The global race to find a coronavirus vaccine is the defining story of our times. In The First Shots, award-winning journalist Brendan Borrell brings this high-stakes venture to life in a propulsive narrative that draws on exclusive interviews, insider emails and embedded reporting. From infectious disease expert Michael Callahan, who witnessed the terrifying ravages of ‘Disease X’ in January 2020, to Stéphane Bancel, the CEO of Moderna Therapeutics who goes toe-to-toe with pharma giant Pfizer, Borrell weaves together the intense conflicts among brilliant scientists, billionaire entrepreneurs and political power players.

A real-life thriller playing out against 18 months of fear, resolve and triumph, The First Shots is the one book you need to understand the stunning story behind the medical science ‘moon shot’ of our lifetimes.