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As Monkeypox Cases Rise, New York's Demand for Vaccine Exceeds Supply; Families React to Officer Failing to Shoot Gunman Before Rampage in Uvalde School Massacre; "United Shades of America" Premieres Sunday at 10 PM. Aired 3:30-4p ET
Aired July 08, 2022 - 15:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[15:30:00]
ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN HOST: The number of confirmed or suspected cases of monkeypox in the U.S. is now up to 700. This is according to the CDC. And in New York, which has the largest number of infections, the demand for the monkeypox vaccine is exceeding that state's supply. CNN affiliate, WABC saw people lined up around the block, as you can see here, New York City tried to assign appointments but the 2,500 doses were booked within minutes.
Let's bring in Dr. Ursula Bauer, she's a New York Deputy Commissioner for Public Health. Deputy commissioner, thank you so much for being here. So, is there enough vaccine to meet the demand in New York?
DR. URSULA BAUER, NEW YORK DEPUTY COMMISSIONER FOR PUBLIC HEALTH: There is not enough vaccine to meet the demand right now. We have an allocation that we are deploying as quickly as we can and we are looking forward to receiving more vaccine from the federal government within days and weeks.
CAMEROTA: And how did we get behind the curve here?
BAUER: Well, the vaccine that we have available was developed to treat smallpox. It's been approved for use in monkeypox, but we did not anticipate this current outbreak. And so, there is simply not enough supply at this minute.
CAMEROTA: I appreciate your candor about that because I remember when there was one case of monkeypox, and I remember that all of our medical experts said nothing to worry about, this is very rare, we're going to be able to contain this. But now New York has 174 cases, and as I just said, across the U.S., 700 cases, so how concerning is this?
BAUER: We are concerned. I mean, you are right, Alisyn, monkeypox is a rare viral infection. It doesn't usually cause severe illness. However, symptoms can be extremely painful and people may have permanent scarring from the rash. It's something that we are monitoring closely. We do have a vaccine. It's in very short supply. And we are getting that out as quickly as we can.
CAMEROTA: Are men who have sex with men still considered the most at risk? BAUER: That is the community where the virus is currently circulating.
Anybody can get monkeypox. You get it through skin-to-skin contact, but that is the community where we're seeing the current outbreak.
So, would you advise a heterosexual person who spends time in crowded places or a woman to also get vaccinated?
So, we are prioritizing with this limited supply of vaccine people who have had exposure, skin-to-skin contact, intimate contact in places, in networks where monkeypox is circulating.
[15:35:00]
We're not prioritizing the general population, but really focusing that limited supply of vaccine on those who need it most, and those are men who have sex with men, who have had a recent exposure within the last 14 days or so.
CAMEROTA: So, in other words, you're supposed to get the vaccine after an exposure, not before.
BAUER: With the limited supply that we have, yes, that's exactly how we're prioritizing. Those who believe they have had a recent exposure. As vaccine becomes more available through the summer and into the fall, and into next year, we'll be able to expand our strategy.
CAMEROTA: When does the federal government say it's going to be able to get you more vaccine supply?
BAUER: We should be able to order a limited supply early next week, and we plan to do that. We expect more vaccine to be made available toward the end of July. And even more toward the end of August.
CAMEROTA: OK, Dr. Ursula bower, thank you very much for all of the information. I really appreciate it.
Well, the families who lost loved ones at Uvalde elementary school last month are now speaking out after a report revealed that an officer had a chance to shoot the gunman but was not given the OK. CNN speaks to these devastated families next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CAMEROTA: Uvalde's mayor is criticizing a new report about the police response to the Robb Elementary School shooting. He says the report does not give a full or accurate picture of what really happened. CNN crime and justice correspondent Shimon Prokupecz is in Uvalde with more. So, Shimon, what exactly does the mayor think is wrong in this report?
SHIMON PROKUPECZ, CNN CRIME AND JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: Well, he says the way this report has it laid out, that a Uvalde police officer had the gunman in his sights, sited him with his rifle and had the ability to take the gunman out is not accurate, saying the report, as you said, is not complete. But he's taking issue with this line in this report saying that there's this officer who could have taken the gunman out before he went into the school.
[15:40:00]
You know, every day we cover this story there's something new that comes out, and for these families, this is what is so frustrating. They still have not gotten briefings from investigators about what happened at the school. But yet there are reports out there now, there's testimony from officials, and so this is what we talked to them about yesterday. I sat with almost 50 different family members yesterday, and this was one of the key things they were frustrated with. Take a listen to some of what they said.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
VELMA DURAN, SISTER OF ROBB ELEMENTARY VICTIM IRMA GARCIA: Just because of all the lies, the deceitfulness from the beginning. It was just like putting salt on an open wound. And it's just really hard because there's just so much suffering, and it's hard to grieve because my sister was afraid and it's hard to grieve when there's no closure.
