Vaxxers: A Pioneering Moment in Scientific History

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Chosen as a Book of the Year 2021 by the Financial Times, Sunday Times, Daily Mail, Prospect, Guardian and The Times.

'Vaxxers is so good that the book will be read for long after the pandemic is over'

Financial Times

'One of the most epic and pioneering moments in human history'

Sir Jeremy Farrar

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The bestselling inside story of a historic moment for science and for humanity.

On 1 January 2020, Professor Sarah Gilbert read an article about four people in China with an illness of unknown cause. Within two weeks, she and her team had designed a new vaccine that would go on to save millions of lives from Covid-19.

Capturing a landmark moment, Sarah Gilbert and Catherine Green reveal their story of making the pioneering Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine and fighting a pandemic as ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances. They separate fact from fiction, they explain how they made their highly effective vaccine in record time with the eyes of the world watching, and they give us hope for the future.

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. * Sunday Times *
Vaxxers is the amazing tale of a vaccine that has saved so many of our lives. It's a dramatic, page-turning read, and incredibly moving -- Chris Evans
Moving and awe-inspiring... The story of the decade * Mail on Sunday *
Excellent and readable ... Vaxxers is so good that the book will be read for long after the pandemic is over. * Financial Times *
Urgent and fascinating ... A tale of hard work and victory against steep odds, a unique insight into vaccines generally ... A gripping yarn ... I dare anyone to read this and not come away impressed. * Guardian *
An enthralling tale of toil, tenacity and triumph ... The world needs all the Sarah Gilberts and Catherine Greens it can get. Just brilliant. -- Dr Rachel Clarke, author of BREATHTAKING and DEAR LIFE
Heroes of our time ... Fired by a mission to save the world, these researchers are dedicated, altruistic, and determined ... Let's hope people who have not yet taken up the vaccine read Vaxxers and decide to have the jab. * The Lancet *
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. -- Jeremy Farrar, Director of the Wellcome Trust
An extraordinary story with a remarkable beginning and an astonishing denouement * Observer *
A personal story of one of the most epic moments in human history ... I take my hat off in thanks to these remarkable women. * Irish Times *
An extraordinary story of professional determination and excellence... Vaxxers is a quintessential feel-good read... Bravo Sarah. Bravo Cath. Thank you for making the world a safer place. * Irish Examiner *
One of the most extraordinary stories in the history of medicine. -- Matt D'Ancona
A book that anyone even slightly vaccine-hesitant should read, because it addresses almost every concern or question that might be raised... a fascinating behind-the-scenes look ... One of the great moments in modern science * Sydney Morning Herald *
A biomedical thriller. * Observer *
Enthralling and engagingly personal ... Vaxxers is an engrossing tale of solid science that should reassure anyone. * The Australian *

Author Bio

Sarah Gilbert (Author)

Sarah Gilbert is Professor of Vaccinology at the University of Oxford and a Senior Research Fellow at Christ Church. Having devoted her career to developing vaccines against infectious diseases, since January 2020 she has been the Oxford Project Leader for the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine. Professor Gilbert has over 25 years of experience in the design and early development of new vaccines, and a commitment to increasing public understanding of science. In 2021 she was awarded a Damehood in the Queen's Birthday Honours.

Catherine Green (Author)

Catherine Green is Associate Professor in Chromosome Dynamics at the University of Oxford, Head of the Nuffield Department of Medicine's Clinical BioManufacturing Facility and a Senior Research Fellow at Exeter College. As a specialist in manufacturing vaccines for clinical trials, she is an integral part of the Oxford Vaccine project. In 2021 she was awarded an OBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours.