“Can a single vaccine (BCG) on the first day of life protect against many unrelated infections?” Expert Guests: Professor Tobias Kollmann and Assistant Professor Nelly Amenyogbe

What about if you could give your baby a vaccine on day 1 of life and it would protect against many infections. This sounds almost like a miracle or fantasy that a single vaccine could protect against many unrelated infections. This episode looks at the BCG vaccine and how it offers young babies more than just protection against tuberculosis. This episode will transform your understanding of how vaccines work, the potential for future developments, and a tiny intro into why your baby's immunity is so special. Experts have been slow to embrace this phenomenon of the broad effects of vaccines because of dogma about how the immune system works. Some other scientists have criticised the evidence as being too weak.  But things are changing and we are thrilled to discuss it with our guests who not only will help share some of the history on how the knowledge of this came about but what their work has done for the field in pushing forward our understanding on the baby’s immune system and how this vaccine effect might work. 

Dr Eliz Kilich, with co‑host Dr Lydia Yarlott, are joined today by Professor Tobias Kollmann and Assistant Professor Nelly Amenyogbe to explore this topic and what it means to get the BCG vaccine on day 1 of life.  Prof. Kollmann completed his MD and PhD at the Albert of Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx NY, followed by a residency in pediatrics and fellowship in infectious diseases at the University of Washington, Seattle, WA with Prof. Chris Wilson. He then served as Division Head for Pediatric Infectious Diseases at the University of British Columbia, BC Children’s Hospital before taking on the Director’s position of Systems Vaccinology at Telethon Kids Institute in Perth, Australia. He currently is Prof. of Microbiology & Immunology as well as Pediatric Infectious Diseases at Dalhousie University in Halifax, NS, Canada. Tobi is the CEO of the Born Strong Initiative (https://www.born-strong.org/), a global network of experts working to reduce adverse pregnancy outcomes. His expertise centers around immune ontogeny as well as maternal and early life vaccine responses employing cutting edge technology and analytics to extract the most information out of the small biological samples obtainable.

Further Reading:

- The Scientist: How some vaccines protect more than against their target

Tobias R. Kollmann et al. Vaccination strategies to enhance immunity in neonates.Science 368,612-615(2020).DOI:10.1126/science.aaz9447

Direct Iink: https://science.sciencemag.org/content/368/6491/612.abstract

In today’s episode, we take on a challenging and timely topic: public trust in health communication, especially when high-profile figures make statements that conflict with established scientific evidence. Recent comments from Robert F. Kennedy Jr., now serving as U.S. Health Secretary, have generated widespread public confusion, with reactions from British scientists, global health agencies, and clinicians offering sharply contrasting views.

Dr Eliz Kilich and, Dr. Lydia Yarlott, unpack four of the most debated claims—carefully, calmly, and from a British medical perspective:

“Thimerosal should be banned from ALL influenza vaccines to protect children and pregnant women.”

“Paracetamol in pregnancy caused the autism epidemic.”

“COVID-19 vaccines are no longer recommended for healthy children and pregnant women.”

“VAERS and existing vaccine safety systems don’t work.”

Ep 25. “No Longer Recommended?” The Politics, Science, And Stakes Of COVID19 Vaccination In Pregnancy In 2025. 

In this episode of Cocooned Health, Dr. Lydia Yarlott and Dr. Eliz Kilich sit down with infectious disease expert Dr. Flor Muñoz to explore the real-world evidence behind this decision — and why maternal vaccination may still play a vital role in protecting newborns.

We unpack:

Ep 24. Paracetamol in Pregnancy: Panic or Proof? Expert Guest: Professor Dimitri Siassakos

In this episode of Cocooned Health, Dr Eliz Kilich and Dr Lydia Yarlott are joined by Professor Dimitrios Siassakos, a leading researcher in maternal-fetal medicine at UCL, to unpack the controversy surrounding paracetamol (acetaminophen) use in pregnancy.

A new review published in Environmental Health has reignited debate by examining possible associations between paracetamol use and conditions such as autism and ADHD in children. U.S. President Donald Trump claimed paracetamol “is no good” for pregnant persons, sparking widespread concern online.

Together, we explore:

Disclaimer: Remember we are sharing our opinions and medical knowledge, and not associated with our affiliations. Note that knowledge evolves over time. Note that this is not direct medical advice as we are not your personal doctors however feel free to share any ideas expressed with your own healthcare professional as needed. This episode is unsponsored and received no financial incentive. 

Ep. 23. Pregnancy & Travel in Latin America: Mosquito Risks, Repellent Safety, and Vaccines with Dr. Laila Woc-Colburn

Travel during pregnancy can be both exciting and daunting—especially in Latin America, where mosquito-borne infections and vaccine questions add extra layers of caution. Infectious-diseases specialist Dr. Laila Eugenia Woc-Colburn (Emory University) https://med.emory.edu/directory/profile/?u=LWOCCOL joins Cocooned Health to share the latest science and practical steps for staying safe. From Zika and dengue to repellents, vaccines, and coastal risks, we break down what every pregnant traveller and family should know.

