In episode 61 of Going anti-Viral, Dr Yvonne Maldonado joins host Dr Michael Saag to discuss the evidence for vaccine safety and effectiveness. Dr Maldonado is a Professor in the Stanford University School of Medicine where she has achieved national and international recognition for her scholarship in the epidemiology and control of infectious diseases. She has served on several national and international committees including, until recently, the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). Dr Maldonado and Dr Saag provide an overview of how vaccines work and discuss where aluminum adjuvants are used in vaccines and address the validity of anti-vax claims about the use of aluminum in vaccines. Dr Maldonado emphasizes the crucial role of vaccination, particularly the measles vaccine, as a key indicator of public health and discusses the high infectiousness of measles and its implications for community safety, especially for children and immunocompromised individuals. Dr Saag and Dr Maldonado also discuss current recommendations for the COVID-19 vaccine, its safety, and whether pregnant women and infants should receive the vaccine. Finally, Dr Saag and Dr Maldonado discuss the work of public health in the future and the importance of communicating the safety and effectiveness of vaccines.

0:00 – Introduction
1:46 – Overview of vaccines and how they work
5:07 – Different vaccine types and where an aluminum adjuvant is used 
12:41 – Motivations behind vaccine opposition
16:20 – The business model of vaccine development 
19:07 – The pros and cons of mandatory vaccinations 
25:19 – Who should get vaccinated against COVID-19 
30:46 – Should pregnant women and infants get vaccinated against COVID-19 
35:02 – Will vaccine controversies continue in the future

Other Resources:
Episode 50 - How Vaccines Get Approved in the US: The RSV Story and the Role of the ACIP – Dr Yvonne Maldonado
Episode 51 - The Measles Outbreak and the Role Anti-Science Plays in Threatening Public Health – Dr Peter Hotez

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Produced by IAS-USA, Going anti–Viral is a podcast for clinicians involved in research and care in HIV, its complications, and other viral infections. This podcast is intended as a technical source of information for specialists in this field, but anyone listening will enjoy learning more about the state of modern medicine around viral infections.

Going anti-Viral’s host is Dr Michael Saag, a physician, prominent HIV researcher at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and volunteer IAS–USA board member. In most episodes, Dr Saag interviews an expert in infectious diseases or emerging pandemics about their area of specialty and current developments in the field. Other episodes are drawn from the IAS–USA vast catalogue of panel discussions, Dialogues, and other audio from various meetings and conferences.

Email [email protected] to send feedback, show suggestions, or questions to be answered on a later episode.

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