and during a process called involution when the breast tissue is remodelled to its resting state. The mix of cell types changes dramatically through this cycle.
By measuring gene expression in the mammary gland over the same time-points, the researchers were able to link specific genes to their functions at different stages of the developmental cycle.
“Our atlas is the most detailed to date, allowing us to see which genes are expressed in which cell types at each stage of the adult mammary gland cycle,” said Dr Geula Hanin, a researcher in the University of Cambridge’s Department of Genetics, first author of the report.
The team found that genes associated with breastfeeding disorders such as insufficient milk supply are active not only in the breast cells that produce milk, but also in other cells such as basal cells – which squeeze out the milk as the infant is suckling. This suggests that in some instances, a mechanical problem – rather than a milk production problem – could be the cause and provides a new cell target for investigation.
The study also found that genes associated with postpartum breast cancer become active immediately after weaning in various cell types – including in fat cells, which have previously been overlooked as contributors to breast cancer linked to childbirth. This offers a future potential target for early detection or prevention strategies.
Hanin said: “We’ve found that genes associated with problems in milk production, often experienced by breastfeeding mothers, are acting in breast cells that weren’t previously considered relevant for milk production. We’ve found genes associated with postpartum breast cancer acting in cells that have been similarly overlooked.
“This work provides many potential new ways of transforming maternal and infant health, by using genetic information to both predict problems with breastfeeding and breast cancer, and to tackle them further down the line.”
Breastfeeding affects lifelong health, for example breast-fed babies are less likely to become obese and diabetic. Yet one in twenty women have breastfeeding difficulties, and despite its importance this is a greatly understudied area of women’s health.
Postpartum breast cancer occurs within five to ten years of giving birth and is linked to hormonal fluctuations, natural tissue remodelling, and the changing environment of the mammary gland during involution that makes it more susceptible to malignancy.
The researchers also focused on ‘imprinted genes’- that is, genes that are switched on or off depending on whether they are inherited from the mother or the father. Imprinted genes in the placenta are known to regulate growth and development of the baby in the womb.
The team identified 25 imprinted genes that are active in the adult mammary gland at precise times during the development cycle. These appear to orchestrate a tightly controlled system for managing milk production and breast tissue changes during motherhood.
Some functions of the genes themselves have been identified in previous studies. This new work provides a detailed understanding of when, and where, the genes become active to cause changes in mammary gland function during its adult development cycle.
“Breastfeeding is a fundamental process that’s common to all mammals; we wouldn’t have survived without it. I hope this work will lead to new ways to support mothers who have issues with breastfeeding, so they have a better chance of succeeding,” said Hanin.
The research was funded primarily by the Medical Research Council.
Hanin co-leads the Cambridge Lactation Network and is a member of Cambridge Reproduction.
Reference: Hanin, G. et al: ‘Dynamic Allelic Expression in Mouse Mammary Gland Across the Adult Developmental Cycle.’ Nucleic Acids Research, September 2025. DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkaf804
Learn more about the University’s research into Women’s Health.
The press notes for filmmaker Potsy Ponciroli’s Motor City — a selection of both the Venice and Toronto film festivals — describe it as a “boldly original revenge-driven crime thriller” that delivers an “unmatched cinematic experience.” The surprise is how it attempts to do that — by delivering 103 minutes of a movie that is virtually dialogue-free.
The story follows John Miller (Alan Ritchson), a former Army Ranger turned criminal who falls for Sophia (Shailene Woodley), the girlfriend of a powerful local gangster named Reynolds (Foster). Framed by the gangster through corrupt police connections, Miller is sent to prison only to seek brutal revenge upon his release. The day after the film’s Venice world premiere, Woodley and Foster gave The Hollywood Reporter 20 minutes of their time on a sunny afternoon on the Lido to talk about why they signed on for the indie experiment, their fashion strategy of method dressing while promoting the Chad St. John-penned project and why playlists are so crucial to their creative processes.
