Booster Dose: A Guided Tour Through the Infectious Dose Vaccine Safety Files

Summary

What do vaccines really contain? Why do people still believe they cause autism? And who keeps spreading these lies?

In honor of Immunization Awareness Month, this special episode of Infectious Dose is your guided tour through our vaccine safety series. Host Dr. Heather McSharry maps out the key episodes that break down myths, expose disinformation campaigns, and explain the real science behind some of the most common vaccine fears. From “Too Many Too Soon” to the truth about mRNA vaccines and RFK Jr.’s ACIP overhaul, this curated “booster dose” is perfect for new listeners, long-time followers, or anyone seeking facts they can trust. Use it to figure out which episode to listen to next or share with a friend on a quest for the truth about vaccines, who's not sure where to start.

Listen here or scroll down to read full episode.

Full Episode

It starts with a question.

“Do vaccines cause autism?” “Are there too many, too soon?” “What’s really in that vial?”

The answers exist. They’ve been studied. Tested. Debunked. Explained. But in the wild world of social media, the truth moves slow—and lies go viral. And if you’ve ever tried to cut through that fog, you know the feeling. The frustration. The fear. The fatigue.

You’re not alone. And when you need it most, I'm here.

This is Booster Dose: A Guided Tour Through the Infectious Dose Vaccine Safety Files.

OK, so August is Immunization Awareness Month, and if you’ve listened to Infectious Dose, you already know that vaccines—and the disinformation around them—are recurring themes on this show. Because they have to be.

Vaccines are one of the most powerful tools we have in public health, but they’re also some of the most misunderstood. And that misunderstanding isn’t an accident. It’s been manufactured—by grifters, conspiracy theorists, and people who profit from your fear.

So today, I’m doing something a little different. This isn’t a regular episode—it’s a curated booster dose. A guided tour of my vaccine safety series: the episodes that break down the most common fears, correct the most persistent lies, and highlight the science that saves lives.

Whether you’re a new listener, a longtime subscriber, or someone looking for answers you can trust, this is where I recommend starting.

For me, this isn’t theoretical. I lost my mom to COVID before vaccines were available. And when I was pregnant with my son, I poured over the data like it was my job—because it was. I was in grad school for virology, surrounded by vaccine experts, and I read everything I could get my hands on to make sure I was making informed decisions about his health and safety.

Now, I know most people don’t have that kind of access. But they still have to make the same decisions—with their kids, their parents, their own bodies on the line.

That’s why I made this series.

Segment Teasers with Context

And now let's take a look at the episodes in the series. This isn’t a deep dive into each of those episodes—it's a curated map through them. And it’s a great place to start. So, here we go.

Vaccine Safety 1🧬 "COVID-19 mRNA Vaccines Explained": In the middle of COVID, mRNA technology was thrust into the spotlight—alongside a lot of fear and confusion. In my very first podcast episode from 2021, I break down what mRNA vaccines actually are, how they were developed, how we know they’re safe, and why they can’t alter your DNA—no matter what the Facebook comments say.

It’s one of the clearest, most widely shared episodes I’ve made—described by one listener as “beautifully explained” and by another as the reason they felt confident getting vaccinated.

Vaccine safety 2🧬🧫"Other COVID-19 Vaccine Platforms" While mRNA vaccines grabbed the headlines, they weren’t the only platform in the global race against COVID-19. In this early episode from 2021, I walk through the other vaccine technologies that were in clinical trials or authorized at the time—including self-replicating mRNA, DNA, protein-based, inactivated virus, attenuated virus, viral vector vaccines, and even repurposed platforms. I explain how each one works, their pros and cons, and which ones had emergency use authorization at that point in the pandemic. It’s a snapshot of vaccine science in motion—and a helpful primer on how different platforms shape both perception and protection.

Vaccine safety 3🧠 “Vaccines Do NOT Cause Autism” A whole episode focused on one of the most persistent — and harmful — lies about vaccines. I unpack the actual science, the twisting of facts, and the ableism that underlies many of the anti-vaccine arguments around autism. I also share a powerful open letter to President Trump from early 2017, signed by major scientific organizations urging him to defend vaccines—and backed by 18 pages of studies debunking the vaccine-autism myth. That letter has since been scrubbed from its original site, but I saved it. Because erasing science is dangerous—and the truth deserves to be preserved.

