Episode 190: Courage Over Fear

Osterholm Update

CIDRAP

Science

4.8 • 3K Ratings

🗓️ 21 August 2025

⏱️ 59 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

In "Courage Over Fear," Dr. Osterholm and Chris Dall discuss the critical Vaccine Integrity Project respiratory virus immunization meeting, recent federal actions to sow disinformation on vaccines, and encourage public servants, including those at CDC, who are facing fear amidst violence. Dr. Osterholm also covers the latest COVID data and reviews a new pre-print study on H5N1 avian influenza transmission.  <a href="https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/vaccine-integrity-project/immunization-info">CIDRAP Vaccine Integrity Project Respiratory Virus Vaccine Meeting</a> <a href="https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/public-health/statement-cidrap-stands-behind-public-health-officials-after-attack-cdc">Statement: CIDRAP stands behind public health officials after attack on CDC</a> (CIDRAP)   Resources for vaccine and public health advocacy: <a href="https://www.voicesforvaccines.org/get-involved/">Voices for Vaccines</a> <a href="https://familiesfightingflu.org/take-action/">Families Fighting Flu</a> <a href="https://vaccinateyourfamily.org/get-involved/">Vaccinate Your Family</a> <a href="https://shotatlife.org/take-action/">Shot@Life</a> <a href="https://aspr.hhs.gov/MRC/Pages/index.aspx">Medical Reserve Corps</a> Learn more about the <a href="https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/vaccine-integrity-project">Vaccine Integrity Project</a> <a href="https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/covid-19/osterholm-update-covid-19">MORE EPISODES</a>       <a href="https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/support-cidrap">SUPPORT THIS PODCAST</a>

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	Hello and welcome to the Osterholm Update, a podcast on COVID-19 and other infectious diseases with Dr. Michael Osterholm.
0:15.4	Dr. Ostrome is an internationally recognized medical detective and director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy, or CIDRAP, at the University of Minnesota. In this podcast, Dr. O. Strom
0:26.9	draws on nearly 50 years of experience investigating infectious disease outbreaks to provide
0:31.8	straight talk on the latest infectious disease and public health threats. I'm Chris Dahl,
0:37.2	reporter for CidWap News, and I'm your host for these conversations.
0:44.3	Welcome back, everyone, to another episode of the Ostorm Update podcast.
0:48.3	On August 8th, a Georgia man who blamed COVID-19 vaccines for his personal health problems
0:53.3	opened fire on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Atlanta headquarters,
0:58.2	killing a police officer before dying from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
1:02.6	The shooter had multiple guns and fired nearly 200 rounds of ammunition at the CDC headquarters,
1:08.0	forcing hundreds of workers into lockdown.
1:10.6	For many who work at the CDC, the shooting was the culmination of years of scorn,
1:15.9	invective, and threats that have been directed at them over the response to the COVID-19
1:20.2	pandemic. And some drew a link between the shooting and some of the rhetoric that's been
1:24.8	used by people who currently lead our nation's health agencies.
1:28.4	There is a direct line from the vilification of CDC during COVID
1:31.9	and the deliberate lies and missed disinformation that continues today,
1:36.4	a CDC official told the Washington Post.
1:39.3	Many of the sources of these lies now have a pulpit
1:42.0	and the veneer of respectability through their positions in the administration. On this August 21st episode of the podcast, we're going to
1:49.1	discuss the aftermath of the shooting and the rhetoric that some CDC workers believe has put
1:53.3	a target on their back. We'll also dive further into the controversial decision by the Department
	...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from CIDRAP, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of CIDRAP and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.