Georgina Ferry interviews Sir John Bell, Regius Professor of Medicine, 28 April 2022.
Topics discussed include (00:00:10) emergence of the pandemic in Europe, particularly in Lombardy, Italy; (00:01:08) concerns relating to a lack of PPE in the health service, ventilators (including ventilator competition launched by U.K. Government, call with former Minister of Health in China, Chen Zhu), and testing; (00:04:21) global manufacturers for the vaccine, the Serum Institute in India, Phase II trial; (00:07:07) Operation Warp Speed and development of vaccines in America; (00:08:58) vaccine readout and result, Pfizer results, Select Committee on Science and Technology, Moderna results; (00:15:10) challenges, particularly relating to international reception and European procurement; (00:17:25) MHRA approval and vaccine rollout in the U.K., work with Government Minister Nadhim Zahawi; (00:18:42) reports of thrombosis in Europe, changes in delivery of the vaccine to different age groups; (00:22:00) embargo of vaccine in India, COVAX and vaccine supply for Africa; (00:24:09) surplus of vaccine, current use in the U.K.