It is thanks to scientists collaborating across borders that vaccines against Covid-19 have been developed so fast, argues Rajni George.
When Shanghai-based virologist Zhang Yongzhen released the first complete genome sequence for Sars-CoV-2 on 11 January 2020, he was doing more than starting the clock for the vaccines currently being launched into the world.
Through his friend and colleague, University of Sydney professor Edward Holmes, who posted the sequence on the website Virological.org, Zhang set a standard for international collaboration, forgoing possible remuneration and risking the ire of the Chinese authorities.
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