The anti-vaccine movement is as old as vaccines, but the modern movement began with concerns about the whole-cell pertussis vaccine and seizures. It famously later morphed into the primary purveyor of disinformation related to autism. Lately, however, the anti-vaccine movement more like a media empire and looks more like male-driven operation. How did they get […]
Have you heard that children who breastfeed don’t really need the flu shot? Or that good nutrition and immune support (elderberry, vitamin C, etc.) provide better protection than the vaccine? That, for healthy people, is the flu shot riskier than the flu? Then this story might be interesting to you. I was still breastfeeding my two-year-old […]
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 […]
As we all wrap up National Immunization Awareness Month, Karen talks to loyal listener Amy about her son’s organ transplant 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 […]
A couple of years ago I was waiting in a clinic to see my physician for a normal well check. When a nurse I had never met came in to check my vitals, she started with small talk. “How are you doing today?” she asked. Instead of mentioning the weather or the big game by […]
The importance of continued routine vaccination is critical to ensuring we protect ourselves, our families and our communities. This year more than ever it is critical that everyone who can get a flu shot, get one as hospitals, clinics and doctor’s offices will still be stretched caring for COVID-19 patients. As the nation anxiously waits […]
With my first child, I chose to delay and selectively vaccinate. I considered myself reasonably well-informed, and saw this as a way to mitigate perceived risks. However, when my daughter turned one, still behind on her jabs, I wavered on vaccinating her at all and eventually decided not to continue her immunizations, even on the […]
I was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease when I was 9 years old. I receive IV infusions of a Crohn’s medication at the hospital every 8 weeks. My Crohn’s medicine keeps my disease in remission, but the other effect is lowering my immune system. Because my immune system is lowered, I rely on other people to […]
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 […]
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 […]