SVSU to Host Lecture on Vaccine Controversies

Saginaw Valley State University will host a lecture on the history of vaccine controversies on Wednesday, November 13, at 7 p.m. The lecture will take place in the Rhea Miller Recital Hall and is open to the public at no cost. Robert D. Johnston, a professor of history at the University of Illinois at Chicago, will lead the discussion titled “Pox, Populism, and Politics: Three Centuries of American Vaccination Controversies.”

The lecture will trace vaccine attitudes beginning with a 1721 conflict between a Puritan minister and Benjamin Franklin’s brother. Johnston will also address the polarizing debates surrounding COVID-19 vaccinations. Following the lecture, there will be a Q&A session aimed at fostering discussion. Johnston is a recognized author and has extensive experience in the field of history. He has written on various topics, including alternative medicine and rural politics. This event is part of the Barstow Excellence in Teaching Humanities Seminar at SVSU. The seminar is supported by a gift from the Barstow Foundation, which focuses on education and community initiatives.