In this episode of VaxTalk, we dive into the latest on mpox, previously known as monkeypox. Dr. Kritika Kuppali from the University of Texas Southwestern joins us to explain what mpox is, how it's related to smallpox, and why it's become a global public health concern. While smallpox was eradicated in 1980, mpox has been on the rise, particularly in Central and West Africa. Dr. Kuppali discusses the reasons for this increase, including decreased immunity from the end of smallpox vaccinations and environmental changes that may affect its spread.

We also explore the complex challenges of controlling mpox, from improving testing in regions with fragile healthcare systems to reducing stigma and ensuring supportive care. Dr. Kuppali talks about vaccines, such as JYNNEOS, used to protect high-risk populations and ongoing efforts to make these tools more accessible. Tune in to learn how global health experts and local communities work together to manage this outbreak and what role we all play in supporting these efforts.

Please support this episode by being a donor: https://www.voicesforvaccines.org/donate/

For the first time in 25 years, a child in Gaza has come down with a case of paralytic polio. This situation was serious enough to produce a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas to deliver vaccines to hundreds of thousands of children. But why is one case of polio so serious? And how do you deliver vaccines to a region in a warzone?

We talked to Dr. Fabien Diamonde, Director of the Polio Eradication Surge Capacity Team at the Task Force for Global Health. Dr. Diamonde has been in similar situations in his career, and walks us through the intricacies and necessities of stopping polio in its tracks no matter where it is.

Links from this episode.

Florida's Surgeon General is wrong again:

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/florida-new-covid-booster-guidance-misinformation-ladapo/

Flu's Clues online game: https://www.familiesfightingflu.org/flus-clues-game/

RFK Jr.s whale head episode: https://apnews.com/article/rfk-jr-kennedy-whale-investigation-09c494d8164c6f9bde9ece39637ea4d3

Karen recently attended a conference where one of her favorite vaccine champions, Dr. Michele Fiscus, medical director at the Association of Immunization Managers, asked her when she could come on the podcast to talk about minor consent laws. Karen did not wait long before inviting her to a conversation about that and so much more, including the politicization of vaccines and ways to heal our divide.

Links from the podcast:

The Kai takes on Dr. Mercola: https://rumble.com/v4z6pn0-why-nvic-is-no-longer-associated-with-dr.-joseph-mercola-by-barbara-loe-fis.html

Dr. Tenpenny and the IRS: https://apnews.com/article/ohio-doctor-covid-vaccinations-sherri-tenpenny-f56376c4eecde7e7a81686e48b5a306c

As of April 11, the U.S. has seen 121 cases of measles this year. Patsy Stinchfield, President of the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases, takes us back in time to previous outbreaks and our efforts to eliminate measles--all to help us understand why even one case of measles in a community is cause for concern.

Links from the episode:

New study shows that COVID vaccination does not lead to cardiac death-- https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2024/04/12/covid-vaccine-cardiac-arrest-link-not-supported-cdc-says/73305266007/?emci=177adc2e-26fb-ee11-aaf0-7c1e52017038&emdi=97844546-2cfb-ee11-aaf0-7c1e52017038&ceid=4108393

CDC Measles surveillance page--https://www.cdc.gov/measles/cases-outbreaks.html?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email

What caused SARS-CoV-2? Are vaccine mandates necessary? Is COVID here to stay? How can we protect ourselves in this new world? These are just some of the questions Dr. Paul Offit tackles in his new book Tell Me When It's Over: An Insider's Guide to Deciphering Covid Myths and Navigating Our Post-Pandemic World (https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/739432/tell-me-when-its-over-by-paul-a-offit-md/). Join us for this lively conversation about his book and the latest vaccine news.

Links from the podcast

Alexadra Petri, Please Stop Vaccinating Your Children: https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/compost/wp/2015/01/22/please-stop-vaccinating-your-children-i-want-to-go-to-disneyland/

Man Receives 217 COVID vaccines: https://www.forbes.com/sites/victoriaforster/2024/03/05/man-receives-hundreds-of-covid-19-vaccines/?sh=48a4e6e9e819&emci=bffa6c44-a3db-ee11-85fb-002248223794&emdi=311938fe-c5db-ee11-85fb-002248223794&ceid=4108393

Bonus--Alexandra Petri interviews measles: https://wapo.st/49IR75G

Last fall, NBC News journalist Brandy Zadrozny took a hike with Robert F Kennedy Jr and published her interview with him. She has written extensively about him and the anti-vaccine movement, so we felt like she was an important person to give us insights into this person whose star seems to be rising. Please note: We disagree with him. Do not listen to this episode expecting a glowing analysis of him.

