Policy

Europe Faces a Measles Outbreak Key Points: Europe is currently experiencing a widespread outbreak of measles, with several countries reporting a significant increase in cases. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there were over 82,000 confirmed cases of measles in Europe in 2018, which is three times higher compared to the previous year. The […]

Students Develop Framework for Emergency Preparedness and Response Key Points: Three students from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health have developed a multidisciplinary analysis of public health risks that a U.S. ally would face during escalating crises. The students presented their findings to several federal agencies in Washington, D.C., including the White House, the

Key Points: California is experiencing population decline for the first time in its history, with wealthier and more highly educated residents leaving the state. The state’s economy is facing uncertainty, with fluctuations in inflation, unemployment, and the stock market. Increasing poverty, especially among children, is a concerning trend. California witnessed dramatic weather extremes in 2023,

California Competes Tax Credit (CCTC) Boosts Job Creation Key Points: The California Competes Tax Credit (CCTC), established in 2013, aims to lower the cost of labor for businesses in order to promote job growth in California. A study analyzing data from fiscal years 2014–15 to 2017–18 found that each CCTC-incentivized job in a neighborhood leads

“CREATING JOBS IN CALIFORNIA: WHICH POLICIES WORK?” – A LOOK AT THE GOLDEN STATE’S JOB CREATION EFFORTS California has implemented multiple strategies and programs to stimulate job creation in the private sector. These initiatives include tax credits, grants, loans, and training programs for entrepreneurs and workers. While some of these policies have shown positive outcomes,

Key Points: Rochelle Walensky, former director of the CDC, spoke at the 175th Cutter Lecture on Preventive Medicine at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, discussing the challenges faced during the COVID-19 pandemic. Walensky highlighted the difficulty of determining vaccine effectiveness due to data silos between public health departments and healthcare systems in the

Understanding Global Health System Performance: Perspectives from Health Care Consumers Key Points: Health system evaluations often focus on metrics like number of providers or health facilities, but the opinions of health care consumers are crucial for a comprehensive assessment.  Researchers from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health conducted a survey across 15 countries to

Obstetric Units Closing at Hospitals Across the US, Disproportionately Affecting Communities of Color Key Points: Obstetric units are closing at a growing number of hospitals across the US, leading to patients having to travel farther for prenatal and postpartum care. Closures disproportionately impact communities of color, exacerbating the already high health risks faced by Black

Experts at EPREP Program Study Pandemic, Other Public Health Emergencies to Gain Insight into Best Practices Key Points: A group of experts from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health’s EPREP Program interviewed individuals representing governments from 19 countries to understand effective communication during large-scale emergencies. The researchers identified nine crucial principles for effective communication,

EPA Proposes Strict New Rules to Replace Lead Pipes Key Points: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing new rules requiring the replacement of all nation’s lead pipes within 10 years. The EPA relied heavily on research conducted by Ronnie Levin and Joel Schwartz from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. The proposal