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

Respiratory Viruses: Early data show that less than 1 in 3 eligible children received RSV immunizations in the first year they were offered. Separately, CDC reports 275 pediatric flu deaths in 2024–25, the highest in a non-pandemic year since 2004, with 90% of children not fully vaccinated.  

Infant Mortality: Mississippi’s infant mortality rate reached 9.7 deaths per 1,000 births in 2024, the highest in more than a decade, prompting a statewide emergency declaration. Health officials plan to expand maternal and infant care systems, address maternity care deserts, and strengthen community health worker and home visiting programs.

HHS Panel: HHS will convene a new outside committee to advise on Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP, and ACA marketplaces, with a focus on prevention, data modernization, and Medicare Advantage sustainability. Nominations are open through September 21.

Pharmaceuticals: New analyses highlight how the U.S. drug supply chain is vulnerable both to proposed tariffs on imports, which could exacerbate shortages of low-margin generics like antibiotics, and to climate-related disasters, with nearly two-thirds of pharmaceutical facilities located in disaster-prone counties.

Vax News: The American Academy of Pediatrics and American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recently released updated vaccine guidance for the 2025–26 season. ACOG is hosting a webinar on September 17th about their guidance. Check out our Vaccine Resources page, including our Provider, Payer, and State Public Health scenario planning toolkits. Join CHC and partners on Tuesday 9/2 for a situational update on respiratory season - register here.

Colleague Corner

In a recent Journal of Attention Disorders study, researchers found that community health worker–led sessions improved ADHD care for children in minority families by increasing caregiver confidence, reducing stigma, and boosting access to treatment and school support.

“A community-based approach really can change the stigma associated with ADHD and hopefully get more kids into treatment.”

– Andrea Spencer, MD, Vice Chair for Research in Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago

Data Watch

A new JAMA Network Open trial of more than 22,000 patients found that physician-created video messages increased pediatric flu vaccine uptake by nearly 4 percentage points. 

Figure 2. Primary Care Practitioner Responses Regarding the Feasibility and Acceptability of Making a Video Message About Influenza Vaccination

Measles reports: In the U.S., there have been 1,387 confirmed measles cases. Last week, Kansas health officials declared the end of recent outbreaks. For ongoing updates, visit our Resources page. Read the latest deep-dive here.

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