Crikey Talks

Inside the Pandemic — in conversation with Prof Peter Doherty

Finding our bearings in this ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Crikey‘s Janine Perrett and Amber Schultz were joined by one of Australia’s leading authorities on infection and immunity. Professor Peter Doherty shared the 1996 Nobel Prize in Medicine or Physiology for discovering the nature of cellular immune defence, and is the author of a new book entitled – An insider’s plague year.

Peter and his colleagues at the Doherty Institute have been at the forefront of the research and study of this highly infectious coronavirus. They are currently working with the federal government in assisting with official modelling to guide the four-stage plan.

He answered Crikey subscriber questions on the government’s handling of the pandemic, how vaccines actually work, as well as what the future looks like in pandemic Australia.

For further insights, take a look at Amber’s follow up article – Crikey Talks: Peter Doherty answers three key questions on our pandemic response.

An Insider's Plague Year

Get the Book

In An Insider’s Plague Year, Nobel laureate and prominent COVID-19 authority Professor Peter Doherty recounts his response to the pandemic as it developed from January 2020-February 2021. As citizens and governments around the world suddenly became acutely dependent on the capacity of scientists to understand and recommend appropriate public health policy responses to the disease, Doherty and his team were at the forefront.

If you would like to get your hands on An Insider’s Plague Year, you can find it at Booktopia.

Speakers

Amber Schultz

Former Associate Editor @AmberMaySchultz

Amber Schultz covered health and social affairs for Crikey. In 2022 she was awarded a Young Walkley Award for her on-the-ground coverage of the Ukrainian refugee crisis, and has been shortlisted for four other Young Walkleys. In 2021 she was awarded the 2021 Mumbrella Young Writer of the Year for her coverage of sexual violence, and in 2018 completed the Jacoby-Walkley scholarship. She holds master's degrees in journalism and international relations.

Janine Perrett

Columnist @PerrettReport

Janine is a regular Crikey contributor. She is a journalist, broadcaster and commentator on business and politics with four decades of experience working in newspapers, radio and TV. She has worked across The Australian, The Sydney Morning Herald, The Nine Network, ABC, and Sky News where she hosted many shows including The Perrett Report.

Peter Doherty

Laureate Professor @ProfPCDoherty

Professor Peter Doherty shared the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1996 with Swiss colleague Rolf Zinkernagel, for their discovery of how the immune system recognises virus-infected cells.

Be a Crikey Talks guest

Are you a subject matter expert? Are you an author launching a new book? We are keen to hear from thought-leaders who are happy to chat with Crikey journos and speak to the hottest topics and issues of the day concerning politics, environment, media, business, health and culture. Just send an email to Crikey Talks with your details, and we will be in touch.

What is Crikey Talks?

It’s our program of monthly online live events, exclusive to Crikey subscribers, and enjoyed from the comfort of wherever you are.

When you join our monthly online Crikey Talks, you’ll get YOUR questions answered by our very special guests, including Prof Peter Doherty, Anthony Albanese, Malcolm Turnbull, Gillian Triggs and more coming soon.

Also watch unique behind-the-scenes journalist insights, and ask the questions you want answered about media, business, politics, climate change, culture and more.

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