VacciNation: Recent Episodes
ReachMD
Whenever the subject of vaccines comes up, it’s more often than not in the context of myths and controversies questioning their safety, effectiveness, and overall value. And with strong supporters on both sides of this polarizing issue, how can we as healthcare professionals ensure the health and safety of our patients? Explore this question and more on VacciNation, providing new insights on vaccines, the illnesses they prevent, and how opposing viewpoints on them can impact the world around us.
Host: Jennifer Caudle, DO, FACOFP
Guest: Kawsar Talaat, MD
Annual influenza vaccine effectiveness may vary from season to season, but evidence consistently supports its role in reducing severe illness and hospitalization. Join Dr. Jennifer Caudle as she speaks with Dr. Kawsar Talaat about how clinical trial data and real-world evidence guide vaccine recommendations, support vaccine selection for vulnerable populations, and help clinicians communicate the value of annual flu vaccination with confidence. Dr. Talaat is an Associate Professor in the Department of International Health at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore, Maryland. She also serves as a Johns Hopkins PI for the CDC Clinical Immunization Safety Assessment Project.
Host: Jennifer Caudle, DO, FACOFP
Guest: Laura Sass, MD
Pediatric influenza carries a significant clinical burden, with children under four experiencing one of the highest rates of influenza-related illness, healthcare visits, and hospitalization.1,2 Seasonal influenza vaccination remains an evidence-based strategy to reduce illness and severe outcomes, with a well-established safety profile and continued support from leading U.S. health authorities.3,4 Joining Dr. Jennifer Caudle to share her perspective on the importance of influenza vaccination in children is Dr. Laura Sass. Dr. Laura Sass is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics at Eastern Virginia Medical School and a board-certified Pediatric Infectious Diseases specialist at Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters.
References:
- US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Laboratory-confirmed influenza hospitalizations. Accessed March 31, 2026. https://gis.cdc.gov/grasp/fluview/FluHospChars.html#virusTypeDiv.
- US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Influenza Activity in the United States during the 2024–25 Season and Composition of the 2025–26 Influenza Vaccine. Accessed March 31, 2026. https://www.cdc.gov/flu/whats-new/2025-2026-influenza-activity.html.
- US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Flu Vaccine Effectiveness for Children and Older Adults. Updated August 14. 2024. Accessed March 31, 2026. https://www.cdc.gov/flu-vaccines-work/risk-groups/index.html.
- Committee on Infectious Diseases. Recommendations for Prevention and Control of Influenza in Children, 2025-2026: Policy Statement. Pediatrics. 2025;156(6)doi:10.1542/peds.2025-073620
Host: Charles Turck, PharmD, BCPS, BCCCP
Guest: Mirella Salvatore, MD
From fears of getting the flu from the shot to concerns about ingredients like thimerosal, myths about the flu vaccine persist, underscoring the need for clinicians to effectively address misinformation and build vaccine confidence. So to help debunk some of the most common flu vaccine myths, Dr. Charles Turck speaks with Dr. Mirella Salvatore, an infectious disease specialist, Fellow of the Infectious Diseases Society of America, Medical Director in the Community Healthcare Network, and a Research Associate Professor at New York University.
Host: Charles Turck, PharmD, BCPS, BCCCP
Guest: Darvin Scott Smith, MD
Guest: Robert Danoff DO, MS, FACOFP, FAAFP
As of July 2025, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) released new recommendations for influenza vaccination, stating that single-dose thimerosal-free formulations are now required for children up to 18, pregnant individuals, and all adults. While this new guidance may help strengthen public trust in immunization, it's important to consider how to implement it across patient populations, such as elderly, pediatric, pregnant, and immunocompromised groups. Joining Dr. Charles Turck to discuss practical strategies for protecting all patients under the new recommendations are Drs. Darvin Smith and Rob Danoff. Dr. Smith is an infectious disease specialist at San Mateo Medical Center in San Mateo, California, and Dr. Danoff is the Program Director of both the Family Medicine Residency and the Combined Family Medicine and Emergency Medicine Residency at Jefferson Health Northeast in Philadelphia, as well as a Clinical Professor of Family and Community Medicine at the Sidney Kimmel Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University.
