Vax Talk (Voices for Vaccines)

Chelsea Clinton comes from a background of public service, so why is she working so hard on global health right now? And why is she willing to take a stand for vaccines? We invited her to Vax Talk to discuss this, and so much more! Links from this episode Disinformation Dozen: https://antivaxwatch.org/ Clinton Foundation: https://www.clintonfoundation.org/ Remember to check out the In Fact podcast, hosted by Chelsea Clinton!

Dr. Peter Hotez is a pediatrician, a vaccinologist, and a parent of Rachel, who is autistic. His new book, Vaccines Did Not Cause Rachel's Autism, leaves no wiggle room for doubt about whether or not he embraces scientific consensus concerning vaccines. In this episode, we talked to Dr. Hotez about his book, about his daughter, about why vaccines cannot cause autism, and about the anti-vaccine movement. Links from the episode The book: https://www.amazon.com/Vaccines-Did-Not-Cause-Rachels-Autism/dp/1421426609 Merck/rotavirus article: https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2018/11/01/655844287/merck-pulls-out-of-agreement-to-supply-life-saving-vaccine-to-millions-of-kids Dr. Offit at the NPC: https://www.facebook.com/diana.turkovich/videos/10103709244865582/?hc_location=ufi We ask all of our listeners to purchase this book and then donate it to their pediatrician's office!

Nathan and Karen traveled to Seattle for the Washington State Immunization Summit to talk to attendees about vaccine hesitancy! This is the episode we have been waiting to do! SLIDES FROM THIS EPISODE: https://www.voicesforvaccines.org/content/uploads/2019/10/Vax-Talk-Live.pdf Dorit Reiss's Doximity shout-out: https://opmed.doximity.com/articles/as-tiring-as-it-is-you-re-in-good-company-fighting-anti-vaxxers-says-this-legal-expert?_csrf_attempted=yes

At age 44, Jason Mendolsohn was diagnosed with Stage IV HPV throat cancer, and now he's on a mission to convince families to prevent this cancer in their children through immunization. Check out Jason at https://supermanhpv.com/. In this episode, we also chat about Russian bots. Here's the link to that study: https://ajph.aphapublications.org/doi/10.2105/AJPH.2018.304567

What happens when you bring to HPV champions together? A great conversation about how to encourage parents to start and complete the HPV vaccine series in order to prevent six forms of cancer. For this episode, we brought Minnesota champion Dr. Andrea Singh to talk to Karen and Nathan--the Iowa HPV Vaccine is Cancer Prevention Champion. Links from the episode: Dr. Plotkin videos: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUv9oht3hC6TqM6ubm4UfosW0U_pZq0ak WHO conspiracy debunked: https://respectfulinsolence.com/2020/01/15/who-scientists-did-not-question-the-safety-of-vaccines-at-the-global-vaccine-safety-summit/ Find your HPV Vaccine Champion: https://www.cdc.gov/hpv/champions/2019-winners.html Minneapolis snow total: 4-7 inches Iowa snow total: 3-4 inches

Nathan and Karen talk to Every Child By Two's Amy Pisani about how the immunization challenges have changed over the decades and what challenges we face in our work together combatting vaccine-preventable diseases. Links from the episode: Every Child By Two/Vaccinate Your Family, http://vaccinateyourfamily.org/ Hotez/Caplan article, https://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/anti-vaccine-misinformation-denies-childrens-rights/ New Jersey hearing video, https://www.facebook.com/NowThisNews/videos/2002221983142615/

Karen traveled to Atlanta for the National Immunization Conference and met many amazing people, a few of whom are featured in this episode. Nathan talks about the great pro-vaccine advocates we know, and they both discuss why we all advocate and what we can do to create more vaccine confidence. This episode is sponsored by the Vaccine Education Center at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia: vaccine.chop.edu/parents Links mentioned... Dear Pro-Vaxxers response: vaxopedia.org/2018/05/17/dear-anti-vaxxers/ Vaccine Confidence Survey: www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/public-support-vaccines-drops-bit-n876156

Millions of people have received a COVID-19 vaccine, which gives us a lot of information about the safety of these vaccines. We asked Dr. Stanley Plotkin, inventor of the rubella vaccine and co-inventor of a rotavirus vaccine, to join us to answer our questions and to make some predictions. Links from podcast: Wisconsin pharmacist--https://apnews.com/article/wisconsin-pharmacist-steven-brandenburg-ac00faee3cf10a9558665d472123b96c V-Safe--https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/safety/vsafe.html

Providers working in clinics and hospitals have noticed something: non-COVID respiratory viruses are acting differently. Flu is lingering into June, RSV is messing with kids off-season, and summer is no barrier between us and a cold. To find out what is happening (and okay, it might have to do with COVID) and how vaccines can help, we talked to Vanderbilt University Medical Center's Dr. Bill Schaffner (one of Karen's favorite docs). Link from the episode: https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2022/06/13/covid-flu-rsv-viruses/

At the pandemic's beginning, small bands of scientists and doctors devised a plan: what if we got young people sick on purpose? What could possibly go wrong? Dr. Jonathan Howard's new book, _We Want Them Infected_, traces this ill-begotten quest and the inevitable pseudoscience that followed. Listen in to our conversation with him! Links from the pod-- We Want Them Infected: https://redhawkpublications.com/We-Want-Them-Infected-p547021769 Lancet HPV study: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)02178-4/fulltext Steve Kirsch wants to give you $5M: https://twitter.com/stkirsch/status/1663293283211317248 This June, Voices for Vaccines wants to raise $10,000 so we can bring you our extra programming, such as this podcast! Donate now! https://www.voicesforvaccines.org/donate/

RFK Jr. "Vaccine Safety Commission The Conjunction Vaccine Cervical Cancer and HPV Cancer Deaths HPV Vaccine safety Frederic Lumiere and Christine Baze (30 min)

Do you get your flu shot? Does everyone you know get one, too? We invited Dr. LJ Tan to talk to us about last year's flu season, this year's flu forecast, flu vaccine uptake, and Riverdale. Links from this episode: Wonder Woman Vaccinates--https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Gal-Gadot-joins-Israeli-vaccine-campaign-amid-measles-outbreak-572950 Parent(hetical) Science Podcast--https://www.parentheticalscience.com/ Ideas Start Here Podcast--https://stchealth.com/category/podcast/

Kimberly Coffey was only a few days from high school graduation when she fell sick with what she thought was the flu. Patti Wukovits, her mother, joins us to remember Kimberly and to encourage parents to vaccinate their teens and pre-teens fully and on-time. Patti Wukovits is the founder and Director of the Kimberly Coffey Foundation.

