A Shot At History – Details, episodes & analysis

Over a year ago, we decided that we wanted to tell the storyof the malaria vaccine; one of the most important yet hidden stories of progress in the world right now. We knew that this would be a massive undertaking, but it turned out to be more epic that we could have possibly imagined. Over three episodes, we’re going to show you what it takes to develop and roll out a new vaccine, why this one matters so much and how it could change the trajectory of human history. First episode drops Friday 5th September. 

If you want to find out more about our work, go to fixthenews.com

Malaria is one of the deadliest diseases of all time - responsible for more deaths than all of humanity's wars combined. That means that the arrival of not one, but two malaria vaccines has the potential to change the future of our species. 

In this first episode, we’ll show you what’s at stake for millions of families across Sub-Saharan Africa, explain the economic and personal cost, and describe how the world’s first vaccine for a parasitic disease made it out of the lab, through trials, and into the lives of mothers and babies across the continent. 

Here’s who you’ll meet:

Angus Hervey: Founder of Fix The News. 

Teresa Chirwa-Ndanga: Journalist & human rights activist.

Dr Mary Hamel: Team Lead, Malaria Vaccines at WHO

Zacharia Kafuko: Director of 1Day Africa

Dr Rose Jalang'o: Head of the National Vaccines and Immunization Program, Kenya

Alanta Colley: Public health worker & science communicator 

A Shot At History was produced by Fix The News. 

Series & Story Producer, Amy Davoren-Rose, Fix The News

Associate Producer & Audio Director, Anthony Badolato, Hear That?

Research Producer, Marcus Costello and AudioCraft.

If you want to know more about this series or are interested in sharing it with your networks, send us an email: amy@fixthenews.com

Rolling out a new vaccine across an entire continent takes an extraordinary chain of people - from the scientists in the labs, to delivery truck drivers and healthcare workers on motorbikes who stop at nothing to get this vaccine into far-flung villages. In this episode, we’ll show you what it takes to navigate the last mile challenges of transporting a cold-chain vaccine across the hottest continent on earth and the surprising heroes who are stepping up to champion the world’s first malaria vaccine. 

Here’s who you’ll meet:

Angus Hervey: Founder of Fix The News

Teresa Chirwa-Ndanga: Journalist & human rights activist, Malawi

Zacharia Kafuko: Director of 1Day Africa

Amanda Clemens: Social Mobilisation Coordinator, Ministry of Health, Sierra Leone

Kombra Network, Sierra Leone: Sallamatu Barrie – School Health club Champion, Reverend Christina Sutton and Dr Ramadan Jalloh.

 Special music credit: "Wok Dae Ya" by Speedo'o

A Shot At History is produced by Fix The News. SeriesProducer, Amy Davoren-Rose, Fix The News. Associate Producer & Audio Director, Anthony Badolato, Hear That?Producers for Sierra Leone, Marcus Costello and Jodie Bennet.

For more information about this production, email amy@fixthenews.com

In our final episode of the series, we’ll uncover the surprising stories behind the science of the world’s first jab for malaria and how this ‘orphan’ vaccine became a lifesaving intervention that has already reached 5 million children. We look at what's next for the malaria vaccine, the threats of funding cuts to global health and answer the big question – is it working? 

Here’s who you’ll meet:

Angus Hervey: Founder of Fix The News

Teresa Chirwa-Ndanga: Journalist & human rights activist, Malawi

Dr Joe Cohen: Project Lead, Malaria Vaccine at GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals

Dr Mehreen Datoo: Clinical research fellow-Malaria vaccine trials, Oxford University

John Bawa: Director, Malaria Vaccine Implementation, PATH.

Dr Scott Gordon: Head of Gavi's Malaria Program

 A Shot At History is produced by Fix The News. Series Producer, Amy Davoren-Rose, Fix The News. Associate Producer & Audio Director, Anthony Badolato, Hear That?