Rita Rubin, Lead Senior Staff Writer for JAMA Medical News, and Kate Schweitzer, Associate Managing Editor, delve into pressing medical issues. They discuss the alarming rise of antimicrobial resistance, spotlighting the UN's focus on global disparities in antibiotic access. The conversation shifts to the XEC COVID variant, its potential to dominate the winter wave, and the importance of vaccination. Together, they highlight critical strategies needed to combat these public health challenges.