VACCINES CHANGE THE WORLD

From variolation to today’s mRNA vaccines, the story of one of modern medicine’s great triumphs over viral diseases.

King-Cargile begins and ends with smallpox as a case study in how to eradicate a viral scourge and in between retraces a triumphal march of medical research that—notwithstanding choruses of skeptics from the 18th century on—resulted in millions of lives being saved. In clear, simple language, King-Cargile describes many types of vaccines and how they work, but her focus is on the human and historical sides of their stories (Maurice Hilleman’s development of vaccines for measles and other maladies, the rivalry between Jonas Salk and Albert Sabin)—until the end, at least, where she covers the rise of Covid-19. Here, she suddenly stops naming names and offers more generalized accounts of the Pfizer and other vaccines and the CRISPR techniques that made their quick production possible. In keeping with the positive tone of her message, she acknowledges but downplays the ominous way many viruses continually adapt to antiviral measures and, by cutting off her narrative at the end of 2020, leaves readers to look elsewhere for information about Covid variants, more recent vaccines, and ongoing anti-vax arguments and disruptions. Still, if her account is more Eurocentric than Don Brown’s A Shot in the Arm! (2021), it does offer both strong encouragement to “use your shot” and warm tributes to the dedication of researchers from Edward Jenner on. Sonke’s cartoon illustrations are more decorative than informative; group scenes include some racial diversity.

Solid background on what has become, for better or worse, a hot topic.