Operation Warp Speed pledged to do the impossible. How far has it come?

Operation Warp Speed pledged to do the impossible. How far has it come?

Operation Warp Speed promised to do the impossible. How far has it come?

(ALEX HOGAN/STAT, PHOTO: ADOBE)

The fastest vaccine development to date took four years. Now, Operation Warp Speed is working to squish that into just one for Covid-19. About five months into the public-private effort to accelerate Covid-19 vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics, STAT staffers took a close look at what they call “one of the most ambitious scientific endeavors in modern U.S. history.” Here’s a glimpse of their findings:

• The administration has ignited a vaccine nationalism wildfire — but that’s counterbalanced by the unparalleled American investment in the project.
• Diagnostics are one of OWS’ five focus areas, but the inability to manufacture and distribute them has been one of the U.S.’s biggest pandemic-time failures.
• One potential bottleneck in vaccine distribution is a possible shortage of vials and syringes — and some of the administration’s no-bid contracts have raised questions.

Read their full analysis here.