Guest: Paul Offit, MD
Despite the rarity of diseases like polio and diphtheria in the U.S., recent cases underscore that these threats persist when immunization rates decline. Meanwhile, more common infections like pertussis and hepatitis B continue to pose serious risks to unprotected children. Here to talk about the importance of timely and routine childhood vaccination is Dr. Paul A. Offit, Director of the Vaccine Education Center and a Professor of Pediatrics in the Division of Infectious Diseases at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.
Guest: Ruth Carrico, PhD, DNP, APRN*
In the post-COVID landscape, healthcare providers face a new communication challenge: countering misinformation while building trust in vaccine recommendations. To help combat this, Dr. Ruth Carrico joins us to share how her approach to patient engagement has shifted from simply informing to actively listening and collaborating. Dr. Carrico is a family nurse practitioner based in Louisville, Kentucky and an Adjunct Professor in the Division of Infectious Diseases at the University of Louisville School of Medicine.
Guest: Ruth Carrico, PhD, DNP, APRN
Despite high uptake of the quadrivalent meningococcal ACWY vaccine among adolescents, significant protection gaps remain, particularly against serogroup B. That’s why Dr. Ruth Carrico joins us to examine key challenges in adolescent vaccine delivery and how newer pentavalent vaccines covering all five major meningococcal serogroups—A, C, W, Y, and* B—can streamline protection, improve coverage, reduce missed doses, and support shared decision-making between providers, teens, and parents.
Host: Charles Turck, PharmD, BCPS, BCCCP
Guest: C. Buddy Creech, MD, MPH
Guest: Wendy Wright, DNP, FNP-BC, ANP-BC, FAANP, FAAN, FNAP
Pediatric influenza vaccination rates are consistently lower than other childhood immunizations, a problem that’s often driven by parental hesitancy. Whether it's a lack of understanding of the possible severity of the flu or deeply held beliefs about the vaccine's safety, knowing how to address parents' concerns is key to improving uptake and protecting children from getting sick. Joining Dr. Charles Turck to discuss these concerns and provide practical recommendations on building confidence in the flu shot are Drs. Buddy Creech and Wendy Wright. Dr. Creech is Professor of Pediatrics at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, and he's also the Director of the Vanderbilt Vaccine Research Program and leads NIH- and CDC- funded vaccine safety efforts. Dr. Wright is a board-certified adult and family nurse practitioner based out of Amherst, New Hampshire, as well as the owner of the Wright and Associates Family Healthcare.
Guest: Ruth Carrico, PhD, DNP, APRN*
Vaccines for diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, hepatitis B, and polio form the foundation of early childhood immunization, but gaps in coverage continue to put children and communities at risk. Fortunately, combination vaccines and coadministration strategies can help providers minimize missed opportunities while protecting children from preventable disease and long-term health complications. Learn more with Dr. Ruth Carrico, a family nurse practitioner based in Louisville, Kentucky and an Adjunct Professor in the Division of Infectious Diseases at the University of Louisville School of Medicine.
Host: Jennifer Caudle, DO
Guest: Irene Hamrick, MD
Older adults face higher risks from influenza due to age-related declines in immune function, making enhanced vaccines a critical preventive tool. However, vaccination in this population comes with some considerations, including vaccine hesitancy and access barriers. Joining Dr. Jennifer Caudle to discuss the role of enhanced influenza vaccines for adults and strategies for overcoming these challenges is Dr. Irene Hamrick. Dr. Hamrick is a Professor of Geriatrics at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, and a Certified Medical Director through the American Board of Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine.
Host: Brian P. McDonough, MD, FAAFP
Guest: Danielle Wales, MD, MPH
Recent research highlights the comparative effectiveness of cell-based versus egg-based influenza vaccines in pediatric populations. This data could help guide pediatric immunization, alongside strategies like comprehensive communication with parents and whole-family vaccine efforts. Joining Dr. Brian McDonough to discuss the importance of annual flu prevention and ways to improve uptake in pediatric populations is Dr. Danielle Wales. She's a Clinical Associate Professor at the University at Albany College of Integrated Health Sciences and a faculty member of the Albany Medical Center's Division of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics in Cohoes, New York.
