Really interesting behind the scenes view of the race to get vaccines

Inspiring story of how a highly qualified team worked together to get the various Covid vaccines made, tested, approved and into peoples arms. Yes they were the elite, yes they were well connected but they mostly worked for nothing, cutting through bureaucracy to get this done fast and well. Frustratingly it also shows how so much potential future good was thrown away by short sighted politicians.

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Eye opening

This book should be compulsory reading for all civil servants & prospectives, especially the last chapter.
A great example of the ‘lean in’ approach.

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A most important book

Kate Bingham provides a personal and critical insight into the UK’s successful Covid vaccination programme. It’s a story of how to get things done in crisis, and amid huge uncertainty. It has sharp lessons for everyone involved in high profile, high cost, government programmes. Excellent Audible listen.

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Limited in scope

While this was a fascinating insight into the period this book covers, I was disappointed that this period was in fact pretty short.
This book covers the tenure of Kate Bingham as head of the vaccine task force, which ended in late 2020. Anything that happened after that, from the mass rollout of the vaccine, the roller coaster of the daily covid case statistics, the blood clot scare, the shift to Pfizer for the young, etc. all of that isn't covered.
I was surprised by this as the book cover itself features the the familiar 'I've had my covid vaccine' sticker which was introduced after the end of the period covered.

So if you're interested in the behind-the-scene story of how Britain's vaccine machinery got into place and operated in its first 6 months then go ahead, but be warned that you'll have to look elsewhere for anything after that.

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Great insight to what actually happened

Once you get used to all the acronyms it’s an eye opener to the amazing success of the team despite market and more especially government intervention.

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A real life modern adventure story

Government procurement is not normally a subject that would attract my attention but given the ‘unusual’ circumstances, this is a fascinating overview of how the combination of an international emergency and a can-do attitude can result in a great success.

The story is well told with about the right balance of scientific detail, good honest graft and political machinations. Hearing how the press pack suddenly decided to place the author in their crosshairs, probably as part of a wider campaign to dicredit/hold to account ( take your pick) the government’s response to covid, is fascinating listening.

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Don't believe in UK read this

All the talented people many of them women who delivered all aspects of the vivid vaccine effort

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Dry

Three chapters in and I'm out. Reads like a dry LinkedIn post. Maybe in paperback I could skip past the tedium, but not in audio. As for the narration, do people really pronounce the WHO as the 'who?' as though the rock band are in charge of world health?

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