We’ll get into serious questions, but let’s start with the ensembles. Who came up with the idea to do method dressing while in Venice?
WOODLEY We’re both fans of ‘70s style because it’s sexy, elegant and a bit unpredictable. I would say those are qualities of ours, too, that we admire. I remember when we were filming this movie, we all said that if we go to Venice, which was always the dream, that we would have to turn up.
It fits you both so well. You’re really leaning in, Ben …
FOSTER That’s what we would do on set. One of Potsy’s great attributes is creating a space where you can just be with each other so that’s what we did. Shai and I would say, “Let’s hit that and not over talk the scene. Find the blocking and listen to each other.” It wasn’t a beat-by-beat direction like some directors like to do. I brought in a boombox every day, and played music from a long playlist I made. We figured we would bring the ‘70s party here with us to Venice since that’s what we did on set.
Foster and Woodley at Motor City photocall during the 82nd Venice Film Festival on Aug. 30, 2025.
Aldara Zarraoa/Getty Images
Do you create playlists for every project?
FOSTER Every film.
You too?
WOODLEY Every film.
What is it about that that helps you get into character?
WOODLEY It doesn’t have to be era appropriate or tonally appropriate but when I hear a song, there’s something about the rhythm or the beat that evokes a specific feeling in my body. I just know it will work for a character. I can’t explain it, really, other than to say that there is a frequency that music allows us to tap into that our brains might try and block us from feeling the depths of a certain truth that exists within ourselves. I do believe music can be the door to those truths, for myself at least.
Ben, your playlist actually inspired a song choice that was used in the opening of the film with David Bowie’s “Cat People (Putting Out Fire).” How did that make you feel?
FOSTER It’s nice when one can contribute but film is a collaborative game. Whether it’s Donna Summer, Bill Withers, Nile Rodgers, it’s just about building elements that energize you. Like Shai said so eloquently, music doesn’t necessarily have to be era-specific but as long as it delivers a primitive feeling to get into character. That’s why we like to dance, right? That’s why if you’re in the car on the way to work, which can be a drag, you find yourself in a certain headspace singing along if you hear a great song come on the radio. It lifts you up.
In an interview, Potsy said that you both responded immediately to the Motor City script. Shailene, he said that he called you at 8 a.m. to give you a heads up that he was sending it over. He said you called back within 50 minutes. Ben, he said you shared a meal in Nashville where you both live and you jumped up and started acting out some of the scenes because you were so excited by it. Tell me why you both responded with such enthusiasm?
WOODLEY Potsy and I are friends because we’ve been working on a different project. I remember being very moved by all of his choices and thoughts about that particular project. When he called me, I assumed it was about that other screenplay but he said he had a new thing he wanted to show me. He said that it wouldn’t take long to read it. I had time that morning and I read it quickly. Potsy had already told me that Alan Ritchson was attached to star and that his dream would be for Ben Foster to play Reynolds so I had them both in my head as I read. The script is so poetic and beautifully written.
What I was most exhilarated by was the newness, the experimentation and the why not. I’ve done a film where it was all improvised and that was a leap of faith. This one was a leap of faith as well because you’re so dependent upon the other players. I always get excited by the unknown. That really thrilled me as did the opportunity to work with this guy. Ben’s a one-of-one.
Woodley in Motor City.
Venice Film Festival
Ben, why did you jump up and start acting out the scenes?
FOSTER It’s not something that I tend to do but it’s like what we were talking about with music; it’s what happens when the song calls you. I wasn’t doing line readings because there aren’t a lot of lines here but I was more responding to the space. I’m a physical person, I can’t help but be in this skin suit that we all negotiate with every day. I think I just felt like moving with him and talking about scenes. I got turned on. Also, I knew that Shai was attached and I have been a fan of hers for years. As an actor, sometimes you lean in and other times, you lean back and let others do their thing. Shai is always unpredictable and true.
Ritchson in Motor City.
Courtesy of Black Bear
Were you aware of Alan Ritchson and the success of Reacher?
