Preview
  • Vaccines and Bayonets

  • Fighting Smallpox in Africa Amid Tribalism, Terror and the Cold War
  • By: Bee Bloeser
  • Narrated by: Claudia Dunn
  • Length: 9 hrs and 46 mins
  • 5.0 out of 5 stars (1 rating)

Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Vaccines and Bayonets

By: Bee Bloeser
Narrated by: Claudia Dunn
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $19.95

Buy for $19.95

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

Step into the heart of a turbulent era with a gripping historical memoir that chronicles one woman’s extraordinary journey in Africa. In this vivid recounting—which one Pulitzer nominee says, “reads like a political thriller, women’s history, and African adventure rolled into one,”—Bee Bloeser unveils the raw reality of her family’s part in the mission to eradicate smallpox, revealing triumphs and trials faced along the way.

As a young wife with two young children, Bloeser follows her husband, Carl, to Africa, driven by ideals and a sense of duty. In Nigeria she witnesses the roots and ravages of civil war and the horrors of smallpox and leprosy, yet finds beauty in the vibrant local culture.

In Equatorial Guinea, a nation newly independent but plagued by the terror of a brutal dictatorship, secrecy shrouds the people, and Bloeser confronts a world far removed from her idealistic expectations. Forbidden from interacting with locals and surrounded by oppression and suspicion, she documents her experiences in hidden notes, capturing the essence of a desperate struggle.

Through her eyes, listeners experience the intense battle against a relentless virus and against tyranny. This Amazon #1 Bestselling memoir is a story of medical triumph but also a poignant reflection on humanity’s capacity for courage—the indomitable spirit of those who risk everything for a better future.

©2021 Bee Bloeser (P)2024 Bee Bloeser
activate_Holiday_promo_in_buybox_DT_T2

What listeners say about Vaccines and Bayonets

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    1
  • 4 Stars
    0
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Performance
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    1
  • 4 Stars
    0
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Story
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    1
  • 4 Stars
    0
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A great true story of triumph and tragedy

Bee Bloeser’s Vaccines and Bayonets is a fascinating book, a story of tragedy and triumph. It is a true tale of her family’s involvement in West Africa and includes her time in Equatorial Guinea under the brutal dictatorship of Macias Nguema, a situation which involved the intimidation, torture, and killing of large numbers of Africans, and included threats to Bloeser’s own family including her young son, the disappearance of her African assistant, and the death of an American diplomat at post. At the same time, Bloeser’s story is a tale of triumph of the many humanitarian aid officials facing adversity while delivering badly needed humanitarian assistance worldwide. Through Bloeser’s family, we get a detailed inside look into their lives, into Africa, including her time in Nigeria, and into one of the world’s greatest humanitarian successes, the worldwide eradication of smallpox. It is an amazing story and one that is occasionally taken for granted. The narrator, Claudia Dunn, is excellent. She really brings the story to life.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!