Return to Transcripts main page

New Day

Pfizer: Booster Dose Of Vaccine Protects Against Omicron; Cream Cheese Shortage Hits New York City Bagel Shops; Progressives Move To Strip Boebert Of Committee Assignments. Aired 7:30-8a ET

Aired December 08, 2021 - 07:30   ET

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[07:31:00]

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN ANCHOR: Breaking news. Just moments ago, Pfizer now says that two vaccine doses may not be enough to protect against this infection from the new Omicron variant that we're seeing. That protection gets better, though, with a booster dose.

With us now is Mikael Dolsten. He is the chief scientific officer. He's the president of worldwide research, development, and medical of Pfizer. And we also have our own CNN chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta.

And Sanjay, you're the expert here. We're going to let you take it away with questions.

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: OK. Well, thank you. Good morning, Dr. Dolsten. Thanks for joining us.

The news that a lot of people heard over the past couple of days is that there was a 40-fold drop of neutralizing antibodies against Omicron as compared to the original strain. You have said in the past that a 10-fold reduction would be of concern to you. So, please, help us put this together. What is the level of concern right now?

MIKAEL DOLSTEN, CHIEF SCIENTIFIC OFFICER, PFIZER (via Skype): Good morning, and thank you for having me here.

We believe that with the two doses -- with the two doses, you still have relevant protection for severe disease but clearly, the drop in antibodies is substantial. However, the good news this morning is that our data show convincingly when you get your boost -- the third boost -- the antibody level rise 25-fold and are now similar to the original two-dose boost that protected well against ancestral strains as well as Delta.

So, all in, go and get your third boost and you have a robust, quite impressive antibody response, as well as the strengthening of the other arm of the immune system, the T cells. So that's really the takeaway.

You're right, two doses is on the weak end against this new variant. T cells may help you to be protected against severe disease and hospitalization. But it's really time to get the third boost. And you should be very encouraged by this morning's news.

GUPTA: OK, so I just want to make sure I got that straight. So what you're basically saying is that three doses against Omicron is similar to what we saw with two doses against the original strain, and that a third -- a third shot here really does increase your level of protection.

Is it your position now that to be fully vaccinated, that would mean you'd have three shots as opposed to two?

DOLSTEN: I think that's a good way to look at this as we got the Omicron strain, the breadth of immune response. The repertoire, as we call it, to cover Omicron as a new, more distant relative to the ancestral strain. It really do recover three doses. So --

GUPTA: OK, so you'd recommend -- and I just want to be clear. When you talk about the effectiveness of a vaccine, I think we often comingle breakthrough infections with illness.

When you have a drop in the effectiveness of the vaccine that you're talking about here do you mean that people are more likely to develop these infections? They may just test positive without having much in the way of symptoms? Or are we talking about protection against severe illness that drops off as well?

DOLSTEN: I think with the two doses you are expected to still have some protection against severe disease, but you protect --

GUPTA: What does that mean -- some protection?

DOLSTEN: Well, you know, what we really need is data coming from observation of studies in a large number of patients that are vaccinated two doses and are exposed. And with such data is gathering.

[07:35:04]

What we can only say is that the T cell response is still active as 80 percent of --

GUPTA: OK.

DOLSTEN: -- the vaccine sequence seems to still cover the relevant responses for Omicron. But for your antibody response, which plays a critical role to prevent infection and symptomatic disease, it's down with two doses quite a lot. If you get your third boost it rises 25- fold -- very dramatic.

So yes, in a way, you could say to be protected of Omicron you really need a three-dose series of vaccination, and that's how we should look at it right now. The three-dose areas is what you need.

GUPTA: To be fully vaccinated, you're saying.

I know that there has been some development work on a -- on an Omicron-specific booster. Would you -- would you advise, based on the data that you're seeing, that people potentially wait for that booster or they go ahead and get a boost of the existing vaccine now?

DOLSTEN: I advise that given on this new data that we are presenting that everyone should get vaccinated and those that have been given the two doses should, as soon as possible, get the third dose. The supply of the third dose is available in the U.S. and many, many other countries. And there is really no time to wait until March next year when we will have -- we will have, as per our plans, a variant vaccine available just to cover all opportunities of what we may learn meanwhile.

Whether we need the variant vaccine or there may be need for additional boosts as we get into spring '22, that needs to be evaluated. We do believe that the third boost will carry you well- protected for Omicron through the winter and into the March season. When we have announced we have ability to produce four billion regiments of vaccinations -- four billion doses that can be either continued of the current or start with a supply of an Omicron variant vaccine.

We do see experiments performed by us testing various variants that there is some possibility to consider a variant vaccine. We just want to be certain about the durability and the strength of the current vaccination before recommending a step.

But you can feel well-comforted by us having those two options in hands -- that large capacity to produce vaccines and working with many agencies in the U.S. and elsewhere to monitor the threat of Omicron or any possible other variant that may emerge from now to then.

We really don't know how strong Omicron will be circulating in the spring, so that's why it is a working preparation. But I think we have all the tools available.

GUPTA: OK.

DOLSTEN: And just to end my optimistic message today with a third boost that we believe will cover everyone through the winter season. We're also in the very final days and weeks of seeking regulatory approval for an oral treatment for COVID with a five-day tablet treatment seems to predict to be highly active against Omicron. All our modeling data shows it should be active against Omicron. And you will hear soon about this from us.