Vaccine Safety 4⚠️ "The Continuing Crimes of Andrew Wakefield" The origin story of the modern anti-vaccine movement. I dive into Wakefield’s fraudulent autism-vaccine study, the media failure that amplified it, and the damage that continues to ripple from it—long after his license was revoked, he was convicted of ethics violations, and fled the UK in disgrace. What shocked me most wasn’t just the falsified data, but the depth of the corruption behind the scenes—being paid by a lawyer to get certain "findings", manipulation of medical records, and unethical and abusive conduct toward the children in the study. This episode also highlights the dogged investigative work of journalist Brian Deer, who exposed the truth—and the allies who continue to spread Wakefield’s lies for profit, including RFK Jr. and Brian Hooker.

Vaccine Safety 5💉💉 "Too Many, Too Soon?” We hear it all the time: Are we giving kids too many vaccines, too quickly? In this episode, I walk through the childhood immunization schedule and explain why the spacing is not only safe—it’s essential. The immune system is built to handle this. As a mom, I had the same questions—and I brought them straight to the experts. I spoke with immunologists and vaccine scientists, dug into the research, and came away with answers that gave me clarity and confidence. This episode breaks it all down—and takes on the myths that put our kids at risk.

Vaccine Safety 6⚖️ “The Vaccine Court” Yes, the U.S. has a special court for vaccine injury claims. No, it’s not evidence of a cover-up. This episode explores the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program—how it works, what it covers, and why it was created. I walk you through the Omnibus Autism Proceeding, explain the difference between scientific and legal standards, and highlight something most people miss: the vaccine court actually shows just how safe vaccines are. The risk of a serious vaccine injury is about 1 in a million—compared to 2,600 in a million for something as common as Tylenol. And now, with RFK Jr. promising to overhaul the court as head of HHS, understanding what it really is—and what’s at stake—has never been more urgent.

Vaccine Safety 7🧪 “Inside the Vial: The Truth About What’s Actually in Vaccines.” Aluminum. Formaldehyde. Polysorbate 80. The ingredients list sounds scary—if you don’t know what you’re looking at. This episode breaks down what’s actually in vaccines, how those components work, and why dose and context matter far more than the name of a compound. I get how alarming these ingredients can sound—especially when taken out of context. But nothing in a vaccine is secret or sinister. In fact, everything in them is there for a reason, backed by decades of research and rigorous safety standards.

And the misinformation hasn’t stopped: Just recently, RFK Jr. misrepresented a major 2025 study out of Denmark that found no link between aluminum in vaccines and chronic disease. This episode gives you the clarity to recognize that kind of distortion—and the science to push back.

Vaccine Safety 8👶 “Expecting Protection: Building Vaccine Confidence for Moms-to-Be” What’s safe during pregnancy? What protects you and your baby? In this episode, I look at vaccines that you really need to get during pregnancy such as flu, COVID, Tdap, and RSV—and the myths that scare people away from protection when they need it most. As well as those you shouldn't get during pregnancy and why. As a scientist and a mom, I know how overwhelming pregnancy can be. You’re bombarded with advice, and fear often drowns out facts. But the science here is clear: vaccines save lives during pregnancy.

And yet, RFK Jr.—now head of HHS—has removed pregnant people from the list of those recommended to receive COVID vaccines. That means insurance companies don’t have to cover it—and some providers are already saying no. The research shows that COVID infection during pregnancy raises the risk of fetal loss and preterm birth. Removing access isn’t just irresponsible. It’s dangerous. This episode offers the facts, the data, and the clarity people deserve when making decisions during one of the most vulnerable times in their lives.

These are my vaccine safety series episodes so far. They can be found easily on the Vaccine Series page of my website, infectiousdose.com and are available wherever you listen. If you’ve found them helpful, I hope you’ll share them with someone who’s vaccine hesitant, curious, or confused. Misinformation spreads fast—but so can truth.

I also need to mention my recurring segment🧨 WTF-RFK (What the Facts, RFK). Throughout my episodes on specific diseases, in this segment I take on RFK Jr.’s lies about vaccines relevant to that disease and respond with actual facts, science, and citations. Because if he’s going to keep talking, I’m going to keep correcting. The smartest thing he's ever said was when he answered questions before a House committee on Wednesday May 14, 2025, "I don't think people should be taking medical advice from me."

I couldn't agree more.

Now, you might be thinking—why put all these episodes together like this? Why now? Well, that's because episodes like this one—curated, clear, and easy to navigate—are how we fight back against the chaos.

And this episode is meant to be a guide; a map through the fog. Whether you’re a new parent, a healthcare worker, a student, or someone just trying to understand the science—you don’t have to start from scratch. This episode gives you an entry point. A launch pad. Something to send to the people in your life who need better information, but don’t know where to start.

Because understanding vaccines shouldn’t require a medical degree. It should just require access. And that’s what this is—your access point to evidence, clarity, and context.

