How Pandemics End (with John Barry and Jeffrey Kluger)

Dr. Bob calls up author John Barry and TIME Magazine’s Jeffrey Kluger to talk about what the 1918 flu pandemic and the American polio epidemic can illuminate about COVID-19. In addition to the historical similarities and differences, they discuss what “the end” looked like and what, if anything, that means for us today. Plus, find out which of the three men was a Polio Pioneer! And get Dr. Bob’s take on the joint CDC and FDA decision to pause use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

Follow Dr. Bob on Twitter @Bob_Wachter and check out In the Bubble’s Twitter account @inthebubblepod.

Find Jeffrey Kluger @jeffreykluger and John Barry @johnmbarry on Twitter. 

Keep up with Andy in D.C. on Twitter @ASlavitt and Instagram @andyslavitt. 

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Check out these resources from today’s episode: 

Read the joint CDC and FDA statement in which the agencies recommend pausing use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine: https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2021/s0413-JJ-vaccine.html

Watch the news clip from April 12, 1955 about Jonas Salk’s polio vaccine: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2LlDn_MQDkc

Check out John’s book, The Great Influenza, here: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/288950/the-great-influenza-by-john-m-barry/

Here’s where you can learn more about Jeff’s book, Splendid Solution: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/291641/splendid-solution-by-jeffrey-kluger/

Learn more about Dr. Bob Wachter and the UCSF Department of Medicine here: https://medicine.ucsf.edu/ 

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