The pandemic caused a lot of pain, from the loss of lives to COVID itself to the burnout and moral injury of people working on the front lines. Our world is more polarized and works on the presumption of fewer common facts. How do we heal? Scott Hamilton Kennedy, an award-nominated documentary filmmaker, went searching for these answers in 2019. His film, Shot in the Arm, became so much more than he expected. Links from the episode: WHO and cervical cancer: https://www.who.int/news/item/17-11-2023-global-partners-cheer-progress-towards-eliminating-cervical-cancer-and-underline-challenges Shot in the Arm film: https://shotinthearmmovie.com/

Don't worry! We aren't switching sides. Heather Simpson, former anti-vaccine influencer, already switched sides. She took a look at the science and decided she needed to vaccinate herself and her daughter. This is the audio from a previous Facebook Live event. If you prefer to watch with your eyes and ears, go here: https://www.facebook.com/279714615481820/videos/1107546256424937

The world's vaccinologists are racing against time to find a safe, effective vaccine to protect against SARS-CoV-2. We talked to renowned vaccinologist, Dr. Stanley Potkin, about how vaccines are typically developed and what is being done now to make the one vaccine the world desperately wants now. Links from the episode: Dr. Boonstra's Routine Immunization During the Pandemic article: https://www.unitypoint.org/blankchildrens/pedsgeekmd-article.aspx?id=40db0f95-f142-4126-83f2-ebae9fedb947&Are+Routine+Vaccines+Important+During+the+COVID-19+Pandemic%253f Undark magazine article: https://undark.org/2020/04/16/anti-vaccine-covid-19/ Vaccine Development Videos: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUv9oht3hC6TqM6ubm4UfosW0U_pZq0ak

When you turned 19, you entered a different landscape in the vaccine world. Recommendations, access, funding, and so much else changed for you. We turned to Dr. Bill Schaffner (Vanderbilt University) and asked him what all adults need to know about vaccines and what we can anticipate in the future.

A PICU nurse contemplates swabbing a measles patients to infect her own child. A nurse practitioner makes a video about how to school pediatricians on vaccines. What is a pro-vaccine advocate to do? We invited Nurses Who Vaccinate's Melody Butler to discuss all things anti-vaccine nurses. Links from the show Nurses Who Vaccinate: http://www.nurseswhovaccinate.org/ CDC Pink Book Webinar: https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/ed/webinar-epv/index.html CHOP webinar: https://www.chop.edu/centers-programs/vaccine-update/vaccine-webinar-series I Pity The Flu shirts: https://www.cafepress.com/voicesforvaccines/15536121 Anti-Vaccine Nurse video: https://www.facebook.com/sarah.98222/videos/10104448733604178/

Continuing with our NIAM2019 GAME SHOW theme, this time inviting Keith Law to play Offit, Wakefield, or Dan Brown. Keith Law is an ESPN contributor, baseball expert, author, and vaccine enthusiast, making him the perfect person to compete against Nathan in naming the author of various vaccine-related book excerpts. Find Keith's book at: https://www.harpercollins.com/9780062490223/smart-baseball/

As of April 11, the U.S. has seen 121 cases of measles this year. Patsy Stinchfield, President of the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases, takes us back in time to previous outbreaks and our efforts to eliminate measles--all to help us understand why even one case of measles in a community is cause for concern. Links from the episode: New study shows that COVID vaccination does not lead to cardiac death-- https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2024/04/12/covid-vaccine-cardiac-arrest-link-not-supported-cdc-says/73305266007/?emci=177adc2e-26fb-ee11-aaf0-7c1e52017038&emdi=97844546-2cfb-ee11-aaf0-7c1e52017038&ceid=4108393 CDC Measles surveillance page--https://www.cdc.gov/measles/cases-outbreaks.html?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email

If measles has been eliminated from North America, what's up with these outbreaks? Is it even possible to get rid of it globally and for good? We invited CDC's Dr. Mark Papania and Dr. Manisha Patel to answer all of our measles eradication questions. This episode was sponsored by the Task Force for Global Health in honor of Dr. Samuel Katz and Dr. Walter Orenstein, both of whom have played critical roles in eliminating measles.

Why would a pro-vaccine advocate take hiatus from his job and embark on a multi-state journey following the notorious Wakefield Vaxxed Bus? We invited Craig Egan to discuss his tour protesting this anti-vaccine bus and his philosophy about countering anti-vaccine misinformation.

It's National Immunization Awareness Month! This week, Nathan and Karen introduce NIAM to listeners, talk about how anyone can advocate during the month of August, and discuss the importance of infant immunizations. Plus, we give an important update about last month's episode. Find the Vaccine Book list at listchallenges.com/vaccine-books.

Please note: This episode IS appropriate for kids of all ages, and we invite everyone to listen. Ethan Posard has a film credit and has published a book--and he's only 17. Meet vaccine advocacy's most influential young hero in this week's episode about teens, kids, vaccines, and advocacy.

More frequently than outright refusing vaccines, parents sometimes ask doctors to give vaccines at a slower rate or with more visits than the CDC recommends. What is behind these requests, and are these "alternative schedules" a good idea? We asked Dr. Paul Offit to explain the science behind vaccine schedules and the dangers of delaying vaccines. Links from this episode: John Philip Ryan: https://www.facebook.com/116317855073374/photos/a.794399590598527/2562294067142395/?type=3&theater The Real Truther Video: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=734853060362605 The Karnowski Aluminum Study: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1876285917304837 The Problem with Dr. Bob's Alternative Schedule: https://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/123/1/e164 Vaccine Education Center: https://www.chop.edu/centers-programs/vaccine-education-center

In this episode of VaxTalk, we dive into the latest on mpox, previously known as monkeypox. Dr. Kritika Kuppali from the University of Texas Southwestern joins us to explain what mpox is, how it's related to smallpox, and why it's become a global public health concern. While smallpox was eradicated in 1980, mpox has been on the rise, particularly in Central and West Africa. Dr. Kuppali discusses the reasons for this increase, including decreased immunity from the end of smallpox vaccinations and environmental changes that may affect its spread. We also explore the complex challenges of controlling mpox, from improving testing in regions with fragile healthcare systems to reducing stigma and ensuring supportive care. Dr. Kuppali talks about vaccines, such as JYNNEOS, used to protect high-risk populations and ongoing efforts to make these tools more accessible. Tune in to learn how global health experts and local communities work together to manage this outbreak and what role we all play in supporting these efforts.

