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FDA: No "Safety Concerns" With Moderna Coronavirus Vaccine; Majority Of Initial Pfizer Vaccine Shipments Go Out Today; U.S. Reports More Than 1.5 Million Cases During Past Week. Aired 11-11:30a ET

Aired December 15, 2020 - 11:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

[11:00:00]

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN ANCHOR: Hello, everyone. I'm Kate Bolduan. Thank you so much for joining us this hour.

We're continuing to follow the breaking news this morning, FDA scientists are giving a big boost to a second COVID-19 vaccine that could get the green light later this week. This one we're talking about is from Moderna.

FDA briefing documents were just released this morning and they confirm that the -- they confirm the surprisingly good efficacy of this vaccine. Almost 95 percent effective. And also, safe.

Also, today, we have learned that the majority of Pfizer's initial vaccine shipment will be delivered with 425 sites across the country expected to receive the doses. Healthcare workers from coast-to-coast now rolling up their sleeves and getting the shot in hopes of finally putting this pandemic behind us.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DR. STELLA OGAKE, OHIO CRITICAL CARE PHYSICIAN WHO RECEIVED COVID-19 VACCINE: It is such a moment of hope because we can see the light.

SANDRA LINDSEY, FIRST NEW YORKER TO RECEIVE COVID-19 VACCINE: I wanted to do it to inspire people who may be skeptical about taking the vaccine.

KIM TAYLOR, CALIFORNIA ER NURSE WHO RECEIVED COVID-19 VACCINE: What I want you guys to know is that help is on the way. Today is just the first step.

ALYSSA SPEDOSKE, MICHIGAN ER NURSE WHO RECEIVED COVID-19 VACCINE: If I can be that one person who helps show people that it's OK to do this. It's OK to get the vaccine. It's safe. We trust the science. We trust the methods. Then I'm going to be that person.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BOLDUAN: And with the vaccines now really rolling out, Americans appear to be getting more and more comfortable with the idea of getting vaccinated. A new poll out shows that 71 percent of Americans say they definitely or probably get would get a COVID-19 vaccine. That's up from 63 percent in September.

But it is also important to remember that it will still be months before the majority of Americans can get a shot. This is a moment that Dr. Anthony Fauci really has described as bittersweet today. Such hope with these vaccines but still the reality that the virus is just ravaging the country as we speak.

More than 300,000 coronavirus deaths now in the United States. 300,000 and almost 200,000 new cases were reported just yesterday. And more than 110,000 people are now filling hospitals with coronavirus, breaking more and more records and putting more and more strain on hospital systems throughout the nation.

Let's start with this news on the Moderna vaccine. Joining me right now is Dr. Sanjay Gupta who's been going through the details of these Moderna documents. Sanjay, what are you seeing in these documents? What do they tell you about the Moderna vaccine?

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes. So, these are sort of the documents that the company and the FDA released prior to these advisory meetings. And you keep in mind, Kate, we had only really heard from the company prior to this in terms of just how effective this vaccine was.

But as you point out 94.5 percent effective. It's a slightly different sort of dosing schedule. They give more details about who benefits the most from this and how you separate out the doses. And when the overall vaccine is most effective in the time frame of things.

But I think the biggest thing here, when I've gone through these documents. There's no red flags, something that you know sort of jumps out at you and says here's a group of people who absolutely should not take this vaccine and it does match with what we've generally heard so far from the company in terms of the overall numbers.

So, it's good news. We'll obviously see what the advisory committee does with all this. But it sorts of tracks with what we've heard. And tracks of what Pfizer presented a week ago as well.

BOLDUAN: Is there -- do you get a sense of how different or similar the Moderna vaccine is from the Pfizer one that we've now all started learning so much about?

GUPTA: Yes. You know, it is interesting. I mean, they're very similar vaccines. You know, these are both these messenger RNA vaccines, people have heard this term a lot in both the Pfizer, BioNTech as well as the Moderna one, are very similar.

But let me show you some of the specifics here. When it comes to Moderna - and again, we're going to hear more from the advisory committee this week. But it's two 100 microgram doses separated by a month. OK?

I'm going to show you the Pfizer one in a second. It's a little bit different. It doesn't need to be kept quite as cold as the Pfizer vaccine. And that could be important, Kate, because there's places you know that may not have the same cold storage capacity. So, this vaccine may be able to get distributed more widely.

That middle line there, 94.5 percent efficacy. That's remarkable. It's hard to overstate that. 18 and older. So that's the big thing. Remember, Pfizer was 16 and older in terms of who might actually take this vaccine and we know obviously the Moderna one is still being considered for authorization, not there yet. Looks very promising.

