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U.S. Moves Closer to Second Vaccine Amid Record Deaths; U.S. Vice President Pence Gets COVID-19 Vaccine; Skepticism Persists as European Vaccination Campaigns Begin; All 344 Kidnapped Nigerian Boys Back in Home State. Aired 10-11a ET
Aired December 18, 2020 - 10:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
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[10:00:33]
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Health care workers overwhelmed by a record 114,000 patients now being treated in hospital for COVID.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think it can get a lot worse as you're saying. We're seeing an incredible surge. The hospitals are full.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The rollout of Pfizer's vaccine continues across the country.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We are going to see the vice president get it alongside the second lady along the surgeon general as well. They are doing
that to try to instill confidence in people.
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Is it in?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's done.
GUPTA: It's done?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BECKY ANDERSON, CNN ANCHOR: Tonight, salvation is at hand, but it's not quite within arm's reach.
We're going to take you through the extraordinarily complex collage of getting a vaccine. I'm Becky Anderson. Hello and welcome to CONNECT THE
WORLD, live from Abu Dhabi.
Significant developments then on vaccines this hour around the world.
I want to take you to America first and what's new there, but first I must frame this for you. The U.S. going through its deadliest week in the
pandemic. In the past week alone, more than 18,000 Americans have died amid the plague.
In just the last 24 hours, 3,200 people have died. I've been reporting these numbers for days, weeks now. The continued loss of life is absolutely
tragic.
The number of people waking up in hospital this morning a new high. 114,000, so badly sick with COVID that they need around the clock attention
and frankly hospitals cannot cope. In southern California, there are no ICU beds left available. None. Zero. They are all occupied.
Well, those are the cold hard facts. Now more help is on the way of sorts. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on the cusp of authorizing Moderna's
coronavirus vaccine for emergency use. That will join Pfizer/BioNTech's and go into the arms of Americans within days.
But so many people needing a shot, this isn't an overnight fix. Far from it. There are a long stretch to go. Not only producing it, but convincing
people to stake it.
With that in mind, the highest member of the U.S. government so far to get a jab in the arm, Vice President Mike Pence getting vaccinated earlier.
Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MIKE PENCE, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: It's important that every American remember that all of us have a role to play. The way through this
challenging time is vigilance and a vaccine. The day will come when we put the coronavirus in the past, but it will be a combination of all the
efforts that I just described, a vaccine that is safe and effective for the American people, but also the ongoing vigilance of every American.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, the incoming Vice President Kamala Harris will get her shot soon as will President-elect Joe Biden.
Now, the hope is that that these top officials taking it in public will help sway the naysayers.
CNN's own Dr. Sanjay Gupta hopes that will happen soon. He and his colleagues got their shots on camera a few hours ago.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GUPTA: Is it in?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's done.
GUPTA: It's done? You are really good.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thank you.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That's good. That's good.
GUPTA: Thank you very much.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Anytime.
GUPTA: Do you get thanked a lot for jabbing somebody?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I do, actually.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Seriously.
GUPTA: Thank you very much, Mary Katharine.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You are very welcome.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: That's Dr. Sanjay Gupta.
In Europe, vaccinations will begin after Christmas. That is the word at least from the European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, and
there are those who wand to get vaccinated but won't have the chance anytime soon.
The British Medical Journal reporting just over half of pre-ordered doses of all vaccines will go to high income countries, representing just 14
percent of the world's population. I told you it was complex, didn't I?
Governments working hard to convince people to take these shots. There is a case study, let me get you to France. I should tell you historically,
Europeans have been some of the most skeptical when it comes to vaccines.
Connecting us through all of this, Melissa Bell in Paris with more -- Melissa.
MELISSA BELL, CNN PARIS CORRESPONDENT: Becky, we were speaking yesterday about the fact that the European medicines agency hadn't been going to
approve the first vaccine for Europeans until the very end of December.
