In this weeks' episode - a special episode marking the first of a limited time "mini-series" on the fight against COVID-19 released across February 2021, I speak with the remarkable Dr Lindsay Broadbent - virologist and research fellow at Queen's University, Belfast.

In the last 12 months since the inception of the COVID-19 global pandemic, Lindsay has become one of the most sought-after guests for TV and radio shows discussing the intricacies of the virus - particularly given her innate knack of breaking down complex scientific terminology and explanation, and getting the key details across in a way that the vast majority of society will understand.

We discussed, amongst many other points of note;

• Lindsay's life pre-virology studies
• Her research studies and PhD topic, and the details around the virus she specialised in pre-COVID
• Taking us back to January 2020 and how she and her colleagues reacted and prepared for what was to follow
• A detailed breakdown of how vaccines work and specifically talking about the 3 vaccines currently at play in the UK - Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and Oxford AstraZeneca - and how they are different to each other
• Mutations and variations - how these vaccines could be adapted to combat any new mutated threats which may reduce efficacy of current vaccines
• School transmission amongst children and the importance of washing masks after each use, and not re-using (without hot washes) where possible
•  Social Media & blocking idiot trolls
• Lindsay's journey with mental health through her lifetime and how she has handled the media interest of the last 12 months

I have thoroughly enjoyed my time with each of my guests to date, but this is perhaps my most enjoyable episode to record yet. As you'll hear yourself, Lindsay is an absolute delight and such a pleasant person to speak to. I felt better informed and educated after having spoken with her for just over an hour, and I trust you may do also! Sit back and enjoy the episode, and don't forget to feed back if you enjoyed it.