Paul Offit, MD: The Cost of Medical Innovation, DDT and Malaria, and Bivalent Covid-19 Boosters

In this conversation, Daniel Belkin and Mitch Belkin interview Paul Offit, MD about his book You Bet Your Life, how banning DDT caused increased deaths from malaria, and the data regarding the bivalent booster as of October 2022. They discuss the human price paid for medical advances, sins of commission versus sins of omission, which populations should get bivalent boosters, short versus long incubation period viruses, and vaccine-related myocarditis.

Who is Paul Offit?

Dr. Offit is the Director of the Vaccine Education Center and an attending in the Division of Infectious Diseases at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. He is on the FDA's Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee. In addition, he was the co-inventor of the RotaTeq vaccine for rotavirus, has published over 130 papers in medical and scientific journals, and is the author of many books on vaccines, antibiotics, medical overuse, and medical history. including You Bet Your Life.

If you didn’t see our initial episode with Dr. Paul Offit, check it out.

What is the External Medicine Podcast?

The External Medicine Podcast explores some of the most exciting ideas in medicine. Co-hosted by Daniel Belkin, MD, and Mitch Belkin, MD.