A preservative removed from childhood vaccines 20 years ago is still causing controversy today − a drug safety expert explains

There’s no solid evidence that thimerosal harms children. It was removed from almost all vaccines more than 20 years ago out of an abundance of caution, but RFK Jr.’s hand-picked vaccine advisory committee is looking into it.

Terri Levien, Professor of Pharmacy, Washington State University • conversation
June 25, 2025 • ~8 min

The 1 in 10 U.S. doctors with reservations about vaccines could be undermining the fight against COVID-19

Many COVID-19 vaccination campaigns encourage doctors to serve as a trusted source of vaccine information. But certain vaccine-hesitant providers may stymie these efforts.

Timothy Callaghan, Assistant Professor of Health Policy and Managment, School of Public Health, Texas A&M University • conversation
April 5, 2022 • ~8 min

Does scaring people work when it comes to health messaging? A communication researcher explains how it's gone wrong during the COVID-19 pandemic

Whether about a comet hitting the Earth or a virus infecting the world, fear-based messages often do not succeed at changing people’s behaviors.

James Dillard, Professor of Communication Arts and Sciences, Penn State • conversation
Feb. 16, 2022 • ~9 min

Vaccination against COVID-19 supports a healthy pregnancy by protecting both mother and child – an immunologist explains the maternal immune response

In light of mounting research showing the serious risks of contracting COVID-19 during pregnancy, the CDC is re-upping its urgency that pregnant women get their shots.

Matthew Woodruff, Instructor of Human Immunology, Emory University • conversation
Oct. 13, 2021 • ~9 min

COVID-19 could cause male infertility and sexual dysfunction – but vaccines do not

New studies show men who have had COVID-19 could face serious reproductive health issues.

Ranjith Ramasamy, Associate Professor of Urology, University of Miami • conversation
July 26, 2021 • ~5 min

COVID-19 misinformation: scientists create a 'psychological vaccine' to protect against fake news

A 'psychological vaccine' has proven effective in countering belief in COVID-19 conspiracies.

Jon Roozenbeek, Postdoctoral Fellow, Psychology, University of Cambridge • conversation
Jan. 19, 2021 • ~8 min

How anti-vax memes replicate through satire and irony

Memes that promote harmful conspiracies and memes that mock them are sometimes hard to distinguish.

Jan Buts, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Translation Studies, Trinity College Dublin • conversation
Jan. 18, 2021 • ~8 min

What’s not being said about why African Americans need to take the COVID-19 vaccine

Black people are skeptical about the new vaccines for many reasons. If public health leaders told the full story, maybe there'd be a higher chance that Black people would want to take the vaccine.

Debra Furr-Holden, Associate Dean for Public Health Integration, Michigan State University • conversation
Dec. 23, 2020 • ~9 min

Latinos are especially reluctant to get flu shots – how a small clinic in Indiana found ways to overcome that

Millions of Latinos may not get the influenza shot this year, which could be an indicator of whether they will get a COVID-19 shot. A rural clinic shows how building trust can help overcome reluctance.

Jennifer Coddington, Clinical Professor of Nursing, Purdue University • conversation
Dec. 9, 2020 • ~7 min

COVID-19: four ways to respond to vaccine sceptics – and maybe even convince them

Think beyond facts to make your argument.

Mark Lorch, Professor of Science Communication and Chemistry, University of Hull • conversation
Nov. 25, 2020 • ~7 min

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