7 episodes

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?

Half Vaxxed: The Rise and Fall of Philly Fighting COVID WHYY

    • News
    • 4.9 • 128 Ratings

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?

    Update: Banned

    Update: Banned

    The Pennsylvania attorney general has filed a civil complaint against Andrei Doroshin, claiming he broke a number of laws during his time as the head of Philly Fighting COVID.

    • 14 min
    Ep 5: ‘Watch a Man’s Feet’

    Ep 5: ‘Watch a Man’s Feet’

    The Philly Fighting COVID scandal wasn’t just a one-off. The fiasco broke trust with the very people the city and the company said they wanted to help most.

    • 32 min
    Ep 4: Duped

    Ep 4: Duped

    Philly Fighting COVID’s quick and chaotic fall left many people wondering how this possibly could have happened. We investigate two leading theories.

    • 30 min
    Ep 3: Ghosted

    Ep 3: Ghosted

    Philly Fighting COVID abandons community testing for vaccines, the clinic turns to chaos, and the city cuts ties with the company.

    • 29 min
    Ep 2: Sprezzatura

    Ep 2: Sprezzatura

    Andrei Doroshin, Philly Fighting COVID’s CEO, ran the company like a high school clique and former staffers describe a crude, volatile leader.

    • 34 min
    Ep 1. ‘Shooting for the Heavens’

    Ep 1. ‘Shooting for the Heavens’

    Philly Fighting COVID was a young startup that pledged to vaccinate Philadelphia. What did the city’s health department see in this group in the first place?

    • 23 min

Customer Reviews

4.9 out of 5
128 Ratings

128 Ratings

rosensage ,

Love it!

WHYY always has expert production and journalists, and you gotta love a juicy biotech scandal. Thank you for your reporting!

Briandelmore ,

Excellent

A thoroughly reported and well produced show. Essential for understanding how Philly went wrong managing COVID and the systemic problems that pervade the city government.

bbbbb22bbbb ,

Loved it

Smart , fun, on point, learned a lot

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