All in one place. All in one dose.

The Wall I Hit

I want to tell you a quick story.

Several years ago, I connected with a mom online—someone who wasn't just vaccine hesitant, she was fully antivax. She messaged me with a list of concerns. “I know someone who got sick after a shot…” “What about this disorder?” “Isn’t this linked to vaccines too?”

So I did what I do best: I researched. I spent hours digging into the data, reading the studies, tracing where the rumors started and how the facts got twisted. I pulled together everything—science, citations, plain-language explanations.

And I sent it to her.

What I expected—honestly—was, well maybe not gratitude exactly, but at least an interest in what I'd compiled. Maybe even a spark of curiosity. A moment where she’d say, “Wow… this is helpful.”

But that’s not what happened.

She barely even looked at it. Just brushed it off with something like, “Well… you’re just pro-vaccine,” and disregarded every piece of evidence I’d carefully laid out.

That moment stuck with me.

Because it reminded me of something I’ve wrestled with ever since: Facts alone aren’t always enough. Some people aren’t looking for truth—they’re looking for confirmation. They’ve built an identity around distrust. And no amount of data—not even the most heartfelt, well-researched, plain-language breakdown—is going to change their minds.

And that’s been hard for me to accept.

Because I haven’t wanted to give up on anyone. I still don’t.

But over time, I’ve learned to shift my focus—not to the loudest deniers, but to the quiet questioners. The people who are scared but curious. The ones who want to understand, but don’t know who to trust.

That’s who this series is for.

Because people don’t just need information—they need context. They need trust. They need someone who sees the fear, understands where it comes from, and won’t let the lie win.

That’s what I’m trying to offer here. Not just answers—but understanding. Not just corrections—but connection.

Now let’s talk about why it matters more than ever.

Vaccine Distrust is at an All Time High

The World Health Organization labeled vaccine hesitancy as one of the top ten threats to global health and it's only gotten worse since then.

And if you think this is all overblown—just fear-mongering about fringe views—consider this:

The Annenberg Public Policy Center (APPC) does a survey each year called the Annenberg Science and Public Health Knowledge survey or, ASAPH. In 2023 then again in 2024, this survey found that American trust in vaccines is falling fast. In fact, fewer than half of U.S. adults said they believe vaccines are safe and effective for COVID-19, and confidence is dropping for other vaccines too—including childhood immunizations that used to be totally uncontroversial.

For example, the surveys showed more people now believe vaccines cause autism, that they contain toxic ingredients, that the flu shot increases your risk of COVID, and that mRNA vaccines cause cancer. None of these are true. But the belief is growing. And that’s exactly why this work matters.

Let that sink in: the same shots that once saved entire generations from diseases like polio and measles are now being questioned—because disinformation has become a business model.

This isn’t just a crisis of science literacy. It’s a crisis of public trust. And it’s exactly why I made this series.

As Albert Sabin once said:

“A scientist who is also a human being cannot rest while knowledge which might be used to reduce suffering rests on the shelf.”

This podcast—this series—is my way of taking that knowledge off the shelf.

The 2024 APPC report here, details their data and this APPC article is a fantastic one-stop shop for a round-up of misinformation people believe and facts countering them.

asaph-report-summer-2024.pdf

Download PDF • 799KB

Now in April of 2025, after the trump administration started attacking science, a joint team of scientists and security experts from The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP; "SID-wrap") part of the Research and Innovation Office at the University of Minnesota, launched the Vaccine Integrity Project (VIP) to protect vaccine use in the U.S. by ensuring policies are based on science and free from undue influence. They also fight disinformation about vaccines and it turns out, when it comes to spreading lies about vaccines, the same handful of names keep coming up. And you already know some of them...and one in particular.

These lies aren’t random. They’re organized. They’re monetized. And they’re absolutely putting lives at risk. Here's the most recent CIDRAP VIP report:

VIP-FullReport_Final_7-25.pdf

Download PDF • 3.17MB

And while we’re talking about real-world damage—let’s talk about ACIP.

Earlier this year, RFK Jr. completely overhauled the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. This is the expert group that guides vaccine schedules in the U.S. It used to be filled with immunologists, pediatricians, and public health scientists. Now? He fired all 17 members for no reason and stacked it with conspiracy theorists and chiropractors who think measles is no big deal.

The new appointees have no background in infectious disease, and several have publicly opposed vaccines altogether. And the result? We’re already seeing states roll back pediatric vaccine requirements—and in some places, clinics are turning away patients because they don’t know what’s covered anymore.

As NPR reported last month, lawsuits are already being filed. Children are missing scheduled vaccines. Pediatricians are calling it a public health crisis in the making.