Host: Charles Turck, PharmD, BCPS, BCCCP
Guest: Ravi Jhaveri, MD
Pediatric influenza remains a serious threat, with the 2024-2025 season bringing one of the highest recorded pediatric mortality rates in over a decade. As a result, understanding barriers to vaccine uptake and implementing strategies to address them is critical. Joining Dr. Charles Turck to provide insights into the burden of pediatric influenza and the importance of timely immunization is Dr. Ravi Jhaveri. Dr. Jhaveri is the Division Head for Pediatric Infectious Diseases at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago.
Host: Mary Katherine Cheeley, PharmD, BCPS, CLS, FNLA
Guest: Alissa Kanowitz, Founding Member Families Fighting Flu
Mrs. Alissa Kanowitz became a patient advocate after experiencing the absolute worst-case scenario: losing her four-year-old daughter Amanda to the flu. And now, she’s here with Dr. Mary Katherine Cheeley to share her and Amanda’s story as well as her experience working with the Families Fighting Flu organization. This is so we can all better understand the seriousness of influenza and work to stem the tide on this tragic disease.
Guest: Paul Hunter, MD
The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recently updated their recommendations for the 2024-2025 flu season. Here to give us a breakdown of the key updates so we can protect our patients from the flu is family medicine physician Dr. Paul Hunter.
Host: Mary Katherine Cheeley, PharmD, BCPS, CLS, FNLA
Guest: Jill Foster, MD
Guest: John Russell, MD
According to recent studies, co-administering the flu, RSV, and COVID-19 vaccines is generally safe, which is why both the CDC and Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices support this approach. However, there are some important considerations to keep in mind when co-administering these three respiratory vaccines, which is why Dr. Mary Katherine Cheeley speaks with Drs. Jill Foster and John Russell about best practices for co-administration and improving vaccination rates. Dr. Foster is the Director of the Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at the University of Minnesota Medical School, and Dr. Russell is a family medicine physician at Jefferson Health System in Abington, Pennsylvania.
Host: Charles Turck, PharmD, BCPS, BCCCP
Guest: John Russell, MD
According to the CDC, flu vaccine coverage for all adults is about 47 percent, and there’s been a continued decline among pregnant patients and children since 2020. These reduced vaccination rates can have serious consequences for our patients and the healthcare system as a whole, which is why it’s so important for primary care providers to embrace their role in reversing this trend. To help in this mission, Dr. Charles Turck speaks with family medicine physician Dr. John Russell about strategies for boosting flu vaccination rates in the primary care setting.
Host: Charles Turck, PharmD, BCPS, BCCCP
Guest: Laila Woc-Colburn, MD, DTM&H, FACP, FIDSA
Since annual flu shots help alleviate the severe disease burden on patients and the healthcare system as a whole, it’s important to make flu vaccination a part of every patient visit. Fortunately, tools like appointment reminders, in-office discussions, and infographics can help us integrate this preventative measure into routine patient care and protect them from the flu. To learn more about these strategies, Dr. Charles Turck speaks with Dr. Laila Woc-Colburn, Associate Professor at the Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta.
Host: Charles Turck, PharmD, BCPS, BCCCP
Guest: Darvin Scott Smith, MD
Vaccines play a crucial role in preventing the flu itself, but there are a lot of lesser-known benefits of flu vaccination as well, including its impact on reducing illness severity, hospitalization rates, and co-infections as well as its importance in managing chronic diseases and enhancing public health outcomes. Joining Dr. Charles Turck to examine the comprehensive advantages of flu vaccination is Dr. Darvin Scott Smith, who’s an infectious disease consultant at San Mateo Medical Center in California.
