2025 has brought new heights for vaccine innovation — and new lows in public trust. Medical Economics and Infection Control Today convened a panel of frontline physicians, policy leaders and infectious disease experts to unpack recent policy shifts, the impact of vaccine hesitancy and how we move forward with evidence, empathy and action.

Panelists
William Schaffner, M.D., Professor of Preventive Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine

Charles Vega, M.D., FAAFP, Clinical Professor of Family Medicine, Associate Dean for Culture and Community Education, University of California, Irvine

Georges Benjamin, M.D., FACP, Executive Director, American Public Health Association

Jen Brull, M.D., FAAFP, President, American Academy of Family Physicians

Tina Q. Tan, M.D., FIDSA, FPIDS, FAAP, President, Infectious Diseases Society of America, Professor of Pediatrics, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University

Moderator:
Heather Stoltzfus, M.P.H., R.N., CIC Research nurse program manager, Johns Hopkins University Division of Infectious Disease, Consultant, Broad Street Prevention, Editorial Adviser, Infection Control Today

Music Credits:
BARRICADE by Killer Chops - stock.adobe.com

Vaccine panelist introductions (2:14 to 4:13)

Opening thoughts on 2025’s vaccination challenges (4:14 to 10:44)

The state of vaccine innovation (10:45 to 16:22)

Vaccine politics: ‘They’ve taken apart the infrastructure to get shots in arms’ (16:23 to 20:00)

Pediatric vaccines: Rates decline, parental skepticism grows (20:01 to 23:30)

Confronting the lack of public vaccine education (23:31 to 30:05)

Addressing vaccine-skeptical patients (30:06 to 35:05)

Rebuilding confidence in vaccination (35:06 to 37:54)

The role of medical societies in vaccine advocacy (37:55 to 44:37)

Practical tips for physicians to combat misinformation (44:38 to 50:26)

Closing thoughts on vaccines in 2025 (50:27 to 56:14)

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Physician panel: Navigating the 2025 vaccination crisis