The David Frum Show The Preventable Return of Deadly Diseases
30 snips
Sep 17, 2025 
Kyle Harper, a historian and expert in climate science from the University of Oklahoma, dives deep into the resurgence of preventable diseases like measles. He discusses how misinformation and anti-vax sentiments fuel this public health crisis despite significant historical advances in vaccination. Harper connects lessons from ancient Rome to our current trust issues in public health, arguing that we are now less prepared for future pandemics than during COVID-19. The conversation emphasizes the need for collective responsibility and renewed trust in science.
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Vaccines As The Linchpin Of Defenses
- Vaccines function as the linchpin in a multilayered defense against infectious threats alongside sanitation and therapeutics.
- They target diseases that are otherwise hard to control and reduce population-level risk.
Polio Vaccine Faced Early Public Pushback
- David Frum recounts Walter Winchell's anti-polio campaign and Ed Sullivan's Elvis vaccination moment.
- The story shows vaccine skepticism existed even during celebrated vaccine rollouts.
From Roman Filth To Modern Food Hygiene
- David Frum contrasts ancient Rome's 100,000 pounds of daily human feces with modern hygienic food markets free of flies.
- The example highlights how layered public-health practices (wrapping, gloves, screens) transformed daily life.
