In this Matter of Vax series we explore diseases less talked about. Matter of Vax provides valuable insights into the significance of vaccines and their positive influence on society.
Visit Immunisation Foundation of Australia for more information (ifa.org.au) For more of Matter of Vax, visit https://www.ifa.org.au/matterofvax (https://www.ifa.org.au/matterofvax)
Visit Immunisation Foundation of Australia for more information (ifa.org.au)
Host Steph O'Connell (https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephoconnell88/) is a public health advocate who became a public voice for public awareness about preventable diseases and access to vaccines when her daughter, Lily, narrowly survived meningococcal W strain in 2017. Nine months later her sister, Grace, donated a kidney to help restore Lily’s life. Steph’s advocacy became a collaboration in 2018 with Meningococcal Australia and resulted in Meningococcal vaccination campaigns (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-BGYUVBwpxk) thanks to the Australian Government Department of Health. Lily’s story quickly resonated with audiences and became a national (https://twitter.com/i/status/1026023095960711168) and international (https://www.thesun.co.uk/fabulous/6953996/woman-30-minutes-from-death-flu-had-meningitis/) appeal for action. Today Steph continues to advocate through her series Matter of Vax, as she takes a look at topical issues affecting Australian immunisation on video (https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAl-D7r1-Xmvi1lJ0Hpw-ZSBMdOtFMxMk) and podcast (https://ghlf.org.au/matterofvax-podcast/). The series is available thanks to a collaboration with Immunisation Foundation of Australia and educational grant from GSK Australia. Matter of Vax is produced by Ampel (http://ampel.com.au/) at Myrtle & Pine Studios (myrtleandpine.com).
Catherine Hughes, a passionate immunisation advocate, recounts her personal story of loss and her mission to combat vaccine-preventable diseases. After losing her son, Riley, to whooping cough in 2015, Catherine's immunisation advocacy has led to the establishment of the Immunisation Foundation of Australia and an inspiring impact on immunisation in Australia that continues to save lives today. With insightful discussions on whooping cough and the benefits of greater access to immunisation, this episode highlights the crucial role of personal stories in public health and the relentless fight against misinformation.
Visit Immunisation Foundation of Australia for more information (ifa.org.au)
Host Steph O'Connell (https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephoconnell88/) is a public health advocate who became a public voice for public awareness about preventable diseases and access to vaccines when her daughter, Lily, narrowly survived meningococcal W strain in 2017. Nine months later her sister, Grace, donated a kidney to help restore Lily’s life. Steph’s advocacy became a collaboration in 2018 with Meningococcal Australia and resulted in Meningococcal vaccination campaigns (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-BGYUVBwpxk) thanks to the Australian Government Department of Health. Lily’s story quickly resonated with audiences and became a national (https://twitter.com/i/status/1026023095960711168) and international (https://www.thesun.co.uk/fabulous/6953996/woman-30-minutes-from-death-flu-had-meningitis/) appeal for action. Today Steph continues to advocate through her series Matter of Vax, as she takes a look at topical issues affecting Australian immunisation on video (https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAl-D7r1-Xmvi1lJ0Hpw-ZSBMdOtFMxMk) and podcast (https://ghlf.org.au/matterofvax-podcast/). The series is available thanks to a collaboration with Immunisation Foundation of Australia and educational grant from GSK Australia. Matter of Vax is produced by Ampel (http://ampel.com.au/) at Myrtle & Pine Studios.
See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.
31 Jul 2025
Vaccine Development and Safety with Professor Nicholas Wood
Nicholas Wood is a General Paediatrician, Senior Staff Specialist and Associate Director, Clinical Research and Services at the National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS), where he heads the Clinical Research, AusVaxSafety and Paediatric Active Enhanced Disease Surveillance (PAEDS) programs. Nick is a Professor in the Discipline of Child and Adolescent Health at the University of Sydney. He leads the NSW Immunisation Specialist Service. He is a senior investigator on the Primary Health Network Immunisation Support Program. Nick is interested in maternal and neonatal immunisation, as well as research into vaccine safety, including genetics and long-term outcomes of adverse events following immunisation
In this episode, Professor Wood delves into the comprehensive journey of vaccine development, from initial stages of identifying the target virus or bacteria to extensive pre-clinical and clinical trials. He explains the approval process through regulatory body, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), and the importance of post-market safety monitoring systems. The discussion also addresses public concerns, including vaccine hesitancy and vaccine development during the COVID-19 pandemic, emphasizing the robust safety measures in place to ensure public health.
