The pandemic that is shaping us

Meet some of our most experienced vaccine experts who reflect on the global effort to develop, distribute, and provide equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines and therapeutics.

I chose to focus my work on vaccines and infectious diseases because it’s been a long-standing passion of mine. I hold a PhD in immunology, and so supporting clients who focus on innovation in this space is something that I’ve dedicated a large portion of my life to.

Jennifer Heller
Partner, Chicago
Video

Achieving the impossible in vaccine innovation

Specializing in pharmaceuticals, vaccines, and infectious diseases, McKinsey partner Jennifer Heller discusses her previous work in helping clients develop vaccines, assisting in shaping clinical development strategies, and the impact that COVID-19 has had on bringing vaccines to market.
Getting to work: Employers’ role in COVID-19 vaccination
Article
Getting to work: Employers’ role in COVID-19 vaccination
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Employers can consider a set of actions that supports COVID-19-vaccine adoption among employees by building conviction and making...
A light at the end of the tunnel: US COVID-19 vaccine administration
Article
A light at the end of the tunnel: US COVID-19 vaccine administration
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More than a year after the COVID-19 pandemic began, a line of sight exists that promises enough vaccine for every eligible adult...
Guarav Agrawal

I’ve always been passionate about the intersection of science, business, and patients. For more than a decade, I’ve focused on how clients can bring scientific breakthroughs more efficiently to patients.

Gaurav Agrawal
Partner, New York
Video

Working across the COVID-19 ecosystem

McKinsey partner Gaurav Agrawal reflects on his work in the past year in vaccine therapeutics and breakthrough science for healthcare, considering the efforts and innovations that have evolved during a difficult and short timeframe.
Fast-forward: Will the speed of COVID-19 vaccine development reset industry norms?
Article
Fast-forward: Will the speed of COVID-19 vaccine development reset industry norms?
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A review of the funding, operational, technological, and regulatory factors that allowed for fast development of COVID-19 vaccines...
Biopharma 2020: A landmark year and a reset for the future
Article
Biopharma 2020: A landmark year and a reset for the future
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Biopharma in 2020 has shown what it can achieve when it works at its best. How can the industry build on this renewed sense of...
Tania Holt

I’m really proud of being part of making sure that the vaccines reach everybody in the world and not just the high-income countries. It requires global collaboration and there is more to do in making this a reality.

Tania Holt
Partner, London
Video

Seeking global solutions for a global pandemic

Having previously worked in Nigeria on the eradication of polio, McKinsey partner Tania Holt deeply understands the outsized impact on the lives of people around the world when different institutions and countries work together.
Africa needs vaccines. What would it take to make them here?
Article
Africa needs vaccines. What would it take to make them here?
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For decades, private companies, investors, and public-health leaders have taken a pass on domestic vaccine manufacturing. But...
The COVID-19 vaccines are here: What comes next?
Article
The COVID-19 vaccines are here: What comes next?
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Countries must prepare now for the largest simultaneous global public-health initiative ever undertaken.

I think we’ll reflect back 20 years from now and say this was a warning sign of something bigger that can come, and there’s going to be a real catalyst that comes out of COVID-19.

Adam Sabow
Senior Partner, Chicago
Video

Catalyzing and changing our preparedness for the future

A senior partner in our Chicago office, Adam Sabow has spent the past 20 years working in the public health space to help control vaccine-preventable diseases. Utilizing this knowledge in the current fight against COVID-19, Adam reflects on the experience so far—but also the risks, difficulties, and opportunities that lie ahead.
When will the COVID-19 pandemic end?
Article
When will the COVID-19 pandemic end?
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Europe and the United States have entered the endemic stage of the COVID-19 outbreak: the virus is widespread, is significantly...
On pins and needles: Will COVID-19 vaccines ‘save the world’?
Article
On pins and needles: Tracking COVID-19 vaccines and therapeutics
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Key stakeholders will need to continue to monitor and adapt to new data and new variants emerging across the globe to respond...
Michael Conway

I care about meeting people’s unmet needs. In developed countries, I've spent time working on vaccines that prevent illnesses that cause mortality in old people and in developing countries, addressing diseases affecting children.

Michael Conway
Senior Partner, Philadelphia
Video

Changing the infectious disease landscape through vaccines

Having previously worked on a range of vaccine rollouts in over three decades, senior partner Michael Conway looks at how his early career experiences helped to influence his work in the COVID-19 pandemic, and the next steps now being taken.
COVID-19 vaccines meet 100 million uncertain Americans
Article
COVID-19 vaccines meet 100 million uncertain Americans
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More than 100 million Americans are uncertain about vaccination. Public- and private-sector leaders can take action to support...
Refueling the innovation engine in vaccines
Article
Refueling the innovation engine in vaccines
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Vaccine development has slowed over the past five years, but changes to investment strategies and a shift in focus to more technical...

There are many aspects of the science, and of the public health and epidemiology literature, to consider, which we bring as a fact base to support meaningful decisions our clients make that impact people’s lives every single day.

Pooja Kumar
Partner, Philadelphia
Video

Considering every aspect of society

With her medical training and extensive experience as a McKinsey partner, Pooja Kumar discusses the immense human and social toll that the pandemic has had on the globe as well as the constructive outcomes of collaboration, innovation, meaningful decision-making, and agile thinking.
Getting shots into arms: How US states are addressing the vaccine distribution challenge
Article
“Getting shots into arms”: How US states are addressing the vaccine distribution challenge
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COVID-19 vaccine administration represents a significant challenge: States can accelerate progress through five lessons including...
Rebuilding clinician mental health after COVID-19
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Rebuilding clinician mental health and well-being after COVID-19
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The pandemic has exacerbated existing issues around the mental health of healthcare workers. Providers can learn from other industries...
Lieven Van der Veken

The biggest risk I see is inequity. Of course, we have certain populations and certain environments running ahead, as fast as they can, but in the end, nobody’s safe until everybody’s safe from the pandemic.

Lieven Van der Veken
Senior Partner, Geneva
Video

Setting ambitious goals to address vaccine access

Lieven Van der Veken, senior partner at McKinsey, is a physician by training and has expertise in global public health. Having led our European team for many years, he has worked on a broad range of public health issues with a focus on vaccine development and deployment as well as pandemic and epidemic situations, globally.
The COVID-19 vaccine: Lessons and challenges
Podcast
The COVID-19 vaccine: Lessons and challenges
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The rapid deployment of vaccines is key in accelerating the return to normalcy.
Not the last pandemic: Investing now to reimagine public-health systems
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Not the last pandemic: Investing now to reimagine public-health systems
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The COVID-19 crisis reminds us how underprepared the world was to detect and respond to emerging infectious diseases. Smart investments...

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