[10:05:05]
That was brought forward to the 21st of December. It shows you how difficult it's been for Europeans. On one hand, the authority is looking at
what was happening elsewhere and the pressure to get vaccines to market, to people, and yet the need to reassure people especially in Europe of how
safe they were going to be.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BELL (voice-over): With infection rates in France and other European countries out of control, hope is just around the corner. With the E.U. to
start its vaccination campaign on December 27th. But it may not be that easy.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: While I think vaccination is a question of trust and this is why in Spain, we are spending a lot of time and energy in building
trust with the citizens.
BELL: Hence this TV campaign to convince the reluctant with polls showing only 41 percent of Spaniards currently intending to get the vaccine.
In Italy, the figure just 52 percent. Authorities there going with a primrose based commercial matched by primrose shaped pavilions to attract
people to where the vaccines will be dispensed.
Experts say that 70 percent of the population need either to have recovered from infection or to have been vaccinated for herd immunity to kick in.
Now, as of earlier this month only one in two people here in France said they were willing to get the vaccine and that's something that's really
repeated across the European union. In fact, Europeans were amongst the most vaccine skeptical on earth before the pandemic and the pandemic
doesn't appear to have changed that.
DR. DAVID SCHAPIRO, VICE PRESIDENT, UFML: It has crystallized, it has made worse all the tensions between people, people are afraid and when you are
afraid most of the time you get quite extremis.
BELL: Across Europe, skepticism not only of vaccines but of governments encouraged these last few months by populist and far right parties, also by
mistakes made by several governments early on in the pandemic.
DOMENICO ARCURI, ITALY'S CORONAVIRUS COMMISSIONER: At the beginning of this year, all of us didn't know nothing about the -- we at that moment had
any power, any know how, any capability to fight with it. After some months, we are fully in power.
BELL: But even though the vaccines that will soon be available in Europe have been tested, found to be effective and found to be safe, skepticism
goes deeper than you might think.
JEREMY WARD, SOCIOLOGIST, CNRS: That's something that we tend to forget, it's not -- doctors are actually not so different from the general public.
A lot of them are hesitant.
BELL: It's Europe's moment, tweeted the president of the European Commission on Thursday to announce the start of the E.U.'s vaccination
campaign. From December 27th the first Europeans will be able to get vaccinated, the question is how many will choose to do so?
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BELL (on camera): Now, Becky, what happened is that the reason Europeans will be able to roll out the vaccine from the 27th is that the European
Medicines Agency brought forward their decision, we expect them to approve the Pfizer vaccine on December 21st. Now, what happens then is it goes to
the commission for it to approve it more formally and then it gets distributed to the rest of Europe. What the European commission has
insisted on with member states is that there need to be big communication campaigns to convince doubting skeptical populations of the need and of the
safety of these vaccines.
ANDERSON: Yeah, all right. Melissa Bell is in Paris. Thank you for that, Melissa.
As wealthier countries then begin vaccinating, some bitter realities become clear for the developing world. Data compiled by an international vaccine
watchdog shows that nearly 70 of the world's poorer countries will be able to get vaccinate only 10 percent of their population. That's one in ten at
best next year.
That is despite efforts from COVAX which is a global alliance led by the World Health Organization charged with securing enough doses for those
countries.
Let's hear directly, then, from the WHO. Dr. Katherine O'Brien is the director of the department of immunization, vaccines and biologicals. She
joins us now live.
Let's talk about the COVAX program. How many vaccine doses, can you confirm how many vaccine doses are currently secured?
DR. KATHERINE O'BRIEN, DIRECTOR, W.H.O.'S DEPARTMENT OF IMMUNIZATION, VACCINES AND BIOLOGICALS: Yes, the COVAX facility has now secured just
close to 1 point -- well, just close to 2 billion doses of screen we are at 1.97 billion doses and with negotiations ongoing with additional
manufacturers.
ANDERSON: So who gets these shots, where and crucially when?
O'BRIEN: So the program the recommendations about what groups should be vaccinated, we have 190 countries that are part of the COVAX facility. This
represents over 90 percent of the world's population.
[10:10:01]
So this is a hugely, you know, endorsing testament to the powerful solidarity movement that is in place right now.