Visit Immunisation Foundation of Australia for more information (ifa.org.au)
Host Steph O'Connell (https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephoconnell88/) is a public health advocate who became a public voice for public awareness about preventable diseases and access to vaccines when her daughter, Lily, narrowly survived meningococcal W strain in 2017. Nine months later her sister, Grace, donated a kidney to help restore Lily’s life. Steph’s advocacy became a collaboration in 2018 with Meningococcal Australia and resulted in Meningococcal vaccination campaigns (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-BGYUVBwpxk) thanks to the Australian Government Department of Health. Lily’s story quickly resonated with audiences and became a national (https://twitter.com/i/status/1026023095960711168) and international (https://www.thesun.co.uk/fabulous/6953996/woman-30-minutes-from-death-flu-had-meningitis/) appeal for action. Today Steph continues to advocate through her series Matter of Vax, as she takes a look at topical issues affecting Australian immunisation on video (https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAl-D7r1-Xmvi1lJ0Hpw-ZSBMdOtFMxMk) and podcast (https://ghlf.org.au/matterofvax-podcast/). The series is available thanks to a collaboration with Immunisation Foundation of Australia and educational grant from GSK Australia. Matter of Vax is produced by Ampel (http://ampel.com.au/) at Myrtle & Pine Studios (myrtleandpine.com).
See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.
31 Jul 2025
Understanding Measles and Vaccination with Professor Christopher Blyth
Professor Christopher Blyth has nearly two decades experience in clinical paediatric and infectious diseases research. He is a clinical academic, NHMRC Emerging Leadership Fellow and Director of Wesfarmers Centre for Vaccines and Infectious Diseases (https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Finfectiousdiseases.telethonkids.org.au%2F&data=05%7C02%7C%7C56119e8478e1461c1c2908dd78ddaba8%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C638799615655582762%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=fO2hbe4ZU65e20AkrVEh7wGVbhry4mY3SCLyBzgVz5g%3D&reserved=0); Telethon Kids Institute [TKI]). He is Professor of Paediatrics with the School of Medicine, University of Western Australia, a Paediatric Infectious Diseases Physician at Perth Children's Hospital (PCH). Professor Blyth was appointed as a member of the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) in 2012, serving until December 2021 and has been instrumental in a number of significant changes in national immunisation policy. In this episode, we delve into the re-emergence of measles in Australia, exploring its symptoms, spread, and the critical importance of vaccination. Professor Blyth provides insightful explanations on the high transmissibility of measles, the effectiveness of the measles vaccine, and common myths surrounding it. We also discuss the current challenges in keeping vaccination rates high, particularly in the face of public health disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and vaccine hesitancy.
Visit Immunisation Foundation of Australia for more information (ifa.org.au)
Host Steph O'Connell (https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephoconnell88/) is a public health advocate who became a public voice for public awareness about preventable diseases and access to vaccines when her daughter, Lily, narrowly survived meningococcal W strain in 2017. Nine months later her sister, Grace, donated a kidney to help restore Lily’s life. Steph’s advocacy became a collaboration in 2018 with Meningococcal Australia and resulted in Meningococcal vaccination campaigns (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-BGYUVBwpxk) thanks to the Australian Government Department of Health. Lily’s story quickly resonated with audiences and became a national (https://twitter.com/i/status/1026023095960711168) and international (https://www.thesun.co.uk/fabulous/6953996/woman-30-minutes-from-death-flu-had-meningitis/) appeal for action. Today Steph continues to advocate through her series Matter of Vax, as she takes a look at topical issues affecting Australian immunisation on video (https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAl-D7r1-Xmvi1lJ0Hpw-ZSBMdOtFMxMk) and podcast (https://ghlf.org.au/matterofvax-podcast/). The series is available thanks to a collaboration with Immunisation Foundation of Australia and educational grant from GSK Australia. Matter of Vax is produced by Ampel (http://ampel.com.au/) at Myrtle & Pine Studios (myrtleandpine.com).
See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
YouTube views
1,158
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
5 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 38 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
36
Social presence
0
YouTube
68
Engagement
32
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