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Biden Campaigns in Georgia; McConnell Finally Acknowledges Biden's Win; Vaccine Distribution; U.S. Passes 300,000 COVID-19 Deaths. Aired 3-3:30p ET

Aired December 15, 2020 - 15:00   ET

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

[15:00:02]

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN HOST: And our special coverage continues now with Brooke Baldwin.

BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN HOST: Brianna, thank you, friend. And welcome back.

Hi there. I'm Brooke Baldwin. You're watching CNN.

It is day two of the COVID-19 vaccine in the U.S., and deliveries are ramping up in a major way, several more states administering their first inoculations to front-line health care workers. Today, 425 more sites are receiving the vaccines. It is the first and most critical step in finally getting this pandemic under control.

And it could not come at a more crucial time. Right now, there are more Americans hospitalized with coronavirus then at any time before, more than 10,500 (sic), this as the number of deaths hit another horrible milestone. Look at this, 301,000 Americans killed by this disease and counting.

There is some hope for all of us on the horizon, the FDA announcing it is authorizing a new at-home coronavirus test that could help track the disease.

So, let's start there.

CNN's Sara Murray has more on this giant undertaking to get vaccines to the people who need them most.

Sara, how's distribution going?

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SARA MURRAY, CNN POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): On the largest coronavirus vaccine distribution day so far, health care workers are eagerly lining up at 425 new sites nationwide.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Feeling really hopeful that this is the beginning of the end, there's a light at the end of the tunnel. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I didn't feel it. There's no pain. I feel great.

I'm excited. I'm happy that, in another two months, month-and-a-half, I won't have to be afraid to go into a room anymore.

MURRAY: As distribution ramps up for the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine--

BILL DE BLASIO (D), MAYOR OF NEW YORK: Today, we're expecting almost 41,000 doses to be available at 42 hospitals across New York City. So this is going to move very fast.

MURRAY: -- the Food and Drug Administration is offering a positive assessment of a second vaccine candidate, Moderna's.

DR. MONCEF SLAOUI, CHIEF ADVISER, OPERATION WARP SPEED: We're seeing a very effective vaccine.

MURRAY: According to the FDA scientists, the Moderna vaccine is 94.5 percent effective and has a favorable safety profile. It can be stored at warmer temperatures than Pfizer's ultra-frozen vaccine, which could lend itself to easier distribution.

The FDA's independent advisory committee is considering Moderna's vaccine this week, and it could be authorized for emergency use and shipped out soon after.

SLAOUI: We're ramping up to distribute more vaccines, both from the Pfizer and the Moderna stable.

MURRAY: The shots can't come soon enough, as the virus rages across the U.S. and the death toll surpasses 300,000.

DR. ANTHONY FAUCI, NIAID DIRECTOR: It's bittersweet. We know we're going to be able to put this behind us. But, in the meantime, we still have a struggle ahead of us.

MURRAY: With health care workers lining up first and nursing home residents shortly behind them, it will still be months before most Americans receive the vaccine.

But, today, top health officials are calling for President Trump and president-elect Biden to get the vaccine sooner.

FAUCI: I would recommend that he do that as well, as Vice President Pence. For security reasons, I really feel strongly that we should get them vaccinated as soon as we possibly can. You want him fully protected as he enters into the presidency in January.

MURRAY: Sending the two men to the front of the line important not just for continuity of government, but also to inspire vaccine confidence across the country.

SLAOUI: I think they should be vaccinated. There's also a message there to the population that they trust the vaccine, and that's an example for the population to follow.

(END VIDEOTAPE) MURRAY: Now, when it comes to the broader vaccine distribution, obviously, things are moving in the right direction.

By the end of this week, this weekend, we potentially could have two vaccines authorized. But this kind of tricky choreography is going to continue. States are set to learn on a weekly basis how many doses of the vaccine they're going to get.

And we're already starting to hear some concerns from governors that that's a tricky thing to plan for, to just learn on Friday every week how many shots you have to get into people's arms.

BALDWIN: Tricky choreography is exactly the right way to put it all. Sara Murray, thank you very much.

And certainly a lot of big developments when it comes to fighting the coronavirus.

And here to help us through it all, Dr. Michelle McMurry-Heath. She is the president and CEO of the Biotechnology Innovation Organization. That is the largest biotechnology industry trade organization in the world.

Dr. McMurry-Heath, welcome back.

DR. MICHELLE MCMURRY-HEATH, PRESIDENT AND CEO, BIOTECHNOLOGY INNOVATION ORGANIZATION: Thank you. Nice to be with you.

BALDWIN: There has been so much hope, so much optimism around this Pfizer vaccine rollout, and let's hope on Moderna as well. What's your reaction to just watching it all?

MCMURRY-HEATH: Well, it's heartwarming.

