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Citing a survey called “Killer Jab?,” which found that nearly one out of four Americans reported knowing someone who died from a Covid vaccine, a federal work group is calling for sweeping changes to how the medical establishment tracks and treats injuries from the shots. The changes are proposed in a confidential report obtained by The New York Times. The work group’s report — “written with a sense of urgency,” it said” — was drafted for the federal Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, a panel that advises the government on vaccine policy. (Mandavilli and Stolberg, 3/15)

The White House is more tightly controlling the messaging and policies—including around vaccines—coming from the Department of Health and Human Services ahead of the midterm elections, according to people familiar with the matter. Aides close to President Trump decided to take a more active role in managing Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s department in the face of polling that shows his vaccine moves are unpopular, the people said. Although Trump brought Kennedy into his administration with the promise that the vaccine skeptic and ultraprocessed-food critic could “go wild on health,” administration officials grew increasingly frustrated with what they viewed as foul-ups inside Kennedy’s department, according to people familiar with the matter. Aides close to Trump grew worried that perceived disorganization and a focus on vaccines could damage the president’s party in November, those people said. (Whyte and Andrews, 3/13)

On RSV vaccines —

British drugmaker GSK said today that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has expanded the approved use of its respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine for younger adults at risk of complications from the virus. In a news release, the company said the FDA approved Arexvy for use in adults aged 18 to 49 who are at increased risk of lower respiratory tract disease (LRTD) caused by RSV. The vaccine was previously approved for all adults aged 60 and over and those aged 50 to 59 at increased risk of LRTD caused by RSV. (Dall, 3/13)

More on measles, flu, and covid —

Randy Smith comes home from selling tires to a divided apartment. He sees Carmen, his wife of 33 years, but he doesn’t get to hug her or get too close. After receiving two kidney transplants, Carmen Smith has a compromised immune system from the medication that helps her body accept those new organs. And during the ongoing North Dakota measles epidemic, the couple can’t take any chances. (Ratanpal, 3/16)

When Kate Morrow gave birth to twins eight years ago, they were very premature, with compromised immune systems. "We counted on the community to keep our children safe," Morrow says. She trusted that her neighbors were vaccinating their children to protect other vulnerable people in her community — including her twins. But that's no longer the case. (Godoy, 3/14)

While measles vaccines usually provide lifelong protection, federal health authorities say that some people born before 1968 may have received a less effective vaccine and should get a booster. (Tingley, 3/13)

For the second week in a row, 11 US children died of influenza, and while flu activity remains elevated across the country, several key flu indicators are slowly declining, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports today in its FluView recap of the week ending March 7. (Van Beusekom, 3/13)

In the three years since Los Angeles County declared an end to COVID-19 as a public health emergency, mask sales have dwindled, unopened tests have expired in their boxes and people have returned to in-person school, work and socializing. But for thousands of L.A. County residents living with the complex, chronic condition known as long COVID, the emergency has never ended. (Purtill, 3/14)