Vaccine News & Notes — July 2023

New film peeks behind the curtain at FDA

The Vaccine Makers Project (VMP), the classroom program of the Vaccine Education Center, recently released a new 30-minute documentary film. Called Marion Gruber: Preparedness Is Prevention, the film showcases Dr. Gruber’s years working as a scientist at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). She was there for several recent public health emergencies, including the 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic, several recent Ebola outbreaks, and most recently, the COVID-19 pandemic. She left the FDA in 2021 after COVID-19 booster shots were recommended for most, despite a lack of evidence to support their usefulness.

In the film, Dr. Gruber and former FDA colleagues describe why monitoring global outbreaks is an essential part of protecting the health of the U.S. population and why it is better to be prepared in advance of an infectious disease outbreak. Dr. Gruber’s career and experiences also serve as a model for students aiming to study science and those aspiring to have impactful careers.

Check out the film and related resources:

• Marion Gruber: Preparedness Is Prevention, 30-minute documentary film
• Marion Gruber: Preparing for infectious disease threats from across the globe, webpage including biographical information and bonus film clips
• A Closer Look: The History and Authority of the FDA, webpage