Senior VP/Director, Global & Public Health Policy, @KFF. Health policy, epidemics, data, & parenting. NYC born & raised, DC is now home.
Washington, DC
Joined March 2010
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Jen Kates retweeted
The @GlobalFund is pleased to announce Dr. Mark Dybul as its next Executive Director.
His leadership and extensive experience in global health and development will help shape the Global Fund’s next chapter and accelerate progress towards ending AIDS, TB & malaria.
theglobalfund.org/en/news/20…
The U.S. government has finalized bilateral agreements (MOUs) with 36 countries as part of the America First Global Health Strategy. If you are looking for up-to-date information on the MOUs, our tracker is here: lnkd.in/epcAuxiB
Jen Kates retweeted
A Reporter Who Saw Covid Coming Has Died nytimes.com/2026/10/17/healt… via @NYTimes
Jen Kates retweeted
As @axios notes this morning, this is very much a health care election. Both Democrats and Republicans are attacking the health care industry, but many Republicans have the political baggage of votes to cut Medicaid and opposition to enhanced ACA subsidies.
@CookPolitical
New CDC vaccine data for 13-17 yr olds shows significant variation by jurisdiction. DC is lowest for Tdap (80.5%) and VT highest (94.6%). MenACWY ranged from 61.2% in MS to 96.5% in RI. HPV ranged from 49.5% in MS to 94.1% in RI.
cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/75/wr/m…
Jen Kates retweeted
We all know her for her record-breaking music. But those of us in Tennessee also know her for Dollywood, an investment that became an economic anchor for East Tennessee and Sevier County’s largest employer. We know her for the millions she gave and raised for those impacted by the 2016 Sevier County wildfires, her foundation’s investment in East Tennessee education, and the countless other donations she made throughout the Volunteer State.
For more than three decades, her Imagination Library donated 300 million books to children across five countries. Dolly once explained, “When I was growing up in the hills of East Tennessee, I knew my dreams would come true. … The seeds of these dreams are often found in books, and the seeds you help plant in your community can grow across the world.”
Jen Kates retweeted
Dolly Parton is one of the greatest Tennesseans to ever live, and what she accomplished in one lifetime is impossible to measure or replicate.
Her grace, humor, deep compassion and faith, contagious energy, and zest for life made her admired and beloved by all.
Twenty years ago, I stood on the floor of the U.S. Senate and reflected on her innumerable accomplishments. I was proud to call her a constituent and truly inspired by her constant love for and investment in the people of Tennessee.
Jen Kates retweeted
Thirty-nine states reported kindergarten MMR vaccination rates below 95% for the 2025–2026 school year, including 18 states below 90%.
KFF explores declining vaccination coverage and rising exemptions: on.kff.org/4p5I7j5
ALT This chart from KFF shows the number of U.S. states with exemption rates in select groups by school year, from 2019-2020 to 2025-2026. Exemption rates are divided into three categories: exemption rates of less than 3% (green), 3-4.9% (blue), and 5% or more (dark blue). The chart indicates that states have experienced increases in exemption rates over the years.
HHS just posted a request for information in support of the Task Force on Safer Childhood Vaccines and the President’s EO on the categories used in Federal vaccine
recommendations (routine, risk-based, shared clinical decision making). public-inspection.federalreg…
Our latest, from @joshmich and me: kff.org/other-health/the-whi…
Jen Kates retweeted
🧵More vaccines do not mean more distinct antigens. The childhood vaccine schedule contained 3,217 antigenic components in 1960 and 3,041 by the 1980s. Today, owing to better formulations, it's about 165 antigens across the current pediatric schedule 1/2
cdc.gov/vaccine-safety/about…
Jen Kates retweeted
And ...
"Despite the decline, the United States continued to be the largest donor to HIV efforts, providing US$4.6 billion and accounting for 74% of total donor government funding in 2025."
Our latest analysis of donor government funding for HIV in LMICs finds that disbursements in 2025 were down by more than $2 billion, due to U.S. reductions. It's the biggest single year drop.