This includes 92 low, middle-income countries that have access to these vaccines through the COVAX facility, as well as upper middle income and
high income countries who are also part of the COVAX facility.
ANDERSON: So, who will miss out?
O'BRIEN: Well, the question here is that the COVAX facility set as a target to secure the doses that would assure that there could be
immunization of at least 20 percent of the population in every country that's part of the facility. The importance of that is that getting 20
percent of people vaccinated makes -- assures that we can vaccinate the health workers who are so essential to every country's health system, as
well as the people in countries who are at highest risk of serious disease and in fact death.
So, this is really -- you know, this early wave of vaccination that will really turn the tide in our -- in our fight against this acute phase of the
pandemic.
ANDERSON: So what do you make of data compiled by the international vaccine watchdog or an international vaccine watchdog showing nearly 70
percent of the world's poorer countries will be able to vaccinate only 10 percent of their populations at best?
O'BRIEN: Listen, this is a really dynamic era that we are in right now. As arrangements are being made with manufacturers for securing doses and
options on doses and as the efficacy trials read out so that as products continue to be developed we are learning more about which ones are
efficacious and will -- will turn into real doses.
The same is true of high income countries. High income countries the reporting that's being done about the number of doses, some of that
reporting is about doses that are of products that have already demonstrated their efficacy and their safety and their manufacturing, but
many of the doses are also for products that have not yet completed trials.
And so, we need to make sure as we are reporting on doses that we're reporting apples to apples and reporting on the same things. I think what's
just so important here is the COVAX facility committed to securing 2 billion doses and we are there as of today.
ANDERSON: I spoke to Melinda Gates a few months ago on the issue of equitable global distribution. This was before G20 when we heard, you know,
the leaders of the, you know -- 90 percent of the world's growth countries as it were saying that they would ensure equitable distribution.
This is what Melinda Gates said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MELINDA GATES, CO-CHAIR, BILL & MELINDA GATES FOUNDATION: There have been forecasts done that say if you take the first 2 billion doses of vaccines
and they only get out to the high income countries, you're going to get twice as much death.
And what we're seeing is that, yes, the high income countries can put a lot of money into vaccines, but they're going to spend $1.3 trillion in a
bidding war on vaccines unless they go through this Act accelerator.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: You say that you have 2 billion doses as of today. Let's follow the money on this. Do you have anything left in the program as it were and
given a chance, how much more might you need?
O'BRIEN: So we're aiming to secure additional doses in the facility and the way to do that today was also an announcement of countries that may
have overcommitted doses from bilateral deals, their willingness to be sharing those doses with the facility.
So this is an incredibly important announcement as well. France and Canada coming out with statements to this effect and a set of principles about
additional countries that we believe will come in with shared doses. So the facility is aiming to secure additional doses for the facility because we
also want to go beyond 20 percent. Twenty percent was the target for the first year and as we know, this pandemic is evolving and it may, in fact,
be the case that countries need to immunize beyond 20 percent and so the program will need to continue into 2022 and beyond.
So we're going -- we are all sort of progressing as quickly as possible to secure the doses that are needed to assure that there is equitable
distribution of vaccine and that every country in the world can vaccinate its highest priority populations.
ANDERSON: We know of course once you are able to secure those doses.
[10:15:00]
And then there is the issue of course, you know, ensuring that these doses get to the right people at the right time in the right places and the
logistics of this distribution, you know, is really, really tough and we are seeing that beginning to reveal itself around the world.
How many countries are involved in COVAX? Can we get a measure of that if you will? Because of course the U.S. is not. President Trump has made his
opinions about the W.H.O. clear.
I know you are not a political organization but I must ask -- when President-elect Biden takes office, are you hopeful that he will get the
U.S. on board?
O'BRIEN: We're really hopeful for all countries that can contribute to the COVAX facility to make those contributions. And there are 190 countries
that have already committed to the COVAX facility and as part of that facility our contributions to the facility to purchase doses on behalf of
countries that are not able to afford those vaccines themselves. That's referred to as the advance market commitment. There are 92 countries in the
world that are part of the AMC.
