Vaccines

illustration of the COVID-19 coronavirus

What You Should Know about the COVID-19 Vaccine

In this episode infectious disease expert Dr. Arnold Monto discusses the safety and efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccines. Monto is a Professor of Epidemiology and Global Public Health at the University of Michigan School of Public Health. Throughout his seven decade career, Monto has been involved in pandemic planning and emergency response to influenza and other respiratory virus outbreaks, including the 1968 Hong Kong influenza pandemic, Avian Influenza, SARS, MERS and the COVID-19 pandemic. He currently serves as acting chair of the vaccines and related biological products Advisory Committee, which provides advice to the Food and Drug Administration on the authorization and licensure of vaccines to prevent COVID-19. Read more

illustration of a syringe injecting a vaccine

Invisible Impact: How Vaccines Seem to Make Diseases Disappear

When public health is working, nothing happens; people don't get sick or hurt or die, and in a way, public health, at it's very best, is invisible. This week, we're talking about one function of public health that embodies that idea — vaccines. When vaccination works the way it's intended to, nothing happens, diseases like polio seem to disappear. But are they really gone or is it just public health at work? Read more