The Covid effect on vaccine reality: defending the memory of Grant Wahl

In this episode we confront a new reality for vaccines post Covid. On the one hand, the acceleration of science thanks to mRna derived vaccine design - that allowed the Moderna team in the US to respond in just 66 days. On the other, the rapid spread of misinformation and disinformation fuelled by social media. 

We hear from Dr Kizzmekia Corbett-Helaire about the early days of Covid-19 and the work in developing the vaccine. Dr Yasmin talks to Dr. Céline Gounder who found herself tangled in this new reality of conspiracy theories, as she dealt with the tragic and sudden death of her late husband, sports writer Grant Wahl. Looking to the future we examine what we can do about human behaviour in the spread of misinformation to limit it in the future through the successful work being done on “pre-bunking” from Dr Sander van der Linden and Dr Melisa Basol.

Notes on Guests featured:

- Dr Kizzmekia Corbett-Helaire, head of the NIH’s vaccine design response team working with Moderna. https://www.instagram.com/kizzyphd/?hl=en

- Dr. Céline Gounder - Public health specialist and vaccine advocate https://www.celinegounder.com/

- Dr Sander Van Der Linden - discussing his work on ‘prebunking’ harmful mis and disinformation online https://www.sandervanderlinden.com/about 

- Dr Melisa Basol - on a new future fuelled by toxic online mis and disinformation https://www.pulselab.uk/