The lessons of “Operation Warp Speed” – the race to produce a vaccine

Governments and companies can learn from the extraordinary global effort to create a vaccine to defeat Covid-19, says Matthew Lynn.

Close up of a syringe
Clarity of purpose was a major factor in producing an effective vaccine
(Image credit: © Allan Carvalho/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

The creation, approval and large-scale manufacturing of a Covid-19 vaccine in less than a year is among the most notable scientific and technological achievements in history. Led by Operation Warp Speed in the US, and with similar initiatives in other countries, including the UK, vast scientific resources have been mobilised to crack a huge global crisis. The effort has succeeded magnificently.

What governments got right

Subscribe to MoneyWeek

Subscribe to MoneyWeek today and get your first six magazine issues absolutely FREE

Get 6 issues free
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/mw70aro6gl1676370748.jpg

Sign up to Money Morning

Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter

Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter

Sign up
Matthew Lynn

Matthew Lynn is a columnist for Bloomberg, and writes weekly commentary syndicated in papers such as the Daily Telegraph, Die Welt, the Sydney Morning Herald, the South China Morning Post and the Miami Herald. He is also an associate editor of Spectator Business, and a regular contributor to The Spectator. Before that, he worked for the business section of the Sunday Times for ten years. 

He has written books on finance and financial topics, including Bust: Greece, The Euro and The Sovereign Debt Crisis and The Long Depression: The Slump of 2008 to 2031. Matthew is also the author of the Death Force series of military thrillers and the founder of Lume Books, an independent publisher.