Wendy Zukerman (Host)

But actually, when it comes to pitching for Science Versus, the more surprising thing that the science is, the more likely the episode is to get through.

But actually, when it comes to pitching for Science Versus, the more surprising thing that the science is, the more likely the episode is to get through.

In the menopause episode, according to menopause social media, saying that hormone therapy increases your risk of breast cancer even slightly, that's the wrong answer. A lot of people are saying that hormones are magic. So that was the wrong answer.

In the menopause episode, according to menopause social media, saying that hormone therapy increases your risk of breast cancer even slightly, that's the wrong answer. A lot of people are saying that hormones are magic. So that was the wrong answer.

Our recent episode on fluoride had some quote-unquote wrong answers by saying that, you know, the science here is actually more messy than we thought it was. So I guess in a nutshell, no, we do not leave episodes on the cutting room floor because they come to the wrong conclusion. We deliver the science, and that's why you come to us.

Our recent episode on fluoride had some quote-unquote wrong answers by saying that, you know, the science here is actually more messy than we thought it was. So I guess in a nutshell, no, we do not leave episodes on the cutting room floor because they come to the wrong conclusion. We deliver the science, and that's why you come to us.

Yeah, yeah. Thanks, Rose. Thanks, Wendy. Today's Ask Wendy, me, anything was brought to you by Amazon. Thanks to Amazon, healthcare just got less painful. Welcome back. Today on the show, measles. It's very contagious, but we have one weapon against it, the vaccine, and it works well. With two doses, according to the CDC, the MMR, or measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine, is 97% effective.

Yeah, yeah. Thanks, Rose. Thanks, Wendy. Today's Ask Wendy, me, anything was brought to you by Amazon. Thanks to Amazon, healthcare just got less painful. Welcome back. Today on the show, measles. It's very contagious, but we have one weapon against it, the vaccine, and it works well. With two doses, according to the CDC, the MMR, or measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine, is 97% effective.

That's Dr. Maru Shiel again, an infectious disease researcher. Now, concerningly, RFK Jr. recently said that one of the reasons that people are now getting measles in the US is because the vaccine is leaky and its effectiveness wanes over time. Is that true?

That's Dr. Maru Shiel again, an infectious disease researcher. Now, concerningly, RFK Jr. recently said that one of the reasons that people are now getting measles in the US is because the vaccine is leaky and its effectiveness wanes over time. Is that true?

Right. I mean, just by virtue of the fact, when you look at the numbers of the current outbreak in the US, if the measles vaccine was leaky and its effectiveness waned over time, you would expect way more vaccinated people to be infected, right? Yeah.

Right. I mean, just by virtue of the fact, when you look at the numbers of the current outbreak in the US, if the measles vaccine was leaky and its effectiveness waned over time, you would expect way more vaccinated people to be infected, right? Yeah.

According to the CDC, in the current US outbreak, only 2% of those who have been infected were fully vaccinated. So this vaccine, it still works. And the fact that it works so well takes us to this kind of amazing possibility when it comes to measles. What is super interesting to me that I had no idea about before doing this episode is that measles doesn't infect other animals.

According to the CDC, in the current US outbreak, only 2% of those who have been infected were fully vaccinated. So this vaccine, it still works. And the fact that it works so well takes us to this kind of amazing possibility when it comes to measles. What is super interesting to me that I had no idea about before doing this episode is that measles doesn't infect other animals.

It doesn't have a reservoir in, you know, birds or pigs or pangolins or bats or anything. And so that means we could potentially eradicate measles.

It doesn't have a reservoir in, you know, birds or pigs or pangolins or bats or anything. And so that means we could potentially eradicate measles.

So we have this vaccine that works amazingly well over decades. There's no animal reservoir. Why haven't we conquered measles yet? Well, because a lot of people around the world don't have access to the vaccine. And then a lot of other people who do have access aren't vaccinating their children. And a big reason why is that they're worried about the risks here.

So we have this vaccine that works amazingly well over decades. There's no animal reservoir. Why haven't we conquered measles yet? Well, because a lot of people around the world don't have access to the vaccine. And then a lot of other people who do have access aren't vaccinating their children. And a big reason why is that they're worried about the risks here.

And, you know, this vaccine, it is made by taking the measles virus and then weakening it. And we basically inject this weakened virus into people. That's what creates this great immune response. But some worry that injecting a virus into an otherwise healthy kid is a bad idea. And you go online and people have all sorts of things to say about how dangerous this vaccine can be.

And, you know, this vaccine, it is made by taking the measles virus and then weakening it. And we basically inject this weakened virus into people. That's what creates this great immune response. But some worry that injecting a virus into an otherwise healthy kid is a bad idea. And you go online and people have all sorts of things to say about how dangerous this vaccine can be.