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Vaxxers

A Pioneering Moment in Scientific History

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Vaxxers

By: Sarah Gilbert, Catherine Green
Narrated by: Heather Long, Nicky Diss
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About this listen

 *The inside story of the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine, from two of the leading scientists who created it. Fully updated for paperback publication with a preface and a new chapter .*

This is the story of a race - not against other vaccines or other scientists, but against a deadly and devastating virus.

On 1 January 2020, Sarah Gilbert, Professor of Vaccinology at Oxford University, read an article about four people in China with a strange pneumonia. Within two weeks, she and her team had designed a vaccine against a pathogen that no one had ever seen before. Less than 12 months later, vaccination was rolled out across the world to save millions of lives from Covid-19.

In Vaxxers, we hear directly from Professor Gilbert and her colleague Dr Catherine Green as they reveal the inside story of making the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine and the cutting-edge science and sheer hard work behind it.

This is their story of fighting a pandemic as ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances. Sarah and Cath share the heart-stopping moments in the eye of the storm; they separate fact from fiction; they explain how they made a safe vaccine in record time with the eyes of the world watching; and they give us hope for the future.

Vaxxers invites us into the lab to find out how science will save us from this pandemic, and how we can prepare for the inevitable next one.
(P) 2021 Hodder & Stoughton Ltd©2021 Vaxxers Limited Biological Sciences Contagious Diseases Physical Illness & Disease Physics Science Inspiring Heartfelt Thought-Provoking

Critic Reviews

This book is a profound success. I have read few that have given me such an immediate, eye-level view of working science - of brilliant, committed, heroic science.
What an enthralling tale of toil, tenacity and triumph this is. The authors' intelligence, idealism and sheer, bloody-minded grit shine through. The world needs all the Sarah Gilberts and Catherine Greens it can get. Just brilliant. (Rachel Clarke)
Moving and awe-inspiring... The story of the decade
Excellent and readable ... Vaccine production has never been explained more clearly... Green writes movingly about the difficult intersection between work and home life... Vaxxers is so good that the book will be read for long after the pandemic is over, as a vivid account of research in action and the way individuals respond in the face of a scientific emergency.
Vaxxers can be read as much as a manifesto for the importance of good science communication and an antidote to anti-vax conspiracy theories as a biomedical thriller.
Urgent and fascinating ... A tale of hard work and victory against steep odds, a unique insight into vaccines generally ... A gripping yarn ... I especially loved the book's personal moments ... I dare anyone to read this and not come away impressed.
A most accessible read... A personal story of one of the most epic moments in human history, perfectly capturing how scientific discovery on this scale is rarely a Eureka moment for a lone genius. As a grateful recipient of the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine, I take my hat off in thanks to these remarkable women.
This is one of the most epic and pioneering moments in human history, comparable to the race to put a man on the moon, the discovery of DNA, or the first ascent of Everest. The Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine is a triumph and its creators are life savers. Science is the exit strategy, as long as we make that science equitably available to the world - as all the incredible people behind the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine always intended - truly the "People's Vaccine". (Jeremy Farrar, Director of the Wellcome Trust)
An extraordinary story with a remarkable beginning and an astonishing denouement
One of the most extraordinary stories in the history of medicine (Matt D'Ancona)
[Sarah Gilbert] has been the adult in the room and the accidental leadership figure the moment demands, embodying the competence, command of the detail, vision and, crucially, hope, that people have needed to see.
All stars
Most relevant
This is a down to earth, easy to read book. I gives a lot of insight into what the scientists get up to and the issues they face. Couldn't help but be impressed. Very glad I read it and do recommend it. It put my mind to rest.

Impressive

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This is the BEST documentary I’ve listened too EVER. And I listen to 4-5 hours of them across every topic imaginable every single day.

It’s the story of the Oxford University vaccine. We know it as AZ. The history of its origin, and the story of the 2 everyday 20 yr old Volvo driving middle aged British mums who worked in a shitty lab opposite the university carpark who made it over a weekend with an assistant after planning for it 15 years earlier.

The audiobook is narrated by then directly, and covers the extraordinary 18 months from December 2019 to May 2021 of how they went from being unknown scientists to dealing with Covid-19 thrust onto the world stage having to navigate 24/7 news, social media and politics.

Whilst being nothing other than scientists who worked in tracksuit pants with nothing to gain financially up against the big pharma machines of the United States of which they hold no grudge. They don’t care who makes what vaccine they only care about saving lives which is why AZ had to agree to make no profit from its distribution.

It is the most unbelievable story I’ve ever heard. There is just SO much you don’t know until your listen to it. To much to even go into. It’s utterly fascinating. If you don’t read it or listen to it. Your missing out.

Their voices are just perfect for it. They deserved the standing ovation at Wimbledon. What a story. Wow.

👏 👏 👏 👏

The best documentary I’ve ever listened to.

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Thank you both so very much for writing this book.
I was very wary of being vaccinated, hearing all the "rumours", but finally went to the Oxford Uni site to see what I could find, and then went to get my first vaccination. Our family is now fully vaccinated with Astrazenica and very grateful there are souls in the world such as yours who research and follow up. Thank you for the dedication and work you have done. We all owe our luves to you both.

Thank you !

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I needed to read something like this to restore my faith in the indelible thirst for knowledge and the wish to help humankind.

Fantastic. Easy to understand and moving

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Engaging account of the development of a vaccine commencing 1 jan 2020 licensed for clinical use 30 dec the same year
Meticulous attention to all phases detailed in an engaging manner.
Science described such that a layman will follow the process.
Finally a warning that pandemics are not over but preparation is a few steps forward.
Ego free rendition of the sprint to achieve protection against covid 19

Intrigu educating for now and future

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