Vax Matters - podcast cover

Vax Matters

Louisiana Office of Public Healthldh.la.gov
Vaccines matter. But how do we separate the truths about vaccines from the myths that we hear? In today’s instant social world, we’re flooded with factual and fictitious information every day. In Vax Matters, the new podcast from the Louisiana Office of Public Health, we work to uncover the truth and expose the myths surrounding vaccines and immunization. If you’ve got questions about vaccines, we’ve got answers. From the first vaccine ever used to the vaccines created to fight the current pandemic, we’ll dive into every immunization topic under the sun.
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Episodes

More That Matters: Kids & Exercise

In another More That Matters episode, we talk about kids’ exercise with former pro-athlete Rudy Macklin. Macklin, the current director of the Governor’s Fitness Council and Bureau of Minority Health, takes us into the world of kids’ health and how consistent activity and exercise is crucial to their health.

Oct 09, 202427 min

What Would Happen If We Stopped Vaccinating

Vaccinations have been around for centuries…but what would happen if we decided to stop giving them? Dr. Christina Lord joins us in today’s episode as we delve into the importance of vaccinations in order to protect our futures.

Sep 25, 202439 min

More That Matters: STIs in Louisiana

Listen along to find out more information on how the state of Louisiana fits into the topic of STIs, or sexually transmitted infections. Dr. John Vanchiere guest stars in this episode to discuss the types of STIs, our state’s high infection rate, treatments and prevention methods.

Sep 11, 202423 min

More That Matters: Medicaid At-A-Glance

Health insurance is needed by the masses, that’s why in this episode we take a glance at Medicaid eligibility. The Deputy Director for Medicaid eligibility at the Louisiana Department of Health, Charlene Julien, gives us an overview of important facts you should know.

Aug 28, 202414 min

RSV

Vax Matters is joined by Dr. John Vanchiere to discuss all things respiratory syncytial virus, more commonly known as RSV. Dr. Vanchiere takes us on a deep-dive into the virus including its complications, symptoms and the new immunization option available.

Aug 14, 202427 min

More That Matters: Heat Advisories & Safety

The Louisiana summer heat causes multiple heat-related illnesses for those of all ages. In this episode, we review heat advisories and the precautions you can take to stay safe while outside.

Jul 31, 202438 min

More That Matters: Water Safety & Drowning Prevention

Drowning is the leading cause of death for children in the United States. In this episode, Dr. Martha Whyte, the Regional Medical Director for Region 7, joins us to discuss facts and tips on how to stay safe around all types of water including pools, open water and even bathtubs.

Jul 17, 202430 min

Vax Matters Season 2 Trailer

It's official: we're back for Season Two of Vax Matters! Created by the Louisiana Office of Public Health, Vax Matters, and its subseries, More That Matters, discusses all the truth with none of the misinformation. Vaccinations are crucial to a healthy and growing community, which is why we release episodes filled with honest conversation and factual information. We're excited to dive into a new season filled with varying topics such as immunizations, history, health and building stronger commun...

Jul 02, 202441 sec

Young Children and COVID

Your baby won’t tell you she has COVID, but she just might have it after all. Tune in as we talk with Region 8 Medical Director Dr. Tonya Hunter on how COVID can affect young children, and what we can do to watch for the virus in our little ones.

Nov 29, 202336 min

More That Matters: Obesity

More That Matters is back… and obesity is more than meets the eye. From raising your disease risk to increasing the burden of medical bills, this chronic condition brings numerous hidden costs. Pennington Biomedical Research Center’s Melissa Martin, who heads its Greaux Healthy program, joins us on this episode to talk about obesity, its widespread consequences and what we can do to reverse the trends.

Nov 15, 202334 min

Long COVID

What is long or post-COVID condition? Clinical neurologist Dr. Michele Longo appears on the show to discuss the long-term impacts of COVID-19 both socially and individually. Dr. Longo currently works at the Tulane Center for Clinical Neurosciences at Tulane School of Medicine and runs the Tulane Neurology Post-COVID Care Clinic.

Nov 01, 202329 min

Pneumonia

Pneumonia: The disease you still hear about, but maybe don’t think too much about. A big reason is the vaccine scientists developed to help prevent it in the 1980s. Join us and Dr. Katherine Baumgarten of St. Bernard Parish Hospital and Ochsner Health as we talk through the subject.

Oct 18, 202332 min

More That Matters: Mental Health

We venture into mental health and why it’s so critical to understand, particularly as we manage mental health crises that affect individuals all over the world. Licensed mental health counselor Alfonso Holmes joins us on this episode to broaden our knowledge and understanding of the crisis.