PROKUPECZ: When you say there's no closure, what are you looking for?
DURAN: I want people to be held accountable. We know that the shooter is dead. There is no one taking accountability. No one.
PROKUPECZ: Jacinto, your daughter. Your daughter.
JACINTO CAZARES, FATHER OF ROBB ELEMENTARY VICTIM JACKIE CAZARES: Yes, sir.
PROKUPECZ: When you hear about some of the new information that's now come out, what are you thinking?
CAZARES: Well, they're pointing the fingers. You know, they didn't do this, they didn't do that. I mean, not being in charge. I mean whoever was there should have done their job, and they didn't. You know whether it was cowardice or not wanting -- they didn't follow the orders. I mean, I don't know. But all and all, they should have gone in. I mean they're trained, used all of training and stopped an active shooter. That's the first thing they're supposed to do. And it's aggravating that they didn't do that.
PROKUPECZ: Do you think their officers were cowards that day?
CAZARES: That day, yes. I mean, I can't say all of them, but the ones that were in there, obviously they were, because they didn't do their job.
PROKUPECZ: I can't imagine what you're thinking as a police officer when you hear about these failures.
MARCUS LOZANO, BROTHER OF ROBB ELEMENTARY VICTIM IRMA GARCIA: I live in San Antonio. It took me 50 minutes to get from San Antonio to there, to come here to Uvalde. They took 77. I love my brothers in blue, but this is like any profession, you know. This profession is not made for everybody, you know. It's fine and dandy, you know, you graduate from the academy, you get the badge. But when it's time to suit up, when, you know, stare death in the face, you know, they went weak in the knees.
CRISTIAN GARCIA, SON OF ROBB ELEMENTARY VICTIM IRMA GARCIA: One thing I do want is those officers that were in those hallways, I want them to resign.
PROKUPECZ: So, you want all those officers gone that were in the hallway?
GARCIA: Yes.
DURAN: Yes.
GARCIA: The minute I heard that my mom was dead, I yelled out, I should have taken that bullet, because I'm in the military. I know what has to be done. I signed up for that. My mom protected those kids, but no one protected her. So, to hold the police department here, they're cowards.
CAZARES: My daughter was a fighter. Took a little bullet to the heart and still fought. She fought hard to stay alive. These cowards couldn't go in.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PROKUPECZ (on camera): And Alisyn, that's the thing that's really top of mind for so many of the family members. You saw them sitting behind me, literally 50 different family members that we got a chance to talk to yesterday, all wondering why the police officers didn't go in sooner, all wondering what could have happened. You know, perhaps some of their families would have been saved. But also, the trauma, the trauma for the survivors, those kids, who survived, that had to stay in that room for more than an hour acting like they were dead. And it's just devastating. And the trauma that they will endure for the rest of their lives.
And now this family, this community, these families, all they want are answers and they want accountability, as you heard there. And so, the mayor, you know, I spoke to the mayor earlier until the week. He said there's likely going to be some changes. But right now, what he's focused on, he says is trying to get answers because he's not even getting any answers. And again, like I said, every day almost we're learning new information here, and a lot of it contradictory, it's just unfathomable and unbelievable.
CAMEROTA: I mean, Shimon, you've been there for weeks. You've been there for weeks trying to get answers, and I really appreciate that.
[15:45:00]
I know the community appreciates that because obviously the stone walling has been incredible. Those are devastating interviews that you've done and so important. And Shimon Prokupecz thank you very much for all of the reporting that you're doing.
Well, Japan's longest serving Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe is assassinated with a homemade gun. It's shocking the world. CNN is in Tokyo with the latest.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CAMEROTA: W. Kamau Bell is back with an all-new season of "UNITED SHADES OF AMERICA." He tackles topics from critical race theory to the Native America land back movement.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
[15:50:00]
W. KAMAU BELL, HOST, UNITED SHADES OF AMERICA: Right now, there's arguments about should we teach kids a more accurate history of America.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Race theory.
BELL: What did you say? Here we go.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Race theory.
BELL: Race theory. Critical race theory. What are your thoughts on that?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: If you would teach it without have an opinion.
BELL: But is it OK if a teacher says I think slavery was bad? Is that, OK?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No?
BELL: What about this? Nazis is not good.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Nothing is bad.
BELL: Nothing is bad.
BELL: If the latter is how you heard about it first, then I am not surprised you're confused. Which is why I grind my teeth when I sleep.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's solely manipulation and manufacture a crisis.
BELL: Who is manufacturing it?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The Democrats. It's always a race card. I get so sick of it. We need to teach children to compete. When the Chinese probably know more about American history than we do.
