S6, Ep 1- Vaccine Hesitancy & Access: What Our Latest Survey Reveals

In this season premiere of Healthcare Matters, our hosts are joined by Seth Ginsberg, President and Co-Founder of the Global Healthy Living Foundation (GHLF), to discuss the critical role of vaccines in public health and the persistent challenges of misinformation, access barriers, and vaccine hesitancy. They also delve into the concerning findings from GHLF’s latest vaccine quick poll, which reveals that over 11 percent of respondents do not plan to get vaccinated during the 2024-2025 respiratory season. The conversation highlights the urgent need for education, advocacy, and policy reform to rebuild public trust and ensure equitable vaccine access.

Tune in to learn more about the survey results and discover how health care providers, policymakers, and organizations like GHLF can collaborate to drive meaningful change.

Among the highlights in this episode:

01:48: Dr. Popovian, Chief Science Policy Officer at GHLF, explains why vaccines are considered the most cost-effective health care intervention, citing historical examples such as the eradication of smallpox and the economic benefits of high immunization rates

04:37: Ben Blanc, Associate Director, Digital Production and Engagement at GHLF, comments on the results of GHLF’s latest survey, highlighting that 11% of chronic disease patients surveyed do not plan to get vaccinated this respiratory season

06:45: Dr. Popovian breaks down key barriers preventing access, including out-of-pocket costs, logistical and geographic barriers, especially in underserved communities, and policy restrictions preventing pharmacists from administering vaccines in certain states

08:32: Seth Ginsberg, President and co-founder of GHLF, explains why advocacy is crucial in addressing vaccine hesitancy, especially among chronic disease patients. He highlights that 89% of survey respondents trust health care providers for vaccine information — showing that physicians and pharmacists play a key role in combating misinformation

10:37: Seth recommends listeners to listen to the recent second season of GHLF’s Informed Immunity podcast series, designed to provide credible, relatable, and engaging vaccine education

13:30: Dr. Popovian references new CDC data on increasing COVID-19, RSV, and flu hospitalizations and warns that the situation will worsen without increased vaccination rates

14:20: Seth raises the issue of growing distrust in pharmaceutical companies, which contributes to vaccine hesitancy

15:05: Dr. Popovian debunks two major myths:

Myth #1: "If I get vaccinated, I’ll never get sick." Vaccines don’t prevent all infections but significantly reduce severity, hospitalizations, and deaths

Myth #2: "Natural immunity is better than vaccines." Natural immunity may be as effective as vaccine-induced immunity, but it comes with far greater risks — especially for vulnerable populations

16:57: Seth introduces the 50-State Network’s Advocating for Vaccines training, an essential new tool to help patients effectively share their personal story and advocate for policies that improve vaccine access. For more information about the program, visit: https://ghlf.org/vaccine-training-page/

19:01: Dr. Popovian expresses concern over how Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s anti-vaccine stance could worsen vaccine hesitancy

21:51: Seth emphasizes the need for collaboration between health care providers, patient advocacy groups, policymakers, and manufacturers to improve vaccine uptake

22:30: Dr. Popovian adds that health care professionals must take responsibility by educating patients, having real conversations, and addressing concerns transparently

24:38: Dr. Popovian shares some final thoughts

To read more about GHLF’s latest vaccine survey results, visit: https://creakyjoints.org/living-with-arthritis/coronavirus/patient-perspectives/poll-vaccine-confidence/

Contact Our Hosts

Dr. Robert Popovian, Chief Science Policy Officer at GHLF: rpopovian@ghlf.org

Ben Blanc, Director, Digital Production and Engagement at GHLF: bblanc@ghlf.org

A podcast series produced by Ben Blanc.

We want to hear what you think. Send your comments, or a video or audio clip of yourself, to podcasts@ghlf.org

Listen to all episodes of Healthcare Matters on our website or on your favorite podcast channel.

