VEC Vaccine Notes

Did you know that the first antibiotic, penicillin, was discovered by happenstance in the 1920s? Charlotte Moser, Co-Director of the Vaccine Education Center, touches briefly on this history as she discusses the use of antibiotics; health considerations, including allergic reactions and antibiotic resistance; and why antibiotics are used in vaccines. As she describes, any antibiotics that remain i...

What is formaldehyde, and how much is present in vaccines? Find out in this episode of VEC Vaccine Notes. Charlotte Moser, Co-Director of the Vaccine Education Center, explains how our bodies naturally produce and break down formaldehyde every day — in quantities far exceeding those found in any vaccine. She talks about the differences between the gaseous and liquid forms of formaldehyde; the latt...

What is thimerosal, and why was it used as a vaccine preservative? Find out in this episode of VEC Vaccine Notes. Charlotte Moser, Co-Director of the Vaccine Education Center, explains the differences between elemental mercury (the silver-colored form of mercury found in products like thermometers and dental fillings), methylmercury (the type we’re exposed to when we eat fish), and ethylmercury (t...

Find out how gelatin and polysorbate 80 protect vaccines during manufacturing, storage and transport. Charlotte Moser, Co-Director of the Vaccine Education Center, also addresses common safety and cultural concerns related to these two vaccine ingredients, including severe allergic reactions, unfounded claims regarding polysorbate 80 and fertility, and religious guidelines surrounding porcine-deri...

What is aluminum, and why is it used in some vaccines? Find out in this episode of VEC Vaccine Notes. Charlotte Moser, Co-Director of the Vaccine Education Center, explains how aluminum adjuvants boost immune responses, where aluminum exists in our environment, and how quantities from vaccines compare to daily dietary exposure. This episode also covers how the body processes aluminum, why exposure...

Find out what ingredients are in vaccines, whether they’re safe, and how they are measured in this episode of VEC Vaccine Notes. Charlotte Moser, Co-Director of the Vaccine Education Center, breaks down the different types of ingredients in vaccines and why they are used. Guided by Paracelsus’ quote, "the dose makes the poison," this episode covers how relative quantities in vaccines (typically fr...

Get ready for Season 4 of VEC Vaccine Notes! Charlotte Moser, Co-Director of the Vaccine Education Center at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, provides a sneak peek into the new season. While Seasons 1 through 3 covered more than 30 vaccine-preventable diseases, Season 4 turns the focus toward addressing common vaccine safety concerns. Season 4 will dive into the science behind vaccine ingredie...

Charlotte Moser, Co-Director of the Vaccine Education Center at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, talks about yellow fever and the vaccine. She explains the history of the yellow fever vaccine, how globalization and climate change impact the spread of yellow fever virus, and what steps travelers can take to protect themselves against mosquito bites. She also addresses common questions and the r...

Charlotte Moser, Co-Director of the Vaccine Education Center at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, talks about typhoid and the vaccines. She shares the story of Mary Mallon, who was infamously known as "Typhoid Mary," to illustrate how people can be carriers of the disease, not having symptoms but still spreading typhoid. Moser offers tips on how travelers to high-risk areas can protect themselv...

Charlotte Moser, Co-Director of the Vaccine Education Center at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, talks about Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) and the vaccine that protects against it. She explains that the JEV vaccine is considered a travel vaccine, but it’s not recommended for all travelers to the Far East. She discusses the many considerations for making a vaccine recommendation. She also a...

Charlotte Moser, Co-Director of the Vaccine Education Center at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, talks about hepatitis A and the vaccine. She explains what makes the hepatitis A virus so hardy and why everyone is at risk for infection. She addresses common questions about the opioid epidemic’s connection to outbreaks, travel precautions, and the differences between hepatitis A and B. She also...

Charlotte Moser, Co-Director of the Vaccine Education Center at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, talks about cholera and the vaccine. She explains why vaccination is not routinely recommend and what can be done to reduce the risk of cholera. She also addresses common questions and discusses the relative risks and benefits of the disease and vaccine. Watch the episode to find out: How cholera c...

