TCG: Operation Warp Speed (ft. Gail Van Norman, pt. I)

Operation Warp Speed (pt. I)

A conversation with Dr. Gail Van Norman

We all wait, around the globe, for a SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. Russia just approved one (though without clear evidence from large-scale trials). Others (especially at AstraZeneca and Moderna) look promising. And the U.S. government has funded a public–private partnership that aims to develop and distribute a vaccine at speeds heretofore unheard of. Is Operation Warp Speed more science or sci-fi? What policies enable and constrain it? What ethical questions are involved? How might it shape future medical research? And when will a safe and effective vaccine arrive? From the epicenter of the first outbreak in the United States, anesthesiologist and bioethicist Dr. Gail Van Norman joins Leigh this week.

(Photo © FreeImages/Brian Hoskins)

Please note: Due to the pandemic and geographic distance, this episode was recorded via cell phone. There is intermittent “popping” during the conversation, and we have attempted to minimize this in editing as much as possible. Thank you for your understanding.

To skip the intro, fast forward to the 2:24 mark.