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Osterholm Update

Episode 207: Asking the Right Questions

Osterholm Update

CIDRAP

Science

4.8 • 3K Ratings

🗓️ 23 April 2026

⏱️ 48 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

<p dir="ltr">This week Dr. Osterholm and Chris Dall talk about Erica Schwartz, the Trump's administration's most recent nomination for the CDC Director, as well as  changes to the charter of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. Dr. Osterholm also examines a somewhat misleading Politico poll on public support for vaccines, provides a spring respiratory update and answers a listener's question about long COVID in women. Chris Dall explains a concerning rise in&nbsp;<em>Shigella</em> cases, plus a special space-themed Public Health History segment.<br><br><br><a href="https://www.statnews.com/2026/04/17/vaccine-skepticism-politico-poll-analysis/"><strong>Don’t believe headlines saying that vaccine skepticism is widespread </strong></a>(STAT)</p> <p>Respiratory Immunization Protocols for <a href="https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD420261365950">COVID</a> , <a href="https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD420261365916">Flu</a>, <a href="https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD420261365938">RSV</a> (Vaccine Integrity Project)&nbsp;<br><br>&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 Oström Update, a podcast about infectious diseases and public health,

0:13.8

featuring Dr. Michael Osterholm.

0:17.0

Dr. Ostrome is an internationally recognized medical detective and director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy, or Sidrap, at the University of Minnesota.

0:26.7

In this podcast, Dr. Ostrome draws an over 50 years of experience in infectious disease epidemiology to provide straight talk on the latest infectious disease outbreaks,

0:40.6

counter misinformation and disinformation about vaccines,

0:46.0

and distill the complex and ever-evolving public health threats facing our world.

0:49.5

I'm Chris Dahl, reporter for Sidrapp News,

1:00.4

and I'm your host for these conversations. Welcome back, everyone, to another episode of the Osterholm Update podcast.

1:04.9

It's been 239 days since the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had a Senate

1:10.4

confirmed director.

1:11.9

But in reality, the CDC has been rudderless for longer than that. It was August 27th when

1:18.1

Susan Minares was fired by the Trump administration. But remember, she had only been in the

1:22.9

job for a month before being ousted by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy,

1:27.3

Jr.

1:28.4

Since early January of last year, the CDC has mostly been led by a rotating cast of acting directors.

1:35.7

But last week, after missing a congressionally mandated deadline, the Trump administration finally

1:41.0

nominated Dr. Erica Schwartz, a physician, Coast Guard officer, and supporter

1:46.1

of vaccines to lead the CDC. Public health experts appear to be encouraged by the selection of a

1:52.1

highly qualified, more traditional choice to be the agency's director. If confirmed by the

1:57.1

Senate, can Dr. Schwartz bring some much-needed stability to the agency? That will be one of

2:02.1

the topics we'll be addressing on this April 23rd episode of the Oostrom Update, episode number 207.

2:08.5

We'll also discuss changes to the charter of the advisory committee on immunization practices,

...

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