The Jab from The Economist
The Economist
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The Economist unlocks the science, data and politics behind the most ambitious inoculation programme the world has ever seen.
Alok Jha, The Economist’s science correspondent, hosts with Natasha Loder, our health-policy editor. Each week our reporters and data journalists join them in conversation, along with scientists around the world.
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Available episodes
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Jun 28, 2021
The Jab: How will the pandemic end?
Vaccines are helping some countries return to a semblance of normalcy, while much of the world remains vulnerable to covid-19. We explore what’s next for the pandemic at this critical juncture. Soumya Swaminathan, Chief Scientist at the World Health Organisation, says solidarity has been lacking and is crucial for a successful global response. And The Economist’s data journalist James Fransham unveils a new index tracking how far and how fast life is getting back to normal around the world.
Alok Jha and Natasha Loder are joined by Edward Carr, The Economist’s deputy editor.
For full access to The Economist’s print, digital and audio editions subscribe at economist.com/thejabpod. For continuing coverage of science and data news sign up for our weekly newsletters at economist.com/morescience and economist.com/offthecharts.
To join our virtual event hosted by Alok Jha and Natasha Loder on 7th July, sign up at economist.com/jablive.
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Jun 21, 2021
The Jab: How will vaccine technology improve?
The first covid-19 vaccines came from rapid innovation. They have already saved millions of lives. What new technologies are in the pipeline?
Robin Shattock’s team at Imperial College London is developing a self-amplifying RNA vaccine.
Moz Siddiqui of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, describes a drone system delivering shots to remote areas.
And Pamela Bjorkman of the California Institute of Technology explains her research into a universal coronavirus vaccine that could protect against future pandemics.
Alok Jha and Natasha Loder are joined by Oliver Morton, The Economist’s briefings editor.
For full access to The Economist’s print, digital and audio editions subscribe at economist.com/thejabpod. Sign up for our new weekly science and data newsletters at economist.com/morescience and economist.com/offthecharts
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Jun 14, 2021
The Jab: Why was Latin America hit so hard?
Why has Latin America been the region hardest hit by the pandemic? Carlos Castillo-Salgado of Johns Hopkins University blames the informal economy and the example set by Donald Trump. Tulane University’s Valerie Paz-Soldán explains why Peru has been affected the worst.
The Economist’s Sarah Maslin finds hope in the success of a trial of China’s CoronaVac vaccine in the Brazilian town of Serrana.
Alok Jha and Natasha Loder are joined by Emma Hogan, The Economist’s Americas editor.
For full access to The Economist’s print, digital and audio editions subscribe at economist.com/thejabpod. Sign up for our new weekly science and data newsletters at economist.com/morescience and economist.com/offthecharts
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Jun 7, 2021
The Jab: Will vaccinations restart travel?
Vaccinations have helped ease national lockdowns, but restrictions on international travel remain severe. When and how might they be lifted?
Willie Walsh of the International Air Transport Association tells us airlines are a soft target for government restrictions. Aerosol physicist Lidia Morawska assesses how risky it is to travel by plane. The Economist’s Miki Kobayashi reports on July’s Tokyo Olympics.
Alok Jha and Slavea Chankova are joined by Edward Carr, The Economist’s deputy editor.
For full access to The Economist’s print, digital and audio editions subscribe at economist.com/thejabpod. Sign up for our new weekly science and data newsletters at economist.com/simplyscience and economist.com/offthecharts
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May 31, 2021
The Jab: What’s the best vaccination strategy?
The Jab: What’s the best vaccination strategy?
Getting vaccine regimens right is a matter of life and death. We investigate new research that could shape how jabs are rolled out.
The Oxford Vaccine Group’s Matthew Snape says mixing vaccines could boost immunity, and Zeke Emanuel of the University of Pennsylvania explains why second doses should be delayed. Also, we ask Leana Wen of George Washington University whether children should be offered the vaccine.
Alok Jha and Natasha Loder are joined by Slavea Chankova, The Economist’s health-care correspondent.
