Half Vaxxed: The Rise and Fall of Philly Fighting COVID

Publisher:
WHYY

Half Vaxxed: The Rise and Fall of Philly Fighting COVID

4.8/5

Critic Rating

This is the story of a 22-year-old with no health care experience who talked his way into a COVID-19 vaccine distribution deal he thought would make him millions — only to have his company implode as thousands of people awaited vaccinations. How did he end up with so much power? And was he a grifter, or just an opportunist working the American health care system the way it’s designed?


Critic Reviews

Score: 5

Lauren Passell • Podcast The Newsletter Mar 7, 2022

"We don’t know what was in his heart, but on Half Vaxxed, his story screams grifter vibes. It’s totally Elizabeth Holmes-esque, and a wild story of a young kid got too much power and how his mission spun terribly out of control. This is a quick listen and the whole thing is solid—there’s no sagginess."

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Score: 5

Andy Dehnart • Reality Blurred Oct 12, 2021

"I read Nick Quah’s recommendation of Half-Vaxxed last week and then listened to the whole thing one morning this weekend. It’s a quick but through, engaging accounting of a ludicrous story..."

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Score: 4.5

Nicholas Quah • Vulture Oct 6, 2021

"...feels like the Theranos debacle in miniature. Half-Vaxxed offers a comprehensive look that pieces together the entire situation: how Philly Fighting COVID came to win the contract, what actually happened, and who suffered as a result. …"

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