WOODLEY I was very aware of Reacher, and of Alan. I didn’t know him as a person, I had never met him. Before you meet someone, there’s always this persona from a magazine or a persona from the characters they’ve played. When you play a character as iconic as Reacher, there’s sort of an identity that’s been crafted around you that sometimes you don’t always know what to expect. I loved playing with the dynamic between our characters, and I love the energy exchange that Alan and I have as well as with Ben and I because they’re so different. You really do feel that in the film. I think he’s so brilliant and beautiful in this film.
FOSTER Similar to Shai, I had read and heard about Alan. Initially, he makes me think of shapes. It was like, wow, he can barely get through a doorway. It’s pretty remarkable. But he has a great sensitivity within his physicality that was attractive to me to go entangle with. I know my stature, which I like to think of as tall, but getting to tangle with that sensitivity and that brute force was great. It’s a turn on to be like, how do we make this a fair fight? Or at least close?
Ben, going back quickly to the Nashville meeting. I know a lot of people have moved there over these past couple of years as it’s become more of a hub for actors and artists like it’s long been for musicians. Why did you move and what is your life like there?
FOSTER To keep it brief, I lived in L.A. for, we’ll call it 12 years. I lived in New York for about the same. [My ex-wife and I] had two children and my parents are very close with my children. They’ve moved close to Nashville. After the pandemic, I had a cognition that I didn’t need to live on either coast, quite frankly. I love horses and I ride. I love live music. I dig country music. There’s been a shift from both coasts and I’ve found that it’s gentler for me, at least, to hub there. Nashville is just a different way. I’m enjoying it. When Potsy emailed me about this movie, he said, “OK, we can Zoom at 12. What coast are you on?” I told him that I was in Nashville and he said, “Get out! Me too!” We decided to meet in person and have lunch, all on the same day, right after I had read the script. I have to be intuitive. I don’t want to be too thoughtful about things. It’s got to move me immediately.
Motor City is available for distribution. How do you feel about coming to the market with a movie like this right now? How are you feeling about the state of the business?
WOODLEY Things are always changing. Change is the only constant in life we can rely on. It does in some ways feel like this industry is in the midst of a major shift. It’s the wild, wild west, a new frontier. Who knows what will be discovered on this new frontier that we are now exploring. I’m excited by it. Anytime you set off into a new space, there are always challenges. There is always tragedy. But there’s excitement and opportunity, too. The fact that here we are in 2025, and we made a sexy, action with maybe three sentences of dialogue, and It moves your heart and your emotions says a lot about what people are interested in and how they want to spend their time.
There’s a lot of emphasis and narrative around shortened attention spans because of TikTok and social media. But I actually think people are really hungry for presence. People are starting to disillusion themselves from this black box we constantly have in front of our faces. I think people aren’t very happy. Movies have always been a form of escape and a form of inspiration to say you’re not alone in the world. I think our movie reminds people that they are not alone and that there’s a connection and freedom to be had. The response that we got here in Venice was very positive. More than anything, it’s pretty badass that Potsy made this film that our producers and our financiers put their energy and resources into making something unique in this moment.
What’s your relationship to that black box?
WOODLEY We both have pretty healthy relationships with it.
FOSTER I’m not on social media at all. I used to be a news junkie, but every three months I delete the apps and go on whatever [platform] to check world news. Then I put it back on silent. I like to actively practice the best I can to be here now in the present. It’s all we got.
He said without breaking eye contact.
FOSTER People are addicted to their phones because there’s a new cultural demand for constant communication and check-ins, but you’re not actually, in my opinion, really connecting. Unless someone sends me an SOS that says, “I need you,” I’m going to be with who I’m with in that moment.
Lionel Boyce, Foster, Woodley, Ponciroli, Pablo Schreiber and Amar Chadha-Patel at a Motor City photocall during the 82nd Venice Film Festival on Aug. 30, 2025.
Aldara Zarraoa/Getty Images
Foster and Woodley at the Motor City world premiere during the Venice Film Festival on Aug. 30, 2025.
