Countering Vaccine Skepticism | Stats + Stories Episode 383 Pt. 1

Three hundred and thirty-two days, that was the international statistic of the year in 2020, as identified by the Royal Statistical Society. That was the length of time between scientists publishing the genetic sequence of COVID-19 on the 11th of January, and an effective vaccine being administered on the 8th of December. This vaccine was an integral part of the world's pandemic response. Vaccines aren't new. In a World Health Organization report describing the history of vaccines, Dr. Edward Jenner is credited with the world's first successful vaccine for smallpox in 1796. In the last 100 years, vaccines were developed for yellow fever, pertussis, polio, hepatitis B, measles, mumps, rubella, and more. Well, how do we know vaccines are safe and effective? Why do some people argue against using vaccines? That's the topic of this episode with guest Dr. Jeffery Morris. Dr. Jeffrey Morris is the George S. Pepper Professor of Public Health and Preventative Medicine and Director Biostatistics Division, Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics at the Perelman School of Medicine University of Pennsylvania. He has been actively involved in scientific communication efforts on social media and with various media outlets. He is also a distinguished research fellow at the Annenberg Center for Public Policy.