BELL: So, we should teach better American history here? UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Well, yes.
BELL: Like the history of America --
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: History of America.
BELL: -- slavery, genocide of Native Americans?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No, well, no.
BELL: Not that stuff?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Well, not the whole thing.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CAMEROTA: W. Kamau Bell is with me now. He's also the coauthor of the new book of "Do The Work: An Anti-Racist Activity Book" coming out July 19th. Hello, good to see you.
BELL: Good to be seen.
CAMEROTA: So, you are tackling the concepts of critical race theory and woke. Why did you want to wade into that minefield?
BELL: I don't know if I did. I think I was told to do it. I think the news --
CAMEROTA: That explains it.
BELL: -- the news, maybe my boss told me to do it. I knew this was not going to be the most fun episode tore for me. So, you know, talking to people and it's easy to do it this online, you see people who are doing this, could say the bots are not real. But to actually talk to real people who say you can't say Nazis are bad, it makes you feel a little bit crinkly in your brain.
CAMEROTA: Well, sort of except that you were laughing. I mean, you were approaching this I think with kind of an open hearted good spirit.
BELL: I don't know how to do any other way. Because as I said, that's why I grind my teeth that night. Otherwise, I would just scream into my pillow. But I have to sort of be open hearted and have good spirit because that's the way the conversation keeps goes. If I start yelling at them, they're yelling at me. We know that's not -- productive things don't get done when everybody starts yelling.
CAMEROTA: For sure. But what did you learn about what their concepts of it are or their fears versus the truth?
BELL: I learned that most people who do not -- who are anti-critical race theory -- and I'm doing the quote fingers -- couldn't define it for you. So, than in the episode I define it and I explain it if your elementary school student is learning about critical race theory then you are raising a genius because critical race theory only happens in like the upper levels of university and law schools. So, you don't have to be worried about that.
CAMEROTA: Right, but you know what people -- people use it as a catchphrase.
BELL: Sure.
CAMEROTA: Everything that they don't like, which is I knew one kind of American history and now it seems like teachers are inserting all of this other bad stuff.
BELL: Yes, they're inserting history into it. And by bad stuff, it means stuff that doesn't make America look like we are always the hero. Which, boiler alert. We're not always the hero, #January 6th. So, I would say that like if we are not -- we have to look at the whole history and hopefully learn from it so we don't repeat it. I think smart people have said that before me.
CAMEROTA: I don't think so.
BELL: OK.
CAMEROTA: And so, what else -- well, OK, so did you get anywhere with them? I mean, what did you come away with?
BELL: The thing I know with the work with "United Shades" is that there may be people in the show who don't come to an understanding but the people watching the show, even though the clips we have shown today are going, oh, I actually know what critical race theory is now. So, it's not -- I would love to say that this show is going to end the woke debate and critical race theory thing. I don't have that high hope any more. I have been broken in the last couple of years. But I do believe that it will make people's conversations smarter if they pay attention and watch the show.
CAMEROTA: OK, what else are you tackling this season?
BELL: And we still got the land back movement to talk about Native people who want the land back literally, not figuratively. We have an episode about California wildfires. I live in northern California. So, that's a great concern to me. And we have an episode featuring a new up-and-coming CNN star Lisa Ling. And I talked to other Asian America people in media featuring the amazing Lisa Ling.
CAMEROTA: Yes, I know her well. She is amazing.
BELL: She's got a career ahead of her.
CAMEROTA: She really does. You discovered her though.
BELL: I did.
W. Kamau Bell always great to see you. Thanks so much for bringing us a preview.
BELL: Thank you. CAMEROTA: And be sure to tune in to the premier of season 7 of "UNITED SHADES OF AMERICA," airs this Sunday night at 10:00 p.m. only here on CNN. And we'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CAMEROTA: As grocery prices soar, this week's CNN hero has a work around. Bobby Wilson used his retirement savings to work with underserved communities teaching them how to make meals homegrown and healthy.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BOBBY WILSON, FOUNDER, METRO ATLANTA URBAN FARM: We have turned five acres of land right here in the heart of the city into a green oasis that really impacts the quality of life of people that live around here and visits with us.
Most of the people in this neighborhood don't have access to fruits and vegetables that they can readily get. My main goal is to make sure that marginalized and underserved communities have access to locally grown food that's free of chemicals.
We are more than just a farm. We are about justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion. We are changing the dynamics of the way people think about food, the way people use food. This work is changing people's lives.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CAMEROTA: You can watch Bobby's full story at CNNheroes.com. And while you are there nominate someone you think is a CNN hero.
Have a great weekend, everyone. Follow me on social media.
And "THE LEAD" with Jack Tapper starts right now.