Japan’s five-year debt auction on Wednesday will be the first test of the market’s appetite for new government bonds since Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said he will step down.
Investors are expecting decent demand as domestic political uncertainty fuels debate on whether the Bank of Japan will slow the pace of interest-rate hikes. The five-year bond yield, which is sensitive to monetary policy expectations, was at 1.095% on Tuesday, near the lowest since mid-August.
Torrential monsoon rains lashed Hyderabad and several other districts across Sindh on Monday and Tuesday, bringing life to a standstill in many areas due to urban flooding, prolonged power outages, and damaged infrastructure.
While Hyderabad bore the brunt of the downpour, conflicting rainfall data from local authorities and the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has raised questions regarding reporting accuracy.
According to figures released by local authorities, Latifabad taluka received a staggering 280mm of rainfall from 8 am Monday to 8 am Tuesday – the highest in the city. Other areas followed closely: City taluka recorded 268 mm, Qasimabad 185 mm, and Hyderabad Rural 158 mm during the same 24-hour period.
However, the PMD reported significantly lower numbers, recording just 85 mm of rainfall in Hyderabad. A PMD official, while speaking to The Express Tribune, expressed confusion over the stark disparity: “I don’t understand how there can be such a major discrepancy.”
The heavy rains led to partial inundation of major roads, intersections, and low-lying neighbourhoods in Hyderabad. In response, the district administration deployed dozens of diesel-powered dewatering pumps to clear accumulated rainwater, as large sections of the city became waterlogged overnight.
Despite challenges, Mayor Kashif Ali Shoro and Deputy Commissioner Zainul Abedin Memon undertook visits to various pumping stations to oversee the ongoing dewatering operations. Unlike previous years, the administration appeared less reliant on Hyderabad Electric Supply Company (HESCO), opting instead for diesel generators to power essential drainage equipment during outages.
The mayor stated that, despite nightlong torrential rains, most roads in the city were cleared and traffic movement restored by Tuesday morning. He named several localities and thoroughfares that had been de-flooded, and also confirmed the deployment of sanitary workers for drain and nullah cleaning.
Electricity outages compounded the city’s woes. Sadiq Kubar, spokesman for HESCO, stated that by 8:45am Tuesday, 99 of the affected 11 KV feeders had been restored, while 55 remained non-functional. He did not provide figures for how many feeders were shut down overnight, during the citywide blackout. By 5:45pm, HESCO claimed to have restored 124 feeders, with 30 still out of service.
As per local authorities, the heaviest three-hour rainfall was recorded in Latifabad, with 72 mm between 2 am and 5 am on Tuesday. City taluka followed with 68 mm during the same period. In Qasimabad and Hyderabad Rural, the peak 3-hour rainfall was recorded from 11pm Monday to 2am Tuesday, at 45mm and 40 mm, respectively.
Due to the severe weather conditions and flooding, Deputy Commissioner Zainul Abedin Memon ordered the closure of all educational institutions in Hyderabad on Tuesday. Universities, including Sindh University in Jamshoro, also suspended academic activities for September 10.
Beyond Hyderabad, heavy rainfall was also reported in other parts of Sindh: Khairpur, 81 mm; Tharparkar, 69 mm; Naushehro Feroze, 59 mm; Dadu, 46 mm; Thatta, 38 mm; Various areas of Tharparkar, 33 mm.
A large US-UK analysis shows that eating more plant-forward meals and fewer animal-source foods is associated with a lower death risk and smaller environmental footprint, offering evidence that what is good for people can also be good for the planet.
Study: Planetary Health Diet and risk of mortality and chronic diseases: Results from US NHANES, UK Biobank, and a meta-analysis. Image Credit: udra11 / Shutterstock
In a recent study published in the journal Science Advances, researchers examined the associations between higher adherence to the Planetary Health Diet (PHD) and all-cause and cause-specific mortality in two cohorts. They synthesized prior evidence on major chronic diseases in a meta-analysis. They also investigated the environmental impacts of reported diets.
