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Fauci And Administration Health Officials Receive Moderna Vaccine; CDC: U.K. COVID Variant Hasn't Been Identified In U.S., May Be Undetected; Congress Passes $900 Billion Economic Relief Package. Aired 11-11:30a ET

Aired December 22, 2020 - 11:00   ET

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

[10:59:45]

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

This morning, it was a show of force. The country's top Infectious Disease expert, the secretary of Health and Human Services, and the director of the National Institutes of Health, all receiving their first dose of the coronavirus vaccine before cameras. Part of the continued push by top health officials to convince Americans the vaccines are safe, effective and necessary.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DR. ANTHONY FAUCI, DIRECTOR, NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES: There's a symbol to the rest of the country that I feel extreme confidence in the safety and the efficacy of this vaccine and I want to encourage everyone who has the opportunity to get vaccinated so that we can have a vail of protection over this country that would end this pandemic.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BOLDUAN: They received the Moderna vaccine which just began rolling out shipments across the country this week just as researchers for both Moderna and Pfizer are digging in to get a definitive answer on whether their vaccines are also effective against the new variant of COVID that's hitting the United Kingdom so hard right now.

The CDC says that variant has not been identified in the United States yet. Just as Dr. Anthony Fauci says to assume that it's already made its way here. Until those answers come, what should you do?

Well, at least 40 countries have now halted travel from the UK. White House advisers are expected to be presenting President Trump with options today. But once again, its governors taking the first major step.

New York's Governor Andrew Cuomo, he announced an agreement with three airlines to test all passengers flying into New York from the UK. But he's also calling on the federal government to do more.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) GOV. ANDREW CUOMO (D-NY): The United States has done nothing. Now, I acted proactively, frankly, for New York. But we'll have flights into Chicago. We'll have flights into other parts of the country and those people can get on flights and come back to New York or infect other states. And this whole notion that any one state can protect itself was foolish from the beginning.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BOLDUAN: All right. So, let's begin at the White House right now where they are now said to be considering plans to impose testing requirements for anyone traveling from the United Kingdom into the United States.

CNN's John Harwood, he is at the White House. He's joining us right now. John, what are you hearing about this?

JOHN HARWOOD, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Kate, it looks like the administration is focusing in on a testing regime that would require air travelers into the United States to have tested negative for the coronavirus within 48 or 72 hours of their entry in the United States. Not finally settled yet.

And there appears to be some disagreement within the government about one, how efficacious this would be because the virus, as Tony Fauci said, may already be in the United States and b, how serious this new strain of the virus actually is in terms of transmissibility and other effects.

Obviously, the pandemic is surging as a general matter across the country. We see some of that disagreement reflected in the hawkishness or lack of it in state governors.

You just played the sound bite from Andrew Cuomo, who took the proactive action to require testing. Governor Phil Murphy of New Jersey seems less alarmed about it and says the science isn't settled in. I think that is some of what's being reflected in the administration's deliberations so far.

BOLDUAN: It does seem so. John, it's great to see you. Thank you.

So, as the White House is considering its options, there appears to be more questions than answers about this variant of COVID-19. Chief among them do the two vaccines, currently authorized in the United States, work against this mutation.

CNN's Elizabeth Cohen, she has been looking into this, talking to some very smart minds on this. Elizabeth, what are you hearing about the variant and the vaccines available?

ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN SENIOR MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: So, Kate, let's first talk about the variant, kind of introduce it to people in the United States and explain a little bit about what it is.

So, this is a variant that first appeared in the UK. It's been traced back to September 20th near London. That date is important because you can imagine how much travel there's been from the UK to the U.S. since September 20th. UK scientists are highly confident, that's the phrase they use, that it's more transmissible than the variants that preceded it.

Now, they say that six out of 10 cases in London are this new variant. So, that's - that's a really, kind of took over in a relatively short period of time.

Most of the cases are in people under 60. The reason why we raised that point is because unfortunately it's people under 60 who are responsible for a lot of this transmission because unfortunately, a relatively quite a few people under 60 are asymptomatic. They feel fine. And so, they're running around spreading this virus because they don't even know that they have it.

Now, what does this mean for the vaccine? What officials have been telling us is look, it doesn't seem like it means anything for the vaccine. The vaccine will still work well. I am hearing some scientists saying you know we got to test this out. We're not so sure.

