Chris Downey on VAX Calc: AI Tools for Informed Vaccine Choices

What happens when a tech strategist steps into the emotionally charged world of pediatric vaccines? You get VAX Calc, and a no-BS conversation that shakes the foundations of medical conformity.
In this episode, Tim and May sit down with Chris Downey, founder of VAX Calc and former NVIC volunteer, to unpack the chaos of vaccine discourse. Drawing from over two decades in software and systems design, Chris shares how he built VAX Calc to give parents real agency in their child’s healthcare — without scare tactics or censorship.
You’ll hear how AI can humanize medicine, how character-based tools like “Tony” help parents navigate power dynamics in the exam room, and why true informed consent requires courage — not compliance. This isn’t just a tech solution.

It’s a wake-up call for patients and practitioners alike.