Background
One in three deaths worldwide is linked to diet, while food systems generate 30% of human-caused greenhouse gases. Households feel this in rising grocery bills, climate anxiety, and nutrition advice.
The PHD, outlined by the EAT-Lancet Commission on Healthy Diets from Sustainable Food Systems, promotes plant-forward meals with modest amounts of animal-source foods to safeguard human and planetary health. Early evidence suggests health and environmental benefits; however, estimates vary by country, measurement, and outcome.
Clinicians, families, and policymakers need guidance that converts into meals and policies. Further research is required to test causal effects and implement solutions on a scalable basis across diverse populations.
About the study
Researchers combined two prospective cohorts to assess mortality and performed a meta-analysis to evaluate the incidence of chronic diseases. In the United States National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES, 1999–2018), adults aged 20 and above with plausible energy intake were eligible; in the United Kingdom Biobank (UKB), adults aged 40–69 who completed at least two 24-hour diet recalls were retained.
PHD scores (0–140) were computed from fourteen EAT-Lancet components and standardized to 2,500 kilocalories per day using the Food Patterns Equivalents Database (FPED) conversions; in NHANES, scores were based on the first-day 24-hour recall, while in UK Biobank, intakes were averaged across at least two 24-hour WebQ recalls.
Researchers noted that total energy intake was slightly higher among those who scored well on the diet, suggesting that food quality may matter more than calories alone.
Diet-related greenhouse gas emissions were estimated using life cycle assessment (LCA) sources, the Diet-Related Food Impacts on the Environment Database for NHANES, and a United Kingdom inventory for UKB, and expressed as kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2eq).
Mortality outcomes relied on the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth and Tenth Revisions (ICD-9/ICD-10), with linkage to the National Death Index (NDI) in the United States and the National Health Service (NHS) registries in England, Wales, and Scotland.
Cox proportional-hazards models estimated hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) across PHD quartiles, adjusting sequentially for demographics, behaviors, socioeconomic status, medical history, and body mass index (BMI), along with multiple sensitivity analyses, dose-response splines, and prespecified subgroup analyses. Missing covariates were multiply imputed under chained equations where necessary.
Study results
In the US NHANES study of nearly 43,000 adults (average age 47), people who scored highest on the Planetary Health Diet tended to have a lower body weight, more education, and were less likely to smoke. Over the follow-up period, about 6,800 deaths were recorded. Those with the highest diet scores had about a 23% lower risk of death from any cause, a 19% lower risk of death from heart disease, and a 19% lower risk of death from other causes compared to those with the lowest scores.
Nonlinear modeling suggested an overall inverse trend for all-cause mortality. In sensitivity analyses that excluded early deaths, the inverse association with cancer mortality was observed, whereas the associations with heart disease mortality attenuated in some models.
In the UK Biobank study of more than 125,000 adults (average age 57), nearly 6,900 deaths occurred during follow-up. People with the highest Planetary Health Diet scores had a 16% lower risk of death from any cause, a 16% lower risk of death from cancer, and a striking 61% lower risk of death from respiratory diseases compared to those with the lowest scores. The more closely participants followed the diet, the lower their risk of dying from all causes and cancer.
Results were precise across multiple sensitivity analyses with consistent direction and magnitude. The authors note that cancer mortality coding differed between cohorts, which may partly explain the variation across datasets.
Environmental analyses revealed that red meat and dairy products contributed the largest shares of diet-related greenhouse gas emissions in both cohorts, with saturated and unsaturated fats also being prominent in the UKB. Diets in higher PHD quartiles were associated with lower overall greenhouse gas footprints. The authors caution that these life cycle assessment–based estimates have limitations and are specific to each country.
