"I Used to Trust Vaccines. In the Next Pandemic, I Wouldn't." Five Americans Explain What Changed
Podcast: Why Should I Trust You?Published On: Thu Jul 23 2026
Description: If a new pandemic struck tomorrow and scientists developed a vaccine in record time, would you take it? In this episode, we hear from a group of friends of the show and newcomers who describe themselves as vaccine-hesitant. Once broadly supportive of vaccines, they explain how their experiences during the pandemic changed their views. From concerns about mRNA technology and the speed of development to public health messaging and mandates, we explore how and why their perspectives changed, and trust was lost. While a large body of scientific research holds that the COVID vaccines were safe and significantly reduced severe illness and death, we examine why that evidence remains unpersuasive to them today, just as it was during the pandemic. Finally, we tackle what that means for their trust in the broader medical and public health community today.Hosts:Brinda AdhikariTom JohnsonMaggie BartlettDr. Mark AbdelmalekGuests:Aaron Everitt, Ft. Collins, ColoradoJeff Hutt, Corpus Christi, TexasLori O'Connell, Darlington, PennsylvaniaDaniel DeLuca, Athens, OhioTheresa Dixon, Frederick, MarylandThanks for listening! If you like us, please leave a review, rate us, and please subscribe! Got questions? Comments? We'd love to hear from you! Email us at questions@whyshoulditrustyou.net
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