In statehouses across the U.S., 1,000 anti-vaccine bills have been filed. From bills that would pave the way to rescinding school entry requirements to bills that would levy fines against employers for requiring proof of vaccination, these bills are a threat to public health and safety. Fortunately, a new organization--SAFE Communities Coalition (https://safecommunitiescoalition.org/)--is working hard to combat bad vaccine legislation and promote the good stuff. So we invited Northe Saunders and Becky Christensen from this group to discuss their work. Links from the show: ➡️ VFV's new app! https://www.voicesforvaccines.org/resources/#1648753936656-cffc4e3a-d834 ➡️ Japan reinstates HPV vaccination: https://www.science.org/content/article/japan-relaunches-its-hpv-vaccination-drive-thousands-women-it-may-be-too-late#.YkYKFQbSeLg.twitter ➡️ Sweden and their not-so-great COVID response: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41599-022-01097-5

It's not shocking that social media spreads misinformation, but a new report from the Institute for Research and Education on Human Rights just published a chilling report detailing how fertile social media platforms are for breeding misinformation. We discussed the report and its implications with IREHR's Devin Burghart. Links from the episode: The report: https://www.irehr.org/reports/facebook-and-covid-denial/ "The Lies You Will Be Told" https://kckidsdoc.substack.com/p/the-lies-you-will-be-told

If you thought 2021 was the Year of the Vaccine, 2022 may have taken you by surprise. In this episode, we review the news stories that show the prominence vaccines still play in our everyday lives. For a list of links to the news stories we cover, visit our website: https://www.voicesforvaccines.org/ep-68-vaccines-year-in-review/

Polio is *this close* to being eradicated, so we invited Rotary International's Dr. Carol Pandak to the show to discuss their mission to end polio. In addition, Nathan and Karen discuss Jessica Biel and SB 276 as well as Karen's Big ACIP adventure, and other methods anti-vaccine activists use to legitimize their cause. Links from the episode: https://www.endpolio.org/ https://jezebel.com/well-heres-jessica-biel-apparently-lobbying-california-1835444312

New parents have many questions about vaccines. What is the best way to answer those questions and to handle potential vaccine concerns? We talked to Mayo Clinic's Dr. Bob Jacobson and tapped into his wealth of experience about all things vaccines before age two!

You first met him on Facebook when he pretended to be customer service for Large Retail Store. Because he has also satirized the world's most notorious anti vaccine activists, we invited Ben Palmer to play Troll or Be Trolled in celebration of National Immunization Awareness Month. But the only trolling we do is trolling VPDs with our vaccines. Most of the Tweets can be found the Voices4Vaccines handle--except Rob Schneider's because he has blocked us on Twitter.

It's National Immunization Awareness Month, week 1. We are focused on vaccines during pregnancies, the two-for-one that protects both mom and baby. To talk about this important topic, we invited What to Expect's Heidi Murkoff to share her expertise and give us all advice about how to reach women during pregnancy and encourage immunization,

Thank you for being a Vax Talk listener. Support this podcast by becoming a Voices for Vaccines donor at www.voicesforvaccines.org/support.

If the idea that we can debate prevention and science has your attention, then we have a podcast for you. Karen Ernst (Voices for Vaccines) and Dr. Nathan Boonstra (Blank Children's Hospital) introduce a new podcast all about vaccines and the conversations surrounding them.

Dr. Peter Sears is the not-famous brother of Dr. Jim and Dr. Bob Sears and a family physician. He is also an strong advocate for on-time immunization, even as his brother Bob is perceived as having close ties with the anti-vaccine world. We invited Dr. Peter to the podcast to talk about alternative schedules, ingredient fears, and vaccine mandates. Don't forget to check out our FB chat with Heather Simpson, former anti-vaccine influencer: https://www.facebook.com/VoicesForVaccines/videos/1107546256424937

Mumps, pertussis, HPV, influenza, and measles. What is causing outbreaks of these diseases and what can you do to protect your family. Nathan and Karen discuss the whole issue with Dr. Paul Offit from the Vaccine Education Center at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

Echo chambers, Dunning-Kruger, misinformation, and conspiracy theories. These bad parts of social media are what pro-vaccine advocates battle daily and are the subject of this episode. Nathan and Karen talk to Dr. Jen Golbeck, director of the Social Intelligence Lab at the University of Maryland, College Park. (Plus, hear our new intro!) Find our NIAM t-shirts at cafepress.com/voicesforvaccines

Nurses Who Vaccinate's Melody Butler swung by the podcast and threw down the gauntlet, challenging Nathan to a trivia duel. Who knows more about vaccines and their history? Listen to find out. Thank you to our friends at Vaccine Education Center at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia for the questions. Play for yourself at https://www.chop.edu/centers-programs/parents-pack/play-just-vax-vaccine-trivia-game Other sources include History of Vaccines: https://www.historyofvaccines.org/ HPV and nuns (and a mythical creature): https://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/29/health/29hpv.html

In this episode, we break down vaccine communication, from the days of "Let the Science Speak for Itself" to the political partisanship of the pandemic. To assist us, we invited Glen Nowack, former CDC comms chief and Mass Communication Expert! Get your updated COVID vaccine! https://www.vaccines.gov/ Download and share the latest VFV video! https://drive.google.com/file/d/1MQMmlLrg5lhEpNwc1KeOSWhyIpfyCGOL/view?usp=drive_link

So much of vaccine advocacy is aimed at mothers, but where are the dads in all of this? To find out, Nathan and Karen talked to Dean Masello, writer, comedian, and SAHD. Find him at wokedad.com. This episode was made possible by a generous donation from Immunization Action Coalition: immunize.org.