ANDERSON: Got it. Have you or any other members of the W.H.O. actually spoken to Joe Biden about the COVAX program, out of interest?
O'BRIEN: I certainly have not and I can't speak on behalf of others. I don't know the answer to that.
ANDERSON: This week, "Reuters" released an investigation, an exclusive investigation, alleging that the W.H.O.'s COVAX program faces, and I quote
here, a very high risk of failure, potentially leaving nations and billions of people with no access to vaccines until as late as 2024.
That is according to internal documents that "Reuters" say that they have obtained. The report stated the W.H.O. had not responded to their request
to comment.
So I want to give you that chance. Is there a high risk of failure here?
O'BRIEN: So the COVAX facility is primarily managed by Gavi, the vaccine alliance, along with W.H.O. and other partners. The documents that are
reported to have been leaked came from a series of board meetings that were held this week.
What is absolutely clear is that Gavi and W.H.O. as a partner are doing their absolute due diligence to assess risk of any investments that are
made through Gavi. There is complexity of the COVAX facility and yet we are taking strong and proactive measures to assess and mitigate those risks.
That's an exercise that any credible organization would do.
We don't know where the number 2024 emerges from, but what is very clear after this full assessment is that we have done a careful analysis of where
there may be risk and are undertaking all actions to minimize that risk and assure that the COVAX facility is successful and it is going to be very,
very successful.
ANDERSON: In areas where there is a high risk of failure, why is that, just out of interest?
O'BRIEN: You know, the risk assessment really plays out worst case scenarios. This is by no means an assessment of the current status of the
facility, nor what we actually expect to happen. That's what a risk assessment does, it says what could be the worst things that could happen
so that you plan for those and assure that they don't happen.
Some of the issues relate to whether products will, in fact, become real products, whether they will meet efficacy and safety, whether countries
will be ready in order to introduce the vaccines, whether the financing that is being put forward by countries as commitments to financing will
come through.
These are all very reasonable things to assess in terms of the risk of what is really an unprecedented pandemic that we're in and an unprecedented
global solidarity to stand up this facility, and we really make no apology for the speed and the unprecedented scale that we are working at.
ANDERSON: You should certainly make no apologies for the efforts that are being made to ensure that people wherever they are around the world get
access to what could be this lifesaving treatment.
With that we will leave it there. We thank you very much indeed for joining us.
O'BRIEN: Thank you.
ANDERSON: Wealthy nations may get the vaccine first but they are still wrestling with their own challenges in this pandemic. We will connect you
to other coronavirus headlines around the world now.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SALMA ABDELAZIZ, CNN REPORTER: I'm Salma Abdelaziz in London.
A charity's plan to feed Britain's most vulnerable children has been met with backlash.
[10:20:02]
For the first time in its 70-history, UNICEF will be providing food assistance to the U.K.'s neediest families. It says a domestic emergency
has been created by the coronavirus pandemic.
But a senior government official is outraged that a U.N. charity is stepping in to help, saying UNICEF should be ashamed of itself and calling
the plans to feed hungry children a political act of the lowest order.
MAX FOSTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm Max Foster in Sweden.
King Carl Gustaf has condemned the country's response to the coronavirus pandemic. He told the national broadcaster SBT, I think we failed. We have
a large number who have died and that is terrible.
The country never enforced a lockdown or the wearing of masks. Then they brought in restrictions relatively recently, such as a national want on
gatherings of more than eight people. They are currently recording a record number of coronavirus patients in hospital and some ICU units are running
at full capacity according to reports.
Prime Minister Stefan Lofven said he agreed with the king's comments.
PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm Paula Hancocks in Seoul.
There is just one ICU bed dedicated to coronavirus patients left in the entire city of Seoul. Just four ICU beds left for Seoul and the greater
area. As soon as officials find more beds then they are filled with patients.
Seoul City has had to apologize to the family of a man in his 60s who died while waiting for a hospital bed. Officials said that the explosion of new
cases they have seen in early December has made bed allocation extremely challenging.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: You're watching CONNECT THE WORLD. I'm Becky Anderson.