Host: Charles Turck, PharmD, BCPS, BCCCP
Guest: Norman Beatty, MD
Guest: Marvin J. Bittner, MD
Pretravel consultation is essential for a lot of patients with upcoming travel plans so that we can anticipate and mitigate any risks they may encounter. Each conversation is unique to the health aspects of the patient's travel plans. To dive in for best practices when preparing patients for international travel, join Dr. Charles Turck as he speaks with expert panelists, Dr. Norman Beatty, Assistant Professor of Medicine at the University of Florida College of Medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Medicine, and Dr. Marvin Bittner, Interim Program Director of the Infectious Diseases Fellowship Program and Special Professor in the Department of Medicine at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska.
Valneva did not contribute to the educational content.
Host: Jennifer Caudle, DO
Guest: Michael Barnish, DO
Guest: Norman J. Bizon, PA-C, CTH
Before traveling abroad, it’s important that patients schedule a pre-travel health consultation with their doctor to go over their itinerary and talk about potential risks at their destination. There certainly are patients who are more at risk, such as those with immune-compromising conditions. To learn how to best collaborate with your patients before they travel internationally, dive in with Dr. Jennifer Caudle as she speaks with expert panelists, Dr. Michael Barnish, Infectious Disease Specialist at Rowan Medicine, and Mr. Norman Bizon, Physician Assistant who focuses exclusively on travel medicine at Travel Bug Health.
Valneva did not contribute to the educational content.
Host: Charles Turck, PharmD, BCPS, BCCCP
Guest: David Hamer, MD
Cases of dengue have more than doubled since 2023, especially in endemic areas like Latin America, the Caribbean, South and Southeast Asia, and the coastal areas of Africa. This increasingly prevalence underscores the importance of knowing how to protect patients traveling abroad to those areas, which is why Dr. Charles Turck speaks with Dr. David Hamer about essential prevention strategies for dengue fever. Dr. Hamer is a Professor of Global Health and Medicine at the Boston University School of Public Health.
Host: Charles Turck, PharmD, BCPS, BCCCP
Guest: David Hamer, MD
Cases of chikungunya have risen significantly in recent years, but fortunately, there are several ways we can protect our patients traveling abroad, including with a novel vaccine and other anti-mosquito measures. Joining Dr. Charles Tuck to discuss key preventive strategies for the chikungunya virus is Dr. David Hamer, Professor of Global Health and Medicine at the Boston University School of Public Health.
Host: Brian P. McDonough, MD, FAAFP
Guest: Georges Benjamin, MD
It’s clear that COVID-19 is here to stay, so teaching patients how to stay healthy while protecting those around them is essential. Fortunately, enormous progress has been made since the pandemic began with vaccines, antiviral agents, vaccinators, and testing, so how can we continue to protect ourselves and others? Join Dr. Brian McDonough as he walks through what you need to know with Dr. Georges Benjamin, Executive Director of the American Public Health Association and Board-Certified in Internal Medicine.
Host: Brian P. McDonough, MD, FAAFP
Guest: Stefan Gravenstein, MD, MPH
Guest: David Canaday, MD
COVID-19 could have potential long-term impacts on young and adult patients, including those who experience mild or moderate symptoms. Getting vaccinated could help prevent those long-term effects. So to learn more, join Dr. Brian McDonough as he speaks with Dr. Stefan Gravenstein, Professor of Geriatric Medicine at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, and Dr. David Canaday, Professor in the Division of Infectious Diseases and HIV Medicine in the School of Medicine at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio.
Host: Brian P. McDonough, MD, FAAFP
Guest: Laura Knockel, PharmD, BCACP
Patients 65 and older, as well as adults living with comorbidities, could be at a higher risk of getting respiratory viruses. Taking preventative measures before and during the season and educating patients on staying healthy during that season is crucial. To learn more, join Dr. Brian McDonough as he takes a deep dive with Dr. Laura Knockel, Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Iowa College of Pharmacy and Ambulatory Care Clinical Pharmacist at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.