Lately, Twitter has become a cesspool of the worst humans spreading the worst misinformation. Except for one bright spot: The Real Truther. We invited The Real Truther to our podcast to discuss his noble pursuit of The Real Truth and to talk with RFK Jr. (or a proxy for RFK Jr.) Links from the episode: Dr. Alfredo Victoria: https://www.elimparcial.com/mexico/Muere-el-Dr.-Alfredo-Victoria-reconocido-epidemiologo-y-excandidato-a-la-alcaldia-de-Puebla-a-sus-42-anos-de-edad-20230626-0050.html RFK's Conspiracy Panel: https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/rfk-kennedy-anti-vaccine-panel-conspiracies-hiv-spanish-flu-1234779689/ Dr. Hotez stands up to RFK Jr. and Joe Rogan: https://twitter.com/PeterHotez/status/1671839286348378113?lang=ar

A new study seems to connect childhood vaccines to asthma. Or does it? We invited our friend and hero, Dr. Paul Offit, to the show to discuss this study and the other studies from the past investigating vaccines and aluminum adjuvants. Don't miss his take! Link to the study: https://www.statnews.com/2022/09/27/possible-link-aluminum-childhood-vaccines-asthma-risk-caveats/

Join us as we sit down with renowned vaccine expert Dr. Paul Offit to explore the critical role of school vaccine requirements in protecting public health. Dr. Offit shares insights from his decades of experience, discussing how these requirements helped eliminate diseases like measles and rubella from the United States and why their erosion could have serious consequences. The conversation delves into pivotal moments in vaccine policy history, from the early days of state mandates to modern challenges facing public health measures. Dr. Offit recalls his firsthand experience with Philadelphia's devastating 1991 measles outbreak and discusses how the 2014 Disneyland outbreak led to significant policy changes in California. The discussion tackles complex issues around religious and philosophical exemptions, the impact on vulnerable populations, and growing concerns about vaccine hesitancy in the post-COVID era. Whether you're a healthcare provider, parent, educator, or concerned citizen, this episode offers valuable insights into why school vaccine requirements matter and what's at stake as these crucial public health protections face increasing challenges. Join us for an informative and thought-provoking discussion about protecting our communities through proven public health measures. Links from the episode: Alexandra Petri on ceding ground to polio: https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2025/01/03/democrats-trump-suozzi-nyt/ Jimmy Carter's work in Global Health: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/30/health/jimmy-carter-global-health.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare

Vaccine science is now fairly widely understood in the media and the general public, so where does someone wanting to spread disinformation about vaccines turn? To court. We invited UC Hastings professor of law, Dorit Reiss, to our show to discuss what sorts of lawsuits are being filed, why they are being filed, and how these lawsuits are connected to harassment (both legal and petty) of pro-vaccine advocates. We also discuss a possible emerging medical specialty: time travel vaccines.

Dr. Richard Pan has been a champion for community immunity his entire career, from his beginnings as a resident in Pittsburgh to his work in the California legislation to eliminate non-medical vaccine exemptions. We invited him to the show to give us the broad perspective of the work he has done and the work we all need to do.

Remember the old refrain: polio is only a plane ride away? Well, it's hit New York, in the same community that saw a massive measles outbreak in 2019. We invited the excellent Blima Marcus, a nurse practitioner who worked on building vaccine confidence in this community in 2019, to talk to us about this polio outbreak.

It feels like anti-vaxxers are bringing public health to court in droves. Does this spell the doom of people who don't like getting measles and polio? To explain why we shouldn't panic and how this litigiousness works, we invite our friend Dorit Reiss, legal scholar and all-around good person. Please note: this episode was recorded before the Missouri religious exemption decision was handed down. Read about that here: https://www.skepticalraptor.com/skepticalraptorblog.php/author/dorit-rubinstein-reiss/ Other links from this episode: Tiffany Dover -- https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/misinformation/tiffany-dover-conspiracy-theorists-silence-rcna69401 Elon Musk-- https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-us-canada-65249139 Politico-- https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2023/04/09/anti-vax-covid-litigation-00090939

In this episode celebrating National Immunization Awareness Month, Karen talks to loyal listener Amy and then quizzes her to see if she can spot a fake quote about vaccines versus a real one. Karen and Nathan also talk about de-platforming, especially the de-platforming of a certain disease from an entire continent! Links from the episode: Dr. Ianelli's fake quotes about vaccines: https://vaxopedia.org/2020/07/15/fake-quotes-about-vaccines/ Clinton Global Initiative webinar: https://youtu.be/tnhx5Ps8IN0 Join Rotary: https://www.rotary.org/en

August is the month every year that the U.S. celebrates the good work vaccines do in our community. For NIAM 2019, we have decided to celebrate with Game Show Month! Our first game is Fact Checker. We invited health journalist Tara Haelle aboard to listen to a media interview with a self-proclaimed vaccine expert rebutting Jon Oliver. Watch the original Jon Oliver piece here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7VG_s2PCH_c Watch the full rebuttal video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ViZRj4V1VM

No vaccine for coronavirus exists (yet?), but learning about this newest emerging disease and watching how the epidemic is handled can teach us a lot about public health strategies that include vaccines. So we invited Dr. Angela Rasmussen, a virologist at Columbia University, on to talk about coronavirus. Links from the episode: Interim CDC Flu Vaccine Effectiveness Estimates: https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/wr/mm6907a1 Minnesota Rally: https://www.facebook.com/MnCIC/posts/2252712808358489?__xts__[0]=68.ARDJSiX0UMdOtCB-fKSs1OKjBM5Au_fK9LFxysYhFyS9c2PILoiRMX8m3UFGFTMRMZjTN_5WFPmLxWlOT4-t7bHQw7s8aK50ZmcRNf_OGbtNvn3q-KuIvbo2a7DfthiLbMDXuRevjA9xw_1jvxj01iIXTtdgF0EesQt9-IL3uXGdPGId2NS_L83HzjOeAZNUv0LD9d4QMsevgMtgbGLvImsujJPTqz1HB4AdtYSIFRaXKq4bin3o0S4tVNG7hsKKml9QcqAzTIfMJdY5DmY9LGFPo8FGdO4diF4N843TcEuO8ZDFkY1VVTRF3eUjqmvP23kmcZ-NE5yOqhA-6mvinzBh9Mid&__tn__=-R Iowa Immunizes: https://www.iowapha.org/resources/iowa-immunizes/