Charlotte Moser, Co-Director of the Vaccine Education Center at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, talks about dengue and the vaccines that protect against it. She explains why most people in the U.S. aren’t recommended to get the dengue vaccine, and why they can’t be vaccinated even if they are among those who could benefit from vaccination. She also addresses common questions and discusses the...

Charlotte Moser, Co-Director of the Vaccine Education Center at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, talks about cytomegalovirus, or CMV, and where things stand with vaccine development. She also addresses common questions and discusses the risks of CMV. Watch the episode to find out: Why pregnant healthcare workers in the 1980s couldn’t care for infants with CMV, but those today can (hint: It’s n...

Charlotte Moser, Co-Director of the Vaccine Education Center at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, talks about smallpox — a disease that killed 300 million people prior to vaccination. She discusses the successful eradication of smallpox virus through vaccination and addresses common questions as well as the relative risks and benefits. Watch the episode to find out about: The role of smallpox i...

Charlotte Moser, Co-Director of the Vaccine Education Center at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, talks about Haemophilus influenzae type b, or Hib, and the vaccines that protect against it. She also addresses common questions and discusses the relative risks and benefits of the disease and vaccines. Watch the episode to find out: About the special teams hospitals had when Hib was more common a...

Charlotte Moser, Co-Director of the Vaccine Education Center at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, talks about meningococcus and the vaccines that protect against it. She also addresses common questions and discusses the relative risks and benefits of the disease and vaccines. Watch the episode to find out: Why meningococcus demonstrates the limits of focusing only on treatment and not preventio...

Get ready for Season 3 of VEC Vaccine Notes! Charlotte Moser, Co-Director of the Vaccine Education Center at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, provides a sneak peek into the vaccines and diseases that will be discussed in Season 3, including meningococcus, Haemophilus influenzae type b, smallpox, cytomegalovirus, dengue, and more. The first episode about meningococcus will drop on April 15. Che...

Charlotte Moser, Co-Director of the Vaccine Education Center at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, talks about tuberculosis, also known as TB, and the vaccine that protects against it. She also addresses common questions and discusses the relative risks and benefits of the disease and vaccine. Watch the episode to find out: The dubious distinction TB holds among infectious diseases The two forms...

Charlotte Moser, Co-Director of the Vaccine Education Center at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, talks about Lyme disease and a potential new vaccine. She also addresses common questions and discusses the risks of Lyme disease in the absence of vaccination. Watch the episode to find out: When and where Lyme disease was first identified What species of animals can be infected with the bacteria...

Charlotte Moser, Co-Director of the Vaccine Education Center at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, talks about shingles and the vaccine that protects against it. She also addresses common questions and discusses the relative risks and benefits of the disease and vaccine. Watch the episode to find out: Why the shingles rash tends to appear in certain places on the body Details about the length an...

Charlotte Moser, Co-Director of the Vaccine Education Center at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, talks about mpox and the vaccine that protects against it. She also addresses common questions and discusses the relative risks and benefits of the disease and vaccine. Watch the episode to find out: When monkeypox virus was identified and where What changed that has made the virus more prevalent s...

Charlotte Moser, Co-Director of the Vaccine Education Center at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, talks about rabies and the vaccines and treatments that protect against it. She also discusses the relative risks and benefits of the disease and vaccines. Watch the episode to find out: How a mom saved her son by begging for the first rabies vaccine to be tested on him and the irony of that son’s...

Charlotte Moser, Co-Director of the Vaccine Education Center at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, talks about chikungunya and the vaccine that protects against it. She also addresses common questions and discusses the relative risks and benefits of the disease and vaccine. Watch the episode to find out: When and where chikungunya was first identified and how that relates to its name Where this...

Charlotte Moser, Co-Director of the Vaccine Education Center at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, talks about rotavirus and the vaccines that protect against it. She also addresses common questions and discusses the relative risks and benefits of the disease and vaccines. Watch the episode to find out: Why rotavirus vaccine is a good example of the robust nature of the vaccine safety monitoring...