Information Inoculation: Defending Against Medical Myths: Why do you need to get a flu shot every year? | Melvin Sanicas
TED Health
TED
4.2 • 1.5K Ratings
🗓️ 10 June 2025
⏱️ 37 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
All year long, researchers at hospitals around the world collect samples from flu patients and send them to top virology experts with one goal: to design the vaccine for the next flu season. But why do we need a new one every year? Vaccines for diseases like mumps and rubella offer a lifetime of protection with two shots early in life; what’s so special about the flu? Melvin Sanicas explains. [Directed by Andrew Foerster, narrated by Addison Anderson, music by Devin Polaski].
After the talk, Shoshana interviews Dr. Michael Osterholm, an epidemiologist, to discuss the issues surrounding global public health and why science matters. For more of Dr. Michael Osterholm, check out his podcast Osterholm Update.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Hi, TED Podcast listeners. It's Elise Hugh here from TED Talks Daily. Thanks for making our |
| 0:05.6 | podcasts part of your routine. We really appreciate it and we want to make your favorite TED podcasts |
| 0:10.8 | even better. We put together a quick survey and we'd love to hear from you. It only takes a few |
| 0:16.9 | minutes but it helps us shape our shows and get to know you, our listeners, way better. |
| 0:22.2 | Head to the episode description to find the link. Thank you again for listening and for taking |
| 0:27.1 | the time to help our shows. This is TED Health, a podcast from TED, and I'm your host, Dr. Shoshana |
| 0:35.1 | Ungerleiter. Welcome back to our mini-series all about vaccines. |
| 0:40.3 | These days, misinformation is everywhere, especially when it comes to vaccinations. |
| 0:45.8 | That's exactly why we're doing this series. |
| 0:48.6 | We're diving into how trust in science is built and how it breaks down. |
| 0:52.7 | Through real stories, honest conversations, and insights |
| 0:56.2 | from experts on the front lines. Because at a time when our public health systems are under |
| 1:01.1 | extreme pressure and confusion spreads faster than facts, we all need help making sense of it all. |
| 1:08.0 | This series is here to bring a little more clarity and hopefully a little peace |
| 1:12.2 | of mind too. When it comes to vaccines, especially the flu shot, there's still a lot of confusion |
| 1:18.5 | and sometimes even hesitation. But here's the truth. Vaccines are some of the most rigorously tested |
| 1:25.5 | and closely monitored tools that we have in modern medicine. |
| 1:30.0 | In today's TED-Ed lesson, physician scientist, Dr. Melvin Sanikas, breaks down why the flu shot |
| 1:35.8 | remains a safe and essential part of keeping ourselves and our communities healthy. |
| 1:42.0 | Influenza is a tricky virus, so the shot needs an update every year. |
| 1:46.0 | But this rigorous approach to inoculation is worth it. |
| 1:50.0 | Vaccines don't just protect the person getting the shot. |
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