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Half Vaxxed: The Rise and Fall of Philly Fighting COVID 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

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Half Vaxxed

Half Vaxxed: The Rise and Fall of Philly Fighting COVID

From WHYY

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?

Most Recent Episodes

Update: Banned

For the first time since Philadelphia's mass vaccine rollout came to a screeching halt more than a year ago, the CEO of the startup in charge of that rollout is facing legal consequences. 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. If the courts approve the settlement agreement, Andrei will be banned from doing similar work in the state for the next 10 years, and he'll be on the hook for $30,000 in restitution. In this bonus episode of Half Vaxxed, we'll break down exactly how the AG says Andrei broke the law. We'll also ask why these consequences are coming down now — and if the courts approve the settlement, will the punishment fit the crime? Read the transcript for this episode.

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: the Black and Latino residents hit hardest by the pandemic. And it's part of a larger pattern of systemic racism in health care. Read the transcript for this episode.

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: political corruption or a failure of bureaucracy. Read the transcript for this episode.

Ep 3: Ghosted

Philly Fighting COVID abandons community testing for vaccines, the clinic turns to chaos, and the city cuts ties with the company. And for the first time, a former Philly Fighting COVID insider goes on the record about how he tried to warn the city and prevent this debacle from happening. Read the transcript for this episode.

Ep 2: Sprezzatura

Andrei Doroshin, Philly Fighting COVID's CEO, had a history of dressing up amateur projects as professional endeavors fueled by a "fake it 'till you make it" philosophy. He ran the company like a high school clique and former staffers describe a volatile leader prone to being crude. Read the transcript for this episode.

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? A "move fast and break things" approach from young people highly motivated to help in a crisis. Read the transcript for this episode.

Half Vaxxed Trailer

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

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