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Indian Health Service Censors Doctors on Vaccine Messaging

December 5, 2025

12.5.25 – Last month, reporter Mary Hudetz published a story with nonprofit newsroom ProPublica that unearthed a new system of censorship within the federal Indian Health Service. Hudetz spoke to doctors and other public health experts to try and figure out why the department has essentially gone dark over the past year when it comes to messaging about vaccines. Executive Producer Jeff Proctor sat down with Hudetz to talk about what she found and consider how these new actions might impact Native communities.   

Correspondent: Jeff Proctor 

Guest: Mary Hudetz (Apsaalooke/Crow), Investigative Reporter, ProPublica 

For More Information: 

The Indian Health Service Is Flagging Vaccine-Related Speech. Doctors Say They’re Being Censored – ProPublica