Top public health news stories of 2021
Throughout the ups and downs of 2021, The Nation’s Health delivered critical insights on the most important public health news of the year. The COVID-19 pandemic was top-of-mind for public health professionals, and news about it dominates our 2021 most-read list.
Readers looked to APHA’s newspaper for information on vaccines, including mRNA technology and overcoming barriers to vaccine uptake, among other news.
Browse and share our most-read news stories of the year:
1. Pressure of pandemic harms mental health of public health workers
U.S. public health workers are experiencing high levels of mental distress from long hours, pushback over vaccination and other strain.
2. Public health messaging vital for COVID-19 vaccine uptake: Leaders partnering on communications
Public health messengers are working to convince people to get vaccinated against COVID-19, but face steep challenges.
More public health professionals are advocating that the arts be used to help improve people’s health and well-being.
4. Ethics at center of COVID-19 vaccine distribution plans
Ethicists are striving to ensure that people at greatest risk for severe disease and death are prioritized for COVID-19 vaccination.
5. Public health workforce in dire need of long-term investment
Long-term structural and budgetary changes are needed to rebuild a public health workforce still digging out from the last major recession.
6. Biden budget proposes big boosts for US public health infrastructure
The nation’s public health system would get significant, sorely needed funding bumps under the president’s fiscal year 2022 budget proposal.
7. Innovative resources help communicate, educate audiences on COVID-19 vaccines
Science-based resources can help public health workers and other health advocates communicate with their communities on COVID-19 vaccination.
8. Threatened, harassed, doxxed: Public health workers forge on
Public health officials are enduring harassment and threats as they work to protect Americans from COVID-19.
9. Interest in public health degrees jumps in wake of pandemic
In a reversal of a decade-long trend, more students are taking an interest in public health as a career. Throughout the country, colleges and universities have seen dramatic upswings in interest in the field.
10. Data from All of Us Research Program available to researchers
Researchers across the U.S. are using data from the All of Us Research Program to drive new science on a range of health issues.
Other popular news from The Nation’s Health included a rise of state laws limiting public health authority, new public health reading and the dramatic drop in Hispanic life expectancy.
The most popular 2021 story in our Healthy You series shares tips on body odor, ranking as our top feature story of the year.
Read and share these stories online now!
