Vaccinated: From Cowpox to Mrna, the Remarkable Story of Vaccines

By Paul A. Offit

Book Overview

"Medical writing at its finest."--David Oshinsky, author of Polio and winner of the Pulitzer Prize for History

In this compelling work of medical history, respected physician Paul Offit tells a fascinating story of modern medicine and pays tribute to one of the greatest lifesaving breakthroughs--vaccinations--and the medical hero responsible for developing nine of the big fourteen vaccines which have saved billions of lives worldwide. This edition includes a new foreword by the author.

Maurice Hilleman's mother died a day after he was born and his twin sister was stillborn. Believing that he had escaped an appointment with death, he made it his life's work to see that others could do the same. The fruits of his labors were nine vaccines that practically every child receives, everyday miracles of modern medicine that have eradicated some of the most common--and devastating--diseases, including mumps and rubella.

Offit, a vaccine researcher himself who co-invented the rotavirus vaccine, befriended Hilleman and, during the great man's final months, interviewed him extensively about his life and career. Those conversations are the heart of Vaccinated. In telling Hilleman's story, Offit takes us around the globe and across time, from the days of Louis Pasteur, to today, when a childhood vaccine can protect women from cervical cancer and stop a deadly pandemic like Covid-19. Yet these preventative treatments have come under increasing attack from both the left and right, and the anti-vaxxer movement that began with false reports over autism is growing at an alarming rate, threatening society's well-being, and especially those whose conditions prevent them from being vaccinated.

Offit makes an eloquent and compelling case for Hilleman's importance, arguing that his name should be as well-known as Jonas Salk. This gripping biography of a scientist reminds us of the value of vaccines and the power of public health to save lives and protect our well-being.

This powerful narrative of scientific discovery delivers:

A Medical Hero's Journey: The incredible life of Maurice Hilleman, a man driven by his own brush with death to develop nine of the world's most essential vaccines for mumps, rubella, and more.An Insider's Perspective: Gain unique insights from author Paul Offit, a celebrated vaccine researcher who knew Hilleman personally and captured his story in extensive interviews.The History of Vaccines: Travel from the era of Louis Pasteur to the front lines of the Covid-19 pandemic, uncovering the critical breakthroughs that changed the course of human history.Science vs. Misinformation: A clear-eyed look at the anti-vaxxer movement, providing a powerful, evidence-based case for the importance of immunology and public health.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0063157616
• ISBN13: 9780063157613
• Release Date: February 2022
• Publisher: Harper Perennial
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 0.70 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.2" x 7.9"

Customer Reviews

Great book for whoever want to know about vaccine

I work as a vaccine manager and wonder how they make vaccine and this book can answer all my questions, great books, I like it a lot

A visit to a different world... the US 60 years ago

I love this book. I appreciate the realistic portrayal of Maurice Hilleman and his contemporaries, and how realistic the portrayal of the way vaccines were created in the 1950's, including the fact that the scientists tested out the vaccines on themselves and their families. I think I will always remember the pictures of Hilleman's daughters including the one who had been the host of the mumps virus that her father turned into a vaccine for mumps. It is officially called the Jeryl Lynn mumps strain even today. Hilleman encouraged his daughters to study science. I also like Dr. Offit's style of writing.

True hero

I think it's fair to say, given the population of the world as some 6 billion, that at least 100 million people have heard of Tiger Woods, or Bruce Willis, or Paris Hilton. But how many know of Maurice Hilleman? The answer is in Offit's book which is about the idea of, the creation of, the development of, the efficacy of, vaccines and vaccinations. He points out that, due to the vaccines developed in the last fifty years, 'hundreds of millions of children' have been saved from death or serious debilitating illness. The vaccines include those against: measles, mumps, rubella, chickenpox, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, pneumococcus, meningococcus, and haemophilus influenza type B (Hib). Maurice Hilleman was the creator of ALL these vaccines. Although Offit's book is about vaccines in general, Hilleman, naturally, figures very prominently, and a major part of the book is devoted to him. Why he is not more well-known is discussed in the text, but why he was never awarded a Nobel Prize is that when he WAS nominated (for his work in interferon research), 'one member of the committee pointed out that the Nobel Prize in medicine would not be given to anyone who worked for a company', and most of Hilleman's professional life was as a very highly regarded employee - but nonetheless, an employee - of Merck. This is recommended almost as strongly as David Bainbridge's "Beyond the Zonules of Zinn". It may not be as well-written nor as witty, but it is probably more important in telling the story of a hero who willingly allowed himself to be part of the background because of his inherent modesty.

Engaging down-to-earth history of vaccination through a remarkble man's life story by a top expert i

The book is written by a top expert in the field who also developed one of the latest vaccine. And Dr.Offit's writing style is very engaging and yet succint and straight. I am from an engineering background, and I valued the content-to-word ratio(how dense is the content). And Dr.Offit's book beats my yardstick to the ground. It is content heavy yet very engaging. Also Dr.Hilleman's life story spearks for itself too. Salute to Dr. Offit for letting Dr.Hilleman's achievement recognized by more people. Highly recommend.

Engaging, Entertaining, and Educational

Many diseases of old have become so rare that people now often fear the vaccine more than the disease itself. This book gives a window into what life was like before the introduction of vaccines as well as the challenges involved in creating them. The book also provides an interesting contrast in terms of how vaccines are developed today versus yesteryear. While I often speed read books, Offit has an engaging style that kept my eyes glued to every page. If you have interest in history or medicine or just are looking for a book to entertain and educate you, I can highly recommend Vaccinated.