Shelle Allen's healthy, happy daughter, Madi, was 12 years old when she asked to be picked up from a birthday party. They never imagined that what would follow would be a months-long battle with influenza. We invited Shelle, who is the President of Families Fighting Flu, on our podcast to tell Madi's story. Nathan and Karen also discussed rebranding anti-vaxxers and the measles outbreak in Samoa. Links from the episode: Families Fighting Flu: https://www.familiesfightingflu.org/ It's Not Too Late to Get a Flu Shot: https://www.voicesforvaccines.org/seriously-its-not-too-late-to-get-a-flu-shot/ Rebranding: https://www.iflscience.com/health-and-medicine/antivaxxers-are-asking-people-to-stop-calling-them-antivaxxers-because-its-highly-offensive/ Newsletter with Samoa information: https://mailchi.mp/voicesforvaccines/this-week-in-vaccine-hesitancy-june-1044797

On October 15, 2020, folks from across the Midwest (and the U.S.) gathered on Zoom to celebrate the good immunization does in the Heartland. We had nearly 20 speakers give quick testimonials about vaccines, from how they protect immunocompromised people to how VPDs have affected their lives. We also invited a U.S. Senator, an Ohio state senator, an IL state representative, and a former White House occupant on to speak to us. If you would like to watch the full video, it is available here: https://youtu.be/lBvtAPvjmUE Vaccinate the Family's Midwestern action page: https://www.vaccinateyourfamily.org/vaxtheheartland/

We kick off our NIIW celebration William Shatner (topic, not guest) #ivax2protect What diseases can we prevent in early childhood? Genevieve's son and rotavirus Emily's daughter and pertussis

This week, the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted unanimously to recommend the Pfizer vaccine be given to kids ages 12-15. We invited long-time ACIP member Patsy Stinchfield on the podcast to talk us through how this decision was made and when other age groups might be eligible. We asked her all the questions about risks, benefits, and safety. If you have a question, there's a good chance she answered it in this podcast! Links from the show: Twitter thread on VAERS (including 1% link): https://twitter.com/Voices4Vaccines/status/1390307528265789442 AAP statement on recommendations: https://www.aappublications.org/news/2021/05/12/cdc-aap-pfizer-covid-vaccine-teens-051221 If you listen to this podcast, consider donating to support it: https://www.voicesforvaccines.org/support/

When her firstborn was just a baby, Catie heard some frightening rumors about vaccines that made her stop immunizing completely (until she learned how wrong that rumor was). Erica, however, has always been a staunch vaccine advocate, but her relatives are vaccine refusers. Nathan and Karen talk to both Catie and Erica to learn what we can do to change the minds of the parents of the unvaccinated kids we love. This episode includes some of the latest research on the topic and updates on what is happening Around the Web concerning vaccines.

Vaccine buzz is buzzier lately, with a new, young advocate (Ethan Lindenberger) traveling to Washington, D.C. to testify about why he got vaccinated after his mother had refused to vaccinate him and with anti-vaccine activists trying to "inundate" the ACIP meeting at the CDC. We will tackle those topics and talk to three special guests about ACIP updates. L.J. Tan discusses with us the latest flu data, Lori Boyle talks about why nurses need to represent, and Amy Pisani talks HPV and PCV. Links from the episode: HELP testimony: https://www.help.senate.gov/hearings/vaccines-save-lives-what-is-driving-preventable-disease-outbreaks ACIP public comments: https://youtu.be/gynHFXsuYb4

What caused SARS-CoV-2? Are vaccine mandates necessary? Is COVID here to stay? How can we protect ourselves in this new world? These are just some of the questions Dr. Paul Offit tackles in his new book Tell Me When It's Over: An Insider's Guide to Deciphering Covid Myths and Navigating Our Post-Pandemic World (https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/739432/tell-me-when-its-over-by-paul-a-offit-md/). Join us for this lively conversation about his book and the latest vaccine news. Links from the podcast Alexadra Petri, Please Stop Vaccinating Your Children: https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/compost/wp/2015/01/22/please-stop-vaccinating-your-children-i-want-to-go-to-disneyland/ Man Receives 217 COVID vaccines: https://www.forbes.com/sites/victoriaforster/2024/03/05/man-receives-hundreds-of-covid-19-vaccines/?sh=48a4e6e9e819&emci=bffa6c44-a3db-ee11-85fb-002248223794&emdi=311938fe-c5db-ee11-85fb-002248223794&ceid=4108393 Bonus--Alexandra Petri interviews measles: https://wapo.st/49IR75G

In November, Nathan and Karen traveled to Bethesda, MD to record a live episode at NFID's Vaccinology Course. They discussed vaccine messaging with the good people there, and now, as a holiday treat, are sharing it with you. Watch for more great VAX TALK episodes in 2018, and support our mission at www.voicesforvaccines.org/support. This episode was made possible through the sponsorship of NFID. Learn more at nfid.org.

Each month, our Vax Ambassadors meet to learn something new about vaccines. This December, we came together to test the vaccine and vaccine-related knowledge of three good friends: Dr. Paul Offit, Dr. Dan Wilson from Debunk the Funk, and Heather Simpson from Back to the Vax. We also called on three of our Ambassadors to answer some questions, and the stakes could not have been lower! Listen in and find out who won! Links from the episode: Dr. Paul Offit: https://www.paul-offit.com/ Debunk the Funk: https://www.youtube.com/c/debunkthefunkwithdrwilson Back to the Vax: https://backtothevax.com/ Become a Vax Ambassador! https://www.voicesforvaccines.org/get-involved/

The HPV Vaccine seems to have a special place--not as a cancer-preventing tool but as something people sometimes fear. But when the science is clear that this vaccine is safe and needed, why do some refuse it? For answers, we talk to Dr. Noel Brewer, a health behavior expert and chair of the National HPV Roundtable. Links from the episode: Guardian Facebook article: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2019/jan/24/anti-vaxxers-spread-misinformation-on-social-media-report National HPV Vaccination Roundtable: http://hpvroundtable.org/

Statements made by HHS Secretary Price Sarah Despres from ECBT The AHCA and president's budget State legislative roundup Jinny Suh from Immunize Texas How you can make a difference

