UK vaccine chief to step down at year-end as per her six-month contract, Hancock says

The head of Britain’s COVID-19 vaccine taskforce will step down at the end of the year and her departure is not related to criticism over a 670,000 pound ($881,000) public relations bill, the health minister said.

For more coronavirus news, visit our dedicated page.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said Kate Bingham had always been due to leave at the end of the year after accepting a six-month contract.

For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app

Bingham, who normally leads biotech investments, has been criticized after the Sunday Times reported that she used eight full-time consultants from London PR agency Admiral Associates to oversee her media strategy.

Read more:

Coronavirus vaccine will be optional: UK health minister

Coronavirus: UK’s Johnson says still too early to rely on COVID-19 vaccine

Coronavirus: UK expects to receive 10 mln doses of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine in 2020

“It was always a six month job and she was always clear that she couldn’t do it for longer than that,” Hancock told Times Radio.

Bingham, who was appointed chair of the taskforce on May 16, was not immediately available for comment.

Under Bingham’s leadership, the taskforce has secured supply deals for more than 350 million doses of six different COVID-19 vaccine candidates, including the Pfizer shot which is leading the race following positive trial data.