The Pandemic People: Sir John Irving Bell

Sir Andrew Pollard, sat down with Sir John Irving Bell, a renowned Canadian-British immunologist and academic, who is currently the Regius Professor of Medicine at University of Oxford to discuss the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic originating in Wuhan, China, as well as the efforts of Oxford University and AstraZeneca in developing a vaccine.

Sir John Bell reflected on the initial reports coming out of Wuhan, China, in late 2019 about a novel respiratory illness that was causing concern among the global health community. He emphasized the importance of international collaboration and data sharing in those early days to understand the virus and its potential impact on global health.

Sir John Bell discusses the efforts that were undertaken by Oxford University, in response to the emerging pandemic. He explained that Oxford's expertise in vaccine development and its relationship with AstraZeneca, a leading pharmaceutical company with capabilities in large-scale manufacturing and global distribution, positioned them to play a crucial role in the race to develop a COVID-19 vaccine.