The University of Wisconsin’s Morgridge Institute for Research hosted a Fearless Science Forum about the importance of vaccinations. A panel included infectious disease experts from across the university including Jorge Osorio, DVM, MS, PhD, professor of veterinary medicine, Nasia Safdar, MD, PhD, professor of medicine, and John Williams, MD, professor of pediatrics. The discussion was moderated by Paul Ahlquist, PhD, associate director of the McArdle Laboratory for Cancer Research.
John Williams, MD, professor, department chair, Division of Infectious Diseases, stressed the importance of vaccine trials, which are monitored by an outside safety board of experts. Trials are either stopped because the vaccine is clearly unsafe and causing harmful side effects or because the vaccine is clearly effective, becoming unethical for researchers to continue with the placebo group. Williams emphasized that it is important to participate in these safety committees, despite the extra work.
“I think all of us who have seen the power of vaccines are willing to do that [be on the board] for the benefit for humans,” Williams said.
“’Vaccines don’t save lives. Vaccinations do’: Experts talk vaccine safety, misinformation” was published by the The Badger Herald on October 31, 2025.