For full access to The Economist’s print, digital and audio editions subscribe at economist.com/thejabpod. Sign up for our new weekly science and data newsletters at economist.com/simplyscience and economist.com/offthecharts
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May 24, 2021
The Jab: Can Asia’s covid havens re-open?
A “zero-covid” strategy has kept cases to a minimum in a handful of Asia-Pacific countries. How can they use vaccines to end their isolation?
Professor Gabriel Leung of the University of Hong Kong says “zero-covid” countries have become victims of their own success, Charlie McCann explains South-East Asia’s worrying new wave, and Nell Whitehead reports from Australia.
Alok Jha and Natasha Loder are joined by Edward Carr, The Economist’s deputy editor.
For full access to The Economist’s print, digital and audio editions subscribe at economist.com/thejabpod. Sign up for our new weekly science and data newsletters at economist.com/simplyscience and economist.com/offthecharts
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May 17, 2021
The Jab: How many have really died?
A new model from The Economist indicates that Covid-19 has claimed millions more lives than official numbers suggest. Can enough vaccine supplies reach poorer countries to prevent millions more deaths?
Data journalist Sondre Solstad reveals the untold story of the pandemic. Robert Guest reports from Mexico, one of the countries hardest hit. COG-UK’s Sharon Peacock, a top “variant hunter”, says vaccines are beating back new strains.
Alok Jha and Natasha Loder are joined by Oliver Morton, The Economist’s briefings editor.
For full access to The Economist’s print, digital and audio editions subscribe at economist.com/thejabpod. Sign up for our new weekly science and data newsletters at economist.com/simplyscience and economist.com/offthecharts
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May 10, 2021
The Jab: Why can’t more be made?
Thousands are dying each day amid vaccine shortages. Would a patent waiver save lives?
Jayati Ghosh of the University of Massachusetts Amherst says liberating IP is an urgent moral issue. Richard Hatchett, CEO at CEPI, disagrees.
Alok Jha and Natasha Loder are joined by Edward Carr, our deputy editor, and economics columnist Ryan Avent.
For full access to The Economist’s print, digital and audio editions subscribe at economist.com/thejabpod. Sign up for our new weekly science and data newsletters at economist.com/simplyscience and economist.com/offthecharts
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May 3, 2021
The Jab: Might vaccine diplomacy misfire?
Vaccines have become a tool of global influence. China and Russia have sent millions of doses abroad, but the West has lagged in vaccine diplomacy. What are the risks and rewards?
Agathe Demarais of The Economist Intelligence Unit, who wrote a report on the subject, tells The Jab how China and Russia’s vaccine diplomacy could backfire.
Alok Jha and Natasha Loder are joined by Edward Carr, The Economist’s deputy editor, and Argentina correspondent David Smith.
For full access to The Economist’s print, digital and audio editions subscribe at economist.com/thejabpod. Sign up for our new weekly science and data newsletters at economist.com/simplyscience and economist.com/offthecharts
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Apr 26, 2021
The Jab: What lessons have been learned?
More than a billion vaccines have been administered. But the contrast between Israel, largely free of covid-19, and India, struggling with a catastrophic second wave, is stark. What explains the discrepancy?
Devi Sridhar, Founding Director of the Global Health Governance Programme, tells us what to expect as the next billion vaccines roll out.
Alok Jha and Natasha Loder are joined by Slavea Chankova, The Economist’s health-care correspondent, and technology correspondent Hal Hodson. Anshel Pfeffer reports from Israel.
For full access to The Economist’s print, digital and audio editions subscribe at economist.com/thejabpod. Sign up for our new weekly science and data newsletters at economist.com/simplyscience and economist.com/offthecharts
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Apr 19, 2021
The Jab: Can Europe turn the corner?
The continent is suffering a third wave of covid-19 after the European Commission’s vaccine roll out stalled. French President Emmanuelle Macron has said Europe “lacked ambition” in its vaccine efforts. How can European countries catch up?
Alok Jha and Natasha Loder are joined by Sophie Pedder, The Economist’s Paris bureau chief, Stanley Pignal, European business and finance correspondent, and Sondre Solstad, senior data journalist.
