FACTSinnated

Today, our host Hope talks with Dr. Katy Evans and Dr. Julie Sweetland about health communication strategies and the "surround sound" around vaccines and our healthcare system. Our guests discuss how public health communicators can build trust and help adolescents navigate misinformation in the digital landscape.

FrameWorks Institute:

Instagram: @frameworksinstitute

LinkedIn: FrameWorks Institute

Pediatrician and public health advocate Dr. David Higgins discusses the importance of vaccine confidence, trusted health communication, and how healthcare providers can better engage with adolescents and families. In this episode, he shares insights from his work in pediatric medicine and public health while exploring practical ways to build trust and improve vaccine conversations.

Our host Hope is joined by Dr. Demetre Daskalakis to discuss vaccines for children and adolescents, social media, community engagement, and more. Dr. Demetre Daskalakis speaks about his time working in New York City's HIV response and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drdemetre/

X: https://x.com/dr_demetre

Our host Sophie is joined by youth vaccine advocate Annabel Sparano to discuss teen perspectives on vaccination. They go over tools for talking to teens about vaccines, the importance of vaccinations for teenagers and why its important to centre youth in the conversation.

Our host Hope is joined by Dr. Allison Hill. Dr. Allison Hill is the Director of Practice Implementation & Professional Affairs at American Pharmacists Association where she leads initiatives that advance sustainable pharmacist’s patient care services. Her portfolio includes vaccines as she represents APhA on numerous immunization coalitions and workgroups. Prior to Allison’s current role, her practice experience includes over ten years in community pharmacy.

Our host Hope is joined by Dr. Michael Osterholm. Dr. Michael Osterholm is an internationally recognized epidemiologist and infectious disease expert, serving as the Director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP) at the University of Minnesota. Dr. Osterholm shares information about the Vaccine Integrity Project (VIP), including details about the creation and goals of the project, discusses issues such as the impact of misinformation on vaccinations, and ways in which we can strengthen our communication during the 2025 respiratory and viral season.

You can learn more about the Vaccine Integrity Project here: https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/vaccine-integrity-project

Twitter: https://x.com/mtosterholm

It's back to school season! Our host Sophie talks to school nurse, Alicia Warden. Alicia has been a school nurse for 17 years, and is currently the Lead RN and Health Services Supervisor in her district. They discuss the role of school nurses, the importance of vaccination and steps you can take to make sure you or your child are safe, healthy and ready to learn as we head back to school!

Our host Sophie is joined by behavioral scientist and University of Pennsylvania professor Dr. Alison Buttenheim. They dive into Dr. Buttenheim’s work,including how “Mental Models” help shape our understanding of vaccine behavior. They also discuss the changing vaccine landscape, tips for finding credible information and how to be a vaccine advocate in your community.

Our host Sophie is joined by CBS News Medical Contributor, internist and infectious disease specialist Dr. Celine Gounder.  They discuss the changing field of public health communications, mistrust in public health, and “prebunk” some common vaccine misconceptions.  

X: @celinegounder 

Instagram – @drcelinegounder 

Bluesky- @celinegounder.com 

Dr. Cindy Leifer, a professor of microbiology and immunology at Cornell University, discusses the critical importance of adolescent and young adult immunization. She shares insights into how vaccines work, the challenges of combating vaccine misinformation, and strategies for building trust in science. Dr. Leifer emphasizes the role of reliable sources and effective communication in navigating the sea of online misinformation. She also highlights the dangers of diseases like HPV-related cancers and meningitis, which can be prevented through vaccination. Tune in for practical advice on making informed decisions about vaccines to protect your health and the health of your loved ones.  

• 
  

  Instagram @cynthialeifer 

  Twitter(X): @CindyLeifer 

• Bluesky: @cindyleifer.bsky.social 

PedsDocTalk is a multiplatform resource dedicated to spreading accurate health information for Mom’s. Today, our host Sophie sits down with Dr. Mona, a pediatrician, Mom and the creator of PedsDocTalk to discuss strategies for moms of adolescents and young adults to combat vaccine misinformation. 

Dr. Mona can be found on all platforms @PedsDocTalk.

Eric, Lindsey, Archer, and Nolan each have a unique background and lived experiences that have shaped their interest in adolescent vaccination. Join us for a new episode of FACTSinnated, featuring a discussion with four young adult vaccine advocates. On this episode, we’ll hear about their path to becoming vaccine advocates, what it takes to make their voice heard, and how they’ve been able to make a difference among their peers. Tune in to this to learn more about strategies for navigating conversations about vaccines and sharing credible, fact-based vaccine information with your friends and family.

On this episode of FACTSinnated, we sat down with Dr. Andrea Love, immunologist and microbiologist, and an expert podcaster herself, to discuss the role of immunization in keeping adolescents and young adults, and their communities, healthy. Dr. Love discusses the common misconceptions and beliefs of parents of teens and where to find unbiased, credible resources about vaccines. Dr. Love shares her role as a vaccine advocate in addition to the critical need for trust in public health agencies. Tune in for this special Adolescent Immunization Action Week 2024 episode to learn more. 