Donor government funding to combat HIV in low- and middle-income countries dropped by $2.1 billion in 2025, a 25% decrease from 2024, due to U.S. funding reductions.
Despite this decline, the U.S. remains the largest donor to HIV in the world: on.kff.org/4bdvNYN
ALT Bar chart showing HIV funding from donor governments from 2002 to 2025 in billions of US dollars. The funding increases steadily from $1.2 billion in 2002 to a peak of $8.6 billion in 2014, then remains roughly steady until 2025, where it drops to $6.2 billion. The chart includes data from UNAIDS, KFF, Global Fund, and others.
Jen Kates retweeted
Donor government funding to combat HIV in low- and middle-income countries dropped by $2.1 billion in 2025, a 25% decrease from 2024, due to U.S. funding reductions.
Despite this decline, the U.S. remains the largest donor to HIV in the world: on.kff.org/4bdvNYN
ALT Bar chart showing HIV funding from donor governments from 2002 to 2025 in billions of US dollars. The funding increases steadily from $1.2 billion in 2002 to a peak of $8.6 billion in 2014, then remains roughly steady until 2025, where it drops to $6.2 billion. The chart includes data from UNAIDS, KFF, Global Fund, and others.
Apparently, when you have a tween, you are not supposed to give any praise. At all. Also not supposed to critique. So fun!🤣
Jen Kates retweeted
Uganda has not yet confirmed it publicly, but it appears to have a #Marburg outbreak. A very reliable source tells STAT that 2 cases have been confirmed. The US government has issued a level 4 — aka do not travel there — advisory based on intel it has received. statnews.com/2026/06/30/marb…
Jen Kates retweeted
Metro is ready to partner with DC to deliver what this corridor really needs, high quality frequent reliable transit in dedicated lanes that can enhance safety, drive economic growth & connect Union Station to RFK (and points further east and west).
The D.C. government wants to revamp H Street – again.
The once-grim, then-gentrified, now-troubled corridor could get pocket parks, public art installations and new zoning regulations if the Office of Planning has its way. @jackiepeiser
dc.citycast.fm/news/h-street…
Jen Kates retweeted
#ebola: the confirm case count in the DRC has topped 1000. And that's the cases that have come to light. This is likely an under count. Just for context, the world only recognize that this outbreak was underway. About five weeks ago. This outbreak has expanded at unprecedented speed.
🚨 POINT DE SITUATION EBOLA – 20 JUIN 2026
📍 La riposte contre la maladie à virus Ebola se poursuit dans les provinces de l’Ituri, du Nord-Kivu et du Sud-Kivu, avec une amélioration du nombre de guérisons mais une baisse du taux de suivi des contacts.
🔹 1 003 cas confirmés cumulés
🔹 254 décès cumulés
🔹 100 personnes guéries
🔹 365 patients en isolement ou hospitalisation
🔹 Taux de létalité : 25,3 %
🔹 Taux de suivi des contacts : 58,0 %
📈 Le cap des 1 000 cas confirmés a été franchi. Malgré cette progression, les équipes de riposte poursuivent activement les investigations, la surveillance épidémiologique et les actions de prévention dans les zones affectées.
✅ 8 patients supplémentaires ont été déclarés guéris, dont 6 en Ituri et 2 au Sud-Kivu, après avoir obtenu des tests de contrôle négatifs.
🏥 Le Ministre de la Santé, accompagné des autorités provinciales, s’est rendu à Mongbwalu où une réunion technique a été organisée avec les Médecins Chefs de Zone et les partenaires techniques et financiers afin de renforcer la coordination des opérations sur le terrain.
📢 Les efforts de communication communautaire, de diagnostic et de prise en charge continuent d’être intensifiés pour freiner la propagation de l’épidémie.
📞 En cas de symptômes ou de suspicion, appelez gratuitement le 151.
#StopEbola 🇨🇩 #EbolaRDC #RiposteEbola #SantéPubliqueRDC