For full access to The Economist’s print, digital and audio editions subscribe at economist.com/thejabpod. Sign up for our new weekly science and data newsletters at economist.com/simplyscience and economist.com/offthecharts
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Apr 12, 2021
The Jab: How to persuade the sceptics?
All adults in America are now eligible for a covid-19 vaccine. Around 30% of those polled in the country, however, are hesitant to take the jab. A shortage of vaccines will soon become a shortage of arms. What is the best way to persuade reluctant citizens to get inoculated?
We speak to Heidi Larson, anthropologist at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and founding director of the Vaccine Confidence Project, about the similarities between vaccine hesitancy today and the 19th century. Crystal Son, director of healthcare analytics at Civis Analytics, on why vaccine safety messaging is ineffective.
Alok Jha and Natasha Loder are joined by Edward Carr, The Economist’s deputy editor, and Tamara Gilkes Borr, US policy correspondent.
For full access to The Economist’s print, digital and audio editions subscribe at economist.com/thejabpod. Sign up for our new weekly science and data newsletters at economist.com/simplyscience and economist.com/offthecharts
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Apr 5, 2021
The Jab: Can distribution be fair?
More than a billion doses of covid-19 vaccine have been made. Now comes the hard part: ensuring every country in the world has access to them. Can distribution be made more equitable?
Alok Jha and Natasha Loder are joined by Edward Carr, The Economist’s deputy editor, and Sondre Solstad, senior data journalist.
With Seth Berkley of GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance, and John Nkengasong, director of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.
For full access to The Economist’s print, digital and audio editions subscribe at economist.com/thejabpod. Sign up for our new weekly science and data newsletters at economist.com/simplyscience and economist.com/offthecharts
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Mar 29, 2021
The Jab: How will science benefit?
The concerted and rapid efforts to counter covid-19 have turbo-charged scientific progress. How can this new knowledge be applied to treat future threats to human health?
Gregg Glenn, head of research and development at Novavax on why that vaccine is effective against variants.
Alok Jha, The Economist's science correspondent, hosts with our health policy editor, Natasha Loder. Oliver Morton, briefings editor, Cuba correspondent Roseanne Lake and James Fransham from our data team join them.
For full access to The Economist’s print, digital and audio editions subscribe at economist.com/thejabpod. Sign up for our new weekly science and data newsletters at economist.com/simplyscience and economist.com/offthecharts
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Mar 22, 2021
The Jab: Will America do better than Europe?
The EU was slow to roll out covid-19 vaccines, then destroyed confidence in the Astrazeneca vaccine and is now embroiled in a row over supplies. Will America avoid Europe's pitfalls? Dr Anthony Fauci, chief medical adviser to President Biden, explains vaccination progress in America, the plateau of new infections and his plan to combat new variants. Also, how does America's federal system affect the vaccination programme?
Alok Jha, The Economist's science correspondent, hosts with our health policy editor, Natasha Loder. Edward Carr, The Economist's deputy editor and our New York correspondent Rosemarie Ward join them.
For full access to The Economist’s print, digital and audio editions subscribe at economist.com/thejabpod. Sign up for our new weekly science newsletter at economist.com/simplyscience and data newsletter at economist.com/offthecharts
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Mar 15, 2021
The Jab: How will behaviour change?
The world has stumbled through the pandemic by nationalising risk. In heavily infected countries citizens have been ordered to stay home for weeks at a time. As covid-19 vaccination programmes spread, governments must gradually restore choice to the individual. How?
We speak to Ozlem Tureci and Ugur Sahin—the couple who co-founded BioNTech which created the first covid-19 vaccine to get regulatory approval.
Alok Jha, The Economist's science correspondent, hosts with our health policy editor, Natasha Loder. The Economist's deputy editor Edward Carr, Europe correspondent Vendeline Von Bredow and Dan Rosenheck from our data team join them.
For full access to The Economist’s print, digital and audio editions subscribe at economist.com/thejabpod. Sign up for our new weekly science newsletter at economist.com/simplyscience and data newsletter at economist.com/offthecharts
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Mar 8, 2021
The Jab: Trial and error?
