Dr. Anthony Fauci and Others Discuss The Race for the Vaccine and Conquering COVID

THE VACCINE: CONQUERING COVID premieres Thursday, February 18 at 10p on Discovery and streaming on discovery+.

What does it take to create a viable vaccine in record time? How quickly can we eradicate a global pandemic? And how did the world’s leading scientists and healthcare experts develop it? Dr. Anthony Fauci and other esteemed healthcare experts discuss what is happening and what is yet to come.

THE VACCINE: CONQUERING COVID details the heroic efforts of early trial volunteers like Jenn Haller, a Seattle resident who became the first person in the United States to receive the Moderna vaccine. Viewers will hear firsthand accounts from those at the forefront of the pandemic as well as from leaders such as Bill and Melinda Gates — who passionately lent their voices to the cause.

The special goes behind the scenes of the race for a vaccine and features interviews with the world’s leading scientists involved including:

  • Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
  • Dr. Francis Collins, director of the national Institutes of Health
  • Dr. John Mascola of the National Institutes of Health
  • Scientists from leading pharmaceutical companies including Johnson & Johnson, Moderna and Pfizer.

The pandemic has claimed the lives of more than 1.3 million people globally and sickened nearly 53 million. The early development of COVID-19 vaccines have given the world reason to hope that an end to the pandemic is near and that life will soon return back to normal.

“With everything the world has been through over the last year, the public craves an understanding of what is happening and what is yet to come,” said Nancy Daniels, Chief Brand Officer, Discovery & Factual. “We are proud to present this deep-dive into the COVID-19 crisis to Discovery audiences, detailing the work of thousands of men and women around the world who are proving there is hope is on the horizon.”

The race to develop a successful vaccine does not have a guaranteed winner. And each pharmaceutical company faces early hurdles with clinical trials and the enormous financial risks. All the while, the traditional rules are being rewritten along the way.

THE VACCINE: CONQUERING COVID premieres Thursday, February 18 at 10p on Discovery and streaming on discovery+.

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