Antivaccine legislation is rising rapidly in US states, driven primarily by GOP push
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Updates every hour. Last Updated: 30-Oct-2026 16:16 ET (30-Oct-2026 20:16 GMT/UTC)
A new study in the American Journal of Public Health shows that proposed bills aiming to reduce vaccine access, weaken vaccination requirements, and increase vaccine exemptions increased dramatically in state legislatures from 2021-2023, at times exceeding the number of bills seeking to strengthen vaccine access and mandates. At least 40 percent of bills introduced in each full legislative cycle after the start of the pandemic have been antivaccine-related. Republican lawmakers sponsored 86 percent of the antivaccine bills introduced during this period. Democratic lawmakers introduced 54 percent of provaccine bills, which are bills that supported an increase in access to, or funding and promotion of, vaccines across state legislatures.
In a new book, University of Copenhagen associate professor Séamus Power outlines three realistic scenarios for the future of the world economy – ranging from escalating inequality to fairer forms of capitalism.
Hearing loss affects communication, learning, independence, and social well-being. While cochlear implants have transformed treatment for severe hearing impairment, they require surgery and are often associated with post-operative complications. They also rely on electrical stimulation, which can limit their precision. Researchers are therefore exploring whether applying optical neural stimulation through brain-machine interfaces can mitigate these limitations. However, the effect of laser stimulation applied through the tympanic membrane is largely understudied.