This isn’t hypothetical anymore. This is what happens when someone who profits off vaccine fear gets power—and uses it.

And this brings us back to this episode, this guide through my vaccine safety series.

Guided Listener Journey

If you’re listening and wondering where to start—or who to share it with—here’s a few ideas.

👉 If you’re talking to a new parent worried about “too many too soon,” start with that episode—it breaks down the immunization schedule and why it’s timed that way for a reason. Or maybe...

👉 Your partner’s pregnant and feeling nervous? Head to the “Expecting Protection” episode. It’s one of the most evidence-backed topics we cover, and one of the most misunderstood.

👉 Don't understand how we got in this mess? Check out the Andrew Wakefield episode. It is so much more insidious than you might think.

👉 Or maybe you've heard that the existence of the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System platform or VAERS, proves that vaccines are unsafe. If so, check out the Vaccine Court Episode. I go into that system, how it works, and what it actually tells us about vaccine safety.

👉 And if you're arguing with someone online who thinks mRNA vaccines are gene therapy, send them the OG vaccine safety episode: COVID-19 mRNA Vaccines Explained. I promise it has fewer Facebook comments and more actual science.

Behind the Mic

So what's it been like for me making this series? Well, sometimes it's been really hard. Like when I was researching the Wakefield episode—the origin of the lie linking vaccines to autism—I went back and read all the accounts uncovered by investigative journalist Brain Deer, about what the children were subjected to. Unneeded lumbar punctures and colonoscopies...without having first been examined by a physician, no less.

And the fake science. My God, He faked test results, diagnoses, just generated whatever he needed to win the lawsuit for the lawyer paying him. And the really stupid thing is that he was never antivax! He had his own patented vaccine formulation that he wanted to sell. He became antivax when his entire scheme backfired and it was the only way he could earn a living. And the damage has never stopped.

I also read Brian Deer's interviews and book, The Doctor Who Fooled the World. It's a must read for anyone interested in learning how this started. And RFK has been with Wakefield from the beginning. And I do not understand how that book is not a paragon of investigative journalism. It should have been a game ender for the grifters leading this antivax movement. That it was not speaks to the power that Wakefield and his friends have.

And that’s the thread that connects so many of these myths. It’s bad actors with power manipulating broken systems. Throw in platforms spreading lies faster than corrections and algorithms prioritizing outrage over accuracy, and here we are.

Infectious Verse

And now... a little poetic decompression. Because debunking RFK is taxing. It's time for infectious verse! This one was borne from a need to vent about this entire vaccine misinformation hellscape and it's called:

Booster Burnout

They told me to fight with the facts in my hand,

To battle disinfo and bravely withstand

The blog posts, the Reels, the “natural cures,”

The man selling fear while pretending it’s yours.

I suited up—science and sass at my side,

Citations in folders, my rage bona fide.

I thought, Just explain it, they’ll see what is true.

But fear isn’t rational. Facts don't always cut through.

And parents—good parents—got caught in the mess,

Just trying to parent while under duress.

Because when you’re scared and the noise never ends,

Even lies can sound like they’re coming from friends.

So if you believed him & then changed your mind,

You’re not a villain. You’re human. Be kind,

To yourself, & to others, we all could use it.

There's just way too much of this insidious bullshit.

But Bobby? Dear Bobby. Your moment was prime—

A spotlight, a mic, and a question in time.

And your answer, dear Bobbi was truth, finally!

“I don’t think people should be taking medical advice from me.”

Thanks for indulging that poetic meltdown.

Unfortunately, RFK is still real—and so is the damage he’s doing. So here’s how you can help push back. Because facts need backup. And that means… you.

Call to Action

So, if you’ve ever sat in a doctor’s office and felt unsure…If you’ve ever tried to explain vaccine safety to a loved one and hit a wall…Or if you’ve ever watched someone fall down a rabbit hole and didn’t know what to say—This series is for you.

You don’t need a PhD to understand vaccines. But you do need trustworthy sources, and that’s what I’m here to offer.

Including sources—every study, every fact I mention—I provide citations.

Every episode has a corresponding blog post on the website: infectiousdose.com And in each blog post all citations are linked, and for any scientific papers behind paywalls, I provide direct PDF access when possible so you’re never blocked by a firewall.

Because science should be accessible. And the truth should be transparent.

So listen. Share. Send this to the person who needs it. Because misinformation spreads fast—but so can truth.

And stay with me—next week’s episode keeps the Immunization Awareness Month spirit going, even as we move beyond vaccine-specific topics.

So, until then, stay healthy, stay informed, and spread knowledge not diseases.