Bookings close on Tuesday, 14 April 2026
Date: Tuesday, 21 April 2026

Time: 6.30 pm
Location: Apothecaries’ Hall

Who can attend: Open to all

Lecture and Drink: Free entry. Limited seats available.
Dress code:  Casual
Member’s Portal (LMS): Click here to book
Non-members: Click here to book

Contact: AcademicEvents@apothecaries.org

Presenting Life Science Regulation – the role of the Society of Apothecaries, past, present, and future

To be given by Master Apothecary, Dr David Jefferys

David, will draw on his 45 year experience of global life science product regulation (medicines, medical devices and diagnostics) to consider the role the Society in the development and evolution of controls in this vital area. There will be a special focus on the last century of regulation and a look towards the future. How will the convergence of rapid developments in molecular biology, bio-material science, quantum computing, AI and nanoscience impact on life science products and on the medical and pharmacy professions. Might the role of the Apothecary return?

Presenting The Antivaxxers: A History of Antivaccination and Vaccine Hesitancy

To be given by Mr Tony Cartwright

The WHO includes vaccine hesitancy in the top ten threats to global health.

In this lecture, Tony Cartwright discusses the history of the anti-vaccination movement and potential solutions to combat misinformation and vaccine hesitancy.

Tony Cartwright is a retired pharmaceutical regulatory consultant who worked at the UK Medicines Agency, for a CRO and then ran his own consulting company. He has researched and written on the history of medicine, with ‘The British Pharmacopoeia 1864 to 2014’ (2015), ‘A History of The Medicines We Take’ (2020) and ‘A History of Vaccines and Antivaxxers. Myth vs Reality’ (2024) on which this lecture is based.

In 1796 Edward Jenner discovered that lymph from cowpox lesions could be used to inoculate patients against smallpox. But voluntary vaccination campaigns had limited success and in 1853 a new Vaccination Act compelled parents to have their children vaccinated within three months of birth. A national anti-compulsory vaccination movement arose, with an active Parliamentary lobby and branches around the country. In 1896 a new National Anti-vaccination League was formed, which continued in existence until 1972 campaigning against each new vaccine. From the beginning safety of the new vaccines was a major issue causing vaccine hesitancy. In 1973 issues were raised of neurological complications allegedly linked to pertussis vaccine. In 1995 Andrew Wakefield and colleagues published a paper asserting a possible link between autism and measles vaccination. The study was fraudulent and Wakefield was struck off from the Medical Register, but fears about autism have persisted. During the Covid pandemic misinformation was spread via the Internet. The WHO includes vaccine hesitancy in the top ten threats to global health. Review of the history suggests some practical solutions to combat antivaxxer misinformation and vaccine hesitancy. This lecture is based on his 2024 book.

Tony Cartwright is a retired pharmaceutical regulatory consultant who worked at the UK Medicines Agency, for a CRO and then ran his own consulting company. His earlier books dealt with medicines regulation. More recently he has researched and written on the history of medicine, with ‘The British Pharmacopoeia 1864 to 2014’ (2015), ‘A History of The Medicines We Take’ (2020) and ‘A History of Vaccines and Antivaxxers. Myth vs Reality’ (2024).