Host: Matt Birnholz, MD
Chikungunya is a mosquito-transmitted viral disease that is highly likely to spread globally through patients who are traveling. So a phase three clinical trial aimed to test the safety and immunogenicity of the VLA1553 vaccine against this virus. Dive in to learn about the methods and results of this trial with Dr. Matt Birnholz, ReachMD host.
Host: Brian P. McDonough, MD, FAAFP
Guest: David Brieff, MD
Seeking care from travel medicine specialist could play an important role for patients traveling internationally. Taking preventive measures like getting vaccines could help the individuals and communities around the world. Join Dr. Brian McDonough as he dives deep into this topic with Dr. David Brieff, Infectious Disease Specialist who practices at Saint Francis Hospital in Port Washington and East Hills, New York.
Host: Charles Turck, PharmD, BCPS, BCCCP
Guest: David Hamer, MD
One recommendation for patients who are traveling is to schedule a consultation with a clinician or travel medicine specialist at least four to six weeks before travel plans. Tune in to learn about the in-depth travel vaccine recommendations with Dr. Charles Turck as he speaks with Dr. David Hamer, Infectious Disease Specialist at Boston Medical Center and Professor of Global Health and Medicine at Boston University.
Host: Robert Walker, PharmD
Guest: Nic Garner, PharmD
Travel vaccines are becoming increasingly common as they play a key role in protecting travelers abroad, but they’re only effective if patients actually receive them. That’s why Dr. Robert Walker speaks with Dr. Nic Garner, who shares best practices for counseling patients on travel vaccines. Dr. Garner is the District Support Pharmacist Leader at CVS Pharmacy in Texas with more than 10 years of community pharmacy management experience.
Host: Charles Turck, PharmD, BCPS, BCCCP
Guest: Christina Madison, BS, PharmD, BCACP, AAHIVP
The World Health Organization and the Vaccines and Related Biologics Products Advisory Committee recently recommended transitioning from quadrivalent to trivalent flu vaccines that exclude the B/Yamagata lineage. Explore the epidemiological data that led to this decision and counseling strategies that can help patients understand this new recommendation with Dr. Charles Turck and Dr. Christina Madison, founder and CEO of the Public Health Pharmacist.
Host: Charles Turck, PharmD, BCPS, BCCCP
Guest: Jill Foster, MD
For optimal protection, the best time for patients to receive a flu shot is between September and October, but some patients may be hesitant. In fact, flu vaccination rates have been declining since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic according to the CDC. That’s why Dr. Charles Turck speaks with Dr. Jill Foster about how we can help ensure patients receive timely and annual flu vaccinations. Dr. Foster is the Director of the Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at the University of Minnesota Medical School in Minneapolis.
Guest: Darvin Scott Smith, MD
For optimal protection, the most prevalent flu strains are assessed every year and included in the vaccine. Here to talk about this process and the recent decision to exclude the B/Yamagata lineage from flu vaccines is Dr. Darvin Scott Smith, Infectious Disease and Geographic Medicine Consultant at San Mateo Medical Center in California.
Guest: Jason Goldman, MD
How are standard versus adjuvanted influenza vaccines made? Here to break down the manufacturing process for these types of influenza vaccines is primary care physician Dr. Jason Goldman.
Guest: Amy Mgonja, PharmD, BCGP, CPPS
Training pharmacists to administer vaccines can reduce barriers to immunizations and improve patient care. Here to discuss the ApHA Pharmacy-Based Immunization Delivery Program and the important role that pharmacists play in educating and vaccinating patients is Dr. Amy Mgonja, clinical consultant pharmacist at Dawa Rx Consulting.
Host: Hector O. Chapa, MD, FACOG
Guest: Alexander W. Pastuszak, MD, PhD
Despite the fact that there’s no evidence showing any correlation between COVID-19 vaccines and fertility risks, many patients are still concerned. So how did this myth become so prominent, and how can we talk to our patients about it? Join Dr. Hector Chapa and Dr. Alex Pastuszak as they dive deep into this myth.