Join us for an exciting new episode of FACTSinnated, Unity Consortium’s mythbusting podcast. Today we’ll hear from Dr. Jason Zucker in a recap of his work with the CDC and NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene during the Mpox outbreak of 2022. Dr. Zucker discusses the importance of STI prevention through vaccination, testing and treatment options for those at risk or who have contracted Mpox, and resources for parents and teens looking to learn more. Take a listen!

Dr. Arthur Caplan, a renowned expert in bioethics. Our host, Natalie Cordero, sits down with Dr. Caplan and Nathaniel to explore the ethical considerations surrounding adolescent vaccination including the importance of patient autonomy, and the evolving landscape. 

We all hold many different roles as a part of our identities: practitioner, parent, caregiver, family member, all with important lived experiences as members of society. On this special, double feature episode tune in to hear from Phyllis E. Greenberger, Senior Vice President of Science & Health Policy, in her journey from childhood through parenthood recovering from measles, later facing severe chickenpox along with her sons, and the impact that these challenging life events have had on her as an individual, a parent, and in her career. Beth Battaglino shares the importance of her roles as a mom, nurse, and CEO of HealthyWomen in advocating for women’s health and vaccination priorities for adolescents and young adults. Streaming now!

Cervical cancer survivor, vaccine advocate, and the CEO of Cervivor, Tamika Felder, joins us on FACTSinnated to discuss the importance of HPV vaccination. On this episode hosted by intern Natalie Mar Cordero, Tamika shares her experience with cervical cancer, all things HPV, and how she became a vaccine advocate.  

Hosted by Natalie Cordero, Dr. Peter Marks, the Director of the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER) at the Food and Drug Administration, joins us to discuss how the FDA is keeping adolescents and young adults in mind as they continue to tackle vaccine development.  

Meningitis survivor, vaccine advocate, and painter Samantha Bennett, joins us on FACTSinnated to discuss the importance of the meningitis vaccine. On this episode hosted by intern Natalie Mar Cordero, Samantha shares her lifelong experience with meningitis, how she became a vaccine advocate, and how it has influenced her art.

Meet Dr. Todd Wolynn, a pediatrician, immunization expert, and "media maker". In this episode, Dr. Wolynn tells us his experience with social media attacks and how he decided to fight back. He gives advice on how healthcare providers can build their digital presence, how social media users can distinguish credible information, and ends with more information about the COVID-19 bivalent boosters.  

Follow Dr. Wolynn on
TikTok: drtoddwo
LinkedIn: Todd Wolynn
Instagram: @kidspluspgh

Make sure to following Unity on
Instagram: @unityconsortium
Facebook: Unity Consortium
Twitter: @unityconsortium

The United States Assistant Secretary of Health, Admiral Rachel Levine, MD, joins us on FACTSinnated to discuss the importance of the HPV vaccine for all adolescents and young adults. Admiral Levine tackles common HPV vaccine misconceptions and reminds us of what this vaccine is really about: to prevent cancer in all individuals.

Meet Dr. Drew Weissman, MD from Penn Medicine. He and Katalin Karikó PhD developed mRNA and having been discovering new ways of using this technology to treat disease. Listen in as Dr. Weissman debunks some common myths and tells us more about mRNA - past, present, and future. 

Follow Dr. Weissman on Twitter @WeissmanLab

See all that Unity Consortium has to offer at www.unity4teenvax.org. 

Follow Unity on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram @UnityConsortium

Unity intern Alex Garcia speaks with Heidi Larson, Ph.D about her experience working on vaccine confidence. 

Find more information on Heidi Larson's work with The Vaccine Confidence Project here: https://www.vaccineconfidence.org/ 

To pre-order the paperback version of her book, Stuck: How Vaccines Start -- and Why They Don't Go Away, click here: https://www.amazon.com/Stuck-Vaccine-Rumors-Start-They-dp-0197643388/dp/0197643388/ref=mt_other?_encoding=UTF8&me=&qid= 

Kelly Danielpour started VaxTeen which is specifically aimed at advocating for teen’s rights when it comes to vaccine information. Kelly will talk about the importance of minor’s being immunized and what steps teen’s themselves can take to fight against vaccine misinformation.

Dr. L.J Tan comes on the podcast to discuss how vaccines were created and why they are safe and effective for all populations. The COVID-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc during 2020. However, there is hope as both Pfizer and Moderna begin to roll out their COVID-19 Vaccine.

Ethan Lindenberger will come on the podcast to talk about his own experience getting the Measles vaccine against his mother’s wishes. Measles was declared an eliminated disease in 2000. However, periodically there have been outbreaks within US school children as more and more parents are not vaccinating their kids, citing autism and brain damage concerns.

We will discuss with an expert in the field, Dr. Paul Offit, reasons for vaccinating against HPV, following the recommended timing and dosing, and debunking circulating myths. There are some parents who do not believe their child should get the HPV vaccine. Their reasons differ, but as an example some parents object to vaccinating their 11 YO (recommended timing for vaccination) because HPV is spread through sexual contact and their child is not currently sexually active.