It's amazing to know that in, 11 short months, we have been struggling with this overwhelming threat. And yet here is science coming to the rescue. And I think we really are starting to see that light at the end of the tunnel.

There's many miles to go before we sleep. There's a lot of work yet to be done. But this is an important first step.

BALDWIN: We're seeing all these vaccinations with this first step taking place all over the country, with most going to health care workers. Then it goes to nursing homes.

[15:05:03]

My question is, what happens after that, and when should the rest of us, the rest of Americans expect to have access to the shot?

MCMURRY-HEATH: Well, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have been working really hard on coming up with all of those priority levels.

And they're meeting again this weekend for two full days to kind of dig into it in depth. What we have heard thus far is that those with two or more comorbidities, that is, other diseases that put them at high risk for developing severe COVID, will be next in line, as well as other essential workers.

So we're waiting to see the final word from the CDC. But that's what it's looking like for now.

BALDWIN: You and I have talked a lot also recently about just some of the skepticism in this country surrounding this vaccine, some of the skepticism founded, just given our nation's history.

There is this new survey. It's from Kaiser Family Foundation, and they say that now 71 percent of Americans say that they will likely get the vaccine. They also found that black Americans, also folks living in rural areas, and Republicans are all groups who are more hesitant to get inoculated.

Dr. Fauci has recommended that not only Trump and Pence get the vaccine, but also president-elect Biden and Harris, getting it to -- quote -- him "as soon as possible."

Do you think televised vaccinations of our nation's leaders will be an effective tool in convincing skeptics?

MCMURRY-HEATH: Well, it's an important part of the puzzle.

We need to shift from the vaccine hesitancy, when we were anticipating what a vaccine might be like and how useful a vaccine might be, to now what we need to do to build vaccine confidence, now that we have vaccines on hand.

And a part of that is making sure everyone has access to really clear information about what the vaccine does and does not do. We have launched our vaccine COVID -- our COVIDVaccineFacts.org Web site that has a lot of that straight talk. We have been talking with, for example, black ministers around the country.

We were just on a conference call with them yesterday, and just giving leaders and each and every community the opportunity to ask the hard questions -- many people have them -- that's completely understandable -- and get straight answers to them. That's going to be critically important.

BALDWIN: It's interesting you mentioned black ministers. So, then will they take what you have said and take it to church on Sunday?

MCMURRY-HEATH: Well, we certainly hope so. It's going to take more than one conversation. There needs to be lots of conversation to unpack a lot of the disinformation that took place over the summer and more historically.

So, this is time for us to talk about the science, to talk clearly about the very many steps and tests that these vaccines have been through before they can get to any individual in the U.S. population, and how we, as scientists and clinicians, have a lot of confidence in the steps our Food and Drug Administration have taken thus far, even in the face of political pressure.

They have stood up to that pressure. They have behaved heroically, and now we have some safe and efficacious vaccines at hand.

BALDWIN: Vaccines, plural, hopefully, because, in addition to Pfizer, this FDA advisory committee is set to review the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. That happens Friday for the emergency use authorization consideration.

And just based on everything we have seen, it's likely to receive that recommendation, with FDA scientists saying that there are no safety concerns about the vaccine. So, two vaccines are better than one, right, Doc?

MCMURRY-HEATH: Well, two and more.

As we have had a chance to talk about, there are 191 COVID vaccines in development today. There are 12 of them that are in late-stage clinical trials. So there have been lots of reports and talks about how many doses have been purchased from each and every single vaccine. The important thing is, we have an entire armament coming to fight this battle, and we are going to be well-equipped to win this war.

BALDWIN: Yes, yes.

Dr. McMurry-Heath, thank you for all of that and the optimism and pushing forward.

We do have breaking news on the testing front. The FDA has authorized the first fully at-home coronavirus test. And I'm emphasizing the word fully, because this is an upgrade from previous at-home tests that you maybe have heard about.

So, let's go to health reporter Jacqueline Howard.

And, Jackie, why is this an upgrade? Like what makes this at home test different?

JACQUELINE HOWARD, CNN HEALTH REPORTER: What's key here, Brooke, it's an over-the-counter, fully at-home test, so you get your results at home. And you can purchase this test at drugstores. The company Ellume Health, I just spoke with them earlier today. They plan to ship tests the first week of January. The goal is to have tests available in pharmacies and drugstores.

And the cost will be up to $30. So those are the logistics. But here's how the test works. It will make sure that you collect a nasal swab sample. It will come with a nasal swab. You then will have an analyzer that will analyze that sample. And it connects via Bluetooth to an app on your phone.