Host: Jennifer Caudle, DO
Guest: Drew Weissman, MD, PhD
mRNA vaccines are one of the latest developments in medicine, but researchers have been evaluating mRNA technology for years. One of those researchers, Dr. Dr. Drew Weissman, Professor of Medicine at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, joins Dr. Jennifer Caudle to talk about his role in the research and development of mRNA vaccines as well as what’s on the horizon for them.
Host: John J. Russell, MD
Guest: Randy C. Miles, MD, MPH
Are enlarged lymph nodes caught on CT scans following mRNA vaccination cause for concern? Or is it just a case of incidentaloma? Joining Dr. John Russell to answer those and other key questions regarding the link between COVID-19 vaccines and abnormal mammogram findings is Dr. Randy C. Miles.
Guest: Cynthia Leifer, PhD
In the midst of a global pandemic, where do vaccine ethics come into play? Dr. Cynthia Leifer, a Professor of Immunology at Cornell University, reviews diversity in clinical trial, the impact of vaccine mandates, and more.
Guest: Jeniffer Hernandez, PhD
mRNA vaccines are far from the only emerging technology out there. Dr. Jeniffer Hernandez, Associate Professor of Biopharmaceutical Sciences at the Keck Graduate Institute, reflects on where vaccine technology is headed.
Host: Charles Turck, PharmD, BCPS, BCCCP
Guest: Onyema Ogbuagu MBBCh, FACP, FIDSA
With so many questions and confusion points surrounding booster shots, what do we need to know? Dr. Charles Turck is joined by Dr. Onyema Ogbuagu, Associate Professor in the section of Infectious Diseases at Yale University School of Medicine, to answer common questions regarding the COVID-19 vaccine booster shots.
Guest: Cynthia Leifer, PhD
With variants continuing to emerge, how are the COVID-19 vaccines faring. Here to share how these vaccines are holding up—and what that means for future variants—is Dr. Cynthia Leifer, Professor of Immunology at Cornell University.
Guest: Muthiah Vaduganathan, MD, MPH
What do we currently know about the cardiac consequences of the COVID-19 vaccines? Dr. Muthiah Vaduganathan, cardiologist and investigator at Brigham Women's Hospital at Harvard Medical School, addresses the cardiac concerns surrounding the vaccines and how we can talk to patients about them.
Host: Charles Turck, PharmD, BCPS, BCCCP
Guest: Jill Foster, MD
From mRNA vaccines to egg-based vaccines, what do we need to know about the different types of vaccines? Dr. Jill Foster, Director of the Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases and Immunology at the University of Minnesota, joins Dr. Charles Turck to explore what we need to know about the various types of vaccines available.
Host: Jennifer Caudle, DO
Guest: Charles P. Vega, MD
The development of mRNA vaccines marked a turning point in the battle against the COVID-19 pandemic, but what do we need to know about this emerging vaccine technology? Dr. Jennifer Caudle and Dr. Charles Vega, a Clinical Professor in the Department of Family Medicine at the University of California Irvine, discuss some of the benefits and common concerns.
Host: Charles Turck, PharmD, BCPS, BCCCP
Guest: René F. Najera, DrPH
Misinformation regarding the COVID-19 vaccines have prevented patients from getting vaccinated. How should we talk to our patients about these misconceptions? Dr. Charles Turck joins epidemiologist, Dr. René Najera, to review leading myths surrounding the COVID-19 vaccines and how we can counsel our patients.
Host: John J. Russell, MD
The global pandemic incited the expedited development of COVID-19 vaccines. But how did that change the development process? ReachMD host and Family Medicine Physician, Dr. John Russell, tells us how the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine differs from other vaccines and what it could mean for the medical field.
Host: Jennifer Caudle, DO
Host: John J. Russell, MD
“What makes the Delta variant different?” “I keep hearing about breakthrough infections, so are the COVID-19 vaccines effective?”
These are just some of the questions patients now have amid the surge of the Delta variant, and many patients are turning to physicians for answers. That’s why ReachMD hosts and primary care physicians Drs. Jennifer Caudle and John Russell sit down to share their approach to answering these FAQs regarding the Delta variant, the COVID-19 vaccines, and more.
