Show Notes — ACIP Undone: Proof, Policy, and Panic Over a Hepatitis B Vaccine

This episode unpacks everything you need to know about hepatitis B and the life-saving vaccine that helps prevent chronic liver disease and liver cancer later in life. From the biology of the virus to the science behind the birth dose, we explore how this vaccine works, why it’s given so early, and what’s at stake now that ideology is overriding evidence in U.S. vaccine policy.

We also confront a dangerous shift in public health: the dismantling of expert-driven systems in favor of anti-vaccine rhetoric. The result isn’t just political—it’s personal. And it puts newborns at risk.

In this episode:

• How hepatitis B infects the liver and evades the immune system
• Why newborns are uniquely vulnerable to chronic infection
• The history and science behind the universal birth dose
• What the ACIP overhaul means for public trust and public health
• Vaccine safety, ingredients, and long-term effectiveness
• Debunking the most common lies circulating on social media

All citations are in the blog post for this episode at infectiousdose.com

A leaked FDA memo sparked headlines claiming the COVID vaccine killed children — but the memo included no evidence, no data, and no scientific analysis. In today’s episode, Heather unpacks what the memo actually said, why experts across the field immediately rejected its conclusions, and how vaccine safety is truly evaluated. She explains the real risks of COVID in kids, from MIS-C to long COVID, and why misinformation from inside federal agencies threatens public trust and puts families at risk. Clear, compassionate, and evidence-driven, this episode gives parents the clarity they deserve.

NOTE: All sources are cited in the blog post for this episode at infectiousdose.com

There’s more to your favorite winter rituals than nostalgia.

In this episode, we dive into how centuries of winter traditions—across Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas—offered accidental protection against infectious diseases. From citrus in stockings to cloves in mulled wine, from kimchi to candlelight, we trace how ancient practices around food, air, warmth, and cleaning helped communities stay healthier in the harshest season.

Learn how:

• Spices like cinnamon, ginger, and clove helped preserve food and reduce pathogens

• Fires, feasts, and fermentation doubled as primitive infection control

• Cleaning rituals and seasonal isolation slowed the spread of disease

• Modern public health can still draw lessons from these old traditions

We also address how today’s world—sealed homes, global travel, and misinformation—has changed the game, and why clear science is more important than ever.

🎙️ Plus: a discussion of the recent HHS decision under Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to remove the statement “vaccines do not cause autism” from federal pages—and why this political move contradicts decades of scientific evidence.

See the corresponding blog post at infectiousdose.com for all citations.