Episode 131 hosts Professor Nigel Crawford, a vaccine specialist based in Melbourne, Australia. Professor Crawford acts in a number of key positions for vaccine safety including: - Member of ATAGI (Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation) & Chair of the COVID-19 Working Group - Medical Head of Immunisation Services at The Royal Childrens Hospital, Melbourne - Director of SAEFVIC (Surveillance of Adverse Events Following Vaccination in the Community) - Director of the Melbourne Vaccine Education Centre In this special episode we cover the entire spectrum of how and why COVID-19 vaccinations are being used in the fight against the ongoing pandemic. We explore: - which ones are available in Australia and how the mechanism of these differs? - what exactly an mRNA vaccine is vs more traditional vaccinations and are these safe? - what a spike protein is exactly and whether it's dangerous to deliberately make these within our cells? - how multiple different vaccines were developed in several countries so quickly and whether there are any safety concerns to be worried about? - the side effects with COVID-19 vaccines and also find out more about the rare risk of atypical unusual clots ('TTS') with the Astra Zenica vaccination - why Australia has been slower to vaccinate, vaccine hesitancy and the 'anti-vax' perspective -  are the vaccinations are safe in pregnant women, can they cause infertility or even auto-immune disease? - what the future holds for Australia and how we might end the current lock downs This information does not replace a bespoke consultation and all Australians should visit the following link to plan and book their COVID-19 vaccination: https://covid-vaccine.healthdirect.gov.au/eligibility?lang=en   Show your support for IA via Patreon Follow IA on Instagram Visit our website  Subscribe to IA on Apple Podcasts Subscribe to IA on Spotify Contact Dr Jake & David  More about Dr Jake Follow Dr Jake on Instagram  Follow David on Instagram  About Professor Crawford: https://www.mcri.edu.au/users/dr-nigel-crawford