Let me just quickly contrast that with the Pfizer one. Also, two doses, but 30 microgram doses. 21 days apart. It got to be a lot colder. Very similar efficacy, 95 percent. And then, 16 and older.

One thing I would tell you with this Moderna vaccine just keeping at the back of your mind is that the maximum effectiveness is typically about two weeks after the second dose.

[11:05:06]

All right, so one dose, wait a month, and then two weeks after that. So, a total of six weeks from the time you start getting vaccinated is when you have that maximum effectiveness, Kate.

BOLDUAN: So, you touched on this a bit, but are there outstanding questions that you have that you think will really need to be focused on when the FDA -- when the vaccine advisory committee meets that the FDA scientists might point to in these documents or groups that they don't have enough data on, or side effects?

GUPTA: Yes. I mean, you know it's interesting in both these trials pregnant women were not included in the trials. So, you know that is something that came up, obviously, during the Pfizer trial. Women who are pregnant, who may become pregnant during the vaccination period. So, that's going to be something that we're going to want to hear from this advisory committee and then the CDC.

What Pfizer basically did is say, let's be transparent - I mean, the CDC said for the Pfizer vaccine, let's be transparent about this. There's not enough data to suggest that it's -- on pregnant women to suggest that there's any harm. That we don't have data about its effectiveness either. That will be a decision between women and their healthcare providers. We may hear a similar sort of thing with the Moderna vaccine. People who have allergic reactions to things in the past. Again, similar sorts of questions may arise here.

And I think there's other questions, too. Like if you've been infected recently, you should have antibodies, should you still get the vaccine. A lot of people may not know for certain but that maybe a question that gets answered.

And also, let's say you just get one dose. Everybody is saying, look, we're not going to suggest anybody just get one dose, but if you have a lot of effectiveness at one dose and you're in the middle of a pandemic and there's not enough, is that going to be something that may be recommended in certain situations.

So far, it's not. Dr. Fauci, the CDC, everyone is saying you got to get the two doses. But we'll see what happens. I think those are some of the questions that may get raised over these next few days.

BOLDUAN: More broadly, Sanjay, what does the possibility of having, you know, then it would be two vaccines kind of on the market, available. What does that mean? What should that mean to folks at home in the broader effort to be done with this pandemic?

GUPTA: Yes. I mean that is the question. So, if you just look at these two vaccines and we've looked at the manufacturing capabilities and all that sort of stuff. When people have heard the number 40 million doses by the end of the year, which would be enough for 20 million people. That was already sort of counting on the idea that the Moderna vaccine would likely be authorized.

So, we know the Pfizer batch has 6.4 million doses out. They think that they're going to have closer to 25 million doses by the end of the year for the United States. Moderna could come online providing another 15 million. And then you can see you know sort of the calendar, January another 60 million on top. That would be 100 million. February, 200 million.

Now, keep in mind, in this country if you want to get to that 70 percent roughly of people inoculated, 75 percent, we're talking 450, 500 million doses would be necessary. And if the manufacturing sort of keeps up at that pace, you're talking end of spring, early summer where we could possibly be at those numbers if people get the vaccines and nothing goes wrong.

BOLDUAN: This week being another huge week as the vaccine advisory board meeting later this week on this Moderna vaccine the data that you just go through. Sanjay, thank you.

So, New Jersey's first COVID vaccines are being administered this morning and the leading hospital in the state just opened a special vaccine clinic.

CNN's Miguel Marquez is in Newark, New Jersey joining us now. Miguel, what's happening there?

MIGUEL MARQUEZ, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes. This is Rutgers Medical Center. And this is one of six different locations in the state that will start administering these vaccines right now. We were here, present, when the first five individuals got the vaccine today.

This is Newark. This is a town that's been -- an area that has been hard hit by the COVID-19, the African American and Latino communities here. Many, many family members and loved ones have passed away from this. 18,000 total New Jersians have died from COVID-19.

Their first case - their first case of COVID-19 was on March 4th of this year. They have now over 400,000 cases and it is growing. But today, there is hope.

We spoke to an ER Nurse, a registered nurse who's been here at the frontlines since the beginning of this pandemic about being the first New Jersian to get that shot today.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MARITZA BENIQUEZ, RESIDENT NURSE, RUTGERS UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL: It is. It's almost hard to put in words, right? To tell you what my -- what my deepest soul feels having received this shot.