And that app will give you your results at home. And it's estimated the results will happen within 15 to 20 minutes. So, that's key as well. It is an antigen test. So, that means that when it does that analysis, it looks for traces of the virus from the nasal swab sample that you collect from your own nose. [15:10:12]

That's the process. But the FDA made an announcement about this authorization earlier today. And, in that announcement, here's what the FDA mentions when it comes to accuracy.

So, studies have shown in this test -- or when it comes to this test, that the test correctly identified 96 percent of positive samples and 100 percent of negative samples in people showing symptoms. Now, when it came to people without symptoms, the test correctly identified 91 percent of positive samples and 96 percent of negative samples among them.

So, that's the accuracy profile. Again, this is an over-the-counter fully at-home test. So, the FDA commissioner, Dr. Stephen Hahn, he called this a major milestone here in the United States when it comes to COVID-19 testing.

BALDWIN: It's great. I'm sure we all have to exercise a little caution. Could have some false negatives, but it's certainly a huge step in the right direction.

Jackie Howard, thank you for that update on the at-home test.

Coming up next here on CNN, a live update from Chicago, where these vaccinations are under way right now. I will talk to a doctor who got the vaccine just yesterday.

And, right now, president-elect Joe Biden is on the campaign trail in Georgia, ahead of these critical Senate run-off elections there.

Also ahead: the Senate majority leader, Mitch McConnell, finally recognizing reality today, congratulating president-elect Joe Biden on his win. But other Republicans, including the president himself, are still playing games.

You're watching CNN. I'm Brooke Baldwin.

We will be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:16:25]

BALDWIN: We're back. You're watching CNN. I'm Brooke Baldwin.

All across the country right now, thousands of doctors and nurses and staff on the front lines are -- of the pandemic are getting vaccinated, and not a moment too soon. COVID is killing Americans every 40 seconds, on average.

Add Chicago now to the cities where the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine has arrived.

And that is where we find Omar Jimenez at Loretto Hospital there in Chicago. It is in the city's Austin neighborhood, which has really been hit hard by this virus. It is the first Chicago hospital also, as Omar knows, to administer this vaccine.

So, how's it going there, Omar?

OMAR JIMENEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Brooke, there's a lot of hope in the year these days, especially at this stage of the fight in the COVID-19 pandemic.

It's hope that was very much needed for a lot of these front-line health care workers here. We saw the first vaccinations happen a little bit earlier today at Loretto Hospital behind me. Five health care workers, that's what they started with. And while it started at Loretto here, the vaccine is now in distribution through Chicago.

So it's making its way to other hospitals here. And to give you an idea, it's going to be pushed to every hospital here in the city. It's about 34 hospitals. And when you talk about the amount of doses they have, they're still getting more in, as we understand from health officials.

But in total, they have got a little more than 23,000 vaccine doses in their initial allotment, and they have got a whole lot of health care workers to get through in this initial phase.

We spoke to an emergency physician who just so happens to be the first person to receive the vaccine in Chicago. And here's how she marks what is now a historic moment.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DR. MARINA DEL RIOS, FIRST TO RECEIVE COVID VACCINE IN CHICAGO: I know that you guys like to call us front-line heroes, but I actually think that we're your last line of defense. I think that we need everyone all in with masking and physical distancing.

And I know that people are tired. I'm tired, too. I haven't seen my mom in almost a year. She's 80 years old. I don't want to put her at risk. I'm a walking petri dish. And I know that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

JIMENEZ: And part of why this hospital was chosen was because of the community it serves. You mentioned coming to me this is the Austin neighborhood on Chicago's West Side. It's a predominantly black neighborhood.

And it is within a zip code that has among the highest death rates in the city due to COVID-19 -- Brooke.

BALDWIN: But just hear her talking about being a walking petri dish and not having -- not wanting to expose her mom, hopefully, this will help all these nurses and doctors who can, sooner, rather than later.

Omar, thank you very much for shining a light on this part of Chicago.

My next guest is one of the first people to get injected with the Pfizer vaccine. He is Dr. Adam Berman. He's the associate chair of emergency medicine and an attending physician at the Long Island Jewish Medical Center.

So, Dr. Berman, thank you for being with me.

And easiest question of the day, how you doing?

DR. ADAM BERMAN, LONG ISLAND JEWISH MEDICAL CENTER: I feel great. I honestly feel wonderful. I felt healthy before I got the vaccine. And I feel just as good now. I have no side effects.

BALDWIN: No side effects whatsoever. That's incredible.

You know, what's interesting to me too about -- I can't imagine -- but getting the vaccine, like, the psychology of knowing you have been inoculated-, because, on a normal day, maybe you have had a -- you're working or shift, you wake up with a tickle in your throat or a headache and you're thinking, could it be? Might I have it?

Does this give you peace of mind?

BERMAN: Yes, it does.