When researchers combined results from 37 studies involving more than 3.2 million people, those who most closely followed the Planetary Health Diet had a 21% lower risk of dying from any cause, a 17% lower risk of dying from cancer, and a 17% lower risk of dying from cardiovascular disease compared to those with the lowest adherence. They also had lower risks of developing several major conditions, including colorectal cancer (13% lower risk), lung cancer (32% lower), cardiovascular disease (17% lower), coronary heart disease (17% lower), stroke overall (16% lower), and diabetes (26% lower). The diet showed no clear effect on ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke separately.
Across cohorts, people with higher PHD scores tended to be older and more often female, with healthier behaviors and BMI profiles. Unlike some healthy-eating indices, higher adherence was associated with slightly higher total energy intake in certain analyses, a pattern that warrants further investigation into food choice quality, energy density, and satiety within sustainable dietary patterns in future randomized cohorts.
Conclusions
Greater adherence to the PHD was associated with lower all-cause mortality in both cohorts, with additional reductions in cancer and respiratory mortality in UKB and in heart-disease mortality in NHANES, alongside smaller diet-related greenhouse gas footprints.
For individuals, the pattern maps onto choices such as favoring legumes, whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and nuts while limiting red meat and high-impact fats.
For communities and health systems, the findings support policies that align nutrition with climate action. Because the analyses are observational and rely on self-reported diet, residual confounding and measurement error remain possible, and randomized trials in diverse populations would strengthen causal inference.
Journal reference:
Wang, Y., Pan, D., Zhang, C., Xu, D., Lu, Y., Yin, S., Wang, P., Xia, J., Yu, J., Dong, L., & Sun, G. (2025). Planetary Health Diet and risk of mortality and chronic diseases: Results from US NHANES, UK Biobank, and a meta-analysis. Sci. Adv.11 (36). DOI:10.1126/sciadv.adq5147, https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adq5147
Oh Lordy, Paudie is the last Traitor standing on The Traitors Ireland (RTÉ One, 9.35pm) after Katelyn is voted off at the end of another emotional round table. On the heels of fellow conspirator Eamon’s exit the previous night, she becomes the second of the turncoats sent home in shame from Slane. RTÉ hasn’t witnessed a bloodbath like it since Ryan Tubridy dropped an F-bomb on the Toy Show.
That means Paudie, the show’s resident elder lemon, has to participate in a conclave of one at the end of the episode. But he has a solution – to recruit his (secret) son Andrew as the new Traitor. Will Andrew say yes? It’s either that or be murdered, so presumably he knows where his bread is buttered and will join his dad in some gimlet-eyed back-stabbing.
Coming 24 hours after Traitor Eamon’s spectacular unmasking, tonight’s instalment has a lot to live up to. If it doesn’t reach the highs of the previous evening – nothing to rival the shouting match between Paudie and Eamon, for one thing – there is nonetheless lots to dig into. For instance, the other Faithful do not appreciate the mansplaining telling-off they receive from Nick and Ben after they vote Katelyn out of the show.
The bro-mantic duo are upset because, to their mind, Katelyn was better off where she was, a known traitor in their midst. Their plan was to eliminate Andrew, even though they suspected he was a Faithful and to keep Katelyn in their sights in plain view. Now, another Faithful is to be recruited as a Traitor – meaning the guessing games have to start from scratch.
You can see their argument: they haven’t come to Slane to make friends, they’re here to play 4-D chess. Still, they might have got their point across less condescendingly and considered that a little humility goes a long way. Are they the smartest guys in the room? Or the biggest egos?
And what about the quiet one, Oyin, who correctly named Eamon, Katelyn and Paudie as the three Traitors on Monday night? She is becoming the show’s resident Cassandra – a prophet ignored on her own reality show. Meanwhile, Nick has presumably put a target on his back by declining to become a Traitor – the offer made to him at the top of the episode.
[ The Traitors Ireland review: Faithful remain guileless, while Traitors turn on each otherOpens in new window ]
As we come to the end of the second week, is Paudie now in pole position? He’s survived longer than his fellow Traitors and – assuming Andrew says “yes” – will now be plotting alongside his son. “I didn’t for one minute imagine I’d be able to survive this long with all the young egos around the place,” he shrugs. “It’s as if they don’t suspect me any more.”
