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Patient Advocacy Voices
Patient advocacy is a critical area in healthcare that is transforming the lives of patients across the country by helping them overcome barriers to access and care. Join Sanofi US Head of Public Affairs and Patient Advocacy, Eric Racine, and his co-hosts to meet some of the unsung heroes leading patient advocacy organizations. In each episode, we will discuss the challenges each group has faced and share actionable insights to address gaps and help make the U.S. healthcare system work better for patients. Whether you're a seasoned advocate or new to the field, we hope this podcast will open your mind to new ideas and inspire action. Subscribe now and become part of a community dedicated to making a difference for patients.
This podcast is provided as a resource only and does not constitute an endorsement by Sanofi of any particular organization or its programming. Additional resources on this topic may be available and should be investigated.
Patient Advocacy Voices
Rebuilding Trust: What the Autism Community Teaches Us About Vaccine Confidence
How do we rebuild trust in vaccines when fear and misinformation stand in the way, especially for autistic individuals and their families?
In this episode of Patient Advocacy Voices, host Eric Racine is joined by co-host Heather Entenmann, U.S. Public Health Engagement Lead at Sanofi, for a thoughtful conversation on vaccine confidence, trust, and inclusion. Together, they welcome two leading voices in public health and advocacy: Danielle Hall, former Vaccine Education Lead at the Autism Society of America, and Dr. Kelly Moore, President and CEO of Immunize.org.
Drawing on lived experience, decades of public health leadership, and frontline advocacy work, the conversation explores why the long-debunked myth linking vaccines and autism continues to persist, and why rebuilding trust requires more than facts alone. The discussion highlights how healthcare experiences, sensory needs, anxiety, and empathy all play critical roles in shaping vaccine decisions, and what advocacy leaders and providers can do differently to better support autistic individuals and their families.
In this episode, you’ll gain insights on:
- Why misinformation about vaccines and autism endures, and how to address it with empathy, not judgment
- How healthcare experiences and sensory needs influence vaccine confidence in the autism community
- Practical ways providers and vaccination sites can reduce anxiety and create more inclusive, respectful experiences for immunizations in any disease area
- How advocacy organizations, healthcare professionals, and trusted messengers can counter misinformation by leading with empathy and authenticity
This conversation is a powerful reminder that rebuilding trust in public health starts with listening, understanding lived experiences, and meeting people where they are, because confidence is built not just through evidence, but also through empathy.