In this episode, Karen and Nathan discuss the latest measles outbreaks with Dr. Paul Offit. He takes us through how these outbreaks behave, what causes them, measles elimination, what measles is actually like, and how we can all work together to prevent future outbreaks. Links from the show: Marcia Brady: https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2019/04/28/717595757/brady-bunch-episode-fuels-campaigns-against-vaccines-and-marcia-s-miffed Bjarke Monsted: https://twitter.com/bjarkemoensted/status/1132851662136270848 New Maine law: http://time.com/5595862/maine-ends-exemptions-vaccinations/ VACCINES bill: https://schrier.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-schrier-introduces-bipartisan-bill-increase-immunizations-prevent-future Teen who traveled to Romania and brought back measles: https://www.wired.com/2009/10/ff-waronscience/

Science types hate predicting the future--and LJ Tan from immunize.org is no exception. So we invite him on to the podcast to discuss what we do know about the upcoming influenza season co-occurring with our long-enduring pandemic. And, of course, we talk about the vaccines for both. Links from the episode: Marcie's Legacy: https://mtyc.co/uiixzf "I Am So Tired" by Daniel Summers: https://www.arcdigital.media/p/i-am-so-tired Family Guy PSA: https://youtu.be/yJ0NgeMHOyQ

It’s also National Influenza Vaccination Week, which means it isn’t too late to get your flu shot. We invited Dr. Bill Schaffner (Vanderbilt) to discuss the difference between influenza and colds/tummy illnesses, this year’s flu season, the effectiveness of flu vaccines, and why your children are the most likely vectors of the flu. We also invited Serese Marotta (Families Fighting Flu) to discuss her family’s experience with H1N1 in 2009. Episode links: Donate: www.voicesforvaccines.org/donate Families Fighting Flu: www.familiesfightingflu.org Nathan's CDC webinar: https://youtu.be/HaOmFfJJac8 How deadly is measles?: http://www.unitypoint.org/blankchildrens/pedsgeekmd-article.aspx?id=babec96f-cf1e-4af1-b421-adfcb36ca561&Seriously%252c+How+Deadly+Is+Measles%253f+

In many ways, mRNA vaccines are a gamechanger, but not an unexpected one. For this episode, we talked to one of the scientists who has been pursuing mRNA vaccines for years: Melissa Moore, PhD. We discuss how mRNA vaccines have changed so much for us and what the future might hold. Find Dr. Moore's TED talk here: https://www.ted.com/talks/melissa_j_moore_how_mrna_medicine_will_change_the_world?language=en What vaccines are required for school entry in your state, and how it isn't influenza or probably HPV: https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/imz-managers/coverage/schoolvaxview/requirements/index.html Download the Voices for Vaccines app on your phone today! And go get a flu shot. And if she's still around, call your mom.

Last fall, NBC News journalist Brandy Zadrozny took a hike with Robert F Kennedy Jr and published her interview with him. She has written extensively about him and the anti-vaccine movement, so we felt like she was an important person to give us insights into this person whose star seems to be rising. Please note: We disagree with him. Do not listen to this episode expecting a glowing analysis of him. Links from the episode: Aaron Rodgers lost what from COVID: https://sports.yahoo.com/aaron-rodgers-tells-joe-rogan-041746931.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly90LmNvLw&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAHmVPgsCvhHBMwBUnNIX9IXuodF4TtpTG4c8ul-g2X5fZpQfrFmR1xLaLzX7u8jnlynRttbloWAPHaWmxSBLD5RIVS2DFLNFkN0oIGCnhCIHKywsitqK4BRffC48z8K3pZgZ49Czct7YIXV7iHJ8YdQDykcvq1YkaIiqf_hnqHSf COVID Diaries by HCWs: https://twitter.com/CovidintheChart/status/1756688472461766715 Scotland HPV study: https://www.statnews.com/2024/01/25/hpv-vaccine-prevent-cervical-cancer-cervarix-gardasil-study/#:~:text=A%20historic%20new%20study%20out,ages%20of%2012%20and%2013. ACIP vacancies: https://www.statnews.com/2024/02/08/acip-vacancies-hhs-vaccines/?emci=17fb6148-36c7-ee11-85f9-002248223794&emdi=aa988ab3-57c7-ee11-85f9-002248223794&ceid=4108393 Brandy takes a hike: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/rfk-jr-anti-vaccine-push-white-house-rcna89470

It's Cervical Cancer Awareness Month! In this episode, Nathan and Karen talk to Tamika Felder about her battle with HPV-caused cervical cancer and her organization, Cervivor. Links from this episode: http://cervivor.org/ Someone You Love: https://www.hpvepidemic.com/ Mother Jones article: http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2018/01/there-is-a-whole-cottage-industry-of-doctors-helping-parents-skip-their-kids-vaccines/ Leon's story: https://www.facebook.com/ltlyman/posts/10104570897037495?pnref=story A look at the HPV vaccine: http://www.chop.edu/centers-programs/vaccine-education-center/vaccine-details/human-papillomavirus

Few experts are as well-poised to answer questions about the pandemic we found ourselves in as Dr. Tara Smith--infectious disease epidemiologist who knows all about zoonotic transmission. But even with that expertise, we have found ourselves so divided that those closest to her do not necessarily trust the information she makes available to them. Join us for this conversation with Dr. Smith as we explore how we can get ourselves out of division over disease prevention and find ourselves again in a world where we care about each other. Before the interview, Nathan and Karen discuss COVID vaccination for the under 5 crew.

