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

COVID-19 Vaccines: The FDA has updated approvals for fall 2025 COVID-19 vaccines: they are now licensed for all adults 65+ and for people 6 months–64 years with at least one high-risk condition. Over 200 million Americans are estimated to be at higher risk based on CDC’s definition, which encompasses common conditions such as diabetes, obesity, or disability and also includes pregnancy. Vaccine access at pharmacies like CVS and Walgreens currently depends on state policies hinging on pending ACIP guidance. 

Health AI: CMS announced the launch of a new pilot, the WISeR model, introducing an AI model for processing prior authorization for select procedures in six states (Arizona, New Jersey, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas and Washington state).

LGBTQ+ Services: Illinois has launched IL Pride Connect, the nation’s first statewide LGBTQ+ legal hotline, offering free legal support and connections to housing, health, and identity-related services. The initiative comes amid federal rollbacks, including the closure of an LGBTQ+ youth suicide lifeline and cuts to LGBTQ+ health funding.

Legionnaires’ Disease: As of last Friday, the Central Harlem Legionnaires’ cluster in NYC totaled 114 cases, 90 hospitalizations, and 7 deaths. NYC Health traced the Legionella strain to cooling towers at two sites, both of which have complied with directives, and announced a review of citywide cooling tower regulations to strengthen prevention.

Vax News: Join the Common Health Coalition and partners TODAY, September 2, at 1pm ET | 10am PT for a situational update on respiratory season - register here. Coalition Chair Dr. Dave Chokshi emphasizes in a STAT First Opinion the importance of ensuring free and easy access to vaccines for everyone who wants them. Check out our Vaccine Resources page, including our FDA Label Explainer, Provider, Payer, and State Public Health scenario planning toolkits. 

Colleague Corner

In an AMA Leadership Viewpoint, Dr. Bobby Mukkamala stresses that reducing overdose deaths requires pairing naloxone distribution with broader efforts to expand treatment and prevention. 

“We need to employ every measure to increase access to care for individuals with a substance-use disorder or pain—and do everything we can from a primary and secondary prevention standpoint to keep people alive and reduce their risks.”

– Dr. Bobby Mukkamala, MD; President, American Medical Association

Data Watch

A new JAMA Network Open modeling study estimated that influenza vaccination prevented 33%–42% of infections in typical seasonal scenarios. 

Figure 2. Percentage of Total Influenza Cases Averted Due to Vaccination in Various Transmission Scenarios With Various Vaccine Effectiveness

Measles reports: In the U.S., there have been 1,408 confirmed measles cases in 43 jurisdictions. For ongoing updates, visit our Resources page.

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