With pressure at the ports, toxic talks and missed deadlines, is a Brexit trade deal really about the price of fish? That is just ahead.
And in Nigeria, images that must feel like a miracle for the families of these boys who were abducted from a boarding school a week ago. The full
story of their homecoming is up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: To a remarkable and fast-moving story from Nigeria now and scenes of only days ago the loved ones of these kids might have feared they
would never see. All 344 boys kidnapped from their boarding school in Katsina state last Friday are now heading home after being rescued by the
military. Though they are safe, we can only imagine what a traumatizing week these children must have been through.
Indeed, it was just seven days ago that the boys were snatched by what the state governor calls bandits. More on that in a moment.
First, Arwa Damon brings us up to speed on exactly what has happened.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ARWA DAMON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice over): It was a Friday night. The school boys were getting ready for bed in their dorms.
Some, presumably still chatting. Others, about to fall asleep. Attackers storm in, shattering any sense of security enjoyed by most school children,
a normal that may have existed and that may never exist for these students again.
More than 300 of them were kidnapped. A chilling video released shortly before they were freed claimed to be by the Abubakar Shekau's faction of
Boko Haram. And shows one of the schoolboys making a statement clearly under duress and being prompted. Surrounded by his classmates, looking
distraught, and covered in dust.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Please, sir, you have to send all the soldiers and armies and these jets back. Please, sir, please, sir, we need your
assistance, sir, please.
DAMON: The video confirmed that the boys are alive, and that their captors are ready to negotiate their freedom.
But, just hours later, the Nigerian government said the boys were freed, with no conditions, and that local bandits were responsible.
For days, the schoolboy's parents were shocked, heartbroken, and terrified.
They were expecting the worst. After all, everyone remembers the pain of the families of the Chibouk school girls, more than 100 of them still
remain missing. Nearly seven years on.
The joy that this came to such a quick end is palpable, but so, too, is the trauma of their ordeal seen etched across their faces.
They hid us all in the same place when they took us at first this rescued boy says, but when they saw a jet fighter they changed the location and hid
us in a different place. They gave us food, but it was very little.
Even with the joyous release of the school boys, there remains an underlying fear that this can happen again. All they want is an end once
and for all to the lawlessness that is increasingly defining their lives.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: So who are these adductors, then? The men behind this attack?
Let's bring in Arwa who is in Istanbul this evening.
Arwa, first a huge relief for these boys and their families, an ordeal no one the least kids should go through. The government says they were
released with no conditions and that local bandits are responsible but Boko Haram claiming responsibility earlier in the week.
Walk us through the nuance here, if you will.
DAMON: Well -- and, Becky, let me start off by saying that the actual details, what transpired that led to their release, that is not information
that we have at this point and that is something that we hope the authorities will be transparent about.
Now, when it comes to that video, this video, the audio in it, the individual in it, was claiming to be a member of Boko Haram. It very well
could be that these bandits, as the government has called them, thought that maybe by impersonating Boko Haram, that would put more pressure on the
authorities to cede to their demands, or it could be that they have some sort of a loose alliance with Boko Haram. That does exist in these lawless
territories, these swaths of northern Nigeria where the government does have, sadly, very little security control.
And a lot of individuals who live in these areas are really going to want to know the details of this and more importantly, Becky, what the
government is going to be doing to keep kids safe as they're going to school. Education is a right and that is a right that these school boys
were deprived of and that so many others are being deprived of.
But the bottom line, Becky, right now is that we know very little details about what happened. The governor says that, you know, there were no
concessions that were made, that this was unconditional, but given the scope of this kidnapping and the fact that these so-called bandits took
more than 300 school boys and let them go without any sort of deal being reached that they would actually benefit from, that does raise a lot of
eyebrows.
ANDERSON: Yeah. Arwa Damon on the story for you.
While today is, of course, about the relief of these kids, as Arwa said, there is a bigger story here and that is the likelihood that this could all
happen again. It's a fear felt by one of Nigeria's highest profile public figures.