S6, Ep 1- Vaccine Hesitancy &amp; Access: What Our Latest Survey Reveals
In this season premiere of Healthcare Matters, our hosts are joined by Seth Ginsberg, President and Co-Founder of the Global Healthy Living Foundation (GHLF), to discuss the critical role of vaccines in public health and the persistent challenges of misinformation, access barriers, and vaccine hesitancy. They also delve into the concerning findings from GHLF&rsquo;s latest vaccine quick poll, which reveals that over 11 percent of respondents do not plan to get vaccinated during the 2024-2025 respiratory season. The conversation highlights the urgent need for education, advocacy, and policy reform to rebuild public trust and ensure equitable vaccine access.
Tune in to learn more about the survey results and discover how health care providers, policymakers, and organizations like GHLF can collaborate to drive meaningful change.
Among the highlights in this episode:
01:48: Dr. Popovian, Chief Science Policy Officer at GHLF, explains why vaccines are considered the most cost-effective health care intervention, citing historical examples such as the eradication of smallpox and the economic benefits of high immunization rates
04:37: Ben Blanc, Associate Director, Digital Production and Engagement at GHLF, comments on the results of GHLF&rsquo;s latest survey, highlighting that 11% of chronic disease patients surveyed do not plan to get vaccinated this respiratory season
06:45: Dr. Popovian breaks down key barriers preventing access, including out-of-pocket costs, logistical and geographic barriers, especially in underserved communities, and policy restrictions preventing pharmacists from administering vaccines in certain states
08:32: Seth Ginsberg, President and co-founder of GHLF, explains why advocacy is crucial in addressing vaccine hesitancy, especially among chronic disease patients. He highlights that 89% of survey respondents trust health care providers for vaccine information &mdash; showing that physicians and pharmacists play a key role in combating misinformation
10:37: Seth recommends listeners to listen to the recent second season of GHLF&rsquo;s <a href="https://ghlf.org/informed-immunity/">Informed Immunity</a> podcast series, designed to provide credible, relatable, and engaging vaccine education
13:30: Dr. Popovian references new CDC data on increasing COVID-19, RSV, and flu hospitalizations and warns that the situation will worsen without increased vaccination rates
14:20: Seth raises the issue of growing distrust in pharmaceutical companies, which contributes to vaccine hesitancy
15:05: Dr. Popovian debunks two major myths:
Myth #1: "If I get vaccinated, I&rsquo;ll never get sick." Vaccines don&rsquo;t prevent all infections but significantly reduce severity, hospitalizations, and deaths
Myth #2: "Natural immunity is better than vaccines." Natural immunity may be as effective as vaccine-induced immunity, but it comes with far greater risks &mdash; especially for vulnerable populations
16:57: Seth introduces the 50-State Network&rsquo;s Advocating for Vaccines training, an essential new tool to help patients effectively share their personal story and advocate for policies that improve vaccine access. For more information about the program, visit: <a href="https://ghlf.org/vaccine-training-page/">https://ghlf.org/vaccine-training-page/</a>
19:01: Dr. Popovian expresses concern over how Robert F. Kennedy Jr.&rsquo;s anti-vaccine stance could worsen vaccine hesitancy
21:51: Seth emphasizes the need for collaboration between health care providers, patient advocacy groups, policymakers, and manufacturers to improve vaccine uptake
22:30: Dr. Popovian adds that health care professionals must take responsibility by educating patients, having real conversations, and addressing concerns transparently
24:38: Dr. Popovian shares some final thoughts
To read more about GHLF&rsquo;s latest vaccine survey results, visit: <a href="https://creakyjoints.org/living-with-arthritis/coronavirus/patient-perspectives/poll-vaccine-confidence/">https://creakyjoints.org/living-with-arthritis/coronavirus/patient-perspectives/poll-vaccine-confidence/</a>
Contact Our Hosts
Dr. Robert Popovian, Chief Science Policy Officer at GHLF: <a href="mailto:rpopovian@ghlf.org">rpopovian@ghlf.org</a>
Ben Blanc, Director, Digital Production and Engagement at GHLF: <a href="mailto:bblanc@ghlf.org">bblanc@ghlf.org</a>
A podcast series produced by Ben Blanc.
We want to hear what you think. Send your comments, or a video or audio clip of yourself, to <a href="mailto:podcasts@ghlf.org">podcasts@ghlf.org</a>
Listen to all episodes of Healthcare Matters on our website or on your favorite podcast channel.

Welcome to Healthcare Matters! In this podcast, we talk about 'matters' in healthcare and why it matters to you! 

Our host Ben Blanc will speak with our talented Chief Science Officer Robert Popovian. And together, we will take on some pretty complex topics and distil them, so everyone can understand what is happening in the world of healthcare. 

The show is brought to you by the Global Healthy Living Foundation. 

www.ghlf.org

Welcome to Healthcare Matters! In this podcast, we talk about 'matters' in healthcare and why it matters to you! 
Our host Ben Blanc will speak with our talented Chief Science Officer Robert Popovian. And together, we will take on some pretty complex topics and distil them, so everyone can understand what is happening in the world of healthcare. 
The show is brought to you by the Global Healthy Living Foundation. 
www.ghlf.org

Healthcare Matters

A podcast that pulls back the curtain to help you make sense of complex healthcare economics and policy issues. Our goal is to help simplify the complexities in healthcare economics and policy issues for you.

The podcast is part of the Global Healthy Living Foundation Podcast Network and hosted by Dr. Robert Popovian, Chief Science Policy Officer at GHLF and Ben Blanc, Associate Director, Digital Production and Engagement at GHLF.

A podcast that pulls back the curtain to help you make sense of complex healthcare economics and policy issues. Our goal is to help simplify the complexities in healthcare economics and policy issues for you.
The podcast is part of the Global Healthy Living Foundation Podcast Network and hosted by Dr. Robert Popovian, Chief Science Policy Officer at GHLF and Ben Blanc, Associate Director, Digital Production and Engagement at GHLF.

Advertisement