[11:10:00]

This, to me, this is a lifeline. This, to me, I don't have to be afraid. I know that in another month and a half I will not have to be afraid to touch people.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MARQUEZ: So, she has to get the second shot in 21 days and then two weeks after that. She thinks that she'll be fully inoculated.

New Jersey will get about 76,000 doses of the vaccine and then it will ramp up from there. Three phases in this thing. That first phase, just those essential workers, 650,000 people are in that first phase. It gives you an idea of just how far they have to go. Back to you.

BOLDUAN: Absolutely. Thank you so much, Miguel. I really appreciate it.

So, across the country, medical workers are lining up to do the same thing, roll up their sleeves and receive the first doses of the Pfizer vaccine.

Our next guest was one of them, Dr. Todd Schaffer. He was among the first in the state of North Dakota to get the shot. He's vice president of clinics for Sanford Health Bismarck. And he's joining us now. Thank you so much doctor.

How are you feeling physically this morning, the day after? Any side effects at all for you?

DR. TODD SCHAFFER, VP OF CLINICS FOR SANFORD HEALTH-BISMARCK: I have no side effects whatsoever. I feel wonderful this morning.

BOLDUAN: That is great to hear. You know I saw -- we just saw an ER nurse there, one of my colleagues was playing how emotional she was about being able to get the vaccine. And I've heard in another interview, a doctor saying that she felt like she had won the lottery in being able to get the shot and get it early. Beyond physically, how are you feeling emotionally about this today after fighting the pandemic for so long?

SCHAFFER: That's exactly the way we feel in North Dakota as well. As our president described in Bismarck here. That this is a beacon of hope. This is the light at the end of the tunnel that we hoped to get to when we started down the road in this pandemic. And we know at this point in time that you know the end is near. And we still have to be vigilant in what we're doing but this at least gives us a fighting chance to defeat this pandemic.

BOLDUAN: Yes. Do you know why you were among the first to get the vaccine at your hospital?

SCHAFFER: Well, I was chosen as the physician leader, as was indicated early in the broadcast. Other people have echoed my sentiments exactly if you know we're here with you in solidarity to say we are at the frontlines. We want to be there to show you that we want to take this with you.

It's important for our staff to feel safe in getting the vaccine and understand its effectiveness. And we want them to do something that we wouldn't do ourselves. So, as one of our physician leaders here in Bismarck, I wanted them to be right there with them to take one of the first doses.

BOLDUAN: That's fantastic. You know there is polling that is showing that more and more people are willing to get the vaccine. But among the people who still say that they likely will not, people living in rural parts of the country are a big group of them, 35 percent saying definitely or probably not going to be getting vaccinated. How big of a problem or concern is it for you, especially in a state with many, many rural parts in North Dakota?

SCHAFFER: Right. In Sanford, as we're the largest rural provider in the country. We do understand the intricacies of taking care of patients in a rural setting. The Moderna vaccine will give us a little bit better of a fighting chance because of the cold storage discussion that Dr. Gupta mentioned. And I feel that once we do roll this out and we can see that the vaccines indeed are safe and they are effective, that more and more people will get in line to help get the vaccination in those rural communities.

I think the biggest thing is that we see the safety profile of it. Once the trials themselves have, you know, tens of thousands of people in them but as millions of doses are rolled out and people are doing well with it. I think we'll see more and more people understand that it'll be their turn to get it and feel comfortable with getting it.

BOLDUAN: Doctor, thank you for coming on. And thank you for getting it, appreciate it.

Coming up for us, following the Electoral College vote yesterday, for the first time, Senator Mitch McConnell acknowledges reality.

Plus, a CNN investigation into the poisoning of one of most unspoken critics, how Russian agents tracked him for years before the attack that almost killed him.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[11:18:41]

BOLDUAN: Today, like hundreds of millions of Americans and dozens of judges across the country have known for more than a month and reconfirmed more than once, the top Republican in the U.S. Senate finally acknowledged the reality that Joe Biden won the election and Donald Trump lost. Here is the Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on the Senate floor today. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. MITCH MCCONNELL (R-KY): So as of this morning our country has officially a president-elect and a vice president-elect. The Electoral College has spoken. So today I want to congratulate President-elect Joe Biden. The president-elect is no stranger to the Senate. He's devoted himself to public service for many years. I also want to congratulate the vice president-elect, our colleague from California, Senator Harris.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BOLDUAN: The reason his recognition is such a statement is because of the verbal gymnastics that he and so many Republicans have engaged in for weeks now to avoid saying that very thing. Senator John Barrasso even called it a got you question when asked about Biden's win and that was just yesterday. And of course, President Trump is still trying to fight these results, and refuses to acknowledge reality.

