Vaccine Questions saw its host, science journalist Dick Ahlstrom, put the public’s most pressing questions on vaccines to some of Ireland’s leading specialists in the fields of public health and disease modelling, human behaviour and bioethics, and vaccine science and safety.

Speaking about the show, host Dick Ahlstrom described it well when he said:

“This was a really exciting project to work on as each episode responded in real time to people’s questions as new information and announcements came out. The guests were all leaders in their field who could give the most up-to-the-minute information about progress on vaccinations and a well-rounded analysis of the issues. They were the ones who kept the science to the fore and their generous contributions ensured that the podcasts were all timely and relevant to listeners.’

From discovering how science is helping us tackle the spread of COVID-19 and the human behaviours at play in response to the crisis, to global solidarity and vaccine equity, this insightful and informative series explored the pandemic and vaccination roll-out through a variety of lenses, providing listeners with reliable and trustworthy information when they needed it most.

Episode 1: COVID-19 vaccine safety with Professor Luke O’Neill from the School of Biochemistry and Immunology at Trinity College Dublin.

Synopsis: Professor O’Neill discussed what clinical trials reveal about vaccine effectiveness; why the rapid development of vaccines is a game-changer; the collaboration between the global research community that made it all possible; and the stringent scientific and regulatory processes involved in vaccine approval.

Choice quote: “95% vaccine efficacy is absolutely gobsmacking.”

Listen back to episode 1 here

Episode 2: Crunching the numbers with Professor Philip Nolan, President of Maynooth University and Chair of the Irish Epidemiological Modelling Advisory Group to the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET).

Synopsis: News coverage of the pandemic is full of case numbers and statistics. Professor Nolan explained what these mean and the role of data modelling in helping to understand the virus’s behaviour. Separately, virologist Dr Gerald Barry explained how the different vaccines work and answered questions on vaccine efficacy for those with reduced immunity.

Choice quote: “You never know you need an infectious disease modeller until you need one.” (Professor Philip Nolan).

Listen back to episode 2 here

Episode 3: Getting the jab with Dr Lucy Jessop, Director of Public Health at the National Immunisation Office.

Synopsis: Dr Jessop addressed practical questions on when, where and how people get vaccinated. She also shared knowledge on the efficacy of the different vaccines; vaccine effectiveness for those on immunosuppressive drugs; the wait time between first and second doses; and vaccine safety for those who are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Choice quote: “All the vaccines are very effective at preventing severe illness and death.”

Listen back to episode 3 here

Episode 4: Trust and reliability with Emer Cooke, Head of the European Medicines Agency (EMA).

Synopsis: Ms Cooke discussed the EMA’s role in evaluating the safety, reliability and efficacy of vaccines before they are authorised by the European Commission and made available in Ireland, explaining how toxicologists, virologists, immunologists and other experts across a wide range of therapeutic areas assess any new medical product for the European population. She also answered questions on the long-term safety of vaccines, explained how the EMA is transparent and engages with the public, and shared her perspective on the benefits of vaccines.

Choice quote: “We look at the safety, efficacy, and the quality of every new medicine and ask the companies to do specific tests that are internationally recognised that determine the risks and benefits.”

Listen back to episode 4 here

Episode 5: Inoculation against misinformation with Professor Jane Suiter, Director of the Institute for Future Media, Democracy and Society at DCU.

Synopsis: Professor Suiter discussed what drives the spread of disinformation and how it can undermine vaccination programmes, describing the difference between misinformation, disinformation and fake news. She also explained where these terms originated; how they have evolved over time; what makes people susceptible to misinformation; and what can be done to tackle it by those who own, regulate or use social media.

Choice quote: “The vital thing is to stop and think before you like and share.”

Listen back to episode 5 here

Episode 6: Vaccine solidarity with Dr Siobhán O’Sullivan, Chief Bioethics Officer at the Department of Health.

Synopsis: The pandemic has presented its fair share of complex decision-making, and in this episode, Dr O’Sullivan explained the role of bioethics in helping to guide government officials and the wider public with decisions like who gets the vaccine first, to conversations around vaccine passports, making vaccines mandatory and vaccine equity. She also discussed the outpouring of social and global solidarity as a legacy of the pandemic, from online videos of people making sourdough bread during the first lockdown, to broader support for vaccine equity.

Choice quote: “Bioethics is something that resonates a lot with people even if they don’t know that they’re talking about bioethical issues.”

Listen back to episode 6 here

Episode 7: Understanding human behaviour with Professor Pete Lunn, Head of the Economic and Social Research Institute’s Behavioural Research Unit and member of a subgroup that advises NPHET on the public response to the pandemic.

Synopsis: Professor Lunn shared his research insights on how our behaviour impacts the spread of COVID-19 and the role of behavioural science in encouraging people to see the pandemic as a collective action problem and make sacrifices for the public good.

Choice quote: “Our collective behaviour has determined how the disease is transmitted”.

Listen back to episode 7 here

Episode 8: Looking to the future with Christine Loscher, Professor of Immunology at DCU.

Synopsis: Professor Loscher shared her views on the public’s renewed perception of scientists and the value and urgency of science demonstrated by the pandemic. She set out how Ireland has performed in terms of its vaccination programme and what we have learned about the virus and vaccines over the last year. She also shared the most up-to-date information on vaccines for children; booster shots; how we can learn to live with COVID-19; what that will look like; and what’s in store for future vaccine development.

Choice quote: “Science was such a huge part of how we solved this problem.”

Listen back to episode 8 here

The entire Vaccine Questions podcast is available on the Royal Irish Academy webpage or on Soundcloud, Spotify, Apple Podcasts and all major listening apps.

Further reading:

Discover more about the many ways the HRB is supporting and advancing the fight against COVID-19.