Is he correct? Or just too pleased with himself? He would do well to remember that over-confidence is what did for Eamon in the end – that and his habit of yelling at anyone who disagreed with him. Paudie is too old and sly a dog to show his hand in that fashion – but with a shake-up among The Traitors, further bombshells surely await. Sunday night – and the next episode – can’t come soon enough.
Vaccine availability and accessibility varies with each respiratory illness including the flu, RSV and COVID-19.
The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices is expected to issue updated COVID vaccine recommendations.
Current guidelines restrict COVID-19 shots to people over age of 65 or those with certain chronic conditions.
Respiratory illness season is looming, but getting a vaccine might not be as simple as it has been.
The annual flu shot is not a problem and should be available as usual, with the new formulation a match for what’s expected to be circulating.
The respiratory syncytial virus vaccine is restricted to certain groups, based on existing Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations.
COVID-19 vaccines, however, could be a lot trickier to obtain for those who want one, depending on an individual’s factors. What that will look like is not completely clear, as the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, which would normally have made its recommendations over the summer, is considering the issue at its Sept. 18-19 meeting. ACIP makes recommendations to the CDC director, who has typically gone with the panel’s guidance.
Then insurers are obliged to cover what’s recommended and U.S. pharmacies are among those allowed to administer them.
Predicting what the panel will decide is hard, as is the director’s action. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. fired the ACIP panel this summer and has appointed a new group, some of whom share his well-known reservations about COVID-19 vaccines. Plus, the acting director is also his deputy chief of staff. He fired the previous CDC director, reportedly for disagreeing about COVID-19 vaccines.
“I think it’s important for people to know that we still do have good protection out there through our vaccines, and that they are available,” said Utah state epidemiologist Dr. Leisha Nolen. “The flu vaccine is available to the same people it usually is. And the COVID vaccine, based on federal recommendations, is more limited, but certainly it’s available to people at high risk and it’s important.”
Nolen notes that the recommendation changes have been somewhat confusing, even to health care providers. But she said federal officials have recognized that those at high risk should have the COVID vaccine available, even for common conditions that make them more vulnerable: “So it’s things like asthma, diabetes, hypertension, all those things put you at slightly higher risk of getting bad COVID. FDA recognized that in their approval” of the vaccines.
Nolen encourages patients to “talk to your doctor about your medical conditions, where you are in life, what’s happening, and they can determine if it’s appropriate for you to get these vaccines.”
Here’s what we know about the RSV, influenza and COVID-19 vaccines, their availability and where to get them based on what’s happening at the moment.
The Salt Lake Public Health Center is pictured on Monday, Sept. 8, 2025. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
Getting a flu shot
The influenza vaccine recommendation for anyone 6 months and older is not expected to change and flu shots are not only available at public health clinics, doctor offices and other health care settings, but through many pharmacies, depending on whether they have some on hand. You might want to make sure that the provider and any health insurance you have are compatible, though.
There are injectable and nasal spray versions.
The nasal spray, FluMist, is a live, attenuated influenza vaccine available to healthy people age 2 through 49, per the CDC. It is not recommended for pregnant women, but is OK for those who breastfeed. Nor should those with a history of severe allergic reaction to the vaccine (not counting egg protein allergy) use it. There are other restrictions, like having a weakened immune system or for children 2 to 4 with asthma or recent history of wheezing. There are other underlying medical conditions, so ask your health care provider.
If you want COVID-19 vaccine
“There are definitely some hoops we haven’t had before,” said Nicholas Rupp, spokesman for the Salt Lake County Health Department, of obtaining a COVID-19 shot.
For years we were told everyone over age 6 months should be vaccinated against COVID, but that’s changed. Recommendations made over the summer by the Food and Drug Administration, which licenses vaccines, drastically limit who can get one and how, so many providers are waiting to see what ACIP does. At the moment, the recommendation is to get a COVID-19 vaccine if you’re 65 or older or if you have a chronic condition that could raise the risk of severe illness.