Oby Ezekwesili, who is the co-founder of the Bring Back Our Girls movement, and former Nigeria education minister. She issued a frank and powerful
message right here on the program earlier this week.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OBY EZEKWESILI, #BRINGBACKOURGIRLS CO-FOUNDER & FORMER NIGERIAN EDUCATION: I have said to Nigerian citizens that for as long as we permit this kind of
irresponsible ruling class to continue with this pattern, well, we have given them the license to do so.
[10:30:02]
The behavior that is not punished is bad behavioral that is a good supply, what being supplied this kind of repetitive failure of our children in
particular because we don't care as a society that this abomination happens all the time amongst us.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: We will be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GUPTA: Is it in?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's done.
GUPTA: It's done? You are really good.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thank you.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That's good. That's good.
GUPTA: Thank you very much.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Anytime.
GUPTA: Do you get thanked a lot for jabbing somebody?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I do, actually.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Seriously.
GUPTA: Thank you very much, Mary Katharine.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You are very welcome.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, that was CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta, my colleague who is a surgeon, getting the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine just a couple of hours ago.
Now, the effort to promote the vaccine extends to the White House. Vice President Mike Pence was also vaccinated live on camera a short time ago.
President Trump however has decided not to get the vaccine yet. His medical team says he does not need it at this time.
More help on the way. The Food and Drug Administration says it is finalizing emergency use authorization for Moderna's vaccine in the States.
That decision paves the way for millions of doses of that drug to be distributed starting next week.
It cannot be a better time. The U.S. has averaged more than 2,600 deaths per day from the coronavirus over the past week making it the deadliest
week thus far in America. The number of people hospitalized with the disease in the U.S. is at a record high for the 12th day in a row.
And behind all those numbers are people like Philamena Belone. She was a teacher in the Navajo Nation of New Mexico who led Zoom classes for her
behavioral challenged students. When she first contracted coronavirus, she continued to teach, often wearing an oxygen mask as she conducted classes.
Well, she died of COVID last week. She was just 44 years old. One face among more than 1.6 million who have lost their lives in America.
Let's bring in former CDC director, Dr. Tom Frieden. He led the CDC during the H1N1, Ebola and Zika emergencies. And he joins us now.
Let's start with the news of the hour as it were and Mr. Trump. Do you believe he should get a vaccine and why would his medical team be advising
against it, sir?
[10:35:02]
DR. TOM FRIEDEN, FORMER CDC DIRECTOR: Well, the fact is that we still don't know to what extent people who have been previously infected are
protected. So the recommendation is that everyone who should get a vaccine, get it.
Now, he is not in one of the high risk groups so getting a vaccine would really be as a demonstration. It is possible that prior infection provides
some support, so I really don't want to get into what the current president is doing. What I want to see is vaccine rolled out quickly and effectively,
especially to nursing homes, care homes, or the elderly.
ANDERSON: Yes.
FRIEDEN: -- staff and residents, because that's what's going to drive mortality down in the short run.
ANDERSON: And I understand that. I also have been asked myself a number of times and it has come up around Mr. Trump, but I want to push you on this.
Not on Donald Trump specifically, but for those who have had COVID, do we understand anymore at this point about whether they should get the vaccine
going forward when they can, as it were, when they are in the right group?
FRIEDEN: The recommendation is for everyone who is in a group to get vaccinated to be vaccinated. Now, if you delve deeper into scientific data
there's growing evidence that people are prior infection are protected to some extent, but when you get a vaccine you get a controlled dose with a
defined protective efficacy. We don't have that with natural infection as we call it. And, therefore, the safer part is to be vaccinated.
However, I would distinguish, for example, a nursing home resident who is elderly and frail, even if they have had a COVID infection I would
definitely offer them a vaccination and strongly encourage them to get it versus, for example, someone who is young and healthy, went through COVID
illness, recovered fully and says, you know, I'm going to wait my turn so that other people can get this vaccine before because perhaps I'm
protected. That's a different situation.
ANDERSON: Understand.
Moderna now on the cusp of getting approved. Will Americans get the choice of which vaccine they can take and how will the distribution of multiple
vaccines work, do you think?
