Osterholm Update

This week Dr. Osterholm and Chris Dall talk about Erica Schwartz, the Trump's administration's most recent nomination for the CDC Director, as well as changes to the charter of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. Dr. Osterholm also examines a somewhat misleading Politico poll on public support for vaccines, provides a spring respiratory update and answers a listener's question about long COVID in women. Chris Dall explains a concerning rise in Shigella cases, plus a special space-themed Public Health History segment. Don’t believe headlines saying that vaccine skepticism is widespread (STAT) Respiratory Immunization Protocols for COVID , Flu, RSV (Vaccine Integrity Project)    Resources for vaccine and public health advocacy: Voices for Vaccines Families Fighting Flu Vaccinate Your Family Shot@Life Medical Reserve Corps Learn more about the Vaccine Integrity Project MORE EPISODES       SUPPORT THIS PODCAST   Music: "Beauty Flow" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

This week Dr. Osterholm and Chris Dall focus on long COVID, tackling some listener questions and providing context about what long COVID is, its potential risks, as well as some of the latest research and reports about it. Dr. Osterholm also discusses the CDC's pause on testing for rabies and pox viruses, plus a respiratory update and the latest on US measles outbreaks. Dr. Osterholm also honors National Health Week in the public health history segment. Antidepressant relieves fatigues in people with long COVID, study finds (CIDRAP) The RECOVER Initiative (NIH) End in sight for South Carolina’s measles outbreak; Chicago on alert after potential airport exposure (CIDRAP)   Resources for vaccine and public health advocacy: Voices for Vaccines Families Fighting Flu Vaccinate Your Family Shot@Life Medical Reserve Corps Learn more about the Vaccine Integrity Project MORE EPISODES       SUPPORT THIS PODCAST   Music: "Beauty Flow" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

In "Disease Waits for No One," Dr. Osterholm and Chris Dall discuss how a federal judge temporarily blocked Health Secretary RFK Jr's rollback of childhood vaccine recommendations. Has the damage of this administration's assault on US vaccine policy already been done? Or is there a chance it could be undone? They'll also dive into a report calling for sweeping changes to how the government tracks COVID vaccine harms, review a recent meningitis outbreak in the UK, cover the latest on measles and avian flu, and answer a listener's question about the risk of catching COVID in public. Plus, we'll bring you the latest respiratory illness update and another public health history segment honoring Women's History Month.  Early official COVID death tolls may have undercounted by 19% (CIDRAP) Viewpoint: Uncertain victories mustn’t distract us from staying focused on defending health (CIDRAP and The Vaccine Integrity Project) New COVID variant with immune escape potential confirmed in US, 22 other countries (CIDRAP)  California records avian flu in northern elephant seals (CIDRAP) All My Babies (Georgia Department of Health)   Resources for vaccine and public health advocacy: Voices for Vaccines Families Fighting Flu Vaccinate Your Family Shot@Life Medical Reserve Corps Learn more about the Vaccine Integrity Project MORE EPISODES       SUPPORT THIS PODCAST   Music: "Beauty Flow" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

In "Holding the Tools" Dr. Osterholm and Chris Dall dive into the latest COVID, flu and RSV activity, discuss the surge in norovirus cases, and provide an update on measles outbreaks across the Americas. Dr. Osterholm also shares the latest work from CIDRAP’s Vaccine Integrity Project, and honors a couple of different public health heroes for Women’s History Month.  Viewpoint: Threats to Gavi mean placing ideology over saving lives (CIDRAP)  Dentists still write millions of prescriptions a year for an antibiotic with life-threatening risks (CIDRAP)   Resources for vaccine and public health advocacy: Voices for Vaccines Families Fighting Flu Vaccinate Your Family Shot@Life Medical Reserve Corps Learn more about the Vaccine Integrity Project MORE EPISODES       SUPPORT THIS PODCAST   Music: "Beauty Flow" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

In "Somebody to Lean On," Dr. Osterholm and Chris Dall discuss vaccine updates including the FDA’s back-and-forth on the Moderna vaccine, leadership shake-ups at institutions like the CDC, and the current state of measles in the US. Dr. Osterholm will also bring you a respiratory virus update, including current vaccine guidance for flu, COVID and RSV.  Op-Ed: The FDA refused to review a flu vaccine, contrary to evidence. Now the agency reversed itself (CIDRAP)  The State of US Vaccine Policy (CIDRAP and Unbiased Science) Dentists still write millions of prescriptions a year for an antibiotic with life-threatening risks (CIDRAP)   Resources for vaccine and public health advocacy: Voices for Vaccines Families Fighting Flu Vaccinate Your Family Shot@Life Medical Reserve Corps Learn more about the Vaccine Integrity Project MORE EPISODES       SUPPORT THIS PODCAST   Music: "Beauty Flow" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

