Hello from the Common Health Coalition! The 2-4-2 Digest is a weekly snapshot for health leaders - 4 key insights in 2 minutes or with 2 swipes on your phone. 

Weekly Health Insights

CDC Shooting: Last Friday, CDC’s Atlanta headquarters was the target of an attack, resulting in the death of a police officer, bullet-shattered windows, and staff sheltering in place for hours. Public health organizations have condemned the attack and the rise of violence against health workers, and CDC staff have requested safety plans that acknowledge the heightened risks in recent years.

Overdose Prevention: After months of uncertainty, CDC officials say full funding for the Overdose Data to Action program will be disbursed ahead of a key budget deadline. The program supports state and local efforts to collect real-time overdose data and implement prevention and response strategies.

Vaccine Access: A new CDC survey of over 3,000 emergency department patients in eight U.S. cities found that 86% were missing at least one recommended vaccine, and nearly half said they would accept one or more if offered during their visit. The finding suggests EDs could help boost vaccination among underserved populations by linking patients to vaccines.

Health Costs: Oscar Health, which mainly offers ACA plans, has reported higher-than-expected claims due to sicker patients. Across 312 ACA insurers, 2026 premiums are projected to rise a median of 18%—the highest increase since 2018—driven by inflation, drug costs, and potential changes to federal premium subsidies.

Vax News: Respiratory vaccine policy is evolving. We’ll break any news here, and will regularly update resources for understanding potential changes to vaccine access (See our Provider, Payer, and State Toolkits).

Colleague Corner

On Face the Nation, former Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams discussed the broader implications of halting federal funding for mRNA vaccine projects.

“A lot of what we've learned about mRNA technology, and developing the COVID vaccines, has led to the excitement, the innovation, the advancements, which now present opportunities for cancer [research]. So it [loss of funding] risks stalling progress in many of the most promising areas of modern medicine.”

– Dr. Jerome Adams, MD, MPH, 20th Surgeon General of the United States

Data Watch

According to CDC data, ultra-processed foods make up over half of daily calorie intake in the U.S., accounting for 62% among youth and 53% among adults.

Measles reports: In the U.S., there have been 1,356 confirmed measles cases in 41 jurisdictions. To continue following Measles updates, visit our Resources page for the latest Measles Briefs from Yale School of Public Health (under Situational Awareness Briefs). Read the latest deep-dive here.

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