Assessing A Turbulent Year in Infectious Disease: Dr. William Schaffner, Professor of Preventive Medicine at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine

It’s been one year since the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in an unprecedented move, dismissed all the members of its Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), kicking off what would turn out to be a very concerning and busy year for infectious disease specialists.  We’re going to recap this turbulent period – which includes a resurgence of measles, an unusually rough flu season, the emergence of a new COVID strain and outbreaks of hantavirus and Ebola – with Dr. William Schaffner, one of the country’s most frequently quoted medical experts on infectious disease, vaccination, and public health.

As a member of ACIP for decades, Dr. Schaffner brings unique insight into the dismantling of the committee and the distrust of vaccines that lies at the root of the changes. As he explains to Raise the Line host Lindsey Smith, while many vaccine critics are beyond reach, there are those he describes as vaccine hesitant that may be persuadable if the right approach is taken. “Beyond providing facts, we have to listen to them and respond to their concerns and make them feel comfortable. Information is fundamental, but behavior change only comes with a change in attitude.”

Tune in for a wealth of wisdom and context that includes observations on:

• What’s complicating containment of the Ebola outbreak;
• Challenges in public health communication in the current social media environment;
• What grade health authorities should get on their response to the hantavirus outbreak.

Mentioned in this episode:
Vanderbilt University School of Medicine

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