In "The Bells Still Ring," Dr. Osterholm and Chris Dall discuss a recent poll on Americans’ trust in vaccine information from the CDC, the measles outbreaks in immigration detention centers, and explain the controversy over a US-funded hepatitis B vaccine trial in Africa. Dr. Osterholm will also bring you some good news on US funding for global health and answer an ID Query about Nipah virus. Interactive vaccine map for US schools (Washington Post)   Large share of older US adults haven’t had a recent flu or COVID vaccine, poll finds (CIDRAP News) Two cases of tuberculosis detected at El Paso ICE facility (The Texas Tribune)   Detained Immigrants Detail Physical Abuse and Inhumane Conditions at Largest Immigration Detention Center in the U.S. (ACLU)   ‘No Humanity’: Detainees describe conditions inside Whipple Federal Building (The Star Tribune)     Resources for vaccine and public health advocacy: Voices for Vaccines Families Fighting Flu Vaccinate Your Family Shot@Life Medical Reserve Corps Learn more about the Vaccine Integrity Project MORE EPISODES       SUPPORT THIS PODCAST   Music: "Beauty Flow" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

In "The Twilight Zone of Immunization," Dr. Osterholm and Chris Dall discuss recent comments from CDC officials about measles, the US withdrawal from the WHO, and the latest mpox news. Dr. Osterholm also shares an update on this winter respiratory virus season and discusses the challenges that families are facing in accessing healthcare amid immigration enforcement surges in Minnesota. Minnesota residents delay medical care for fear of encountering ICE (CIDRAP) Press Release: CIDRAP launches new partnerships to support independent, evidence-based vaccine information (CIDRAP)   Resources for vaccine and public health advocacy: Voices for Vaccines Families Fighting Flu Vaccinate Your Family Shot@Life Medical Reserve Corps Learn more about the Vaccine Integrity Project MORE EPISODES       SUPPORT THIS PODCAST

In the 200th episode of the Osterholm Update, Dr. Osterholm and Chris Dall discuss recent changes to the childhood immunization schedule, the latest data on this year's influenza season, and an update on CIDRAP's Vaccine Integrity Project. Osterholm Update producers Dr. Sydney Redepenning and Elise Holmes also join to discuss this milestone episode and reflect on how the podcast has evolved over the years.  CMS to stop requiring states to report childhood vaccination levels (Liz Szabo, CIDRAP News) U.S. vaccination rates are plunging. Look up where your school stands (Weber et al., The Washington Post) Resources for vaccine and public health advocacy: Voices for Vaccines Families Fighting Flu Vaccinate Your Family Shot@Life Medical Reserve Corps Learn more about the Vaccine Integrity Project MORE EPISODES       SUPPORT THIS PODCAST

In "Flu Takes Charge" Dr. Osterholm and Chris Dall give us an update on the emerging flu season, Dr. Osterholm covers a new poll that shows fewer Americans are willing to recommend the MMR vaccine, and we'll hear about the Vaccine Integrity Project's latest video. Resources for vaccine and public health advocacy: Voices for Vaccines Families Fighting Flu Vaccinate Your Family Shot@Life Medical Reserve Corps Learn more about the Vaccine Integrity Project MORE EPISODES       SUPPORT THIS PODCAST

In "Gaps in the Safety Net" Dr. Osterholm and Chris Dall discuss why we shouldn’t compare other countries’ vaccine schedules to the US schedule. Dr. Osterholm continues to cover the recent infant botulism outbreak, and he answers an ID Query about New World Screwworm. Resources for vaccine and public health advocacy: Voices for Vaccines Families Fighting Flu Vaccinate Your Family Shot@Life Medical Reserve Corps Learn more about the Vaccine Integrity Project MORE EPISODES       SUPPORT THIS PODCAST

In this special episode of the podcast, Dr. Osterholm and Chris Dall discuss the ACIP's recent decision to end universal hepatitis B birth dose recommendations and the impact it will have on public health. Noted articles: …And What Have We Done? This Is What It Looks Like When RFK Jr. Wins Resources for vaccine and public health advocacy: Voices for Vaccines Families Fighting Flu Vaccinate Your Family Shot@Life Medical Reserve Corps Learn more about the Vaccine Integrity Project MORE EPISODES       SUPPORT THIS PODCAST

In "Fork in the Road" Dr. Osterholm and Chris Dall discuss the changes to the CDC's vaccines and autism page and this week's meeting of the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. Dr. Osterholm also covers the recent infant botulism outbreak and Chris answers an ID Query about possible C. difficile vaccines. After unprecedented autism-vaccine messaging change, scientists, advocates say CDC no longer trustworthy New review finds no evidence to support delaying universal hepatitis B birth-dose vaccination Resources for vaccine and public health advocacy: Voices for Vaccines Families Fighting Flu Vaccinate Your Family Shot@Life Medical Reserve Corps Learn more about the Vaccine Integrity Project MORE EPISODES       SUPPORT THIS PODCAST

