Neil deGrasse Tyson has spent years making complex scientific concepts accessible to the public, but his latest project is something entirely different. Teaming up with filmmaker Scott Hamilton Kennedy, the pair tackles one of the biggest challenges of our era: public trust in science. Their new documentary, Shot in the Arm, dives into the widespread misinformation surrounding vaccines and public health, and the societal fractures that have emerged in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Kyle Meredith spoke to both of them about the film, the social contracts we hold with each other, and the deeper human psychology that plays out in these stories.
The film's title, Shot in the Arm, is also a nod to the Wilco song that wraps the movie. "We’re grateful Jeff Tweedy saw the film and loved it," Kennedy says. The track isn’t just a musical addition; it’s part of the story, a reflection of both the exhaustion and hope that marks this era.
Kennedy explains how the documentary began back in 2019, focused on the measles outbreak—a simpler time compared to the world-shattering events that followed. "It got more complicated and more heartbreaking when it became a COVID film," he notes. "The pandemic was a metaphor to get to these deeper conversations about the decisions we make as a society." The film morphs from being a straightforward vaccine documentary to a reflection on the social contracts we have with each other—an exploration of how misinformation and disconnection have damaged these implicit agreements.
Tyson, who enters the film with his signature enthusiasm and scientific insight, points out the deeper challenge: “You can't just tell someone they're wrong and expect them to change. People are part of communities that validate their beliefs, and you have to approach them from a place of understanding.” This empathetic approach is what the documentary seeks to highlight, showing how nuance and patience can be used to bridge seemingly insurmountable divides.
One of the characters, Lynette, illustrates this complexity well. She was initially swept up in anti-vaccine misinformation, but the film documents her journey as she becomes disillusioned with figures like Del Bigtree, a prominent anti-vaccine activist. Kennedy says, "She didn't fully come around on vaccines, but she realized something important—she saw the selfishness in those leading the misinformation and decided to reach out across the aisle. That's a huge step forward.”
Kennedy and Tyson are hopeful, even when reflecting on the tough realities showcased in the documentary. The opening of Shot in the Arm recalls the Spanish Flu of 1918, juxtaposing photos of people protesting masks a century ago with today's protests. “History repeats itself,” Kennedy sighs. "The Spanish Flu was over a hundred years ago, and we're still seeing the same disinformation. But there's also so much hope. Most people believe in science, and we have to remember that.”
For Tyson, science is humanity's guidepost through chaos. “Ideally, we wouldn't need this film because we’d all be taught critical thinking and statistical reasoning in school,” he says. "But we don’t live in an ideal world, and until then, we have to find new ways to communicate."
The conversation shifts towards the resilience needed to create a film that covers an ongoing, unresolved story. Kennedy likens it to riding a wave. “You’re constantly being tossed around. You think you’ve got the story figured out, and then the tide changes. That’s the double-edged joy of making a documentary—riding the truth wherever it leads you.”
Tyson adds, “There’s a quote about books that’s relevant here: ‘No book ever gets finished, it only comes due.’ This film is like that, too—it’s not an endpoint but a snapshot of an ongoing story.”
With Shot in the Arm, Kennedy and Tyson are not only telling the story of vaccines and disinformation but asking viewers to reconsider the fundamental ways in which they engage with information and each other. "This is about more than vaccines—it's about whether you see yourself as an island or part of a society that has to trust others for the greater good," Tyson asserts.
The film leaves audiences with questions and hope for change, and ends with Bowie’s “Space Oddity” as a thematic punctuation mark. "Bowie was a poet, an entertainer, and an authentic artist," says Kennedy. "That authenticity is what we need to move forward—to really hear each other again."
Shot in the Arm is more than a documentary; it’s a call to action for unity, trust, and decency. In a world that feels increasingly divided, Kennedy and Tyson remind us that we have the tools to rebuild—we just need the will to use them.
Watch the interview above and then check out the video below.
