Vax Talk

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

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/

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

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/

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

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.

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/

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.

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/

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/

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

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.

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/

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 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

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

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.

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

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

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/

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!

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

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

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

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

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

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/

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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/

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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/

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.

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

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

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/

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

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/

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

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.

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/