But either way, since we have a variant that does appear to be spreading more easily, all the more important that people get vaccinated. If we're going to have this virus that's spreading quickly, you need to have more people getting vaccinated in order to achieve herd immunity. Kate?

[11:05:03]

BOLDUAN: It's good point. Elizabeth, thank you.

Joining me right now for more on this is Dr. Leana Wen. She's a CNN medical analyst of course and former health commissioner for the city of Baltimore.

Dr. Wen, the CDC is saying at the moment that this UK variant has not been identified in the United States. But as Elizabeth is just pointing out, it had been kind of honed-in on and just identified in general back in September. So, if the CDC is saying that, I'm wondering if that's good news.

DR. LEANA WEN, CNN MEDICAL ANALYST: I don't think we can know at this point, because September was a long time ago. And there has been a lot of travel between here and the UK since then. Also, here in the U.S., we're not doing the kind of surveillance on the type of variants as the UK has done. So, chances are that we have it already in this country.

And I think that the most important thing for people to know about this variant is that it does appear to be more highly contagious which is very concerning because the virus that causes COVID-19 is already an extremely contagious virus. So, something that's even more highly transmissible is concerning.

And we have to keep up precautions of wearing masks, social distancing and avoiding indoor gatherings, and particular as we come into the Christmas holidays. BOLDUAN: BioNTech CEO - you of course know, Pfizer's partner in creating their vaccine, he spoke out and he said that he thinks that this mean is that with this variant it now might require a higher vaccination rate. Can you explain this?

WEN: So, when we look at other viruses, like measles as an example that's even more contagious, you know that in order to catch up with the virus you have to vaccinate an even larger number of people, larger percentage of the population.

For measles, as an example, you have to vaccinate something like 90 percent of the population. We're currently estimating that we need about 60 to 80 percent of people in the U.S. who have immunity to COVID-19 but if it spreads more easily, we'll have even more catching up to do. And we know that the roll out of the vaccine is already difficult, the vaccine hesitancy is an issue. And so, that's even more important for us to get the virus under control and also to ramp up vaccine rollout as soon as we can.

BOLDUAN: In the meantime, we are starting to see as we heard from Governor Cuomo, just a second ago, states taking their own actions and the White House is now considering this requirement of proof of a negative test for travelers from the United Kingdom. I wonder what's the smart thing to do here. What's the right balance, do you think?

WEN: Well, I definitely think that we need a national strategy. It doesn't make sense for states to all be implementing their own measures when we are a nation. And we know that the virus is one that does not abide by state boundaries.

I think testing is a good way to go. And in fact, it shouldn't just be testing for people traveling from the UK but really from anywhere at this point. I mean, I think that would give peace of mind for people on the flights. But more importantly, it's about what people do when they get to their destination. If they tested positive before they travelled, they should not be traveling at all. Because when people travel, the virus travels.

I think also having enforced quarantine would make sense as well to add an extra layer of protection. And I hope that everybody listening will reconsider their travel plans right now when so much virus surging around the country and around the world that we really should be canceling nonessential traveling and certainly not be gathering indoors with others.

BOLDUAN: As you were just pointing out the need for more people to get vaccinated, Dr. Fauci laid out this morning kind of his thought on when the broader general public can expect to see -- expect to get shots. I'm going to play this for you.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

FAUCI: I think we'll start in earnest vaccinating the general population somewhere at the end of March, beginning of April. It may take two, three, four months or more before you get everyone vaccinated that wants to be vaccinated. I would think that by the time we get into the summer, I hope we're almost at the point where you can say everybody who wants to get vaccinated will get vaccinated.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BOLDUAN: Dr. Wen, what do you think of that timeline now?

WEN: I hope that Dr. Fauci is right. And I think that there is a good chance we can get there. I am, though, worried. We've seen already a lot of bumps along the way. Some of them are expected, but also looks like there is lack of coordination, lack of communication.

We know that states and local health departments also desperately need funding. They're getting some funding for the stimulus for vaccination programs, but they also need to ramp up testing. They also need to be doing public education and there are just so many things that have to align in order for us to get vaccines to everyone who needs them and wants them.

And I hope that this next rollout when it comes to other essential workers, to older individuals, will go more smoothly than the rollout thus far has been.

