Welcome

About me

Dr. Helen Petousis-Harris

Hi! I’m a vaccinologist at the University of Auckland in New Zealand, where I’ve spent over two decades researching, teaching, and myth-busting all things vaccine-related. If there’s a vaccine misconception out there, chances are I’ve seen it—probably more than once!
I’m passionate about science communication and making sense of the complex (but fascinating!) world of vaccinology. This blog is where I tackle the good, the bad, and the downright bizarre when it comes to vaccines—because misinformation is everywhere, and science deserves a fighting chance.
If you’re wondering what vaccinology actually is—think of it as a detective story involving immunology, epidemiology, microbiology, clinical research, and public health. (Spoiler alert: It’s definitely not a two-week crash course). I like to think of myself as a jack of all these trades—forever learning, forever curious. This is a collaborative and multidisciplinary occupation and I value and consult my colleagues who contribute extraordinary expertise and wisdom.
When I’m not debunking myths, you’ll find me hiking up medium sized mountains, enjoying strong coffee, a good glass of wine, and hanging out with my cats (who are excellent at ignoring my expertise).
Welcome—let’s dive into the world of vaccines together!

My Values

I value transparency, integrity, and factual clarity in my communications. This platform is dedicated to engaging both providers and the public with honest and straightforward content, ensuring accessibility to reliable information. I believe in the importance of education, collaboration, and the pursuit of knowledge to enhance public health and dispel the myths surrounding vaccination.

Brief Bio

I am an experienced principal investigator and Research Director with a demonstrated history of working in the higher education industry. Skilled in Clinical Research, Epidemiology, Life Sciences, Vaccines, and Strategic Planning. A strong research professional with graduate qualifications in in Biological Science and Molecular Medicine, and a PhD focused in Vaccinology from the University of Auckland, New Zealand. Previous roles as Chair of the WHO Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety (GACVS), Director of Vaccine Datalink and Research Group at University of Auckland and Co-Director of the Global Vaccine Data Network (GVDN).

History of Diplomatic Immunity

Dedicated to Demystifying Vaccine Science

Diplomatic Immunity, since 2012.

In 2012 my mission was to empower New Zealanders with transparent, factual information about vaccines. I launched a blog under the auspices of the NZ Science Media Centre and the Sciblogs platform. Sciblogs was retired in 2021 at the height of the COVID pandemic, but you can still visit the blogs via the NZ National Archives.

Since this original inception, I have engaged many people through delivering straight-forward content, addressing misconceptions and fostering a deeper understanding of vaccine-preventable diseases.

I hope that this commitment has enhanced public awareness and understanding of vaccine science, and assisted people to make informed choices based on high quality science and not misinformation.