Often, when we scratch beneath the surface of someone who is anti-vaccine, we find conspiracy theories abound. We are also seeing them grow during the time of COVID. Why are anti-vaxxers prone to conspiratorial thinking and what can we do to turn people toward rational thought, instead? In this episode, Karen and Nathan discuss these very matters with Dr. Stephan Lewandowski, an expert on the matter from the University of Bristol. Want to be a guest on Vax Talk? Email us at info@voicesforvaccines.org and tell us why. Links from the episode: How Excited Should We Be About Coronavirus Vaccine Progress?: https://thehill.com/changing-america/well-being/prevention-cures/508340-how-excited-should-we-be-about-coronavirus The Conspiracy Singularity Has Arrived: https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/v7gz53/the-conspiracy-singularity-has-arrived? Conspiracy Theory Handbook: https://www.climatechangecommunication.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/ConspiracyTheoryHandbook.pdf Debunking Handbook: https://skepticalscience.com/docs/Debunking_Handbook.pdf

Karen and Nathan host Dr. Chad Hayes and Natalie Newell from the Parenthetical Science podcast for a rousing discussion about how parenting is harder than it needs to be and how people fall into the neverending woo rabbit hole. Links from the episode: Social media/HPV article: https://authors.elsevier.com/a/1WeU26gdZRcH6E Nathan's Needlephobia video: https://www.facebook.com/PedsGeekMD/videos/1460845477371119/ Parenthetical Science podcast: https://www.parentheticalscience.com/

Did you know that your baby receives her first vaccines before she is even born? In this episode, Nathan and Karen discuss maternal vaccines with Dr. Flor Munoz from Texas Children's. We cover a broad range of how, why, when, and where concerning an expectant mother's vaccines, and discuss what the future of maternal immunization holds.

Many people like the idea of highly immunized communities, but they aren't sure what they can do to solve the problems of vaccine refusal and hesitancy. We talk to Dr. Tara Smith about her ideas, which she outlines in a new article, "Vaccine Rejection and Hesitancy: A Review and Call to Action." Links from this episode: Seattle Mama Doc flu: http://seattlemamadoc.seattlechildrens.org/2017-flu-season/ Dr. Tara Smith's article: https://academic.oup.com/ofid/article/doi/10.1093/ofid/ofx146/3978712/Vaccine-rejection-and-hesitancy-a-review-and-call

Vaccine hesitancy can be exhausting for everyone involved. Those who are uncertain may feel badgered by well-meaning friends, and well-meaning friends may feel frustrated by combatting misinformation. But we know that the hesitant can become confident because our two guests have been there. Join this fun conversation about how we can all talk to each other, featuring Lydia Greene and Heather Simpson from Back to the Vax (https://backtothevax.com/) Don't forget to download our app to help you have those tough conversations: https://www.voicesforvaccines.org/resources/

A few months ago, Ethan Linenberger was just a teenager with a Reddit account. He used that account to find out how to get himself vaccinated, and now he is one of the youngest--and smartest--vaccine advocates around. We talked to him about vaccines, social media, and how teens can engage in this space. Find Ethan at his website to learn more about what he has done: https://www.adolescentadvocate.com/

The worst measles outbreak in Minnesota in 25 years, sparked by anti-vaccine misinformation, has us asking how officials handle outbreaks. We talk to Joe Kurland, Infection Preventionist at Children's Minnesota, and Minnesota Representative Mike Freiberg to get answers.

Nathan and Karen talk to Dr. Paul Offit--head of infectious diseases at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and all around good guy. Dr. Offit took the time to answer questions our listeners submitted online, covering topics from influenza to pertussis to advocacy.

Everyone knows Andrew Wakefield as the author of "that paper," but few know the full extent of his dealings in the anti-vaccine community. We talk to Ken Reibel and Matt Carey, two father of autistic children and active writers and autism advocates, to learn more. You might think you know about Wakefield, but there is so much to learn.

Karen recently attended a conference where one of her favorite vaccine champions, Dr. Michele Fiscus, medical director at the Association of Immunization Managers, asked her when she could come on the podcast to talk about minor consent laws. Karen did not wait long before inviting her to a conversation about that and so much more, including the politicization of vaccines and ways to heal our divide. Links from the podcast: The Kai takes on Dr. Mercola: https://rumble.com/v4z6pn0-why-nvic-is-no-longer-associated-with-dr.-joseph-mercola-by-barbara-loe-fis.html Dr. Tenpenny and the IRS: https://apnews.com/article/ohio-doctor-covid-vaccinations-sherri-tenpenny-f56376c4eecde7e7a81686e48b5a306c

A lot of misinformation and disinformation is circulating concerning COVID-19, and people are unsure how to talk to others about the pandemic. We invited journalist Tara Haelle to talk to us about how to get the best information to your family and friends. See Tara's Forbes site for more information: https://www.forbes.com/sites/tarahaelle/#2b7c80f3136d

In this episode, we cover so much COVID-19 information that it may break the podcastosphere. Want to know about Delta? Talked about it. Kids in school? Check. Surges? Yep. And third doses? Oh boy, did we talk about that. With Dr. Paul Offit, everyone's favorite pediatric infectious disease doctor from the Vaccine Education Center at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

With the pandemic bringing a bright spotlight on vaccine hesitancy, people are under the impression that confidence varies by race and background. Why would that be, and how is it related to health equity? And what is health equity anyhow? We invited University of Minnesota School of Medicine professor and health equity expert Dr. Nate Chomilo to our podcast to ask him all the questions about health equity we could think of and to drill down about vaccine equity, as well. Links from show: Summer 2021 shirt: https://dissentpins.com/collections/vaccine-collection/products/summer-2021-brought-to-you-by-vaccines-t-shirt Myocarditis: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/safety/myocarditis.html Check out our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/vfvcommunitychampions

In this special NIIW mini-episode, Karen talks to a different Dr. Nathan (Dr. Chomilo) about the 25th anniversary of National Infant Immunization Rates and how the reasons for not vaccinating have changed over the years. They also discuss current measles outbreaks. Links/sources from the episode: What is NIIW? https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/events/niiw/overview.html StarTribune editorial: http://www.startribune.com/minnesota-s-disgraceful-do-nothing-session-on-measles-vaccine/508972482/ 695 measles cases: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/24/health/measles-outbreaks-us.html 1989-1991 measles outbreak: https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/00017268.htm

It's been more than a decade since a U.S. court, in an omnibus proceeding, found that vaccines do not cause autism, but that finding has sparked a new conspiracy theory, thanks in part to Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. We invited vaccine law expert Dr. Dorit Reiss to our show to discuss with her how this new conspiracy theory does not hold up to scrutiny.

