DECEMBER 2–YOUR LOCAL EDPIDEMIOLOGIST “PRE-BUNK GUIDE” AS VACCINE PANEL MEETS

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Your ACIP pre-bunk guide

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Well, folks—time to buckle up for another ACIP meeting this Thursday and Friday.

This external advisory committee shapes U.S. vaccine policy, and its decisions carry significant weight:

They influence private insurance coverage, determine what’s accessible to Medicaid patients, and drive public and clinician perceptions, access, and confusion about vaccines.

This will be the third meeting since RFK Jr. overhauled the committee, replacing long-standing members with individuals ranging from long-time vaccine skeptics to Covid-19 contrarians.

In other words, brace yourself: this week is likely to be loud with vaccine falsehoods.

I’ll be sharing a longer post with the full YLE audience tomorrow on what to expect, but I wanted to give you—a paid subscriber—a first look at a resource to help you prepare if you’re stepping into conversations.

Together with The Evidence Collective (TEC), we put together a pre-bunk that includes key background, practical communication guidance, a fallacy playbook, and a rundown of the falsehoods and rumors likely to surface around the childhood immunization schedule, Hep B, the pediatric Covid-19 vaccine–death debacle, and more.

Download the resource below!

Prebunk+dec+acip Tec+brief
4.67MB ∙ PDF file
Download

We hope this gives you the context, tools, and framing you need to engage confidently, clearly, and authoritatively in conversations—whether you’re a clinician fielding questions, a parent navigating social media, or someone looking for clarity rather than chaos.

Love, YLE and the TEC contributors*

*Marisa Donnelly, PhD; Annicka Evans, PhD; David Higgins, MD, MPH; Katelyn Jetelina, MPH, PhD; Elisabeth Marnik, PhD; Edward Nirenberg; Jessica Steier, DrPH

Your Local Epidemiologist (YLE) is founded and operated by Dr. Katelyn Jetelina, MPH PhD—an epidemiologist, wife. YLE is a public health newsletter that reaches over 400,000 people in more than 132 countries, with one goal: to translate the ever-evolving public health science so that people are well-equipped to make evidence-based decisions. This newsletter is free to everyone, thanks to the generous support of fellow YLE community members.

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DECEMBER 2–COUNCIL APPROVES $50 MILLION SALE OF CITY OWNED GALLERIA GARAGES APPROVES REZONING GALLERIA PROPERTY AS TRANSIT DISTRICT 2. SITE PLAN TO COME

SOLD FOR $50 MILLION

MAYOR TOM ROACH, COUNCILMAN JOHN MARTIN AND COUNCILWOMAN JEN PUJA SAY FAIRWELLS. 

WPCNR COMMON COUNCIL CHRONICLE EXAMINER. By John F. Bailey. December 2, 2025:

The Common Council enabled the Galleria City rebuild of the former Galleria Mall to go forward last night with all Councilmembers lauding the project as necessary for the city to grow in the future.

The council approved selling the city-owned garages to LCOR the developer for a sum of $50 Million to be financed, and leased back for a 3 year period.

 Councilman  (and Mayor Elect) Justin Brasch  said the demolition of the garages would cost the city 25 to 30 Million dollars, which the developer will  now pay. Brasch remarked the city was assured of more affordable housing units than first provided by previous plans, and 40% more open space and that now it was time to “move on to the site plan.”

Councilman John Martin said the approval of the sale of the garages , in addition the city was offering the developer a density bonus, providing the new project with incentives for proving more affordable housing and allowing higher occupancy  buildings in return for more affordable housing units.

Councilwoman  Jen Puja noted the developer has agreed to a Project Labor Agreement that would include union and local contractors on the project.

Council President Victor Presser noted it had taken 2 years to get to this compromise, but emphasized there is “more to do” to decide what should be on that site. She said “without this rezoning, the project is dead.”

Councilman Jeremiah Frie-Pearson stressed the new Galleria would be a $2 billion project and would greatly benefit the residents of the city.

Councilman Richard Payne said the go-ahead on the project was “in the best interests of the city,” but cautioned this agreement was a “Memorandum of Understanding, and “there was  more to be negotiated.

At the beginning of the Council Meeting, John Martin Jen Puja and Mayor Roach announced they were leaving the Common Council, Mr. Martin after 14 years,Ms.. Puja to move into higher office as County Legislator for District 5 and the Mayor as newly elected County Clerk. You can hear their final addresses in the first  15 minutes of the video of last night’s council meeting at

https://whiteplainsny.new.swagit.com/videos/362255

In a public hearing on the new garage for White Plains Hospital, after several townspeople expressed concern that there was not adequate public parking on Post Road for the residences along East Post Road,  and hoped the public would be able to park in the new 8-story garage planned, William Null the Chairman of the Board of White Plains Hospital  said there would be no public parking allowed in the new garage. He said 180 spaces would be reserved for residents of Brookfield Commons, a White Plains Housing Authority site, (now about to begin its third rebuild at 159 Lexington, with two more to go).

The Council closed the public hearing of the Hospital garage and approved the project.

