Making Sense of Vaccines:
Answers to common questions and misconceptions about adult immunization
Dr. Robyn Harrison, Clinical Professor, Department of Medicine, University of Alberta
October 14, 2026
Vaccines are one of the most effective tools available to help prevent serious illness, yet many adults still have questions about how they work, how they are tested, and how to make informed decisions about their health.
In this session, Dr. Robyn Harrison, clinical professor in the Division of Infectious Diseases, explored common questions about vaccines, addressed some of the misconceptions that often arise in conversations and online, and discussed what current medical understanding tells us about vaccine safety, effectiveness, and side effects.
Watch the webinar:
Q & A
Due to time constraints, we weren’t able to answer all questions during the session. Stay tuned for the answers to other questions asked during the session.
About the Speaker
Dr. Robyn Harrison, Clinical Professor, Division of Infectious Diseases
Dr. Harrison is an infectious disease physician who cares for patients at the Grey Nuns Hospital and University of Alberta Hospital in Edmonton. She also works with Alberta Health Services to help prevent and manage infectious diseases in health-care and workplace settings.
Dr. Harrison has been involved in infection prevention and preparedness in Alberta for many years, including responding to public health challenges such as the H1N1 influenza pandemic in 2009 and avian influenza in 2014.
Her work also extends across Canada. She is a member of the Public Health Agency of Canada’s working group focused on preventing and controlling infections in health-care settings. She also serves on Canada’s National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI), helping provide expert advice on vaccines and immunization. Dr. Harrison is vice-chair of NACI’s Influenza Working Group and is also involved with its High Consequence Infectious Disease Working Group.
Important Information
The information presented in this series is intended for educational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. These sessions are not designed to diagnose, treat, or provide recommendations for individual medical conditions. Participants are encouraged to consult their own health-care providers regarding personal medical concerns.