2022 Texas Vaccine Policy Symposium — Q&A with Dr. Peter J. Hotez

Oct. 14, 2022 Vaccines are one of the most effective ways to reduce the spread of disease and prevent deaths. On a global scale, vaccines prevent more than 4 million deaths each year. However, the politicization of vaccines over the past two years has resulted in increased vaccine hesitancy among U.S. citizens. At the 2022 Texas Vaccine Policy Symposium, researchers and stakeholders across the state discussed the impact of vaccines in Texas — and the lessons learned over the past two years as policymakers look ahead to the 88th Texas legislative session, which starts in January 2023. They also considered ways to uncouple vaccines from politics and how to effectively advocate for policies that can improve access to vaccines for those who need them most. The symposium included two panels that discussed vaccine costs, equity, misinformation and stakeholder concerns about public health. Following the panels, Dr. Peter J. Hotez, an internationally recognized vaccine scientist at the Baylor College of Medicine and the Baker Institute fellow in disease and poverty, provided a keynote address. Q&A with Dr. Peter Hotez Moderator: Thomas C. Killian, Ph.D., Dean, Wiess School of Natural Sciences; Professor, Physics and Astronomy, Rice University Peter J. Hotez, M.D., Ph.D. Fellow in Disease and Poverty, Baker Institute; Dean, National School of Tropical Medicine; Professor of Pediatrics and Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine Follow the Baker Institute on social media Twitter ►►   / bakerinstitute   Facebook ►►   / bakerinstitute   LinkedIn ►► https://bit.ly/LinkedIn-BakerInstitute About the Baker Institute The Baker Institute is a nonpartisan public policy institute at Rice University. Ranked the No. 1 university-based think tank in the world, its mission is to bridge the world of ideas and the world of action. Visit our website to learn more: https://www.bakerinstitute.org/.