BOLDUAN: I think you're hitting on something important, the kind of this next phase we're headed into from your perspective as a public health official, the kind of double pressure and responsibility now on local health officials, which is not only to try to get -- ramp up testing and get the community to follow proper public health guidance.

[11:10:21]

But also, now being in charge of rolling out vaccine efforts and tracking that. It seems there is a lot that is still, more and more being put on public health officials. I'm just kind of curious as to your thought of how they manage this.

WEN: I've spoken my counter parts across the country, local health officials who are so tired, they've been running what is now a marathon, but at sprint speed. Morale is also really low because many of these individuals have been facing, people calling them names or threatening them and their families because they're trying to implement public health guidance.

And they're trying to ramp up testing. They're trying to do contact tracing. They're also working on - working to help businesses to reopen. And so many other measures too.

And now, we're adding on top of that, the most ambitious vaccination program that we've ever undertaken in the U.S. This is something that health departments can do. We've trained for this. We know exactly what's needed in order to do it, but we need the resources. And I really hope that they are pleased from local and state health departments will be heeded, because this is a huge undertaking.

BOLDUAN: Dr. Wen, thank you.

Coming up for us, in Congress passes a long awaited, much needed pandemic relief package. Why America's mayors are so mad about it? Plus, President Trump meeting with Republican members of Congress to strategize another long shot, last minute attempt to try and overturn the election. What they're planning. That's ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[11:16:10]

BOLDUAN: Just before midnight, Congress approved a long overdue coronavirus relief package and there's a lot in it, a $900 billion plan giving direct payments of $600 to many adults and their children. It also boosts unemployment benefits by $300 a week. There's $284 billion for small businesses. Money for -- money for vaccine distribution as well. And an extension on the eviction moratorium. But state and local governments are angry. Saying this relief bill still falls very short. There's no money in this deal to help states and cities pay crucial employees.

The U.S. Conference of Mayors put out a statement following the saying, "...it is simply not enough. The pandemic has shattered the budgets of local governments and Washington's unwillingness to help has cost people jobs and made communities less safe."

The result, they say, is police, firefighters, other essential workers will lose their jobs and residents will be losing their services.

With me right now, the vice president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, the mayor of Dayton, Ohio Nan Whaley. Mayor, thank you for coming in. As you feared, the money isn't there. What does that mean for Dayton?

MAYOR NAN WHALEY (D), DAYTON, OH: Well, it means that the folks we have done voluntary separation plans with 102 employees won't be -- those positions won't be rehired. And it means in 2021 that there will not be a police or fire class in the city of Dayton putting our response levels at critical situations in our city.

We are lucky, compared to other cities that will likely have to do layoffs of these really direct services. While our service delivery will be lower, we do not have to do layoffs because we've managed the budget well, something Congress could take a lesson from local governments.

BOLDUAN: How -- can you put in perspective what that means - what this means from years past, what this means for the residents of Dayton, the choices that are having to be made.

WHALEY: Well, I mean, it just simply doesn't have to be this way. It's just such an easy fix because this is what we were hoping would be a K-recovery, not a U-recovery, a slower recovery and our economy. And these frontline workers are working class, middle class jobs that provide services to our community.

We've gone through recessions like this that are very long, the 2008 and 2009 one for example in Dayton was brutal. But this really didn't have to be this way except Congress likes to play political football with our local communities. You have to ask yourselves when movie theatres are being bailed out, but frontline services aren't, something is desperately wrong with Washington D.C.

BOLDUAN: What is it about this pandemic that has hit cities so hard?

WHALEY: Well, I mean, it's you know like all other areas you know it has affected our income taxes, whether it be income tax or sales tax particularly that provide those services every single day to our communities. You would think that Washington D.C. and Congress would recognize how important these frontline services are.

They're always fast to, you know, pat police officers and firefighters on the back when they do a great job or frontline workers or folks that you know remove snow and take up the trash but when the rubber meets the road they're simply not there for them. That's why cities and states really say this package is a failure.

We know they have kicked the can just a little bit on eviction. So, we're going to have the same conversation come January 31st. We know that this vaccination is going to take time. And with this kind of paltry efforts, this economy will be one that will be murky and mired. And I think that they're playing political football between parties and really not paying attention to the needs of normal everyday citizens.

