Cocooned Health

 “Can a single vaccine (BCG) on the first day of life protect against many unrelated infections?” Expert Guests: Professor Tobias Kollmann and Assistant Professor Nelly Amenyogbe
 
What about if you could give your baby a vaccine on day 1 of life and it would protect against many infections. This sounds almost like a miracle or fantasy that a single vaccine could protect against many unrelated infections. This episode looks at the BCG vaccine and how it offers young babies more than just protection against tuberculosis. This episode will transform your understanding of how vaccines work, the potential for future developments, and a tiny intro into why your baby's immunity is so special. Experts have been slow to embrace this phenomenon of the broad effects of vaccines because of dogma about how the immune system works. Some other scientists have criticised the evidence as being too weak.  But things are changing and we are thrilled to discuss it with our guests who not only will help share some of the history on how the knowledge of this came about but what their work has done for the field in pushing forward our understanding on the baby’s immune system and how this vaccine effect might work. 
 
Dr Eliz Kilich, with co‑host Dr Lydia Yarlott, are joined today by Professor Tobias Kollmann and Assistant Professor Nelly Amenyogbe to explore this topic and what it means to get the BCG vaccine on day 1 of life.  Prof. Kollmann completed his MD and PhD at the Albert of Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx NY, followed by a residency in pediatrics and fellowship in infectious diseases at the University of Washington, Seattle, WA with Prof. Chris Wilson. He then served as Division Head for Pediatric Infectious Diseases at the University of British Columbia, BC Children’s Hospital before taking on the Director’s position of Systems Vaccinology at Telethon Kids Institute in Perth, Australia. He currently is Prof. of Microbiology & Immunology as well as Pediatric Infectious Diseases at Dalhousie University in Halifax, NS, Canada. Tobi is the CEO of the Born Strong Initiative (https://www.born-strong.org/), a global network of experts working to reduce adverse pregnancy outcomes. His expertise centers around immune ontogeny as well as maternal and early life vaccine responses employing cutting edge technology and analytics to extract the most information out of the small biological samples obtainable.
 Dr Nelly Amenyogbe, is Assistant Professor Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada. Her previous research showed how BCG, the vaccine against tuberculosis, reduces risk to die from newborn sepsis within days of being given. Current projects build on these initial observations to identify how host metabolism influences the immune response to infection, especially colostrum feeding for newborns, which may influence the efficacy of immune-targeting therapies. These research questions are answered using preclinical models, and multi-omics surveys of human maternal and neonatal immune responses.
 
Further Reading:
- The Scientist: How some vaccines protect more than against their target
https://www.the-scientist.com/features/how-some-vaccines-protect-against-more-than-their-targets-68059
 
- Science: Vaccination strategies to enhance immunity in neonates
Tobias R. Kollmann et al. Vaccination strategies to enhance immunity in neonates.Science 368,612-615(2020).DOI:10.1126/science.aaz9447
Direct Iink: https://science.sciencemag.org/content/368/6491/612.abstract
 

In today’s episode, we take on a challenging and timely topic: public trust in health communication, especially when high-profile figures make statements that conflict with established scientific evidence. Recent comments from Robert F. Kennedy Jr., now serving as U.S. Health Secretary, have generated widespread public confusion, with reactions from British scientists, global health agencies, and clinicians offering sharply contrasting views.
Dr Eliz Kilich and, Dr. Lydia Yarlott, unpack four of the most debated claims—carefully, calmly, and from a British medical perspective:
“Thimerosal should be banned from ALL influenza vaccines to protect children and pregnant women.”We explore what thimerosal actually is, its current use in the UK, and what the evidence shows regarding safety and the confusion with methyl mecury and ethyl mercury. We discuss why RFK has focused on this chemical in particular. 
“Paracetamol in pregnancy caused the autism epidemic.”We reflect on our latest dedicated episode and how risk is communicated to expectant parents.
“COVID-19 vaccines are no longer recommended for healthy children and pregnant women.”We place this statement against the actual WHO recommendations, discuss how guidance evolves over time, and why differing national policies often have nothing to do with safety concerns.
“VAERS and existing vaccine safety systems don’t work.”We examine how vaccine surveillance operates Listen now, subscribeDM us @CocoonedHealth on Instagram Disclaimer: Remember we are sharing our opinions and medical knowledge, and not associated with our affiliations. Note that knowledge evolves over time. Note that this is not direct medical advice as we are not your personal doctors however feel free to share any ideas expressed with your own healthcare professional as needed. This episode is unsponsored and received no financial incentive. 