FRIEDEN: I would say to people get the first vaccine you can. We have no data on one being better than the other or more -- or better tolerated than
the other. They're both highly effective, remarkably effective.
Pfizer has very complex storage and temperature requirements, much more complex than Moderna. So Moderna may be able to get out more to those
primary care practices, community-based clinics and organizations that can't vaccinate 1,000 or 5,000 people at a time, which is what's needed
really with the Pfizer vaccine.
So it's really a question of convenience, but this is an enormously complex logistics challenge to get these vaccines out, but that's only part of the
vaccination program challenge. This is a bumpy road. It's going to be months before people, most Americans, can have access to the vaccine and
until then, as you've noted we're seeing cases surge so we need to double down on protection protocols.
ANDERSON: It is worth noting that these approvals are emergency authorizations. I've been asked this question a lot. What is the difference
between an emergency approval and a full approval? Which is what we believe the European will grant towards the end of this month. And when should the
U.S. receive this full approval?
FRIEDEN: Well, interestingly this isn't a standard emergency approval. The Food and Drug Administration set the bar quite high for what they would do
to apply emergency use authorization as it's called authorities to a vaccine. So it's kind of in between an emergency and a regular approval.
The regular approval process is quite complex in the United States, it requires a large amount of data and when the companies will apply for that,
because it's really up to the companies on when they want to apply, really may depend on the speed with which people take the vaccine and the data is
accrued.
So the difference is important for some administrative reasons, but really not for any practical reasons in terms of when and where and how to get
vaccinated.
ANDERSON: Earlier in this show, I spoke to Dr. Katherine O'Brien. She's the director of the W.H.O.'s vaccine department effectively and we talked
about the challenges of global distribution. Obviously, the W.H.O. leading the charge with COVAX, along with the Gavi alliance.
Under Mr. Trump's leadership the U.S. is not part of that alliance. Should it be under a Biden administration?
FRIEDEN: Absolutely. The U.S. needs to reengage with the world, both because it's the right thing to do ethically and because it's best for
Americans.
[10:40:00]
The more we help other countries control infectious diseases, including COVID, the safer we are and frankly, it's also good for American diplomacy
to be seen as part of the solution rather than part of the problem.
ANDERSON: With that we will leave it there, sir. It's good to have you on. Dr. Tom Frieden, thank you.
FRIEDEN: Thank you.
ANDERSON: A family affair for Tiger Woods this weekend. The golfing legend set to be joined on the links by his 11-year-old son who is already showing
some startling similarities to his dad. That's next.
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ANDERSON: Well, the apple never falls far from the tree. Check out Tiger Woods' son Charlie teeing off this week in Florida.
His swing I can tell you looks a lot like his dad's. By the way, Wayne Rooney's young son Kai looking ahead signing with Manchester United's youth
academy.
From good apples to the good egg that is Don Riddell. How about these youngsters, hey?
DON RIDDELL, WORLD SPORT: So cool, they are both 11 and making these big hello world moments on the same day. I used to see Tiger Woods a lot when
we covered the Dubai classic with the living golf show and our kids were born about the same age and it feels like yesterday that we were talk being
our kids being just born and starting out in the world and now look at this. Just incredible footage.
Young Charlie Woods, he has already got it. He's already playing with the world's top golfers and kind of like giving them good banter and a good
ribbing on the course. He looks likes he belongs there, doesn't he?
ANDERSON: Am I right in saying his dad has been caddying for him on the junior tour. It must be so intimidating to the other children, right?
RIDDELL: Yeah, but, you know, but when you look at Charlie and you look at the way he swings the club he doesn't seem fazed at all.
And when Tiger was a kid, oh, his dad, he used to intimidate him on the golf course to prepare him for a future on the tour and I suspect that's
what's happening here, too.
RIDDELL: My goodness.
"World Sport" is up next with Don Riddell. We will be back after that.
(WORLD SPORT)
ANDERSON: Absolutely, he will. Amazing.
All right. Thank you, Don.
We will be back straight after this.
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