Health Research Board support RIA Vaccine Questions podcast

In each episode, science journalist Dick Ahlstrom chats with experts from public health, immunology, virology, statistics, bioethics to behavioural science about how science is helping us to tackle the spread of coronavirus. By asking these experts your questions on vaccines and vaccination the podcast aims to provide the public with a reliable source of information on these topics. 

In our first episode Dick spoke to immunologist Luke O’Neill, MRIA about the first COVID-19 vaccines given on the island of Ireland in December and why the rapid development of these vaccines is such an amazing achievement for science. They discussed the scientific and regulatory process in involved in vaccine approval and Luke answered people’s questions about the safety of vaccination for them and their loved ones. 

Episode 2, released on Wednesday 3 February, features Professor Philip Nolan, Chair of the Irish Epidemiological Modelling Advisory Group to NPHET, and Dr Gerald Barry, Assistant Professor of Virology, at University College Dublin. Dick asks Philip to explain the numbers we hear on the news, how predictions about case numbers are made, and whether they might be able to predict when vaccination will help life get back to normal. Dr Gerald Barry answers some listener questions. 

Available on Soundcloud, Spotify, Apple Podcasts and all major listening apps.

Participate in our podcast series

Do you have questions about the coronavirus vaccines or vaccination in general? Please email them to vaccinequestions@ria.ie along with your name and location.

In some cases, your question may be asked giving your name and location as you provide it, unless you state otherwise. Your contact details will never be shared. Please ensure you have read our data privacy policy. 

This series is organised by the Life and Medical Sciences Committee in partnership with the Health Research Board