A person is looking at a framed picture. The picture looks like a square block of pink from a distance, but on closer inspection it's a stream of code for a virus.
Free
Exhibition

Injecting Hope: The Race for a COVID-19 Vaccine

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National Museum of Scotland

Free admission

About Injecting Hope: The Race for a COVID-19 Vaccine

Injecting Hope is a new, free exhibition at the National Museum of Scotland that presents the science behind the COVID-19 vaccine.

This exhibition details the rapid research, development and delivery of the vaccine. Learn the science behind the creation of the vaccine, and understand the logistics behind its global roll-out.

The exhibition brings together more than 80 objects that were acquired in real time during the peak of the pandemic by curators across the UK.

Visitors will also see historic objects and modern innovations in the National Museums Scotland collection, and discover how these helped the global COVID-19 response. Highlighted objects include a syringe belonging to Alexander Wood, a Scotsman who invented the world's first hypodermic syringe.

Injecting Hope will also share uniquely Scottish experiences of the global pandemic. Learn about the people involved in the creation of Scotland's blue vaccine appointment envelopes, developed to stand out and be prioritised by post offices and receivers, and hear voices from the African diaspora in Glasgow on vaccine hesitancy in the community.

Injecting Hope: The Race for a COVID-19 Vaccine is part of an international tour presented by the Science Museum Group.

Exhibition highlights

Exhibition accessibility and facilities

We want everyone who comes to our museums to enjoy their time with us and make the most of their visit.

Getting to the exhibition gallery

Lifts are available to all floors of the museum. You can check the museum map or ask a member of staff for the nearest lifts. 

There are escalators in the Collecting Stories gallery on Level 1 leading to the exhibition gallery on Level 3.

Information on lift and escalator dimensions is available on the AccessAble website.  

Toilets

There are toilets on all levels of the museum. Accessible toilets and baby changing facilities are available on most floors. There is a Changing Places (U) toilet in the Entrance Hall on Level 0.  

You can access the museum map to find those nearest toilets or ask a member of our Visitor Experience team for directions. 

Seating

Seating is available throughout the exhibition. 

Please check the sensory map for seating options. 

Large print labels

Large print labels are available in this exhibition. They are situated next to the entrance as soon as you enter the exhibition and also next to the exit to the exhibition. 

Please return after use. 

Hearing induction loops

There is a hearing induction loop at the information desk outside the exhibition gallery.

Sensory resources

Ear defenders are available to borrow for free from the exhibition ticket desk on Level 3. 

A limited number of sensory backpacks are available at the information desks in the Main Entrance Hall and the Tower Entrance. These backpacks cannot be booked in advance.

We have created a sensory map of the exhibition to show all the sensory experiences. 

Download the exhibition visual guide to prepare for your visit. 

Relaxed viewings

Relaxed Morning

Dates: Sun 2 Feb, 2 Mar, 6 Apr

Time: 10:00 - 12:00

Enjoy a calmer visit to the Injecting Hope exhibition during our monthly Relaxed Morning event. In these sessions visitor numbers will be reduced. 

Find out more on the Relaxed Morning event page. 

Visit our accessibility page for full access information for the National Museum of Scotland buildings.

Presented by

Lead funder

Major funder

Related events

  1. A person is peering into a glass case, which features a single stone sculpture on top of a white square plinth.
    Event

    Morning Curator Tour: Injecting Hope

    Various dates, 9:15 - 10:00
    Join our exhibition curator for an exclusive early morning tour of our Injecting Hope exhibition.

    National Museum of Scotland

    Find out more
  2. A person is looking at a framed picture. The picture looks like a block of pink from a distance, but on closer inspection it's a stream of code for a virus.
    Event

    Injecting Hope BSL Tour

    Thu 20 Mar, 15:00 - 16:00
    Join BSL guide Trudi Collier for a guided tour of the exhibition. This event is aimed at D/deaf community BSL visitors.
    Free

    National Museum of Scotland

    Find out more
  3. A visitor looking at a model of the COVID-19 virus in a display case.
    Event

    Communicating Science Through Art

    Thu 17 April, 19:30 - 20:15
    Join artists Angela Palmer and Alec Finlay as they discuss how they used art to explore the science behind and experiences of COVID-19.
    Find out more

Further content for Injecting Hope: The Race for a COVID-19 Vaccine