Cocooned Health
New episodes are released at the end of every month. Available on Spotify/Apple/Android and more. Welcome to Cocooned Health, a podcast created by doctors and scientists, designed to empower the whole family with knowledge on protective behaviours, medicines and interventions.This includes special periods of life: pregnancy, the newborn period and more. Our mission is to provide detailed information and reassurance, guiding you through the intricacies to understand the latest scientific research. Cocooned Health explores topics ranging from the evidence behind the safety of vaccines and the evidence supporting their use, explores why avoiding certain foods like cheese is recommended in pregnancy, what to do when travelling abroad, and immune considerations when ageing, when to worry with a fever in a child. We also explore topics related to immune health and infection protection and how that may differ between individuals, genders, time, and life situations. Always evidence led, and expert backed. We believe in arming you with the information you need to make confident choices for yourself and your family. Dr Eliz Kilich and Dr Lydia Yarlott
Episodes

Monday Mar 31, 2025
Monday Mar 31, 2025
Ep 17. RSV. Talking About Health Optimisation Part 2 - How to protect against a disease that affects 90% of children under the age of 2 years. Around 90% of children are infected with Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) by 2 years old. This episode discusses health consciousness and the desire to protect oneself. Discussions revolve around prevention medicine and how that coincides with other healthy lifestyle choices like organic food, exercise and mindfulness. We discuss how to balance the rare side effects with health optimisation. In this episode Dr Lydia Yarlott and Dr Eliz Kilich talk about how to balance the benefits and risks when thinking about vaccines.

Friday Feb 28, 2025
Friday Feb 28, 2025
Episode 16: Pregnancy RSV Vaccine Update. Expert Guest: Professor Paul Heath. Join us for an update on the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine given during pregnancy. Hear what the latest evidence is. This vaccine protects babies against a common cause of bronchiolitis which can be severe in newborns. The UK has made a decision to prevent against RSV with Abrysvo™, the maternal vaccine, manufactured by Pfizer. Previously the UK had been considering the use of Nirsevimab instead. This is an RSV monoclonal antibody for newborns (Beyfortus™, manufactured by Sanofi Pasteur). Both the vaccine and the antibody were recommended as safe and effective options in 2023 by the JCVI. After a cost-effectiveness analysis and financial tender by the Department of Health, a decision was made to move to Abrysvo™.
The maternal vaccine success was revealed following a study involving over 7000 pregnant women, published in early 2023, the MATISSE trial. They showed that the Abrysvo™ maternal vaccine is highly effective at preventing severe infection in babies up to 180 days after birth. Vaccination is approved from 28 weeks of pregnancy in the UK. At the same time, the MELODY and HARMONIE trials showed the monoclonal antibody for babies Beyfortus™, currently unavailable in the UK, also effectively prevents RSV for up to 6 months after administration. This vaccine can be given to all babies anytime from birth.
We now we hear about what the evidence is now that the UK has been giving the vaccine since September 2024.Tune in now.

Thursday Jan 30, 2025
Thursday Jan 30, 2025
Episode 15: Debrief: Cravings and Places: when your pregnancy craving lead you astray
Dr Eliz Kilich and Dr Lydia Yarlott. In this follow-up to our insightful discussion with Dr. Matthew Gilmour in "Ep 14: Brie-ing Safe in Pregnancy – Christmas Special!", we delve deeper into the nuances of food safety during pregnancy.We summarise the main points in a shorter recap and highlight some of the areas that need further explanation. For instance here we talk about Listeria's rarity, the outbreaks, the food industry's role in protecting pregnant women, and practicalities. This episode offers practical advice on identifying actual risks, understanding potential consequences of consuming high-risk foods, and recognising the most hazardous items to avoid.We also examine the significant 2019 listeriosis outbreak in UK hospitals linked to pre-packaged sandwiches. Our discussion covers the events, the subsequent investigation by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), and the lessons learned to enhance food safety protocols.assets.publishing.service.gov.uk
Resources:UKHSA's report on the 2019 listeriosis outbreak: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5fbd0f898fa8f559e9ea363e/2019-05-Listeria-CC8-Outbreak-Report.pdf
Tune in to gain valuable insights and join our debate on this critical topic. Please remember this is not direct medical advice, sharing knowledge and thoughts. Please do contact your own healthcare professional if seeking personal medical advice

Sunday Dec 29, 2024
Sunday Dec 29, 2024
Ep 14. Brie-ing Safe In Pregnancy. Christmas Special Episode - Food Safety While Pregnant. Expert Guest: Dr Matthew GilmourWanted a bit more dialogue on trying to understand the food list of what to and what not to eat during pregnancy? In this episode of Cocooned Health, hosts Dr Eliz Kilich and Dr Lydia Yarlott unravel the complexity of avoiding infections in pregnancy with a special focus on food safety. This one is particularly important for little bubba. They take a deep dive into one of the most talked-about topics among expectant parents—cheese! But more surprisingly, beyond cheese!
What You'll Learn:
Is it really dangerous to indulge in soft cheeses like brie, camembert, or stilton during pregnancy?
What is Listeria monocytogenes, and why does it make certain foods risky?
What are those particularly risky foods? smoked salmon? ice cream?
What are the actual risks, and how can you protect yourself and your baby
Practical advice
Special Guest:
Dr. Matthew Gilmour, a global expert in foodborne pathogens, joins the conversation.Matthew is Co-director of the UK Food Safety Research Network and is a Group Leader in the ‘Microbes in the Food Chain’ programme at the Quadram Institute Bioscience and the University of East Anglia in Norwich, England.The UK Food Safety Research Network is hosted by the Quadram Institute and Dr Gilmour leads the Listeria research at the Quadram Institute. (Find out more here: https://quadram.ac.uk/). His experience as Co-Director of the UK Food Safety Research Network and former Scientific Director General of Canada’s National Microbiology Laboratory,
Tune in to hear science-backed insights and actionable advice that will help mums, dads, and mums-to-be navigate the dairy dilemma with confidence! Don't miss this episode—it’s about so much more than just cheese!Check out our new episodes monthly. 🎧 Cocooned Health Podcast: Brie-ing Safe During Pregnancy
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COCOONED HEALTH PODCAST
Dr. Eliz Kilich
Dr. Eliz Kilich is an Infectious Diseases and Medical Microbiology Doctor in the UK (Specialist Trainee Year 4 (ST4)). Her clinical training focuses on diagnosing and managing infectious diseases, with a particular interest in immunity and how that differs by age, sex and time, and in maternal and neonatal health. In addition to her clinical work, Dr. Kilich is involved in research understanding the impact of vaccines in pregnancy on the baby's immune system, contributing to the advancement of knowledge in her field.
Dr. Lydia Yarlott
Dr. Lydia Yarlott is also an ST4 doctor in the UK, specialising in Paediatrics. Her training encompasses the medical care of infants, children, and adolescents, with a focus on ensuring their health and well-being during critical developmental stages. Dr. Yarlott is passionate about public health and has been involved in initiatives aimed at improving healthcare delivery and health tech start ups.
Together, Dr. Kilich and Dr. Yarlott combine their expertise in infectious diseases and paediatrics to create the Cocooned Health podcast. Through their platform, they aim to empower parents and caregivers with accurate, up-to-date information, helping them make informed decisions about health during all stages of life including the vulnerable period of pregnancy and the newborn period.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cocoonedhealth/
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