Ep 25. “No Longer Recommended?” The Politics, Science, And Stakes Of COVID19 Vaccination In Pregnancy In 2025. 
Hosts Dr. Lydia Yarlott & Dr. Eliz Kilich are joined by Professor. Flor M. Muñoz — Associate Professor of Paediatrics, Infectious Diseases, and Molecular Virology & Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children’s Hospital.  Her work has focused on the evaluation of vaccine safety and efficacy in special populations including pregnant women, children, and people with compromised immune systems, as well as the epidemiology and treatment of respiratory pathogens including COVID-19 and influenza
In 2025, the U.S. government — under the Trump administration — made a striking policy reversal: COVID-19 vaccines are no longer recommended for healthy pregnant women or children. But what happens when political tides shift faster than science?
In this episode of Cocooned Health, Dr. Lydia Yarlott and Dr. Eliz Kilich sit down with infectious disease expert Dr. Flor Muñoz to explore the real-world evidence behind this decision — and why maternal vaccination may still play a vital role in protecting newborns.
We unpack:
How mRNA vaccine particles and antibodies behave in pregnancy and breastmilk — and what studies reveal about newborn protection.
Why COVID-19 in pregnancy, while rarer now, still poses serious risks for some mothers and infants.
The philosophical and political forces shaping vaccine guidance in the U.S., from public trust to populist skepticism.
How global health programs like Gavi and WHO are responding when America — once a vaccine leader — changes direction.
And, most importantly: While no longer routinely offered, what’s the evidence that COVID-19 vaccination in pregnancy may still bring benefits?
Mercury derived thimerosal what is it for, and is it of concern?Disclaimer: Remember we are sharing our opinions and medical knowledge, and not associated with our affiliations. Note that knowledge evolves over time. Note that this is not direct medical advice as we are not your personal doctors however feel free to share any ideas expressed with your own healthcare professional as needed. This episode is unsponsored and received no financial incentive. 

Ep 24. Paracetamol in Pregnancy: Panic or Proof? Expert Guest: Professor Dimitri Siassakos
In this episode of Cocooned Health, Dr Eliz Kilich and Dr Lydia Yarlott are joined by Professor Dimitrios Siassakos, a leading researcher in maternal-fetal medicine at UCL, to unpack the controversy surrounding paracetamol (acetaminophen) use in pregnancy.
A new review published in Environmental Health has reignited debate by examining possible associations between paracetamol use and conditions such as autism and ADHD in children. U.S. President Donald Trump claimed paracetamol “is no good” for pregnant persons, sparking widespread concern online.
Together, we explore:
discuss the recent controversies surrounding the use of paracetamol during pregnancy, particularly in light of claims made by political figures. They are joined by Professor Dimitrios Siassakos, who provides insights into the safety of paracetamol, the research surrounding its use, and the potential links to neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism and ADHD. The conversation emphasizes the importance of understanding causation versus correlation, the risks associated with untreated fever in pregnancy, and the need for moderation in medication use. 
Paracetamol is considered safe for use in pregnancy.
Recent claims about paracetamol causing autism are based on over-interpretations of studies.
Fever in pregnancy poses significant risks that outweigh concerns about paracetamol. Find out what by listening. 
Causation must be proven correctly; correlation does not imply causation.
Genetic factors play a major role in the development of autism and ADHD.
Moderation in medication use is crucial during pregnancy.
The Swedish study provides strong evidence against the link between paracetamol and autism. Learn more by listening 
Healthcare professionals should guide pregnant women on medication use.
Pain management is important; women should not feel guilty for taking medication when needed.
The narrative around paracetamol use in pregnancy needs to be clarified for public understanding+++ NOTE when using the term pregnant women, we also refer to inclusive of transgender who may also be pregnant and non binary individuals. 
Disclaimer: Remember we are sharing our opinions and medical knowledge, and not associated with our affiliations. Note that knowledge evolves over time. Note that this is not direct medical advice as we are not your personal doctors however feel free to share any ideas expressed with your own healthcare professional as needed. This episode is unsponsored and received no financial incentive.