In "Flu Shifts: Why Vaccines Still Matter," Dr. Osterholm and Chris Dall review the latest trends and flu and how this year's vaccine compares to the circulating strains. Dr. Osterholm also discusses H5N1 impact on mammals in Antarctica and answers an ID Query about infant botulism.   Resources for vaccine and public health advocacy: Voices for Vaccines Families Fighting Flu Vaccinate Your Family Shot@Life Medical Reserve Corps Learn more about the Vaccine Integrity Project MORE EPISODES       SUPPORT THIS PODCAST

In "We Can Make a Difference," Dr. Osterholm and Chris Dall discuss the recent publication from CIDRAP's Vaccine Integrity Project, an upcoming collaboration between CIDRAP and NEJM Evidence, and the latest measles and respiratory virus data. Dr. Osterholm also answers an ID Query about how the government shutdown is impacting public health surveillance and shares another "This Week in Public Health History" segment. Updated Evidence for Covid-19, RSV, and Influenza Vaccines for 2025–2026 (Scott et al., New England Journal of Medicine) Vaccine Integrity Project - Response to HHS claims about vaccines (Oct 2025) Resources for vaccine and public health advocacy: Voices for Vaccines Families Fighting Flu Vaccinate Your Family Shot@Life Medical Reserve Corps Learn more about the Vaccine Integrity Project MORE EPISODES       SUPPORT THIS PODCAST

In "Bending Not Breaking," Dr. Osterholm and Chris Dall discuss recent layoffs and layoff reversals at the CDC, comments from the administration on the MMR vaccine, and the latest respiratory virus data. Dr. Osterholm also shares an update on pertussis cases and answers an ID Query about herd immunity. Resources for vaccine and public health advocacy: Voices for Vaccines Families Fighting Flu Vaccinate Your Family Shot@Life Medical Reserve Corps Learn more about the Vaccine Integrity Project MORE EPISODES       SUPPORT THIS PODCAST

In "Fevers, Furloughs, and Falsehoods," Dr. Osterholm and Chris Dall break down the CDC’s recent ACIP meeting and the ongoing uncertainty around updated vaccine recommendations. Dr. Osterhom discusses state-level differences in vaccine access, possible changes to the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, and reviews the latest data on COVID-19, Ebola, and STIs. Dr. Osterholm also answers an ID Query on the studies associating acetaminophen (e.g., Tylenol) use during pregnancy and autism, and share the latest installment of This Week in Public Health History on the 2001 anthrax attacks. Tracking State Actions on Vaccine Policy and Access (KFF) Vaccine Integrity Project Viewpoint: Four tips for understanding this week’s ACIP meeting Vaccine Integrity Project - Fall Immunization Information   Resources for vaccine and public health advocacy: Voices for Vaccines Families Fighting Flu Vaccinate Your Family Shot@Life Medical Reserve Corps Learn more about the Vaccine Integrity Project MORE EPISODES       SUPPORT THIS PODCAST

In this special update, Dr. Osterholm and Chris Dall recap the events of last week's ACIP meeting and what it means for COVID, MMRV, and hepatitis B vaccine availability. Learn more about the Vaccine Integrity Project MORE EPISODES       SUPPORT THIS PODCAST

In this week's special episode, Chris Dall interviews Dr. Osterholm and his coauthor Mark Olshaker on their new book The Big One: How We Must Prepare for Future Deadly Pandemics. They are also joined by Ann Hennigan Grace and CIDRAP's Dr. Sydney Redepenning who both conducted research and fact-checking for the book. The Big One is available for purchase online and at your local bookseller! MORE EPISODES       SUPPORT THIS PODCAST

In "Ice Cream and Shark Attacks," Dr. Osterholm and Chris Dall discuss the FDA’s recent decision to authorize updated COVID-19 vaccines for limited groups, the confusion around access for those under 65, and the uncertain outcomes of this week’s ACIP meeting. They also cover ongoing upheaval at the CDC, provide updates on COVID-19 and measles, answer an ID Query on Chagas disease, and share the latest installment of This Week in Public Health History. Vaccine Integrity Project Viewpoint: Four tips for understanding this week’s ACIP meeting Vaccine Integrity Project - Fall Immunization Information   Resources for vaccine and public health advocacy: Voices for Vaccines Families Fighting Flu Vaccinate Your Family Shot@Life Medical Reserve Corps Learn more about the Vaccine Integrity Project MORE EPISODES       SUPPORT THIS PODCAST

In "Courage Over Fear," Dr. Osterholm and Chris Dall discuss the critical Vaccine Integrity Project respiratory virus immunization meeting, recent federal actions to sow disinformation on vaccines, and encourage public servants, including those at CDC, who are facing fear amidst violence. Dr. Osterholm also covers the latest COVID data and reviews a new pre-print study on H5N1 avian influenza transmission.  CIDRAP Vaccine Integrity Project Respiratory Virus Vaccine Meeting Statement: CIDRAP stands behind public health officials after attack on CDC (CIDRAP)   Resources for vaccine and public health advocacy: Voices for Vaccines Families Fighting Flu Vaccinate Your Family Shot@Life Medical Reserve Corps Learn more about the Vaccine Integrity Project MORE EPISODES       SUPPORT THIS PODCAST