Dr. Adam Ratner, a pediatrics and microbiology professor at NYU and author of "Booster Shots," discusses the alarming resurgence of measles and its ties to vaccine skepticism and diminished public trust in health systems. He highlights the critical need to restore faith in vaccinations, especially in light of budget cuts and misinformation. Meanwhile, book critic Maureen Corrigan reflects on Geraldine Brooks' memoir, "Memorial Days," sharing insights on grief and the personal struggle against misinformation, demonstrating how public health issues resonate on an individual level.
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insights INSIGHT
Concerns about RFK Jr.'s Appointment
Dr. Ratner expresses concern over RFK Jr.'s appointment, given his history of vaccine skepticism.
He fears RFK Jr.'s influence could erode public trust and infrastructure supporting vaccinations.
insights INSIGHT
Measles and Memory
Dr. Ratner calls measles the "quintessential human pathogen" because it reveals our capacity to forget.
People born before the 1970s have different perspectives on vaccines due to direct experience with diseases.
insights INSIGHT
Measles as an Indicator
Measles is highly contagious, infecting 90% of unvaccinated individuals exposed.
This makes it a key indicator of vaccination coverage and public health system effectiveness.
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In this book, Tony Horwitz follows the footsteps of Frederick Law Olmsted, who traveled through the South in the 1850s as an undercover correspondent for the precursor to the New York Times. Horwitz contrasts Olmsted's findings with the contemporary South, exploring themes of racial suppression, civil war, and the complexities of the region. The book is a blend of history, travelogue, and social commentary, highlighting the enduring issues and changes in the American South over time.
Booster Shots
The Urgent Lessons of Measles and the Uncertain Future of Children's Health
Dr. Adam Ratner
Confederates in the Attic
Tony Horwitz
In 'Confederates in the Attic,' Tony Horwitz delves into the ongoing impact of the American Civil War on modern Southern identity. The book combines history, memoir, and travelogue as Horwitz joins Civil War reenactors, visits historical sites, and interviews various individuals, including the last surviving widow of a Confederate soldier and historian Shelby Foote. Horwitz examines the complex and often racially charged attitudes towards the Civil War, highlighting how the past continues to influence the present in the South.
Memorial Days
Geraldine Brooks
In 'Memorial Days', Geraldine Brooks reflects on her marriage to Tony Horwitz, a fellow journalist who died suddenly in 2019. The memoir delves into their life together, from their early years as foreign correspondents to their settled life on Martha’s Vineyard. After Tony’s death, Brooks grapples with the immediate demands of grief and eventually finds solace on a remote island off the coast of Australia, where she ponders various cultural grief rituals and seeks to rebuild her life around the void left by his passing. The book is a poignant exploration of love, grief, and the journey towards healing and peace.
"Measles thrives on being underestimated," Dr. Adam Ratner says. The highly infectious disease was thought to be a "solved problem," until a 2018 outbreak in New York City. "When we start to see measles, it's evidence of the faltering of our public health systems and of fomenting of distrust of vaccines." Ratner talks about the implications of RFK's Health and Human Services Dept. appointment, National Institute of Health budget cuts, and spreading distrust and skepticism in science. His new book is called Booster Shots.
Also, Maureen Corrigan reviews Geraldine Brooks' memoir Memorial Days, about grieving her husband, Tony Horwitz.
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