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DECEMBER 1 —HOUSE PASSES SENATOR GILLEBRAND’S ANTI- HUMAN TRAFFICKING BILL VICTIMS RELIEF

GILLIBRAND, HYDE-SMITH STATEMENT ON HOUSE PASSAGE OF THEIR LEGISLATION TO SUPPORT VICTIMS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING 

 

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS) released the following statement on the House’s unanimous passage of the Trafficking Survivors Relief Act, which would enable survivors of human trafficking to have nonviolent offenses that they were forced to commit vacated and expunged:

“We applaud the House’s passage of our Trafficking Survivors Relief Act, which represents a monumental step forward in supporting victims of human trafficking. This bill would help stop a vicious cycle that leaves trafficking survivors vulnerable to further exploitation, protecting those who escape their horrible circumstances from subsequently having to face criminal prosecution, imprisonment, and related problems finding employment and housing. We urge our Senate colleagues to pass this bill and get it to the president’s desk without delay.”

Senator Gillibrand first introduced the Trafficking Survivors Relief Act with a bipartisan group of colleagues in 2016. She has reintroduced the bill in every subsequent Congress, most recently with Senator Hyde-Smith in July 2025.

In addition to allowing survivors of human trafficking to have nonviolent criminal convictions or arrest records they incurred while being trafficked vacated and expunged, the Trafficking Survivors Relief Act would also:

  • Allow for an individual’s status as a victim of trafficking to be a mitigating factor for courts to consider when imposing a prison sentence for violent crimes.
  • Require U.S. attorneys to submit a report one year after enactment detailing the number of motions filed under the law.
  • Ensure that grant funding provided by the Office for Victims of Crime and the Office on Violence Against Women can be used for legal representation for post-conviction relief activities.
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DECEMBER 1– WPCNR WEATHERRRRRRRRRRRRRRR! 35 DEGREES AND CLEAR 6 PM “FEELS LIKE SNOW”

GOVERNOR HOCHUL URGES CAUTION AS NOR’EASTER IS FORECAST TO DELIVER FIRST MAJOR SNOWFALL FOR MAJORITY OF NEW YORK

Winter Storm Watches, Winter Storm Warnings and Winter Weather Advisories in Effect for Many Areas North of New York City

Storm Will Cause Difficult and Potentially Dangerous Commutes Tuesday; Avoid Unnecessary Travel if Possible

New Yorkers Can Sign Up for Weather and Emergency Alerts by Texting 333111

Governor Kathy Hochul urged New Yorkers to exercise caution ahead of a Nor’easter system forecast to bring the first major snowfall for much of the state beginning early Tuesday morning. Winter Storm Watches and Warnings are in effect for parts of the Southern Tier, Mohawk Valley, North Country, Mid-Hudson and Capital Regions where snow totals could surpass 7 inches.

Winter Weather Advisories are in effect for parts of the Western New York, Central New York, Finger Lakes and Mid-Hudson regions which are expected to receive less than 6 inches of snow. The storm is expected to create difficult driving conditions during the Tuesday morning and evening commutes. New Yorkers should do their best to avoid unnecessary travel on roadways, however if unable to, it will be important to leave extra time for traveling and always remember to avoid crowding plows when they are servicing roadways.

“While New Yorkers are no strangers to snow, and preparedness is key to staying safe on the roads and at home,” Governor Hochul said. “Ahead of this snowfall, I’m encouraging New Yorkers to make a plan – stock your car with safety essentials and leave extra time when traveling. State agencies stand ready to assist New Yorkers throughout the storm and our plow crews will be out keeping our roadways safe, but we encourage everyone to be weather aware and closely monitor the forecast.”

Snow is possible statewide, with the highest totals across the Mid-Hudson and Capital Regions. Accumulations of four to eight inches of snow are expected, with isolated totals of up to one foot possible in the higher elevations of the Catskills. Snowfall totals will depend on elevation and daytime temperatures will be near freezing.

In addition to preparing for snow, New Yorkers should also prepare to protect against the dangers that can result from colder weather and winter activities. Under state regulation, a Code Blue is automatically in effect whenever the temperature and wind chill equal less than 32 degrees.

Local social services districts are legally required to take necessary steps to ensure those experiencing homelessness have access to shelter and that shelter hours are extended. Cold Weather tips from the Department of Health can be found here; additional tips for preventing frostbite and hypothermia can be found here; information on Carbon Monoxide poisoning can be found here; information on the proper use of generators can be found here; safe winter driving tips can be found here.

The New York State Department of Labor advises workers and employers to engage in extreme cold weather best practices such as:

  • Limit outdoor work, provide frequent breaks in warm areas and schedule outdoor work during the warmest times of the day.
  • Ensure access to clean drinking water.
  • Stay hydrated with warm beverages and avoid drinking caffeine.
  • Wear proper PPE, including at least three layers of clothing, gloves or mittens, thick socks, insulated footwear and a hat, hood or hard hat liner.

More Information on best practices for working in cold weather can be found here.

Winter Storm Watches, Winter Storm Warnings and Winter Weather Advisories have been issued, and New Yorkers should closely monitor their local forecasts and look for updates issued by the National Weather Service. For a complete listing of weather alerts, visit the National Weather Service website at alerts.weather.gov.

New Yorkers should also ensure that government emergency alerts are enabled on their mobile phones. They should also sign up for real-time weather and emergency alerts that will be texted to their phones by texting their county or borough name to 333111.

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