Former head of the UK government’s vaccine taskforce, Dame Kate Bingham, has expressed concerns about the country’s preparedness for future outbreaks of Covid and referred to decisions made by ministers as ‘dumbarse’. She highlighted the efforts made to build vaccine manufacturing capacity and the establishment of a comprehensive database of potential trial participants, which included a wider cross-section of society due to increased engagement with healthcare services during the pandemic. However, she criticized the government for dismantling the manufacturing capability and closing the register of triallists, arguing that these measures would need to be recreated in the event of another pandemic.
Dame Kate also noted that the government no longer has the same level of access to major pharmaceutical companies as it did in 2020 when the UK played a leading role in global vaccine development. Additionally, she revealed that ministers made an ‘outrageous’ decision to force up to 500,000 vulnerable individuals to shield rather than invest in a treatment called Evushield during the Omicron variant wave in late 2021.
In her book, The Long Shot, co-authored by Tim Hames, Dame Kate explained that the government initially requested one million doses of the highly effective Evushield but changed their minds after the request was rejected. She criticized the decision to prioritize mRNA-type coronavirus vaccines, such as Pfizer and Moderna, over other available options, resulting in inadequate vaccine stocks for the UK.
Dame Kate also shared her experiences working with then health secretary Matt Hancock, describing him as a ‘Jekyll and Hyde’ character who had difficulty accepting differing viewpoints. She recalled an occasion when she questioned the feasibility of having 30 million vaccines ready by September 2020, and Hancock dismissed her concerns.
A government spokesperson responded to these criticisms by stating that pandemic response plans are continuously updated based on scientific information, lessons learned, and ongoing assessments. The spokesperson highlighted the establishment of the Vaccine Development and Evaluation Centre by the UK Health Security Agency to expedite the development of new vaccines. The government is also actively participating in the 100 Day Mission, a global collaboration aimed at making diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccines available within 100 days of the emergence of a new pandemic threat.
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