Infectious Dose – Details, episodes & analysis

Heather delivers the scoop on the disease caused by measles, including symptoms, transmission, prevention, treatment, what's in the very safe vaccines, and dangerous complications and long-term health problems of natural infection. Marked explicit for possible limited, mild profanity.

This episode was updated in March 2026 to include analysis of the institutional failures that allowed one fraudulent paper to reshape global vaccine trust — because individual villainy alone doesn't explain how this much damage was done, or how to prevent it from happening again.

In this vaccine safety episode, Heather describes how Andrew Wakefield's fraudulent science cost the world the elimination of measles and hurt children. With evidence to back it up, she goes into detail on what he did and how he still manipulates parents fears to make money. Marked explicit for limited and mild profanity.

All citations linked in the blog post at infectiousdose.com

This episode was updated in March 2026 to include analysis of why the vaccine-autism myth felt believable to so many parents, how failures in science communication allowed it to persist long after the evidence was clear, and what it would actually take for the conspiracy to be real.

Do vaccines cause autism?

In this episode, Heather examines one of the most persistent and emotionally charged claims about vaccines. She walks through where the idea came from, how it spread, and what decades of research involving millions of children have found.

She explains why early concerns were taken seriously, how they were investigated, and why the scientific consensus is now clear: vaccines are not linked to autism.

If this question has ever given you pause, this episode provides a thorough, evidence-based answer.

All citations at Infectiousdose.com Marked explicit for mild language.

This is the original Pathogen Perspectives episode rebranded for Infectious Dose, originally published in 2020. Heather provides an in-depth discussion on the COVID-19 vaccine platforms other than mRNA, that were in clinical trials around the world. These include self-replicating mRNA, DNA, Protein-based, Attenuated virus, Inactivated virus, Repurposed vaccines, and virus vector vaccines. Heather discusses what each platform is and their pros and cons. 

This episode was originally published in 2021 and was updated in March 2026 in two ways: safety (overall plus in pregnancy and kids) and immunity duration sections reflect five years of real-world data, and systems-level analytical segments have been added on why the most common mRNA conspiracy theories are biologically impossible, how the system failed us, and how to do better going forward. Updated text is in green in the corresponding blog post.

This is the original episode published in 2021, rebranded for Infectious Dose. Heather provides an in-depth discussion on the COVID-19 mRNA vaccines authorized for emergency use in the US. She covers: ·        What is mRNA ·        How mRNA vaccines work ·        How we know they are safe ·        Why they cannot change your DNA ·        How long might immunity last ·        Why those who’ve recovered from COVID-19 should get vaccinated ·        Comparison between the Pfizer and Moderna mRNA vaccines and more.

All citations are in the blog post at infectiousdose.com

Organizer–sociologist Jon Shaffer, PhD, (Defend Public Health / University of Vermont) joins Heather to talk about turning evidence into local, winnable public-health protections. We dig into why “apolitical” public health backfires, how real teams (not one-off mobilizations) build durable power, and practical, nonpartisan roles for scientists and clinicians—even if you only have an hour a month. Though this moment really deserves more from each of us.

In this episode: • Why public health is inherently political—and what it costs to ignore that • Organizing vs. advocacy vs. lobbying (and why teams are the power unit) • What a mini-campaign looks like and how it strengthens a new team • Overcoming fear with relationships, stories, and clear, winnable demands • Why state-level organizing fits local political culture—and actually wins

Take action: • Join a digital action today: https://www.defendpublichealth.org/get-involved • Set up a 1:1 with Jon to plug into a state team: jonshaff@gmail.com                                       

Disclaimer: Views expressed by guests are their own.

(Full blog post + transcript at infectiousdose.com )

West Nile virus is back in the headlines, with new human cases in the U.S. and steady activity in Europe. In this episode of Infectious Dose, Heather tracks the current outbreak season through CDC and ECDC surveillance and state-level reports, explores how the virus cycles between birds and mosquitoes, and examines what happens when you get infected. Most infections are silent, but for a small fraction, West Nile unleashes a devastating attack on the nervous system. With no proven treatments and no human vaccine, prevention remains our best defense—making this one of the most enduring mosquito-borne threats in the U.S. and beyond.

This episode is a little different. After relaunching and dropping 18 episodes since April, Heather finally shares the personal story behind why she left her blog/podcast/social media—and why she came back. From life upheaval and burnout to pandemic loss and resilience, this is the story behind Infectious Dose. If you're new here, it's a great place to understand the mission behind the mic. And if you've been following since the early days—this one’s for you.

As global focus drifts and vaccine narratives fade, polio—a disease once on the brink of eradication—is finding new paths to persist. In this episode, Heather unpacks the World Health Organization’s latest alerts on circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus (cVDPV2), explores newly issued travel advisories, and traces the virus’s quiet resurgence. From the politics of prevention to the myths that still haunt public memory, we examine how a preventable disease is returning, not because science failed, but because we stopped listening.

This Fourth of July, we’re serving flaming absurdity alongside a tribute to scientists under attack. In this science-meets-comedy special, Heather tackles the patriotic chaos of backyard BBQs, rogue mortars, and the bacterial battleground of summer salads. Featuring real disaster stories, expert food tips, and a powerful closing tribute to U.S. scientists with an original poem that will leave you ready to Stand Up For Science. Laughter, learning, and lighter fluid: this is Grill, Thrill, & Kill.