TED Talks Daily
Information Inoculation: Why we need to fight misinformation about vaccines | TED Health
08 Jun 2025
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.)For a chance to give your own TED Talk, fill out the Idea Search Application: ted.com/ideasearch.Interested in learning more about upcoming TED events? Follow these links:TEDNext: ted.com/futureyouTEDSports: ted.com/sportsTEDAI Vienna: ted.com/ai-viennaTEDAI San Francisco: ted.com/ai-sf Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Full Episode
Hey, TED Talks Daily listeners, I'm Elise Hu. Today, an episode of another podcast from the TED Audio Collective, handpicked for you by us. This summer, TED Health is bringing you a special mini-series all about vaccines called Information Inoculation.
Featuring conversations with some of the nation's leading experts in public health and epidemiology, this series is all about why vaccines matter, how to avoid medical misinformation, and making sure you're equipped to make the best choices for your life and for your community. Today's episode features a talk by Ethan Lindenberger, a young activist fighting against vaccine disinformation.
Then host Shoshana Ungerleider sits down with Jennifer Reich, an expert on vaccine hesitancy. Jennifer explains where people's concerns about vaccines come from and offers helpful advice for having conversations about this increasingly polarizing subject. You can listen to more of this special series on TED Health wherever you get your podcasts.
Learn more about the TED Audio Collective at audiocollective.ted.com.
This is TED Health, a podcast from TED, and I'm your host, Dr. Shoshana Ungerleider. Speaking up for what's true, especially when it's personal, isn't easy. But in a world where misinformation about health spreads fast and loud, choosing to use your voice can be a powerful act of courage. Today we're kicking off a special mini-series on vaccines.
And in a time when misinformation spreads quicker than facts, understanding vaccines has never been more critical to our personal and public health. This mini-series explores how trust in science is built and how it's broken through real stories, expert insights, and what we can all do to stay informed.
As our public health systems face mounting challenges, this series offers the clarity and context everyone needs to make confident, evidence-based choices. In today's episode, you'll hear from someone who did just that. Ethan Lindenberger didn't set out to start a movement. He just asked a question.
And in doing so, he stepped into one of the most polarizing public health conversations of our time. His story is a reminder that you don't have to be an expert to make an impact. You just have to be willing to stand up for what's real, even when it's uncomfortable. Because protecting our health and the health of others often starts with one brave decision to speak out.
Then stick around after the talk for an interview with Dr. Jennifer Reich, an expert on why some parents choose to not vaccinate their children. But before we dive in, a quick break to hear from our sponsors.
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