Vaccination has transformed public health by protecting individuals and communities from preventable diseases, yet it has become an increasingly controversial topic. As more people choose to delay or skip recommended vaccines, larger segments of the population become vulnerable to disease outbreaks. This lecture explores the history of vaccination, how vaccines work, their safety, and the ongoing debate surrounding their use.

Presenter: Kenneth LaPensee, PhD, MPH is an epidemiologist and health economist with years of experience in infectious disease in the pharmaceutical industry. He has authored journal articles on treatments for infectious and chronic diseases and educational articles on vaccine development. He contributed to strategies to combat pneumonia and Covid-19.