Joining me right now, CNN's Jessica Dean and CNN's senior congressional correspondent Manu Raju with all of this. So, Manu, what does this mean now that we hear this from McConnell?

[11:20:02]

MANU RAJU, CNN SENIOR CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: I think we could probably expect to hear more Republicans acknowledge reality as well that Joe Biden won the race. A number of Republicans I talked to in the run up to December 14th -- pointed to December 14th as this decisive day when the Electoral College votes to - voted to make Joe Biden officially the winner of the race even though that was clear it was going to happen. We should expect more to say that.

Already John Thune, the number two Republican last night, told reporters that it's time to move on and any efforts to try to squelch the election results, overturn them, when it comes time on January 6th for joint session of Congress to formally convene, to consider the Electoral College votes. Those efforts are going to go nowhere by the words of John Thune. Mitch McConnell signaling that as well.

But there are still a number of Republicans who have yet to acknowledge reality, would not do so certainly after last night when the Electoral College voted to make Joe Biden's victory official. Several of them, I asked, will you consider Joe Biden, president- elect.

Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana said I don't have anything for you on that.

I asked Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee. She told me we're going to be watching it, thanks. She said.

And I also asked Steve Daines, who's a Montana Republican, about whether or not he believes the president -- Biden will be the president. He said that January is when it comes time for Congress to make this official. So, we'll see if others join McConnell. But right now, also, Kate, House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy still silent on the issue, as is his number two, Steve Scalise.

BOLDUAN: Jessica, Joe Biden made very clear yesterday that he's had enough of this. What are you hearing today now?

JESSICA DEAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, we heard from President-elect Biden himself on a call to supporters last night. He said at least 7 senior Republicans had called him to congratulate him, to reach out to him and that they hoped to work together. And it's long been Biden's theory that once President Trump is out of office that Republicans will be willing to make deals, specifically Senate Republicans.

Now, a lot of people have said, look, this isn't the same Senate that you were in years and years ago. This is a very, very different environment. But Biden has been quite hesitant to go the legal route. Remember when we were waiting for ascertainment and for the election to be validated by the General Services Administration, he really said over and over again that he believed his experience showed that Republicans would come over, that the fever would break, and that he would be acknowledged by them as the president-elect. And that's what we're beginning to see now. But as Manu just noted, a lot of room to go in terms of all Republicans really acknowledging what we know to be true.

Last night, President-elect Biden really going through and dismantling President Trump's attack on democracy, calling it unprecedented, and he also called on Americans to move forward, to unite and turn the page. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOE BIDEN (D), PRESIDENT-ELECT OF THE UNITED STATES: We, the people voted, faith in our institutions held. The integrity of our elections remains intact. And now it's time to turn the page as we've done throughout our history. To unite, to heal.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

DEAN: And, of course, that is the big task at hand, Kate, can the nation come together and move forward after what has been such a divisive time.

BOLDUAN: Jessica Dean, thank you. Manu, thank you so much.

Coming up, he was on the brink of death after being poisoned. Now a CNN investigation reveals a top-secret mission against one of Vladimir Putin's political enemies.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[11:28:30]

BOLDUAN: This morning, six weeks after the election here in the United States, Russian President Vladimir Putin finally congratulated Joe Biden on his victory, putting out a statement on that there. Yet notably not commenting at all on the blockbuster investigation just out by CNN and the investigative group Bellingcat.

It has uncovered evidence that Russia's security service, the FSB, formed an elite team specializing in nerve agents that followed opposition leader Alexei Navalny for years. Navalny was poisoned in August and nearly died.

CNN Chief International Correspondent, Clarissa Ward and her team had been working this story for months. Watch.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CLARISSA WARD, CHIEF INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): August 20th, on a flight to Moscow, as a passenger captures the awful wails of Alexei Navalny. The Russian opposition leader has suddenly fallen ill. And he knows exactly why.

ALEXEI NAVALNY, RUSSIAN OPPOSITION LEADER: I get out of this bathroom, turned over to the flight attendant and said him, "I was poisoned, I'm going to die." And then I laid down under his feet to die.

WARD (on camera): You knew in that moment that you'd been poisoned?

NAVALNY: Yes, yes.

WARD (voice-over): Quick thinking from the pilot saves his life. Instead of flying on to Moscow, still three hours away, the plane diverts to Omsk.

Two days later, Navalny is flown to Berlin where the German government announces he has been poisoned with a nerve agent, Novichok.