America's retreat from vaccines is likely to reduce venture capital investment in vax startups, and also could cut into the valuations of some private equity-backed clinical research organizations, according to investors in the sector.
Why it matters: Many vaccines save lives and future health-care costs. It's a societal self-own.
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. completed an overhaul of the federal committee that advises the government on autism policy by appointing several well-known vaccine critics.
Why it matters: Adding anti-vaccine figures could give Kennedy cover to push for more studies and other actions that promote the widely debunked claim that vaccines may cause autism.
The Trump administration and vaccine critics are clashing over whether to remove COVID vaccines from the market entirely, a leader of a key federal vaccine advisory committee has publicly suggested.
Why it matters: It's shaping up to be a big test of whether Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. keeps his pledge that vaccines will remain available to anyone who wants them.
In a stunning warning for the rapidly-aging U.S., poverty rose for seniors in more than 800 counties over the past five years, according to new Census Bureau estimates.
Why it matters: America's post-pandemic rebound didn't flatten inequality — it rearranged it. The winners clustered in educated metro areas and owned homes outright. The losers are increasingly older, renting, rural — or all three.
My son doesn't say many words yet, but he often yells "Ba!" while pointing up to birds, ceiling fans, light bulbs and the sky.
I think the loose translation is: "Look up, Mom!"
Why it matters: When the news feels heavy and screensdemand our attention, he's a reminder that curiosity — and gazing upward — can offer some steadiness and connection.
President Trump's immigration crackdown and aggressive foreign policy has put him on a collision course with one of the oldest institutions in the world: The Catholic Church.
Why it matters: Faith leaders and scholars tell Axios that Trump's agenda conflicts with the Church's commitment to safeguarding human dignity. With an American Pope at its helm for the first time, the Vatican is positioned to be a unique foil for the president.
Medicare wants to negotiate lower prices for Eli Lilly's GLP-1drug Trulicity and AbbVie's Botox in its next round of drugmaker negotiations, federal health officials announced Tuesday.
Why it matters: The GOP budget law passed over the summer excluded several high-cost drugs from being selected for negotiations. Still, the 15 drugs chosen accounted for $27 billion of Medicare spending between November 2024 and October 2025, per the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
Congress may be about to make long-sought changes to pharmacy benefit managers' business practices — though the impact on drug costs could be limited.
Why it matters: PBMs negotiate drug prices with drug manufacturers on behalf of health plans and the prospect of changing how they're compensated could remove what critics say are warped incentives that can encourage the use of higher-priced drugs.
Walmart is reshaping pharmacy jobs — raising pay and elevating thousands of technician roles as it invests more heavily in pharmacy workers, the world's largest retailer tells Axios.
Why it matters: As pharmacy jobs evolve beyond filling prescriptions, Walmart's move shows how retailers are reworking frontline roles in the health system to meet patient demand.
