logo
episode-header-image
Jun 2025
45m 39s

Information Inoculation: Why we need to ...

TED
About this episode

Ethan Lindenberger never got vaccinated as a kid. So one day, he went on Reddit and asked a simple question: "Where do I go to get vaccinated?" The post went viral, landing Lindenberger in the middle of a heated debate about vaccination and, ultimately, in front of a US Senate committee. The high school senior reports back on his unexpected time in the spotlight and a new movement he's leading to fight misinformation and advocate for scientific truth.


After the talk, Shoshana Ungerleider, host of TED Health, interviews sociologist Jennifer Reich to answer the question: “Where does vaccine mistrust come from?” They also discuss why transparency in clinical trials and federal advisory boards is key to gaining community trust. (This episode is part of the "Information Inoculation," a mini-series on TED Health that explores how to defend against medical myths.)


Want to help shape TED’s shows going forward? Fill out our survey!


Become a TED Member today at ted.com/join


Learn more about TED Next at ted.com/futureyou


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Up next
Yesterday
The best thing that could happen to the energy industry | Matt Tilleard
History has been written by whoever controls the dominant fuel of the era — until now, says renewables entrepreneur Matt Tilleard. He explains why, as the clean energy transition ramps up, we’re moving from a world where energy comes from burning fuels to one where it will come f ... Show More
13m 51s
Oct 7
Inside the Gaza peace plan | Ian Bremmer
October 7 marks the second anniversary of Hamas' horrific attack on Israel — and Israel's devastating response. Political scientist Ian Bremmer unravels the intricate dynamics of President Trump's ambitious peace plan, the stark realities facing Gaza, how Israeli Prime Minister N ... Show More
39m 48s
Oct 6
Going viral taught me the internet is broken — but fixable | Deja Foxx
Digital strategist Deja Foxx went viral for speaking up at a town meeting — and then learned the harsh cost of being in social media’s crosshairs. She welcomes us to the “girl internet,” a growing ecosystem of women-led platforms that prioritize privacy, community and respect. "W ... Show More
11m 41s
Recommended Episodes
Jun 2025
Information Inoculation: Defending Against Medical Myths: Why we need to fight misinformation about vaccines | Ethan Lindenberger
Ethan Lindenberger never got vaccinated as a kid. So one day, he went on Reddit and asked a simple question: "Where do I go to get vaccinated?" The post went viral, landing Lindenberger in the middle of a heated debate about vaccination and, ultimately, in front of a US Senate co ... Show More
44m 23s
Jun 2025
Information Inoculation: Defending Against Medical Myths: Why we need to fight misinformation about vaccines | from TED Health
Ethan Lindenberger never got vaccinated as a kid. So one day, he went on Reddit and asked a simple question: "Where do I go to get vaccinated?" The post went viral, landing Lindenberger in the middle of a heated debate about vaccination and, ultimately, in front of a US Senate co ... Show More
45m 3s
Jun 2025
Information Inoculation: Defending Against Medical Myths: Why do you need to get a flu shot every year? | Melvin Sanicas
All year long, researchers at hospitals around the world collect samples from flu patients and send them to top virology experts with one goal: to design the vaccine for the next flu season. But why do we need a new one every year? Vaccines for diseases like mumps and rubella off ... Show More
30m 33s
Sep 3
Here are your COVID vaccine questions answered
The one thing certain about the COVID vaccine right now is that everything about it is changing.The Food and Drug Administration recently approved the next round of COVID-19 vaccines for the fall season, but it significantly changed who can get it.The move comes amidst a broader ... Show More
11m 14s
Jun 2025
Information Inoculation: Defending Against Medical Myths: The real reason polio is so dangerous | Dan Kwartler
In 1952, polio was everywhere: killing or paralyzing roughly half a million people annually. Yet just 10 years later, paralytic polio cases in the US dropped by 96% and we were on track to get rid of polio for good. But in recent years, the virus started striking back. So, what’s ... Show More
34m 45s
Aug 5
VACCINES: HONEST ANSWERS with Dr Joel Warsh
Pediatrician Dr Joel Gator Warsh who also holds and MS in epidemiology joins Jillian to have a deep thoughtful nuanced discussion about vaccines. Dr Warsh presents ALL the research and evidence behind each vaccine on the CDC schedule. He tackles the Covid shot debate head on. We ... Show More
1h 23m
May 2025
Special Episode: Dr. Adam Ratner & Booster Shots
For the past few months, measles has been in regular rotation in the news cycle here in the US, with outbreaks occurring across the country in regions with low vaccine uptake. These outbreaks represent a worrying trend in the rejection of scientific and medical expertise, with lo ... Show More
52m 32s
Jan 2025
The TRUTH About Vaccines for Kids (A Pediatrician Speaks Out on the Risks) | Joel "Gator" Warsh : 1238
Are we protecting our kids—or unknowingly putting their health at risk? Dr. Joel “Gator” Warsh isn’t just another pediatrician; he’s a bold voice speaking out on the vaccine debate that’s dividing parents, doctors, and society. In this episode, we pull back the curtain on one of ... Show More
1h 26m
Sep 13
166. The World’s Most Effective Public Health Intervention Is Under Attack
Seth Berkley used to run the world's largest vaccine funding organization. He and Steve talk about the incredible value of vaccines, the economics of immunizing the developing world, and the current attacks on public health. SOURCES:Seth Berkley, epidemiologist at Brown Universit ... Show More
1h 1m
Feb 2025
The Anti-Vaccine Movement
The alleged link between vaccines and autism was first published in 1998, in a since-retracted study in medical journal The Lancet. The claim has been repeatedly disproven: there is no evidence that vaccines and autism are related. But by the mid-2000s, the myth was out there, an ... Show More
48m 48s