What We’re Reading: Warning on Cigarettes Blocked; Mpox Vaccine Provides Protection; Activity Reduces Risk of Death

FDA Graphic Warning Requirement Blocked by Judge

A US district judge in Texas found that the FDA could not require that cigarette packages feature a graphic health warning, according to Reuters. The judge found that the requirement violated tobacco companies’ First Amendment rights by compelling speech. The FDA rule, which was first finalized in March 2020, would have required that all cigarette packaging contain images of the possible consequences of smoking, such as diseased feet, and had to occupy the top 50% of the front and back of all cigarette packages as well as the top 20% of all ads. The judge wrote that such images could cause consumers to take away misleading information.

Mpox Vaccine Offered Protection Against Virus

The CDC published a study that found that people who received 1 or 2 doses of the Jynneos mpox vaccine contracted the virus at a significantly lower rate compared with unvaccinated individuals. According to STAT News, the study found that unvaccinated people were 9.6 times more likely to develop mpox compared with fully vaccinated people. Unvaccinated people had a higher incidence of infection at 7.6 times higher compared with people who had received 1 dose of the vaccine. The data was based on men aged 18 to 49 years who were diagnosed between July 31 and October 1, 2022.

Intense Activity Reduced Risk of Death

Research published on Thursday found that short bursts of intense movement, such as climbing stairs, are associated with a lower risk of death in participants whose mean age was 62 years, according to NBC News. These intense daily activities could also include running for the bus or carrying heavy groceries, even if the person doesn’t exercise otherwise. Doing such activity for 1 to 2 minutes 3 to 4 times a day could reduce risk of death by 40% over 7 years, with the risk of heart disease reduced by 49% in the same span.