BBC Inside Science What’s the evidence for vaccines?
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Sep 4, 2025 Caroline Steel, a journalist known for her engaging storytelling in science, joins Marnie Chesterton to dive into intriguing scientific discussions. They tackle the recent decision by US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to cut funding for mRNA vaccine research, questioning its implications for public health. The conversation also explores the remarkable capabilities of the UK's cutting-edge Isambard AI supercomputer and its potential for advancing vaccine technology and AI applications. Plus, there's a fun nod to musical chemistry from listeners!
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mRNA Vaccines Prevent Severe Disease
- mRNA vaccines were highly effective against severe COVID and saved millions of lives.
- Claims that they 'fail to protect' against respiratory infections ignore strong data on severe-disease prevention.
Different Vaccine Platforms Complement Each Other
- Different vaccine platforms exist and have complementary strengths.
- mRNA shines for speed and low cost, while some older platforms can give long-lasting immunity for stable viruses.
Whole-Virus Vaccines Have Trade-Offs
- Whole-virus vaccines use inactivated entire viruses but can lose surface protein fidelity when heat-inactivated.
- That can reduce effectiveness, making whole-virus approaches slower and sometimes less potent than targeted platforms.