What’s Actually In Vaccines? A Doctor Breaks It Down

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Dr. Jessica Edwards is a board-certified family medicine physician, the founder of Zahra Medical, and a health policy expert with a strong background in both traditional clinical care and telehealth innovation. As a mother of a child with autism and a health policy fellow, Dr. Edwards combines medical authority, lived experience, and deep empathy—making her a trusted and relatable voice on topics like vaccine safety, public health misinformation, and parent-centered care.

 In this candid, informative clip from The Humanity of Fame, host Kali invites Dr. Jessica Edwards to address a question on the minds of countless parents:
“What would you say to parents who are worried about vaccines but still want to protect their children from preventable diseases?”

What follows is an engaging, science-backed breakdown of exactly what’s in vaccines, why those ingredients are there, and how they help your body build protection without triggering a full-blown illness. Using accessible language and analogies (including a hilarious one involving “Big Shirley from the hood”), Dr. Edwards demystifies ingredients like adjuvants, preservatives, stabilizers, and trace proteins.

She also offers a grounded reminder: while hesitancy is real and valid, the science is sound, and vaccines undergo years of rigorous development and review before reaching the public. Whether you’re a parent with questions or a provider guiding patients through concerns, this segment is essential listening.

Key Takeaways:

• What vaccines actually contain (and what they don’t)
• Why antigens, adjuvants, and preservatives are necessary for effectiveness and safety
• The real deal on formaldehyde, egg protein, and aluminum in trace amounts
• The vaccine approval process: how long it takes, who oversees it, and what has to happen before public use
• How to responsibly use tools like ChatGPT and PubMed to research your concerns—and the importance of talking to your doctor

Guest Contact:
ZahraMedical.com
Follow Dr. Jessica Edwards for more evidence-based healthcare guidance and support for parents navigating autism, chronic care, and health equity.

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Find out more about Kali and the show HERE: https://humanityoffame.com/