Washington Post: Five myths about outbreaks
Seth Berkley, CEO of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance

“…The Spanish flu pandemic brought new urgency to the quest to comprehend infectious diseases and the way they work, but the subject is still beset by scientific challenges and popular misunderstandings. Here are five of the most tenacious. … Myth No. 1: A pandemic on the scale of Spanish flu is unlikely today. … Myth No. 2: Most adults don’t need the annual seasonal flu vaccine. … Myth No. 3: Some of the deadliest pathogens don’t pose an imminent threat. … Myth No. 4: We need bigger vaccine stockpiles to halt outbreaks. … Myth No. 5: Closing our borders will keep the nastiest bugs out. … Still, there’s no real substitute for preventing outbreaks at their source, through routine immunization, improved surveillance, and other proven public health measures” (3/1).