That means you’ll want to check with the place you intend to get the vaccine, should you desire one. Pharmacies are requiring prescriptions and public health centers are limited in terms of whom they can vaccinate as they follow ACIP guidelines, Elizabeth Virivong, Salt Lake County Health Department immunization program manager, told Deseret News.
Some simply don’t have COVID vaccines on hand yet. Or they have limited supplies.
“My shipment should be here this week or next,” Virivong said. “But we can’t give anything out until the ACIP meeting.”
That meeting is also likely to guide how much vaccine doctors keep on hand, said Utah pediatrician Dr. Paul Wirkus, who said his practice is ordering COVID-19 vaccine but “is not stocking up until the ACIP decision. Vaccine stock is one of our greatest financial risks.”
He added that “ACIP’s decision on the COVID-19 vaccine will significantly impact its availability and coverage.” If ACIP recommends a vaccine, insurance companies cover it, he said, and some still might. Ask.
Assuming restrictive guidelines hold, public health centers like those run by health departments which are staffed by medical providers, can offer the vaccines to those who qualify. But pharmacies in Utah and several other states can only provide vaccines based on ACIP recommendations or with a prescription. It’s no longer a matter of showing up and rolling up your sleeve.
Those younger than 65 with certain chronic health problems that raise the risk of severe illness can get vaccinated at a public health clinic or their local doctor’s office, where a health care provider can decide if they qualify, Virivong said. Anyone 65 years or older or those who are 6 months and older with a health condition will be provided a vaccination as long as the health department has it available. Right now, there’s no requirement that a person provide proof of a qualifying medical condition.
Virivong said health centers run by Salt Lake County Department of Health take contracted insurance, but it’s important to check.
Wirkus suggests people communicate directly with their insurance providers regardless of where they’re getting their vaccines to ensure coverage. He said that with the COVID-19 vaccine, cost could be a barrier for those without insurance, as well. For example, the Vaccines for Children program, which helps families that lack insurance, is restricted to what ACIP recommends.
What about protection from RSV?
The CDC has recommended the vaccine for RSV only for adults who are 75 or older and those between the ages of 50 and 74 who are at risk of severe illness.
Conditions that increase risk of severe RSV include chronic cardiovascular disease (except high blood pressure), chronic lung or respiratory disease, end-stage kidney disease or dependence on dialysis, diabetes complicated by kidney disease, neuropathy, retinopathy or other “end-organ damage,” neurologic or neuromuscular conditions that impede breathing, chronic liver disease, chronic blood conditions like sickle cell, severe obesity, compromised immune system or residency in a nursing home.
There are three RSV vaccines for adults, each one a single dose vaccine. There’s no recommendation for a booster, according to Virivong.
The CDC said the shot can be given whenever, but “the best time to vaccinate patients is in late summer and early fall before RSV usually starts to spread in the community.
Babies entering their first RSV season under the age of 8 months can get the child version of protection with an RSV monoclonal antibody. They won’t need it if their mom got an RSV vaccine at the right time during pregnancy. Children between 8 months and 19 months at risk of severe illness may qualify for protection by way of the monoclonal antibodies, Virivong said. They don’t get the vaccine.
With RSV and children, timing matters, but it’s complicated, so a health care provider should guide the process.
Wirkus said that protection against RSV is sometimes covered by insurance but some insurers have said they will apply the vaccine cost, which is quite expensive, to the deductible. People need to be prepared for that.
Used syringes sit inside a sharps container at the Salt Lake Public Health Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, Sept. 8, 2025. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
For those wondering whether to get any vaccine, Virivong offers some advice: If you’re in a group for whom a vaccine was recommended, she thinks you should get it so you don’t end up getting the illness itself.
The Utah Department of Health and Human Services said Utahns can find a nearby vaccine provider at https://immunize.utah.gov/locate-a-clinic/or https://vaccinefinder.org/.