Links from the episode:

Aaron Rodgers lost what from COVID: https://sports.yahoo.com/aaron-rodgers-tells-joe-rogan-041746931.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly90LmNvLw&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAHmVPgsCvhHBMwBUnNIX9IXuodF4TtpTG4c8ul-g2X5fZpQfrFmR1xLaLzX7u8jnlynRttbloWAPHaWmxSBLD5RIVS2DFLNFkN0oIGCnhCIHKywsitqK4BRffC48z8K3pZgZ49Czct7YIXV7iHJ8YdQDykcvq1YkaIiqf_hnqHSf

COVID Diaries by HCWs: https://twitter.com/CovidintheChart/status/1756688472461766715

Scotland HPV study: https://www.statnews.com/2024/01/25/hpv-vaccine-prevent-cervical-cancer-cervarix-gardasil-study/#:~:text=A%20historic%20new%20study%20out,ages%20of%2012%20and%2013.

ACIP vacancies: https://www.statnews.com/2024/02/08/acip-vacancies-hhs-vaccines/?emci=17fb6148-36c7-ee11-85f9-002248223794&emdi=aa988ab3-57c7-ee11-85f9-002248223794&ceid=4108393

Brandy takes a hike: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/rfk-jr-anti-vaccine-push-white-house-rcna89470

Each month, our Vax Ambassadors meet to learn something new about vaccines. This December, we came together to test the vaccine and vaccine-related knowledge of three good friends: Dr. Paul Offit, Dr. Dan Wilson from Debunk the Funk, and Heather Simpson from Back to the Vax. We also called on three of our Ambassadors to answer some questions, and the stakes could not have been lower! Listen in and find out who won!

Links from the episode:

Dr. Paul Offit: https://www.paul-offit.com/

Debunk the Funk: https://www.youtube.com/c/debunkthefunkwithdrwilson

Back to the Vax: https://backtothevax.com/

Become a Vax Ambassador! https://www.voicesforvaccines.org/get-involved/

The pandemic caused a lot of pain, from the loss of lives to COVID itself to the burnout and moral injury of people working on the front lines. Our world is more polarized and works on the presumption of fewer common facts. How do we heal?

Scott Hamilton Kennedy, an award-nominated documentary filmmaker, went searching for these answers in 2019. His film, Shot in the Arm, became so much more than he expected.

Links from the episode:

WHO and cervical cancer: https://www.who.int/news/item/17-11-2023-global-partners-cheer-progress-towards-eliminating-cervical-cancer-and-underline-challenges

Shot in the Arm film: https://shotinthearmmovie.com/

In this episode, we break down vaccine communication, from the days of "Let the Science Speak for Itself" to the political partisanship of the pandemic. To assist us, we invited Glen Nowack, former CDC comms chief and Mass Communication Expert!

Get your updated COVID vaccine! https://www.vaccines.gov/

Download and share the latest VFV video! https://drive.google.com/file/d/1MQMmlLrg5lhEpNwc1KeOSWhyIpfyCGOL/view?usp=drive_link

Lately, Twitter has become a cesspool of the worst humans spreading the worst misinformation. Except for one bright spot: The Real Truther. We invited The Real Truther to our podcast to discuss his noble pursuit of The Real Truth and to talk with RFK Jr. (or a proxy for RFK Jr.)

Links from the episode:

Dr. Alfredo Victoria: https://www.elimparcial.com/mexico/Muere-el-Dr.-Alfredo-Victoria-reconocido-epidemiologo-y-excandidato-a-la-alcaldia-de-Puebla-a-sus-42-anos-de-edad-20230626-0050.html

RFK's Conspiracy Panel: https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/rfk-kennedy-anti-vaccine-panel-conspiracies-hiv-spanish-flu-1234779689/

Dr. Hotez stands up to RFK Jr. and Joe Rogan: https://twitter.com/PeterHotez/status/1671839286348378113?lang=ar