The Antigen

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is a common virus that causes respiratory illness. For many people, RSV can be mild and presents symptoms similar to the common cold. But for certain groups, RSV can be serious, especially for babies 0 through 6 months old. In this bonus episode of The Antigen, Board-certified pediatrician Dr. Mona Amin explains the dangers of RSV in babies. Mom, reality television star, and businesswoman Catherine Guidici Lowe also joins the podcast to talk about her experience with her son contracting the virus. 

Protection from serious infant illnesses isn’t enough. Helping prevent the disease from happening altogether is the goal of physician-scientists, like Dr. Bill Gruber. As the Senior Vice President of Pfizer Vaccine Clinical Research and Development, Bill explains how maternal vaccinations are developed, the inequities in this process, and the importance of clinical trial participants. This final episode concludes with the real life-changing impact of maternal immunization.

Special thanks to the maternal immunization team at Pfizer. The Antigen is produced by Wonder Media Network.

What stands in the way of pregnant people getting vaccination shots? Part two of our maternal immunization mini-series answers this question and more. Host Kari Yacisin talks with Dr. Fauzia Malik, an associate research scientist at the Yale School of Public Health, about the barriers to widespread maternal immunization and the solutions to those challenges. We’re covering everything from the truth about vaccine hesitancy, the role of healthcare providers, and who and where we can look to for guidance as we work to increase uptake.

Special thanks to the maternal immunization team at Pfizer and the production team at Wonder Media Network.

In the first episode of this three-part series, host Kari Yacisin introduces us to the world of maternal immunization. Vaccinations for pregnant people are not new, but they have historically been left out of the vaccine narrative. With the help of expert Beate Kampmann, pediatric infectious disease specialist, Kari walks us through the importance of maternal immunization, its history, and what it really means to transfer protection from mother to child.

Special thanks to the maternal immunization team at Pfizer and the production team at Wonder Media Network.

The Antigen returns with a three-part mini-series spotlighting maternal immunization. When it comes to vaccine development, there is a shifting paradigm – help protect pregnant women and their infants through research rather than from research. As maternal immunization is advancing vaccine science and innovation, this series delves into the history of maternal immunization, the potential benefits of boosting infant immunity, and the role of maternal antibodies in helping protect infants. We’ll also explore the challenges of maternal immunization and what the future holds. Listeners will hear from three experts who are making significant contributions to the field.

This season of The Antigen is hosted by Kari Yacisin, MD. She is an infectious disease physician and the U.S. Medical Pipeline Vaccines Lead at Pfizer. Tune in on November 15th to listen to our first episode, available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Play, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Listen to the full series now: https://link.chtbl.com/cnFjTmu8

Science Will Win explores the fascinating science, policy, and humanity which is shaping the future of healthcare with the potential to transform patients’ lives for the better. 

Hosted by Adam Rutherford, geneticist and Honorary Fellow at University College London, our first miniseries takes listeners on a journey behind the science of gene therapy; the next generation of medicines bringing new possibilities for patients living with rare genetic diseases. 

At a time when innovative science is achieving the seemingly impossible, we’ll look at gene therapy from every angle, speaking to scientists and experts on the forefront of medical research, as well as the patients and families who are holding new hope in the life-changing potential of gene therapy. 

In the last episode of The Antigen’s #COVID19 mini-series, we examine the teamwork & collaboration across communities in the fight against coronavirus. How are companies working together to develop potential vaccines for COVID-19? How has the global health community at large been helpful in responding to the pandemic?

Host Lindsey Dietschi speaks with two guests — Elsie Soto, Vice President of Emerging Markets for Pfizer’s Global Supply & Dr. Frank Mahoney, Senior Immunization Officer at the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).

For the latest updates, visit pfizer.com/coronavirus.

What does finding a vaccine actually look like? Who’s involved? Last season on The Antigen we outlined the many steps it takes for a vaccine to go from discovery to distribution, in this episode we ask if that process can safely accelerate for COVID-19. We’ll also wrap up with the latest headlines on Pfizer's response to the crisis.

Host Lindsey Dietschi speaks with Phil Dormitzer, Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer of Viral Vaccines at Pfizer.

Episode references:

• Pfizer Partners with Direct Relief to Provide Critical COVID-19 Supplies to Hospitals
• Pfizer, BioNTech to ramp up COVID-19 vaccine tests, plot major trial boost in fall

In this episode, we talk about what public health experts are focused on now to help minimize the impact of COVID-19. We’ll cover how routine health programs are being impacted and what is being done to plan for recovery. And we’ll discuss what we can do now that's working & what we can improve. 

Host Lindsey Dietschi speaks with Shanelle Hall, Founder Member of The Yellow House & AI Advisory Council Member for the World Economic Forum. Prior to her current roles, she worked at UNICEF for over 20 years, most recently as the Assistant Secretary General.

Episode references:

• All Hands on Deck as Scientists Revive SARS Protease Inhibitor to Attempt to Fight COVID-19
• Pfizer Advances Battle Against COVID-19 on Multiple Fronts
• The Yellow House

The Antigen is back with a special mini-series focused on COVID-19. In this first episode, we’ll share what we’ve discovered from past global health emergencies. What did we learn from Ebola, MERS, cholera, and how does it compare to the current coronavirus? How do we recover? We’ll also wrap up with the latest headlines on Pfizer's response to the crisis. 

New host Lindsey Dietschi speaks with Dr. David Swerdlow, Clinical Epidemiology Lead for Pfizer Vaccines and infectious disease expert. Prior to Pfizer, David worked at the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) for 25 years.

Episode references:

• CDC Modeling Efforts in Response to a Potential Public Health Emergency: Influenza A(H7N9) as an Example