Large scale covid-19 vaccine trials have taken place at exceptional speed with unprecedented scrutiny. How do they work? And why are the results so politically charged?
We speak to Andrew Catchpole, lead scientist on the first trial to infect volunteers with the virus intentionally. Jason Palmer, presenter of The Intelligence, assists in a trial.
Alok Jha, The Economist's science correspondent, hosts with our health policy editor, Natasha Loder. Slavea Chankova, The Economist's health-care correspondent, and James Fransham, from our data team, join them.
For full access to The Economist’s print, digital and audio editions subscribe at economist.com/thejabpod. Sign up for our new weekly science newsletter at economist.com/simplyscience and data newsletter at economist.com/offthecharts
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Mar 1, 2021
The Jab: Will there be enough vaccines?
It is one thing to design and test covid-19 vaccines. It is another to make them at sufficient scale to generate the billions of doses needed to vaccinate the world’s population. How are the vaccines produced, why is production so variable and will it meet demand this year?
We speak to Adar Poonawalla, CEO of the Serum Institute of India, the world's biggest supplier of vaccines. The Economist’s technology correspondent Hal Hodson explains why some vaccines take longer to produce than others. James Fransham from our data team discusses when supply will meet demand.
Alok Jha, The Economist's science correspondent, hosts with our health policy editor, Natasha Loder. Oliver Morton, The Economist's briefing editor, joins them.
For full access to The Economist’s print, digital and audio editions subscribe at economist.com/thejabpod. Sign up for our new weekly science newsletter at economist.com/simplyscience and data newsletter at economist.com/offthecharts
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Feb 22, 2021
The Jab: Are the vaccines effective enough?
Three vaccines have been approved by stringent regulators. Ten are being used in one or more countries. How do they work and are they effective enough against new variants of the coronavirus?
Sarah Gilbert, inventor of the Oxford/Astrazeneca vaccine, tells us adapting to new variants should be easy. The Economist’s Beijing bureau chief David Rennie reports from China, which faces a huge test of its homegrown vaccine technology as it tries to re-open. James Fransham from our data team on how far the variants have spread.
Alok Jha, The Economist's science correspondent, hosts with our health policy editor, Natasha Loder. Slavea Chankova, The Economist's health-care correspondent, joins them.
For full access to The Economist’s print, digital and audio editions subscribe at economist.com/thejabpod and sign up for our new weekly science newsletter at economist.com/simplyscience
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Feb 15, 2021
The Jab: How well will vaccines work?
The race between infections and injections is in its most crucial phase. What life is like on the other side of the pandemic depends on three things: how well vaccines work, whether there are enough and how many people take them.
Michael Osterholm, an epidemiologist who has advised President Biden, tells us the world stands at an inflection point. After getting his jab in Jerusalem, our correspondent there says the vision of the future Israel offers other countries is not as rosy as it first seemed. James Fransham from The Economist data team unpicks the vaccination numbers so far.
Alok Jha, The Economist's science correspondent, hosts with our health policy editor, Natasha Loder. Edward Carr, The Economist's deputy editor, joins them.
For full access to The Economist’s print, digital and audio editions subscribe here: economist.com/thejabpod
Subscribe to our new weekly science newsletter at economist.com/simplyscience and data newsletter at www.economist.com/offthecharts
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Feb 8, 2021
The Jab: Trailer
In this new weekly podcast series, The Economist unlocks the science, data and politics behind the most ambitious inoculation programme the world has ever seen.
Alok Jha, The Economist’s science correspondent, hosts with Natasha Loder, our health policy editor. Each week our reporters and data journalists join them in conversation, along with scientists around the world. They inject the perfect dose of insight and analysis into the global effort to escape the pandemic.
“The Jab from Economist Radio” will be published every Monday, initially for 12 weeks. It is the latest addition to our slate of podcasts which includes the award-winning podcasts “The Intelligence”, “The Economist Asks”, "Money Talks", “Checks and Balance” and "Babbage".
For full access to The Economist’s print, digital and audio editions subscribe here: economist.com/thejabpod
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