What we cover

Ep. 23. Pregnancy & Travel in Latin America: Mosquito Risks, Repellent Safety, and Vaccines with Dr. Laila Woc-Colburn

Travel during pregnancy can be both exciting and daunting—especially in Latin America, where mosquito-borne infections and vaccine questions add extra layers of caution. Infectious-diseases specialist Dr. Laila Eugenia Woc-Colburn (Emory University) https://med.emory.edu/directory/profile/?u=LWOCCOL joins Cocooned Health to share the latest science and practical steps for staying safe. From Zika and dengue to repellents, vaccines, and coastal risks, we break down what every pregnant traveller and family should know.

What we cover

Episode 22: Do all fevers in kids need bringing down? Science, exceptions and the myths of fever in children.

It’s one of the most common worries for parents — and one of the most misunderstood. We discuss fever myths and more providing clarity and discussion

In this episode of Cocooned Health, Dr Eliz Kilich & Dr Lydia Yarlott tackle the biggest fever myths in children:

As we discuss in the episode: Note children > 1 year can tolerate fevers much more than adults and thus the fever number itself becomes less concerning than other features. In adults the normal fever ranges tends to be 37.8 -39.4 (103°F) whereas in OLDER children (over one year) this is a little higher 38 - 39.8. Note this is not a hard and fast rule and the most important feature tends to be other symptoms.

KEY EXCEPTIONS where the NUMBER MATTERS:

We unpack why other symptoms with fever tell you more than just the fever itself. 

💡 We’ll unpack what’s fact, what’s fiction, and what really matters when your child spikes a temperature.

🎧 Subscribe so as not to miss a new episode 

✨ Don’t miss this myth-busting chat that could save you a lot of late-night worry! Listen Now. And DM us on Instagram any queries and feedback

Disclaimer: Remember we are sharing our opinions and medical knowledge, and not associated with our affiliations. Note that knowledge evolves over time. Note that this is not direct medical advice as we are not your personal doctors however feel free to share any ideas expressed with your own healthcare professional as needed. This episode is unsponsored and received no financial incentive. 

Ep 21. "My child has a fever - What do I do?" From Newborn to Teenager. Expert Guest: Dr Seilesh Kadambari  

Today our episode is a crucial one for all parents - it is a focus on fever in children with a focus on how fever differs based on the AGE of your child - from newborn to teenager. 

At Cocooned Health we often focus on the advice around vaccines, food and immune health, how to protect against common and rare, but serious, infections and today we dive into the commonly asked question - my child has a fever - what should I do? As co-hosts Dr Lydia Yarlott and Dr Eliz Kilich we have great privilege to welcome our special guest: Dr Seilesh Kadambari who is a consultant in paediatric infectious diseases and an Honorary Associate Professor at UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health known as GOSH. We will discuss today: understanding fever in children of different ages, the myths, when to seek medical attention, the science behind a fever with vaccinations along with insight into how specialists think about fever in your child and the evidence that supports it. 

Ep 21. "My child has a fever—what should I do?" Expert Guest: Dr Seilesh Kadambari

In this episode of Cocooned Health, co-hosts Dr Lydia Yarlott and Dr Eliz Kilich are joined by Dr Seilesh Kadambari, consultant in paediatric infectious diseases and Honorary Associate Professor at UCL’s Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health.

Together, they explore one of the most common concerns for parents: "My child has a fever—what should I do?"

From understanding what a fever actually is and how it differs across age groups, to the science behind fevers, myths, and when to seek medical help, this episode breaks down everything you need to know. The conversation covers:

Common and serious causes of fever in children

How to tell viral from bacterial infections

What symptoms doctors look for (including rashes, joint pain, and travel history)

Fever after vaccinations

Managing fever at home safely

When prolonged fever might signal something more rare or serious

Dr Kadambari also shares insights from his own clinical experience and research, including his work on prolonged fever, COVID-19 in children, and viral infections.

A must-listen for any parent or caregiver looking to understand how doctors think about fever—and how to navigate it with confidence.

In this episode of Cocooned Health, co-hosts Dr Lydia Yarlott and Dr Eliz Kilich are joined by Dr Seilesh Kadambari, consultant in paediatric infectious diseases and Honorary Associate Professor at UCL’s Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health.

Together, they explore one of the most common concerns for parents: "My child has a fever—what should I do?"

From understanding what a fever actually is and how it differs across age groups, to the science behind fevers, myths, and when to seek medical help, this episode breaks down everything you need to know. The conversation covers:

Common and serious causes of fever in children

How to tell viral from bacterial infections

What symptoms doctors look for (including rashes, joint pain, and travel history)

Fever after vaccinations

Managing fever at home safely

When prolonged fever might signal something more rare or serious

Dr Kadambari also shares insights from his own clinical experience and research, including his work on prolonged fever, COVID-19 in children, and viral infections.

A must-listen for any parent or caregiver looking to understand how doctors think about fever—and how to navigate it with confidence.