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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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Summary

 *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
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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 superb account by two of the scientists who played a lead road in planning and developing and producing the Covid vaccine at Oxford with Astra Zeneca
It is written in a language fully accessible to non scientists and explains the stages of the process, the set backs fears and ultimate incredible success of a vaccine that is saving millions of lives
The authors also lay out clearly what must be done now to make us better prepared for the next pandemic which will surely come

Everyone should read this especially all politicians and any anti-vaxxers

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This book enlightens the lay person, explaining with depth, clarity and an easy manner how the Oxford Astrazeneca vaccination came into being. When I went for my jabs I was completely informed and fully confident. I particularly enjoyed the human aspect of the book, the bits I could identify with such as being busy at work (excessively busy in this case), and the dishwasher breaking! Grrrrr! Well done to the authors. An important read.

A must read

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What an exceptional book. Every part of this (audible) book held me practically spellbound d by its detailed explanation of every step of the process in creating the Covid vaccine.

If ever there was a book to convince the 16/18 year o!d's to go to university and start a degree course in STEM subjects this is it.
I looked up the various (Mickey Mouse) degree courses offered by universities in these island that are neither use nor ornament to this country or the world and found myself astounded that there is a degree course on, of all things David Beckham, who no matter his soccer abilities is not worthy of academic study. I hope the students taking such courses believe they've spent their money well. Hats off to those doctors and scientists at Oxford university, we owe them a very big debt of gratitude and we'll deserved Honours by this country. Very well done Sarah and Cath's team.

The Miracle Workers

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A interesting insight of world of how the vaccine was created. Also a look into Cath and Sam's world during this time how they deal with lockdown themselves and royal vist, good and bad press and everything in-between.

The last chapter which talks about how we need to be ready for next time hits home.

Worth a read/listen in this case.

A Educational lesson

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This is the most interesting and informative Audiobook that I have ever listened to

I would recommend everyone who is interested in the eradication of COVID-19 listen to this audiobook

Full marks to everyone concerned with the publication of this audiobook

Thank you a great listen

Vaxxers

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