Dr. Kiki’s Science Hour – How to Build A Better Vaccine
If you have ever had questions about how vaccines are made, tested, and then deployed to the public at large, you should listen to this episode of Dr. Kiki’s Science Hour.
Dr. Gregory Poland of the Mayo Clinic joined me on the show to talk the basics of vaccines. We covered the topic generally, but also focused on the flu and H1N1. Seriously, he was as straightforward as you can get, and I truly appreciated the answers he was able to give to my many questions.
You can listen here. Or, watch it here…
Vaccines have become a touchy subject of late, and having accurate information on which you can base your decisions is vital. I hope this episode is spread far and wide just like the diseases vaccines are meant to protect us from.
Filed under DKSH, Science & Politics | Comments (4)4 Responses to “Dr. Kiki’s Science Hour – How to Build A Better Vaccine”
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Great show Dr Kiki!
I’ve worked in the Biotech and Vaccines business for 20yrs now and thought it was a very balanced, accurate, and insightful discussion: focused on the science and technology rather than the hysteria.
Most folks have only the slightest idea of how complicated, difficult, and expensive it is to bring a new vaccine to market. Our new 13V Prevnar vaccine that was just licensed a month or two is the result of 15 to 20 yrs worth of research, development, scaleup, and clinical trials.
The plant I work at now is the place that first developed and licensed the Hemophylis Influenza B (HIB) kids vaccine that he talked about, back in the late 80’s. Now are focus is on Prevnar (streptococcal vaccine).
I thought one of the most insightful things your guest said is one of our mantras: “We are putting our product into healthy babies – safety is our highest priority” Pediatric vaccines manufacturers are _THE_MOST_RISK_ADVERSE_ plants there are, period.
Thanks again for a great show, week after week, and this one in particular!
Heh – I need to proof read before I post: typos galore =-)
Cool show! I really enjoyed it and learned a lot. But I think Dr. Poland mixed up some numbers when he was talking about the cases und deaths of the flu pandemic. He mentioned 14.000 dead Americans for example. But I think this is the worldwide number of deaths.
Great to hear Poland defend the government’s and big pharma’s over-eagerness to vaccinate the public for every minor illness. It is also nice to hear Poland deny that big pharma does this in order to make more money.