Host: John J. Russell, MD
In order for us to better understand how mRNA vaccines were able to move beyond clinical trials amid the COVID-19 pandemic, we must first know how they were originally developed. That’s why ReachMD host and family medicine physician Dr. John Russell reviews the history of mRNA vaccines and how we can use them in the future.
Host: Hector O. Chapa, MD, FACOG
Guest: Robert Owens Carpenter, MD, MPH, FACS, FASMBS
Guest: Toni E. Keaton, MD, MPH
Dr. Hector Chapa explores barriers in community health with Dr. Robert Carpenter, Director of Wellness at Texas A&M University College of Medicine, and Dr. Toni Keaton, Assistant Clinical Professor of Internal Medicine at Texas A&M College of Medicine.
Host: Neilanjan Nandi, MD
Guest: Freddy Caldera, DO
Many IBD patients have received their COVID-19 vaccine, but many others still have reservations due to the abundance of myths and misconceptions surrounding the COVID-19 vaccines. That’s why Dr. Neil Nandi welcomes Dr. Freddy Caldera to discuss these common fears and challenges as well as some of the very best answers to address the concerns of our immunosuppressed IBD patients.
Host: Neilanjan Nandi, MD
Guest: David T. Rubin, MD
With more data emerging on COVID-19 vaccines every day, what do our patients with inflammatory bowel disease need to know about the vaccine currently available? Dr. Neil Nandi will be discussing these updates and how we can keep our patients safe with Dr. David Rubin, Professor of Medicine at the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine.
Host: Jennifer Caudle, DO
Guest: Paul Jarris, MD, MBA
Since the COVID-19 vaccines received an emergency use authorization, tracking possible adverse reactions in real time becomes even more important. But what are some of the limitations we’re facing in doing so, and how can we overcome them? To find out, Dr. Jennifer Caudle speaks with Dr. Paul Jarris, Chief Medical Advisor for MITRE Corporation.
Host: Jennifer Caudle, DO
Guest: John J. Russell, MD
As clinicians on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic, we’re among the first to hear about our patients’ fears of the vaccines’ validity and safety. So how can we help address their concerns? ReachMD hosts Dr. Jennifer Caudle and Dr. John Russell sit down together to talk about how we can counsel patients who may be hesitant to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
Published March 16, 2021
Guest: John J. Russell, MD
With so many COVID-19 vaccines in development, new medical ethical questions have been brought to the forefront of the healthcare field. With that in mind, Dr. John Russell takes us through the history of ethics and vaccinations throughout the world.
Published January 4, 2021
Host: Jennifer Shu, MD, FAAP
The MMR vaccine offers protection from measles, mumps, and rubella, but why is it so important for children in particular to receive this vaccine? What are the proper doses for our patients who need protection, and who doesn’t need the MMR vaccine? These are just some of the FAQs Dr. Jennifer Shu answers amid our country’s measles outbreak.
Host: Jennifer Shu, MD, FAAP
As infectious diseases are becoming more prevalent around the world, it’s important that we provide the right travel vaccines for infants under the age of one. Join Dr. Jennifer Shu as she breaks down when children should receive the MMR vaccine and the HepA vaccine before traveling internationally, along with do’s and don’ts you can share with parents to help them keep their child safe from typhoid fever.
Host: Jennifer Caudle, DO
Guest: Barbara Pahud, MD
More patients are receiving conflicting information about vaccines, and after the rise of preventable outbreaks in 2019, Dr. Barbara Pahud joins Dr. Jennifer Caudle to debunk the most common myths surrounding vaccines and to share how we can better educate our patients.
Host: Matt Birnholz, MD
Guest: Claudette Poole, MD
There’s been a rising number of parents who delay or refuse vaccines for their child, causing the World Health Organization to list vaccine hesitancy as one of the top 10 threats to global health. Joining Dr. Matt Birnholz to discuss how and why we got to this point along with tips physicians can use to better inform parents about vaccinating their child is Dr. Claudette Poole.
