New childhood vaccine guidelines have a paid leave problem

Plus: A Greek myth explains the biggest challenge facing oncologists like me ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­  

February 15, 2026 Check out STAT+

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By Alexa Lee Newsletter strategist

Good morning! Alexa here, filling in for Torie this Sunday. As someone who is neither an oncologist nor a classics aficionado, I wasn't sure what I would glean from the leading First Opinion in this newsletter. My doubts were quickly set aside upon reading: Gilberto Lopes' essay is a tender reflection on what makes health, longevity, and clinical care so valuable. It's relevant for anyone who wonders what constitutes a good use of our limited time on earth. Recommendation of the week: I just finished reading "Chain Gang All-Stars," following a stern recommendation from my sister. The whole time I was reading it, I was stressed out. As soon as the book was finished, I was sad to be done with such a searing, imaginative novel.

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Adobe A Greek myth explains the biggest challenge facing oncologists like me An oncologist on the struggle to extend life while preserving cancer patients' strength, function, and dignity. By Gilberto Lopes The new childhood vaccine guidelines have a paid leave problem Countries with strong parental leave policies don't have to worry about infants getting sick with RSV or rotavirus at day care. By Ariana Hendrix Medicaid work requirements will particularly hurt unpaid caregivers Medicaid work requirements need exemptions for unpaid family members who prop up our long-term care system. By Emily D. Tisdale Adobe How AI is making me a better clinical psychologist AI plays a growing role in the private thinking clinicians do before any intervention ever occurs. A psychologist explains. By Harvey Lieberman My granddaughter has a rare disease. But clinical trials often exclude patients like her Even when promising clinical trials exist, and the FDA allows expanded access, rare disease patients like my granddaughter are often left out. By Theron Odlaug Insurance companies should pay patients when they make cost-effective health care choices When people carefully chooses the cheaper health care option, they should get some of the money their insurance company saved. By Jared Rhoads Molly Ferguson for STAT STAT+ | If you have Alzheimer's disease, who will take part in your care? As Alzheimer's and other dementias are diagnosed earlier and earlier, doctors must change how they discuss care. By Jason Karlawish

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