Philly’s COVID mess
By Christopher Harper
Amid charges of chaos and corruption, Philadelphia’s plan to provide vaccines for the Covid viruses has been an absolute disaster.
Less than a month ago, Mayor Jim Kenney announced a major initiative with Andrei Doroshin, the CEO of Philly Fighting Covid.
What was the first indication that there might be a problem? Doroshin is a 22-year-old graduate student without any background in health. His organization included various college friends who had experience in technology, so they used 3-D printing machines to make face shields.
On October 7, he presented a slideshow via Zoom in which he described how he and his colleagues planned to create vaccination sites throughout Philadelphia to provide vaccines.
By
Cozen O’Connor issued the following announcement on Jan. 25.
Cozen O’Connor is pleased to announce Philadelphia city lobbyist Brianna A. Westbrooks will be joining the Public Strategies practice as a government relations professional. Westbrooks is experienced in regulatory and legislative policy and procedure, with extensive relationships with the Philadelphia City Council. Her deep research and policy analysis will be a welcome addition to the firm’s growing and nationally recognized Public Strategies practice, where she will continue to focus on policy monitoring, analysis, and advocacy in the Kenney administration and Philadelphia City Council.
“Relationships, particularly those within the nuanced world of City Hall, are an integral component of this practice. As a rising star within the complex policy advocacy realm Brianna will be an invaluable asset for Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies,” said Joseph Hill, Government Relations Principal at Cozen O’Con
Kimberly Paynter/WHYY
Originally published on January 30, 2021 12:06 pm
It started out as a group of college friends who wanted to help during the pandemic. They had tech skills, so they used 3D printers to make face shields. Then they organized as a nonprofit, Philly Fighting Covid, and opened a testing site in a Philadelphia neighborhood that didn t have one yet.
But the organization s leader, Andrei Doroshin, had bigger ambitions. Even before the first coronavirus vaccine was authorized, he made plans to be involved. Doroshin is a 22-year-old graduate student in psychology at Drexel University. He has no background in health care.
In Philadelphia, A Scandal Erupts Over Vaccination Startup Led By 22-Year-Old nhpr.org - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from nhpr.org Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Kimberly Paynter/WHYY
toggle caption Kimberly Paynter/WHYY
Andrei Doroshin, CEO of Philly Fighting Covid, speaks to reporters before the start of a COVID-19 vaccine clinic at the Pennsylvania Convention Center on Jan. 8. Kimberly Paynter/WHYY
It started out as a group of college friends who wanted to help during the pandemic. They had tech skills, so they used 3D printers to make face shields. Then they organized as a nonprofit, Philly Fighting Covid, and opened a testing site in a Philadelphia neighborhood that didn t have one yet.
But the organization s leader, Andrei Doroshin, had bigger ambitions. Even before the first coronavirus vaccine was authorized, he made plans to be involved. Doroshin is a 22-year-old graduate student in psychology at Drexel University. He has no background in health care.