COVID, always up to something, has spun out a new variant: Omicron. There are so many unknowns, and so much anxiety caused by the unknown, that we invited Dr. Katelyn Jetelina (a.k.a. Your Local Epidemiologist) to help us get our facts straight. Links from the show: Myocarditis and COVID: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/the-real-risk-of-heart-inflammation-to-kids-is-from-covid-19not-the-vaccine Magic Dirt: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/magic-dirt-internet-fueled-defeated-pandemics-weirdest-mlm-rcna6950

It's here! The COVID-19 vaccine is going into people's arms as you read the letters in these show notes. Everyone we know has said, "If Paul Offit says it's safe to get the vaccine, I will get it." So we had him on our podcast and asked him that and so much more. Also, check out Tara Haelle's piece answering any COVID-19 vaccine question you could possible ask: https://elemental.medium.com/every-covid-19-vaccine-question-youll-ever-have-answered-9a0eeb334ded

Because vaccines work better when we are all vaccinated, vaccine equity isn't about justice alone. It is also crucial to public health. Enter Julissa Soto, MPH. Fresh off her work with other forms of health equity, she has come onto the scene in Colorado to make sure Latino communities can get vaccinated and feel confident doing so through her Vaccine Sundays program. This episode is about so much more than that, though. Julissa is an inspiring woman whose life has been an amazing journey. You do not want to miss this episode! Links from the episode: The Real Truther--https://twitter.com/thereal_truther Vaccine Sundays article--https://publichealthrs.org/a038/ How to host a vaccine clinic---https://drive.google.com/file/d/1xYolt5mR-zuOFGXBnBuLKZ9AcN5TeYCw/view

The anti-vaccine movement is as old as vaccines, but it has been evolving recently to new leaders who emphasize the autism disinformation campaign less and their own big media empires more. We invited Vaccinate Your Family's Erica DeWald to our podcast to discuss where the modern anti-vaccine movement came from and where they are going. Links from the podcast: COVID vaccine effectiveness: https://www.statnews.com/2020/11/09/covid-19-vaccine-from-pfizer-and-biontech-is-strongly-effective-early-data-from-large-trial-indicate/ HPV vaccine and throat cancer: https://www.statnews.com/2020/06/12/fda-approves-gardasil-9-the-hpv-vaccine-to-prevent-head-and-neck-cancer/ VFV's MightyCause campaign: https://www.mightycause.com/organization/Voices-For-Vaccines?mode=edit

Parents have a lot of questions about COVID vaccines and their kids, so we invited those parents to a Zoom chat with nationally-known expert and pediatric nurse practitioner, Patsy Stinchfield. They got a chance to ask their questions, and we all got answers. We begin with a discussion between Nathan and Karen on Dr. Peter Hotez and saving the world through equitable, accessible, and affordable vaccination. See article: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/a-covid-vaccine-for-all/

While the world is consumed with justifiable fears of COVID-19, measles, polio, and even diphtheria are finding pathways to resurgence. What is going on with those routine childhood vaccines? Are they really important right now? Karen and Nathan discuss this critical topic and what you can do to make sure we are preventing multiple health crises at once. Remember: we rely on each other. Links from the show: SIDS rates: https://vaxopedia.org/2020/06/22/has-sids-decreased-during-the-covid-19-pandemic/ Influenza vaccine hesitancy: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/06/200615092740.htm Slowing Coronavirus is Speeding Spread of Other Diseases: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/14/health/coronavirus-vaccines-measles.html Anti-vaxxers spread fear over future coronavirus vaccine: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/29/anti-vaxxers-fight-against-coronavirus

Few people have studied internet disinformation for longer or in more depth than NBC's Brandy Zadrozny, so we invited her to swing by and talk to us about vaccine disinformation. A must-listen podcast if you are interested in how people are subjected to the onslaught of incorrect vaccine information online that leads them to make poor health decisions. Links from episode: Fundraiser: https://acommunitythrives.mightycause.com/organization/Voices-For-Vaccines Dance Parties: https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/anti-vaccine-groups-changing-dance-parties-facebook-avoid-detection-rcna1480

In this episode, hosts Karen Ernst and Dr. Nathan Boonstra break down the biggest vaccine headlines, from the alarming measles outbreak in Texas to the severity of this year’s flu season and the emerging threat of H5N1 bird flu. Special guest Dr. Joe Bresee from the Task Force for Global Health shares expert insights on pandemic preparedness, vaccine innovation, and global immunization efforts. He explains why bird flu is spreading among mammals, the risks of human-to-human transmission, and how surveillance is critical to preventing a future pandemic. The episode also unpacks how avian flu could impact flu vaccine production, given that most vaccines still rely on chicken eggs, and why mRNA technology may be the future of flu prevention. Finally, the hosts dive into the fight against vaccine misinformation and hesitancy, exploring how behavioral science plays a key role in boosting vaccine confidence. If you're interested in public health, disease prevention, and the future of vaccines, this is the episode you don’t want to miss! Links from the episode: - Ed Nirenberg’s in-depth analysis of vitamin A and measles: https://deplatformdisease.substack.com/p/vitamin-a-and-measles-it-doesnt-replace - Task Force for Global Health’s PIVI Program: www.pivipartners.org - Washington Post article: "Amid West Texas Measles Outbreak, Vaccine Resistance Hardens": https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/03/02/measles-outbreak-texas-vaccine-hesitancy-death/ - New York Times opinion piece: "The COVID Alarmists Were Closer to the Truth Than Anyone Else" by David Wallace-Wells : https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/26/opinion/covid-fifth-anniversary.html?unlocked_article_code=1.z04.IB3N.NLwgltyEef-S

Please support this episode by being a donor: https://www.voicesforvaccines.org/donate/ For the first time in 25 years, a child in Gaza has come down with a case of paralytic polio. This situation was serious enough to produce a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas to deliver vaccines to hundreds of thousands of children. But why is one case of polio so serious? And how do you deliver vaccines to a region in a warzone? We talked to Dr. Fabien Diamonde, Director of the Polio Eradication Surge Capacity Team at the Task Force for Global Health. Dr. Diamonde has been in similar situations in his career, and walks us through the intricacies and necessities of stopping polio in its tracks no matter where it is. Links from this episode. Florida's Surgeon General is wrong again: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/florida-new-covid-booster-guidance-misinformation-ladapo/ Flu's Clues online game: https://www.familiesfightingflu.org/flus-clues-game/ RFK Jr.s whale head episode: https://apnews.com/article/rfk-jr-kennedy-whale-investigation-09c494d8164c6f9bde9ece39637ea4d3