Oct 04, 202339 min

More That Matters: The Opioid Crisis

Opioids have become a worldwide crisis again, and managing it means understanding the nature of opioids and their effects. On this More That Matters segment, Louisiana State Opioid Response Project Director Melinda Robertson lends her experience and expertise to the conversation.

Sep 20, 202347 min

Travel Safety

Planning an overseas trip? Many of the places we want to visit have diseases of their own, which require the right vaccines to protect us. Hear from Dr. MarkAlain Dery of Access Health Louisiana as he outlines the vaccines we may need in different areas of the world.

Sep 06, 202333 min

More That Matters: Sickle Cell Disease

Sickle Cell Disease affects many of us, so we’re fully diving into the topic today. While you may have heard of this disease, it is serious and widespread–disproportionately affecting Black or African American populations. Our thanks to Erin Fulbright of The Sickle Cell Association of South Louisiana for being our guest on this episode.

Aug 09, 202337 min

More That Matters: Emergency Preparedness & Generator Safety

How prepared are YOU to deal with a natural disaster? Find out on this special episode with guest Dr. Rosanne Prats, executive director of emergency response at the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals. We not only discuss emergency preparedness but also generator safety before, during and after a storm.

Jul 26, 202336 min

Shots for Tots

Do you know your child’s immunization schedule? It could save their life from a serious disease. In this episode, Dr. John Vanchiere of LSU Health in Shreveport highlights the Louisiana Shots for Tots Coalition and their work in helping parents stay up-to-date in giving their children the vaccines they need.

Jul 12, 202334 min

More That Matters: Mosquito-Borne Diseases

Get the inside scoop on the world’s most notorious disease accomplice: Mosquitoes. In this episode, we go far beyond the bites to talk about mosquitoes’ role as disease carriers throughout history, which has caused epidemics all over. Research entomologist Jennifer Breaux joins us as our guest expert.

Jun 28, 202337 min

More That Matters: HIV

Let’s talk about more that matters–like HIV. In this first special episode, we bring in guest Jimmy Gale of the Louisiana Department of Health to help us understand the devastating presence of HIV in the world.

Jun 14, 202332 min

Vaccines & The Immunocompromised

On this episode, we welcome Dr. MarkAlain Déry of Access Health Louisiana Primary Care to talk about vaccines and their relation to people with compromised immune systems. Dr. Déry specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis-C, and STIs.

May 31, 202335 min

Polio

Polio… the disease that affected millions in the 20th century and still has a presence today. This episode brings in Dr. Robert Garry of Tulane University School of Medicine to walk us through the history of polio and where it stands today.

May 17, 202330 min

Chickenpox (Varicella)

Ever heard of chickenpox?... So have we. But the notorious illness is more than meets the eye—and still exists today. Dr. James Wayne of Ochsner Health breaks down the disease and its vaccine in this episode of Vax Matters.

May 03, 202333 min

Vaccines & Disease Severity

One of the main reasons vaccines are developed is to avoid a disease’s most serious consequences. So how do vaccines match up against diseases as they get more severe? Dr. Susan Hassig of Tulane University brings her expertise to bear on the subject as she joins our show.

Apr 19, 202346 min

Why Health Equity Matters

There’s more to health equity than meets the eye. In this episode, the Louisiana Primary Care Association’s Director of Health Policy & Government Affairs Raegan Carter joins us to explain what health equity is, the barriers we currently face to achieving it and why it’s so crucial in society today.

Apr 05, 202338 min

Why Viruses Change - Variants, Strains & Mutations

Viruses have the potential to mutate and change, but why? What causes mutation in viruses? Dr. Jeremy Kamil provides us with the answers in this episode, bringing his wealth of knowledge in virus and disease spread as the Associate Professor of Microbiology and Immunology at LSU Health in Shreveport.

Mar 22, 202348 min

Vax Update: HPV & Cervical Cancer

What’s the relation between human papillomavirus (known as HPV) and cervical cancer? Is there one? LDH Regional Medical Director Dr. Tina Stefanski fills us in on this special Vax Update segment of Vax Matters.

Mar 15, 202330 min

Overcoming Barriers to Getting a Shot

Many face barriers when it comes to getting a shot. What are they and why? Dr. Lacey Cavanaugh, regional medical director for the Louisiana Department of Health’s Region 5, provides an expert’s perspective in this episode.

Mar 08, 202332 min

Safety & Approval Process of Vaccines

We’ve got plenty of vaccines in today’s world, but how does a vaccine become approved for public use? CDC Epidemiologist Dr. Evelyn Twentyman runs us through the details on this heavily discussed and relevant subject.

Feb 22, 202336 min
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