[11:20:00]

BOLDUAN: OK. I spoke with a former mayor, he turned Republican Congressman from Utah last night. I thought that he would be sympathetic to what you are expressing right now. What cities - big and small really are up against. But he essentially said too bad and also made the point to say that some cities are actually doing quite well. Let me play for you what Congressman John Curtis told me.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. JOHN CURTIS (R-UT): Counties and states are taxing authorities. It surprised me a little bit that all of the pressure has been on Congress to move forward and incur debt that we don't have, and states also have the same taxing authority and I think in many ways it's a mistake to look to one federal government to solve all the problems across the United States. There's a number of cities that are actually doing fine. There's a number of states doing OK. And so, this one size fits all answer across the United States is very, very difficult to do.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BOLDUAN: What do you say to him?

WHALEY: Well, he's clearly out of touch and clueless. It's you know embarrassing that he was ever a local government official, frankly because he's forgotten what the basis of local economies are.

First, you know unlike the federal government, we have to have balanced budgets every single year. Something the federal government doesn't have to do. This pandemic is no community's fault. We're not saying it's the federal government's fault, but we need to come together and they're the only ones that can take action when we're talking about the need for these services.

Secondly, the Senate did have a proposal that had population and revenue loss as part of the formula. We were fine with that. We recognize this pandemic has been uneven, so we said, fine with this way to make the decision. But instead, they did nothing.

This just shows how out of touch Congress is. They sincerely don't get it. They're in their fancy places in Washington D.C., forgetting where the rubber meets the road, forgetting about the people providing the everyday life saving services in our communities and it's just really a disappointment but not surprising unfortunately to mayors across the country.

BOLDUAN: I want to ask you about something else you're overseeing, vaccine distribution. How is that going in had your city?

WHALEY: Well, we started -- the state started yesterday actually in Montgomery County with nursing homes. To date we still have not started vaccine distribution in Dayton. We understand that we --

BOLDUAN: You don't have any vaccines?

WHALEY: Not until Christmas Eve is the first day. That's my point around the economy taking a while to get going. You know, we are a big city that gets these assets quickly. We have talked about this, how testing was very slow in communities like Dayton and across the country. And I'm concerned that vaccine distribution will be slow as well --

BOLDUAN: Mayor let me jump in really quick because it makes me want to ask you, because members of Congress have started getting vaccines over the weekend. Many of them posting pictures of themselves getting it. They say they want to lead by example. But now I am wondering since you haven't even gotten any vaccines in your city what you think of that since you're waiting to get a single dose?

WHALEY: Well, I think it's important for us to say the vaccine is safe and I'm glad the former presidents were pointing that you know that they would get the vaccine early to show that. But like for me, you know that I'm going to wait in line like everybody else in my community and when it's my turn, public health will tell me it's my turn and that's when I'll go.

But see, that's the difference between local officials and federal officials we are with everybody every single day. We aren't away from who we serve every day even during a pandemic and that shows how off base they continue to be.

BOLDUAN: Mayor, thanks for coming in.

WHALEY: Thank you.

BOLDUAN: Coming up next for us. A new report on the growing anxiety inside the Pentagon about President Trump. What sources are revealing to CNN. But what scares them about Trump's remaining days. That's next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[11:28:35]

BOLDUAN: We don't know what he might do. That's what one Pentagon official telling CNN about President Trump in the final days of his presidency. Almost a dozen currently serving military officers are expressing to CNN the rising anxiety among senior military leaders over what the president might do as he hunkers down, appears to have given up on actually governing the country and is solely focused on trying to overturn the 2020 election result.

CNN Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr broke the story and she's joining us right now. Barbara, tell us more about what you're hearing from inside.

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kate, you know, it is kind of think of it as a low murmur just under the surface. If you talk to people around the Pentagon this is what you begin to hear consistently, concern, anxiety, what could the president do to potentially draw the military into his efforts to overturn election results. Hard to see how it would be legal, maybe it's just talks and some kind of stunt from the White House. But here at the Pentagon there is concern about it and genuine concern.

I think one of the reasons is they have seen the one-time Lieutenant General Michael Flynn fired as President Trump's national security advisor now openly talking about using what he calls military capabilities to put into the swing states to change the election results somehow. Nobody knows what he really means. But it takes that kind of talk right into the Oval Office.