Episode 48: A Conversation with Dr. Anil Dutta, Immunization Expert and Pediatrician

UPDATE: As of mid September PA health officials say a third person has died of measles - a 40 year old, unvaccinated woman. We are all about vaccines in this episode. And appropriately. Summer already seems a distant dream; the kids are back at school and the signs reminding us to get our seasonal flu and Covid shots are everywhere. Along with the continuing battle in the US over all vaccines. But especially over the measles and other childhood vaccines. During the summer the number of measles cases continued to grow here, with over 31 hundred confirmed as I recorded this episode in early September. It’s tempting to blame the controversy over vaccines on Covid or MAHA Moms or their one-time leader and now US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. But actually, vaccines have been controversial ever since Edward Jenner introduced the first cowpox-based, smallpox vaccine in 1796. I’m told medical students are often shown this 1802 satirical engraving by the famous British caricaturist James Gillray. As an example of how far back people have feared and fought over vaccines. So. We have the perfect guest to discuss the immeasurable contribution of vaccines to health and to life itself. Dr. Anil Dutta got his medical degrees in India and France and was a practicing pediatrician for almost a decade - before moving into vaccine manufacturing. Dr. Dutta  headed the Medical Department of Sanofi Pasteur International in Lyon, France – with responsibility for all international clinical and epidemiological studies. He later worked to strengthen immunization programs worldwide. In 2009 Dr. Dutta joined GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals as Vice President and Head of Clinical Research and Development, and Medical Affairs. He has authored or co-authored 65 scientific publications and book chapters and has presented over 300 papers at medical conferences. Currently, Dr. Dutta is building support for vaccinations through his own venture –  Vac-Science. Dr. Dutta is based in Belgium. And as usual on this pod – we use first names. YouTube Episode 48 link: https://youtu.be/dVbPaqMbS9M YouTube Channel Link: @conversationsonhealthhowwe482