Osterholm Update Episode 183: Time to Organize
May 15, 2025
Dr. Osterholm and Chris Dall dive into the proposed changes to vaccine policy by HHS Secretary Kennedy, emphasizing transparency in vaccine safety and testing. They discuss the latest measles updates, the Trump administration's innovative approach to a universal influenza vaccine, and the implications of budget cuts on public health. The termination of HICPAC raises concerns about infection control. Lastly, the importance of community action for vaccine integrity is highlighted, urging listeners to engage locally.
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Ethics of Vaccine Testing Explained
- Vaccines originally had placebo-controlled trials proving their effectiveness.
- Testing new vaccines against existing ones is ethical and standard when a safe vaccine exists.
Current Vaccine Safety Systems Effective
- Existing vaccine safety surveillance systems like VAERS detect rare side effects efficiently.
- Proposed new systems must clearly improve current functions to avoid harm.
Challenges for Updated COVID Vaccines
- Influenza and COVID vaccines require regular updates due to viral changes.
- Placebo-controlled trials for updated COVID shots would delay timely vaccine availability.