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Osterholm Update

Episode 201: The Twilight Zone of Immunization

Osterholm Update

CIDRAP

Science

4.8 • 3K Ratings

🗓️ 29 January 2026

⏱️ 52 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

<p>In "The Twilight Zone of Immunization," Dr. Osterholm and Chris Dall discuss recent comments from CDC officials about measles, the US withdrawal from the WHO, and the latest mpox news. Dr. Osterholm also shares an update on this winter respiratory virus season and discusses the challenges that families are facing in accessing healthcare amid immigration enforcement surges in Minnesota.</p> <p><a href="https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/influenza-general/minnesota-residents-delay-medical-care-fear-encountering-ice">Minnesota residents delay medical care for fear of encountering ICE</a> (CIDRAP)</p> <p><a href="https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/sites/default/files/page-files/Jan2726CIDRAPrelease-Unbiased%20Sci-TEC-Partnership.pdf">Press Release: CIDRAP launches new partnerships to support independent, evidence-based vaccine information</a> (CIDRAP)</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Resources for vaccine and public health advocacy:</p> <p><a href="https://www.voicesforvaccines.org/get-involved/"><strong>Voices for Vaccines</strong></a></p> <p><a href="https://familiesfightingflu.org/take-action/"><strong>Families Fighting Flu</strong></a></p> <p><a href="https://vaccinateyourfamily.org/get-involved/"><strong>Vaccinate Your Family</strong></a></p> <p><a href="https://shotatlife.org/take-action/"><strong>Shot@Life</strong></a></p> <p><a href="https://aspr.hhs.gov/MRC/Pages/index.aspx"><strong>Medical Reserve Corps</strong></a></p> <p>Learn more about the <a href="https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/vaccine-integrity-project"><strong>Vaccine Integrity Project</strong></a></p> <p><a href="https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/covid-19/osterholm-update-covid-19"><strong>MORE EPISODES</strong></a>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p><a href="https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/support-cidrap"><strong>SUPPORT THIS PODCAST</strong></a></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Music:</strong></p> <p>"Beauty Flow" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)<br>Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License</p>

Transcript

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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 Chris Dahl, reporter for Sidrap News,

0:38.5

and I'm your host for these conversations. Welcome back, everyone, to another episode

0:46.3

of the Osteram Update podcast. On episode 175 of the podcast, posted on January 23, 2025,

0:54.0

Dr. Osterome and I focused on the Trump administration's

0:56.8

announcement that the United States intended to withdraw from the World Health Organization.

1:01.3

It was a move that, in retrospect, really represented the removal of the first brick in a public

1:06.5

health foundation that the administration has steadily been tearing down ever since. When that announcement

1:12.3

was made, it was just the beginning of a year-long process. Any country leaving the WHO has to give

1:17.8

one year's notice. But last week, the U.S. made it official, and in the process left behind some

1:23.3

unpaid dues. Going forward, U.S. engagement with the W.HO will be limited strictly to effectuate our

1:29.3

withdrawal and to safeguard the health and safety of the American people. Health and Human Services

1:34.1

Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, said in the joint statement,

1:39.6

all U.S. funding for and staffing of WHO initiatives has ceased. It's a move that Infectious Disease Society

1:46.5

of America President Ronald Nahas called scientifically reckless and a short-sighted and misguided

1:52.4

abandonment of our global health commitments. The U.S. withdrawal from the WHO will be among

1:57.7

the topics of discussion on this January 29th episode of the Oström Update podcast,

2:02.6

episode number 201. We'll also discuss some recent comments made by a CDC official and the chair

2:08.8

of the Federal Vaccine Advisory Board on measles, vaccines, and individual autonomy. We'll bring

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