Guest: Jennifer Caudle, DO
It’s an unfortunate reality that an increasing number of patients are refusing to get vaccinated—regardless of whether that’s the recommendation for themselves or their children. But luckily, there are ways you can talk to your patients about this, as Dr. Jennifer Caudle explains.
Host: Andrew Wilner, MD, FACP, FAAN
As physicians, we know that vaccines help protect people from preventable diseases, but somehow this message is getting lost among our patients. With more parents than ever choosing to skip the needle, Dr. Andrew Wilner dives into the 16th chapter of his book, Bullets and Brains, where he discusses the widespread benefits of vaccines and how they not only protect your patients’ children, but all of us.
Host: Jennifer Caudle, DO
August is National Immunization Awareness Month sponsored by the National Public Health Information Coalition. Dr. Jennifer Caudle discusses the important role immunizations play in healthcare.
Host: Brian P. McDonough, MD, FAAFP
Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection remains one of the most common sexually transmitted infections in both females and males, with about 9 in 10 people contracting HPV at some point in their lives.
Host Dr. Brian McDonough is joined by Samantha Gottlieb, medical anthropologist and author of Not Quite a Cancer Vaccine: Selling HPV and Cervical Cancer. They explore the history of Gardasil, a vaccine developed for HPV but marketed primarily as a cervical cancer vaccine, which became embroiled in sociopolitical debates about adolescent sexuality and pediatric vaccinations.
The two discuss these precedents alongside current controversies, such as whether vaccinating both males and females will induce herd immunity, and if the benefits outweigh the risks.
Host: Jennifer Caudle, DO
Guest: Lisa Ipp, MD
Although most college students in the U.S. believe it is important to get an annual influenza vaccine, less than half say they typically get vaccinated, according to results from a new National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID) survey. Motivating college students to get their annual flu vaccinations remains a public health challenge that many health care officials have struggled to overcome.
Host Dr. Jennifer Caudle chats with Dr. Lisa Ipp about the results and takeaways from this survey and what methods and strategies would be the most effective in encouraging more students to get vaccinated.
Dr. Ipp is a Associate Professor of Clinical Pediatrics at Weill Cornell Medicine and Associate Director of Adolescent Medicine at New York-Presbyterian Komansky Children’s Hospital. She also serves as a board member for the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID)
Host: John J. Russell, MD
Guest: Meredith Wadman, BM, BCh, M.S.
Until the late 1960s, tens of thousands of American children suffered crippling birth defects if their mothers had been exposed to rubella, popularly known as German measles, while pregnant; there was no vaccine and little understanding of how the disease devastated fetuses.
In June 1962, a young biologist in Philadelphia, using human tissue samples sent from Sweden, produced a line of cells that allowed the creation of vaccines against rubella and other common childhood diseases. Two years later, in the midst of a massive German measles epidemic, the vaccine that would one day wipe out homegrown rubella was introduced. This vaccine has since protected more than 150 million people in the United States, and its development method has also led to other vaccines that have protected billions of people around the world from polio, rabies, chicken pox, measles, hepatitis A, shingles, and adenovirus.
Host Dr. John Russell chats with Meredith Wadman, author of The Vaccine Race: Science, Politics, and the Human Costs of Defeating Disease, about the story of both the science of this urgent race and the political and ethical controversies that nearly ended it prematurely.
Host: John J. Russell, MD
In 1998 Andrew Wakefield, a British gastroenterologist with a history of self-promotion, published a paper with a shocking allegation: the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine might cause autism. The media seized hold of the story and, in the process, helped to launch one of the most devastating health scares ever. Yet despite the numerous studies that failed to find any link between childhood vaccines and autism, it has since been popularized by media personalities, and declining vaccination rates have led to outbreaks of deadly illnesses like Hib, measles, and whooping cough. In The Panic Virus: The True Story Behind the Vaccine-Autism Controversy, author Seth Mnookin draws on interviews with parents, public-health advocates, scientists, and anti-vaccine activists to tackle a fundamental question: How do we decide what the truth is?