An assessment of Operation Warp Speed

Operation Warp Speed — the mad rush to procure safe and effective means to curb Covid-19 — is inarguably one of the most ambitious scientific endeavors in U.S. history. But is it working? This morning STAT takes a deep dive into the U.S. government’s effort, assessing whether the billions of federal dollars committed to it are bearing fruit.

One lesson: The focus of OWS, as it’s called, has almost exclusively been on vaccine work, while therapeutics and diagnostics alike have taken more of a backseat. The initiative has also placed some gambles on manufacturers of the supplies necessary to distribute approved vaccines throughout the U.S., and across the world.

Another lesson: Transparency has been lacking, with basic questions remaining about why certain vaccine programs received major funding and about clinical trial protocols.