Science Pub Eugene

This is the second of two Science Pubs in Eugene in January!

"The Science Behind Vaccines: How Safe Are They?"

The discovery of vaccines is one of the 20th century’s most important medical breakthroughs, and their availability has saved the lives of millions of people worldwide. However, in the past few years, vaccines have gotten the (unjust) bad rap for causing disease instead of curing it. As a result, some people are choosing not to be vaccinated, or to not have their children vaccinated, and diseases such as measles and whooping cough are making a comeback. At this Science Pub, find out how vaccines are developed, why they were blamed for conditions such as Autism and how the medical community has proved those claims false, how vaccines are kept safe and uncontaminated, and how they are being used to help keep our communities healthy.

Dr. Patrick Luedtke, MD, MPH, is a Preventive Medicine and Internal Medicine physician. He serves as both the Medical Director of Lane County’s Community & Behavioral Health clinics and as the Senior Public Health Officer for the County. Dr. Luedtke received his M.D. from Marquette University/Medical College of Wisconsin. He completed his Preventive Medicine residency at the University of Utah and his Internal Medicine training at Naval Hospital Oakland (California). Additionally, he completed his Master’s of Public Health degree at the University of Utah. Prior to his Oregon positions he spent 11 years in Utah where he served as the State Public Health Laboratory Director, Deputy State Epidemiologist, Acting State Epidemiologist, and Adult Medicine Director (Medicaid clinics), all at the State Department of Health in Utah. Prior to those positions he was an active duty Medical Officer in the U.S. Navy serving on all three of America’s coasts, as well as in Europe, Africa, Central America, and South America.