PODCAST · health
Vax Talk
by Voices for Vaccines
Vax Talk is the podcast for people who want to do something about outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases and who understand that knowledge is power. We will discuss the latest news about vaccines and the impact they have on our communities, our families, and our friendships.
Episodes
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Ep. 82: Measles, Bird Flu, and RSV--Oh My!
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...
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Ep. 81: Vaccines Are Required for School
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…
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Ep. 80: Mpox with Dr. Kuppalli
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…
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Ep. 79: Polio in Gaza
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…
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Ep. 78: Dr. Fiscus, the Queen of Vaccine
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...
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Ep. 77: Patsy Stinchfield Tells Us Why We Should Care About Measles
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…
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Ep. 76: Tell Paul Offit When It's Over
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...
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Ep. 75: Brandy Zadrozny hikes with RFK Jr.
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...
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Ep. 74: Vax Ambassador Game Night
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…
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Ep. 73: Shot in the Arm
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...
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Ep. 72: Vaccine Communication Breakdown
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!...
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Ep. 71: The Real Truth About Vaccines
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...
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Ep. 70: Dr. Howard Fights the Forces that Want to Infect You
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....
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Ep. 69: Anti-Vaxxers are Litigious
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....
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Ep. 68: Vaccines Year in Review
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:...
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Ep. 67: Vaccine Sundays and Equity
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...
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Ep. 66: The Future of mRNA Vaccines
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.…
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Ep. 65: Dr. Offit's Take on Aluminum
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:...
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Ep 64: Polio Makes a Terrible Return
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…
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Ep. 63: It's Not COVID
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…
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Ep. 62: Getting Back to the Vax
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...
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Ep. 61: SAFE Vaccine Legislation
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....
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Ep. 60: Your Vaccine Refusing Family
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...
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Ep 59: Kids and COVID-19 Vaccines
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...
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Ep. 58: Omicron with Your Local Epidemiologist
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:...
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Ep. 57: Social Media and Vaccine Misinformation
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…
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Ep. 56: Now That We've Got COVID What is Flu Gonna Do?
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…
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Ep. 55: This Podcast is Fully Approved (w/ Paul Offit)
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...
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Ep. 54: What is Disinformation? (w/ Brandy Zadrozny)
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...
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Ep. 53: Health Equity with Dr. Nate Chomilo
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...
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Ep. 52: Kids and COVID-19 Vaccines
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…
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Ep. 51: Chelsea Clinton on Vaccines and Global Health
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:...
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Ep. 50: Switching Sides on Vaccines
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…
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Ep. 49: The Other Dr. Sears on Vaccines
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…
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Ep 48: Dr. Plotkin on COVID-19 Vaccines and the Path Forward
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...
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Ep. 47: Dr. Paul Offit on the COVID-19 vaccine
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…
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Ep. 46 Tracking the Anti-Vaccine Movement
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...
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Ep. 45: Vaccinate the Heartland
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...
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Ep. 44: I Fought the (Anti-Vaccine) Law
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...
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Ep. 43: Can I quote you on vaccines? NIAM extravaganza
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…
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Ep. 42: The Big Conspiracy
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...
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Ep. 41: Can We Get Back to Routine Vaccines? Please?
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...
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Ep 40: COVID19 vaccines with Dr. Stanley Plotkin
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…
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Ep 39: How to Talk COVID19
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...
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Ep 38: Coronavirus and the Cervaza for Disease Control
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...
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Ep. 37: HPV Vaccine Champion Border Battle
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…
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Ep 36: Madi's Influenza Story
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...
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BONUS: Giving Tuesday (Vaccines)
Thank you for being a Vax Talk listener. Support this podcast by becoming a Voices for Vaccines donor at www.voicesforvaccines.org/support.
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Ep. 35: Alternative Schedules w/ Dr. Offit
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...
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Ep. 34: Vaccine Hesitancy (from Seattle)
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...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Vax Talk is the podcast for people who want to do something about outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases and who understand that knowledge is power. We will discuss the latest news about vaccines and the impact they have on our communities, our families, and our friendships.
HOSTED BY
Voices for Vaccines
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Vax Talk have?
Vax Talk currently has 93 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Vax Talk about?
Vax Talk is the podcast for people who want to do something about outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases and who understand that knowledge is power. We will discuss the latest news about vaccines and the impact they have on our communities, our families, and our friendships.
How often does Vax Talk release new episodes?
Vax Talk has 93 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Vax Talk?
You can listen to Vax Talk on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Vax Talk?
Vax Talk is created and hosted by Voices for Vaccines.
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