Vaccines Under Pressure: Navigating Science, Misinformation, and Political Challenges

Session Overview

In this presentation, Dr. Paul Offit and Dr. Judith O’Donnell will provide physician advocates with a comprehensive understanding of the current vaccine landscape. They will discuss the scientific foundation of vaccines, strategies for combating misinformation, and the role physicians can play in preserving public trust in vaccination programs. As political polarization intensifies, it is essential for healthcare professionals to actively engage in advocacy, educate patients, and ensure that sound science remains at the forefront of vaccine decision-making.

Featured Speakers

Paul A. Offit, MD

Paul A. Offit, MD is the Director of the Vaccine Education Center at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia as well as the Maurice R. Hilleman Professor of Vaccinology and a Professor of Pediatrics at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. He is a recipient of many awards including the J. Edmund Bradley Prize for Excellence in Pediatrics from the University of Maryland Medical School, the Young Investigator Award in Vaccine Development from the Infectious Disease Society of America, and a Research Career Development Award from the National Institutes of Health. Dr. Offit has published more than 170 papers in medical and scientific journals in the areas of rotavirus-specific immune responses and vaccine safety. He is also the co-inventor of the rotavirus vaccine, RotaTeq, recommended for universal use in infants by the CDC in 2006 and by the WHO in 2013. Dr. Offit was a member of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is currently a member of the FDA’s Vaccine Advisory Committee.

Judith O’Donnell, MD

Dr. Judith O’Donnell is an Associate Chief Medical Officer for Healthcare Epidemiology, within the University of Pennsylvania Health System. She is also the Director and a Senior Epidemiologist, at the Department of Infection Prevention & Control Penn Presbyterian Medical Center. Dr. O’Donnell is also a Professor of Clinical Medicine (Infectious Diseases). 

Why This Matters

Reports recently emerged that the FDA’s Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC) meeting, scheduled for March 13, has been canceled. Dr. Paul Offit, a member of the committee, confirmed the cancellation, highlighting the increasing challenges in vaccine policy amid a rapidly evolving political climate. This disruption underscores the growing difficulty of maintaining transparent, science-driven processes for vaccine approval and policy decisions, especially with rising political interference in public health matters.

CME Objectives

• Physicians will gain insights into how political factors, such as the recent cancellation of the VRBPAC meeting, are influencing vaccine policy and approval processes, and how they can respond to these challenges in their practice.
• Physicians will learn strategies to address and counteract vaccine misinformation, empowering them to have informed, trust-building conversations with patients and the public.
•  Physicians will explore their role in advocating for evidence-based vaccine policies and ensuring that scientific integrity remains central to public health decision-making, even amid political polarization.

How to Attend

📅 Date: Wednesday, April 23, 2025
🕗 Time: 8:00 – 9:00 PM ET
📍 Location: Live Stream Event
🔗 Registration: Click here to register

About the Advocacy Grand Rounds

The purpose of our Advocacy Grand Rounds series is to provide physicians, medical trainees, and other health care professionals in our network with monthly trainings and courses to supplement their advocacy efforts. Members have the opportunity to obtain CME credits for specially accredited 1-hour events.

Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from leaders in healthcare advocacy and to begin integrating electoral advocacy into your professional journey!