COVID: Jonathan Van-Tam blows final whistle on time as England’s deputy chief medical officer

COVID: Jonathan Van-Tam blows final whistle on time as England’s deputy chief medical officer

Sir Jonathan – or JVT, as the prime minister likes to call him – became a household name during the COVID pandemic, known for his football analogies during the Downing Street news briefings.

Professor Sir Jonathan Van-Tam is leaving his post as England’s deputy chief medical officer, Sajid Javid has confirmed.

Sir Jonathan, who was recently knighted, is departing his role to take up a new post at the University of Nottingham.

The health secretary said it has been “an honour” to work with Sir Jonathan and wished him “all the best for the future”.

“It has been an honour to work with JVT and I am hugely grateful for his advice & the vital role he has played in our vaccination programme,” he posted on Twitter.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson added: “I would like to thank Jonathan Van-Tam for his extraordinary contribution to our country and his invaluable advice throughout the pandemic. Wishing him the very best for the future.”

Sir Jonathan – or JVT, as the prime minister likes to call him – became a household name during the COVID pandemic, known for explaining scientific concepts in layman’s terms and his love of football analogies.

In a statement announcing his departure, he described his time as deputy chief medical officer as “the greatest privilege” but “the most challenging of my professional career”.

Sir Jonathan has been on secondment to the Department of Health from the University of Nottingham since 2017 and will return to be the Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences at the end of March.