The FDA plans to add a “black-box warning” to COVID-19 vaccines — that’s the strongest warning the agency can issue. But Will Humble, the Arizona Public Health Association president, says the move isn’t as alarming as it sounds.
Humble says the vaccines have been linked to a rare and temporary heart inflammation, mainly in young men up to age 19.
"This doesn't mean the vaccine isn't safe. It just means that there's that advisory out there for that small demographic for this extremely rare event that, by the way, is a lot less rare than the complications to the heart from the infection itself," Humble said.
Humble is a longtime vaccine advocate and says adding the warning is reasonable. More than 400 drugs currently carry a black-box warning.
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Rep. Andy Biggs released a list of health policy commitments in his campaign for Arizona governor. Public health experts say proposals to loosen vaccine requirements could have dangerous consequences. -
In Arizona, more than 10.5% of kindergartners had an exemption from mandatory school vaccines, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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Will Humble with the Arizona Public Health Association says the order may be an effort to help push Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s changes in vaccine schedules that have been blocked in courts. -
Measles continues to spread in Arizona and as kids are heading back to school, most classrooms across the state have immunization rates below the level recommended to prevent an outbreak. -
Pinal and Maricopa counties confirmed new cases this week. And Yavapai County on Wednesday confirmed its first measles case of 2026.
