Infectious Dose

Heather gives updates on 2025 measles outbreaks in every region of the world and discusses global efforts to curb them. She also debunks the deadly lies about measles from RFK Jr. in her fan favorite segment WTF-RFK! and answers listener questions in her new segment Hot Zone Hotline. 

Explicit rating is for mild and limited profanity because, I mean, RFK. 

This episode was updated in March 2026 to include a brief note acknowledging why vaccine decisions feel uniquely weighted during pregnancy — and why that instinct, while completely understandable, doesn't mean that caution and vaccination are in conflict.

Are vaccines safe during pregnancy—and why are they recommended?

In this episode, Heather explains how maternal immunization works, why certain vaccines are given during pregnancy, and how they protect both mother and baby. She walks through what the immune system is doing during this time, how antibodies are passed to the fetus, and what research shows about safety.

She also addresses common concerns and misconceptions, and explains why vaccination during pregnancy is one of the most effective ways to protect newborns in their earliest, most vulnerable weeks of life.

All citations at Infectiousdose.com

Invasive meningococcal disease strikes fast—and often without warning—especially in close-contact environments like college dorms and military barracks. While it’s rare, the consequences can be devastating: death within hours, or lifelong complications like limb loss and brain damage. In this episode Heather explains all about how Neisseria meningitidis, a bacterium that many carry unknowingly, transforms from harmless passenger to lethal invader. With rising case numbers and low vaccine uptake, especially for serogroup B, understanding the risks and protections has never been more urgent.

In the 5th episode in her vaccine safety series, Heather gives straightforward, science-based answers to some of the most common questions about what’s in vaccines including an in-depth look at what's in several specific vaccines and the truth debunking false claims you've seen recently in the media. 

Anthrax is one of the oldest infectious diseases known to science. Its ability to survive harsh environments and reemerge as a deadly pathogen centuries later is a biological marvel—and a global health concern. Heather covers all you want to know about anthrax from its formidable spore structure and use as a bioweapon, to its recent outbreaks and potential to transform cancer therapy. 

This episode was updated in March 2026 to include analysis of why the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program is so easily misrepresented — because explaining what the court is isn't enough if we don't also explain why its structure makes it such an effective target for misinformation.

What is the “vaccine court”—and what does it actually do?

In this episode, Heather breaks down the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP), why it was created, and how it’s often misunderstood. She explains how the system evaluates claims, what standards of evidence are used, and why decisions from this court are frequently misrepresented as proof that vaccines are unsafe.

If you’ve heard that “the courts have ruled vaccines cause harm,” this episode provides the context needed to understand what those rulings really mean—and what they don’t.

All citations at Infectiousdose.com

Is bird flu’s resurgence a warning sign worth heeding? Heather digs into the science, the stakes, and what this latest avian alarm could mean for global health.

Explicit rating for mild, limited profanity.

This episode was updated in March 2026 to include a brief note acknowledging why the childhood vaccine schedule looks alarming at first glance — and why that instinct, while completely human, doesn't reflect how the immune system actually works. 

Heather breaks down one of the most common concerns parents have about vaccines: the childhood schedule. Why are so many given so early? Is it too much for a baby’s immune system?

In this episode, she walks through how the immune system actually works, why modern vaccines are designed the way they are, and what decades of research show about safety. She also explains why delaying or spacing out vaccines can leave children vulnerable when they need protection the most.

If you’ve ever looked at the schedule and felt overwhelmed, this episode will help you understand what’s really going on beneath the surface.

Infectiousdose.com

Heather delivers the scoop on the disease caused by measles, including symptoms, transmission, prevention, treatment, what's in the very safe vaccines, and dangerous complications and long-term health problems of natural infection. Marked explicit for possible limited, mild profanity.

This episode was updated in March 2026 to include analysis of the institutional failures that allowed one fraudulent paper to reshape global vaccine trust — because individual villainy alone doesn't explain how this much damage was done, or how to prevent it from happening again.

In this vaccine safety episode, Heather describes how Andrew Wakefield's fraudulent science cost the world the elimination of measles and hurt children. With evidence to back it up, she goes into detail on what he did and how he still manipulates parents fears to make money. Marked explicit for limited and mild profanity.

All citations linked in the blog post at infectiousdose.com