Health Check - China’s latest bid to boost its birth rate

China’s latest bid to boost its birth rate

Download China’s latest bid to boost its birth rate

China has just brought in taxes on contraception including condoms in a bid to increase the nation’s birth rate. What impact could this have when considered alongside other “fertility-friendly” policies? Global Health reporter Dorcas Wangira gives her verdict.

Could RSV vaccination dramatically reduce childhood asthma? Professor Bart Lambrecht from Ghent University shares his latest research suggesting just that.

How school-based vaccination programmes for HPV may provide cancer protection through herd immunity.

Plus, BBC reporter Erika Benke takes us to a Finnish sauna to understand what we do, and don’t know about the impact the ancient practice has on our health and wellbeing.

Presenter: Claudia Hammond
Producer: Hannah Robins
Assistant Producer: Katie Tomsett

Published on Wednesday, 7th January 2026.

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