HORIZON SPECIAL: THE VACCINE

BBC Two, 9pm

Horizon has been doing excellent work throughout the pandemic, with this perhaps the apex of its efforts to explain the science behind both the virus and our attempts to cope with and combat it. This lengthy but gripping film follows the race to produce a vaccine: efforts spearheaded by institutions in Beijing, Queensland, Oxford, New York and Washington DC. The results are selfevident and extraordinary both in their efficacy and speed, condensing a decade-long process into just months.

Speaking to scientists from each of the teams, it offers a comprehensive picture of the differing approaches taken and the pressures that were shouldered by those leading the research. Decisions misrepresented in the media are given a thorough explanation, and several doughty figures emerge, notably: Dr Kathrin Jansen, whose fascination with vaccination is rooted in her experiences after escaping East Berlin; Dr Kizzmekia Corbett, profoundly concerned about low take-up among ethnic minorities; and Professor Keith Chappell, who persevered through slashed funding and bad publicity to produce remarkable results. Inspiring and, for the waverers, hopefully reassuring as well. Gabriel Tate

BEFORE WE DIE Channel 4, 9pm

The unwieldy Bristolian Nordic noir adaptation continues, with Christian attempting to resolve his entanglement in the undercover investigation by going in even deeper, proposing a trip with Davor to understand Operation Krajina in all its unpleasant details.

Call to action: following five vaccine teams around the globe