Prof Sir Jonathan Van-Tam, an influential figure in Britain’s pandemic response, has recently taken on a new role as a senior medical consultant at Moderna, the Covid vaccine maker. This part-time advisory position is part of Prof Van-Tam’s diverse career portfolio, as he also holds the position of senior strategy adviser in medicine at the University of Nottingham.
Prof Van-Tam’s appointment comes 14 months after his resignation from Whitehall in March 2022, where he served as England’s deputy chief medical officer for nearly five years. Moderna assures that his advisory position adheres to government rules on outside appointments for former Department of Health and Social Care senior staff.
According to public filings, the government has placed restrictions on Prof Van-Tam’s involvement with the Department of Health and Social Care until March 2024. He is prohibited from lobbying the department, its executive agencies, or participating in procurement bids related to the health ministry. Furthermore, he is not allowed to exploit privileged information gained during his time in government for personal business interests.
Initially reporting to Dr Paul Burton, Moderna’s chief medical officer, Prof Van-Tam’s appointment has been hailed as a valuable addition to the company’s efforts to enhance population health security. Dr Burton praised Prof Van-Tam’s extensive experience and expertise in the field of influenza and his contributions to the understanding of epidemiology, transmission, vaccinology, and pandemic preparedness.
During the pandemic, Prof Van-Tam became a well-known figure in the UK, frequently appearing alongside Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Prof Sir Chris Whitty, England’s chief medical officer, at Downing Street conferences. His use of sports metaphors to explain updates on the Covid-19 virus and vaccines earned him the nickname “Mr Metaphor”. In recognition of their services to public health, both Prof Van-Tam and Prof Whitty were knighted in 2021.
Reflecting on his role at Moderna, Prof Van-Tam described it as a demanding experience, comparable to being on a warfront for two years. The transition from such a high-pressure position to ordinary university life presented challenges for him.
Denial of responsibility! VigourTimes is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