I understand that the vaccine will take some time to really get the immunity to kick in. It's not an overnight thing. But it definitely gives me some peace of mind. It's an extra layer of protection, on top of masks and social distancing, that I think will make a huge difference.

[15:20:08]

BALDWIN: And everyone who's been paying attention knows you need the second dose for that near full efficacy.

BERMAN: Right.

BALDWIN: For everyone else watching who are just sort of like the rest of the country, right, general population, if -- when we get the vaccine next spring -- and let's assume we're taking both doses.

BERMAN: Right.

BALDWIN: Will we still need to social distance and wear masks? Or will we be back to normal?

BERMAN: We will still have to social distance and wear masks and handwash. Despite the fact that the vaccine is probably the greatest thing that we can do to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, we have to do those simple things too.

BALDWIN: Tell me why, because people are sitting here and watching and wondering.

BERMAN: The vaccine is only going to be as effective as we make it.

And what I mean by that is that, if people sort of in groups are willing to go out and get the coronavirus vaccine, then hopefully, in time, we will build up enough immunity within our communities in order to prevent the spread.

But that's going to take some time. And, in the meantime, we need to continue to do the things that no work, like handwashing, wearing masks, social distancing. I know that nobody wants to be away from their loved ones. Nobody wants to wear masks all day long. But those things really work. And we need to do it for now, so that we can eventually be able to get back together and see our loved ones.

BALDWIN: How about -- Dr. Berman, you're in New York. New York City's mayor says the city may still need to do some kind of shutdown in the weeks ahead.

Just as a doctor in New York, is that welcome news?

BERMAN: I don't know if it's welcome news, because I know that shutdown, especially in the middle of the winter, doesn't necessarily make anybody happy. But I think that we have to do what's necessary in order to put a stop to this.

And as much as I support business owners and want people to be able to have their livelihoods, I want to do what's right for our community. And I think that, if that's what it takes for a short period of time, then it might be necessary.

BALDWIN: One more question for you on the vaccine. For people who have had COVID--

BERMAN: Right.

BALDWIN: -- should we still get the vaccine thing?

BERMAN: Right now, the recommendation is yes, but I would say just speak with your doctor or your health care provider, just because some people are waiting. Some people feel like they have some immunity already because they had COVID.

So, I would talk with your doctor, but the general recommendation is yes.

BALDWIN: Dr. Adam Berman, may you have zero side effects, and safely get that second dose.

Thank you so much for jumping on TV with me today. Good to meet you.

BERMAN: Thank you. You too.

BALDWIN: Breaking news coverage continues here on CNN.

The Senate majority leader, Mitch McConnell, has now publicly recognized president-elect Joe Biden's win. The question we're asking today is, where are the rest of the Republicans?

Plus, Biden in Georgia right now to support the Democrats in those Senate run-off elections that will determine control of Congress. We will take you there next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:28:11]

BALDWIN: Just into CNN moments ago, president-elect Joe Biden's plane just touched down in Georgia. He is there, of course, making his first campaign appearance in a pair of Senate run-off elections that will determine who holds power in the U.S. Senate.

And CNN's Jeff Zeleny is live in Atlanta.

And, Jeff, you know this, but just to remind everyone, Joe Biden is the first Democratic presidential candidate to win Georgia since 1992. So, given that, how's he expected to be received?

JEFF ZELENY, CNN SENIOR WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT: Well, Brooke, there's no question that Democrats here in Georgia are very excited, because they are just, of course, on the cusp of, as you said, electing Joe Biden.

It was the first time since Bill Clinton. Now they have to do it all over again in this run-off race, which, between -- that is not only determining the senators from here in Georgia, but also the control of the U.S. Senate.

You can see behind me here one of the Democratic candidates, Jon Ossoff, is taking the stage. He is competing, as well as Raphael Warnock. He's the other Democratic candidate here. So, Joe Biden will be on stage here momentarily to campaign for both of these Democratic candidates.

President Trump, of course, has already been in Georgia about 10 days or so ago, campaigning for Senator Kelly Loeffler, as well as David Perdue.

But this race is going to determine one of the biggest questions in Washington, Brooke. That's, is Mitch McConnell going to remain the Senate majority leader? So, that's what this race is about. A lot of Democrats you talk to you here believe they have the power to change that.

So, it certainly will change the course of the Biden agenda if Democrats were to win these two seats here, Brooke.

BALDWIN: No, it would be huge for the Democrats.

While we're talking Biden, Jeff Zeleny, sources are telling us that he will be nominating Pete Buttigieg to be his transportation secretary. Tell me what you're hearing.

ZELENY: Right. We are learning that.

My colleague Dan Merica and I are reporting that Pete Buttigieg, the former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, who, of course, had a very strong primary run back in the Democratic primary, he is going to be nominated later this week.