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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