In episode 51 of Going anti-Viral, Dr Peter Hotez joins host Dr Michael Saag to provide an update on the measles outbreak in the US and discuss the role that anti-science plays in threatening public health. Dr Hotez is a Professor of Pediatrics and Molecular Virology and Microbiology at Baylor College of Medicine. He is the author of more than 700 scientific papers and four books and is an ardent vaccine advocate and “science explainer” who combats anti-science and antisemitism in America, and globally. Dr Hotez and Dr Saag provide an overview of the current measles outbreak in the United States and the high rate of transmission. They discuss efforts to increase rates of vaccination, especially in a climate of misinformation about the safety and efficacy of the measles vaccine. Dr Saag and Dr Hotez discuss the origins of misinformation during the COVID-19 pandemic, including a discussion of the incentives of health and wellness influencers to spread false information. They also discuss how best to distribute accurate health information about vaccines on social media. They conclude by reviewing the successful history of childhood vaccination programs and the risk of future pandemics in a climate of disinformation about vaccination. 

0:00 – Introduction

1:56 – Measles and risk of transmission 

6:24 – Efforts to increase rates of vaccination and discussion of anti-vaccine sentiment  

10:40 – Growth of anti-vaccine sentiment during COVID-19 and health and wellness influencers distributing false health information 

17:46 – How to best to distribute accurate health information on social media 

22:35 – Conflict of interest among anti-vaccine influencers 

27:47 – The success of childhood vaccination and the risk of future pandemics given vaccine disinformation 

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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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