Episode details

World Service,07 Jan 2026,26 mins

China’s latest bid to boost its birth rate

Health Check

Available for over a year

China has just brought in taxes on contraception including condoms in a bid to increase the nation’s birth rate. What impact could this have when considered alongside other “fertility-friendly” policies? Global Health reporter Dorcas Wangira gives her verdict. Could RSV vaccination dramatically reduce childhood asthma? Professor Bart Lambrecht from Ghent University shares his latest research suggesting just that. How school-based vaccination programmes for HPV may provide cancer protection through herd immunity. Plus, BBC reporter Erika Benke takes us to a Finnish sauna to understand what we do, and don’t know about the impact the ancient practice has on our health and wellbeing. Presenter: Claudia Hammond Producer: Hannah Robins Assistant Producer: Katie Tomsett

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