Vaccinations rise when states button up religious loopholes

Struggling with sleepless nights? Sleep expert Shelby Harris dropped by TODAY to share practical tips for better rest—like cutting screen time before bed and trying a weighted blanket. It’s a no-nonsense guide for anyone tired of counting sheep.

Editor’s Note: Sleep isn’t just a luxury—it’s a cornerstone of health, yet so many of us wrestle with it. Harris’s advice cuts through the noise with actionable fixes, making this a story that could genuinely help exhausted viewers (or scrollers) reclaim their nights.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting is calling doctors back to the table for talks next week—but he’s drawing a hard line on pay, saying the recent five-day strike has burned through any goodwill from the government. It’s a tense standoff, with both sides digging in.

Editor’s Note: This isn’t just another round of negotiations—it’s a high-stakes showdown. The government’s refusal to budge on pay suggests they’re betting doctors will fold, but after months of disruptions, that’s a risky gamble. For patients, it means more uncertainty, and for the NHS, another chapter in a bruising battle over staffing and funding.

Novo Nordisk’s new CEO, Maziar Mike Doustdar, is stepping into a tough spot—especially in the U.S., where competition is heating up. As the company’s first non-Danish leader, he’ll have to navigate pricing pressures, rival drugs, and sky-high expectations for its blockbuster weight-loss treatments.

Editor’s Note: Novo Nordisk is a heavyweight in diabetes and obesity drugs, but rivals like Eli Lilly are closing in. Doustdar’s leadership could shape whether the company stays on top or gets squeezed in a market that’s getting more crowded by the day. For patients and investors, it’s a big deal—how this plays out could affect drug prices, stock prices, and even which treatments dominate pharmacy shelves.

West Virginia is in a last-minute rush to remove seven artificial food dyes from school meals before kids head back to class. The state is pushing to clean up cafeteria menus, cutting out additives that some studies link to hyperactivity and other health concerns in children.

Editor’s Note: This isn’t just about colorful snacks—it’s part of a growing push to make school food healthier, especially as research raises questions about synthetic dyes. For parents, it’s a win, but schools now have to scramble to reformulate meals without breaking the bank or sacrificing kid appeal. It’s a small step, but one that could set a trend for other states.

The FDA's vaccine chief, Dr. Vinay Prasad, is calling it quits after less than three months on the job. No official reason was given for his sudden departure, but it’s raising eyebrows given the critical role he played in overseeing vaccine regulations.

Editor’s Note: The FDA’s vaccine division is a big deal—it shapes policies that affect millions of Americans. When a top leader leaves this quickly, it’s worth paying attention to, even if we don’t yet know the full story. Could signal internal friction, personal reasons, or just a bad fit—but either way, it leaves a key position vacant at a time when vaccine decisions (like updates for COVID or flu shots) are constantly in the spotlight.