So I think there is encouragement --

GUPTA: OK.

DOLSTEN: -- of ample opportunity to keep us going through the winter season. And as we come to spring, we'll understand which is the coronavirus mutation most available and which of the vaccine opportunities should we deploy.

GUPTA: OK.

Well, Dr. Dolsten, thank you for leaving us on that optimistic note. Appreciate your time. We'll come back to you as well, talking more about those oral pills in the future. Thank you.

The headline, Brianna and John, as you -- as you heard, a 25-fold increase in neutralizing antibodies with that third shot. This is going to be a big topic of discussion. Is it three shots that are required to be considered fully vaccinated or not? You heard, obviously, from Dr. Dolsten what he thinks on that.

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: And Sanjay, just to be clear so people know, the big takeaway here this morning if you're going to take the optimistic view from Pfizer, which is the company producing this vaccine. So, they have an interest here.

But the bottom line here is they seem to be saying if you get a booster you are protected against Omicron. That sentence, as we head into the winter with whatever uncertainty exists about Omicron -- that's a big deal.

[07:40:12]

GUPTA: That is. I mean, because I think for the last few days, obviously, there's been a lot of uncertainty. And then I think what everyone heard just a day ago was there was a 40-fold drop in neutralizing antibodies. Now, that doesn't mean that there's a 40-fold drop in vaccine effectiveness. That's -- those two things don't translate directly. But obviously, it's concerning when you have that sort of drop.

What Dr. Dolsten is saying -- what their -- the Pfizer is showing is that third shot does significantly increase 25-fold, at least, your overall neutralizing antibodies. And keep in mind there's a big cushion that we talk about here. So if you have a 25-fold increase in neutralizing antibodies he says that will provide you the protection you need through the winter.

BERMAN: Well, the markets are reacting positively to this news -- not that they all have medical degrees, but they like this in terms of what it might mean for the winter.

Sanjay, thank you so much for helping us out --

GUPTA: Sure.

BERMAN: -- with this and helping us understand the significance of it. And, of course --

GUPTA: Of course.

BERMAN: -- everyone should catch the new episode of Sanjay's "Chasing Life" podcast. The episode is titled "In the Blink of an Eye," about a woman's accident that Sanjay chronicles.

So, what is it like to be infected with Omicron? How bad are the symptoms? The first person identified -- named with Omicron in the United States will tell us exactly how he felt.

KEILAR: Up next, naked bagels, denuded bagels, un-schmeared bagels. How supply chain -- supply chain issues could be making a New York institution scarce.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[07:46:36]

BERMAN: This morning, a breakfast institution is under threat because of supply chain issues. A bagel with a schmear -- a large helping of cream cheese -- is a staple of any smart person's diet. But now, cream cheese isn't making it to the restaurants and delis, and it's unclear when this shortage will end.

Joining me now to discuss is the third-generation owner of Barney Greengrass on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, Gary Greengrass. Gary, we don't often get to meet our heroes but that's what this moment is like for me because I like your food so much that it's just overwhelming to speak to you.

But tell me what's going on with the cream cheese. How much of a problem is this?

GARY GREENGRASS, 3RD GENERATION OWNER, BARNEY GREENGRASS DELI: John, thanks for having me.

It's a problem. There's a shortage of cream cheese. One of the major suppliers of cream cheese in the country is Kraft and they're running behind.

I think they have a shortage of boxes and bags when they're making the product for institutions like restaurants and bakeries. The supply chain for corrugated boxes has been hindered and therefore, it puts tremendous pressure on the market. And now, it's like some kind of valuable diamond that we're looking for every week.

BERMAN: That's the way I would describe the food at your restaurant. It is a valuable diamond.

How many days' worth of cream cheese do you have at this point?

GREENGRASS: Well, I mean, we're good right now. We try to stay ahead of the curve. We're good through the weekend. I'm expecting a delivery today.

But again, the whole story of all of what's going on is -- the answer is they're coming in and they wind up with a trailer truck and it's got a small amount on it. So we're expecting a nice-sized delivery today but I won't know until I see it. But we're definitely good through this weekend.

BERMAN: If that doesn't come -- if this shipment doesn't come -- and I don't -- I don't want to jinx anything, but if it doesn't show up what happens?

GREENGRASS: Well, we're trying to be positive. Obviously, I have tofu cream cheese, which is like --

BERMAN: Oh. GREENGRASS: -- a soy-based cream cheese --

BERMAN: No, you don't.

GREENGRASS: -- for people who can't have dairy. Maybe the whole -- you know, we pack it in coffee grinds. People really don't see it. But we have soy cream cheese. They may have to go back to butter -- nice, creamy butter.

But I am positive and I do believe we will be able to take care of our customers.

BERMAN: I have no doubt that you will.

What's this doing to prices inside the deli?

GREENGRASS: Well, I mean, in terms of the cream cheese, the prices haven't really -- they've gone up slightly. But as with all situations in this pandemic era, prices are going up. We're in the middle of inflation. Things are very -- just everything is just being priced so high. I expect cream cheese to take a hit as well, although it is on the lower end of items right now.

BERMAN: If Grandpa Barney Greengrass were to look down and see the situation with the cream cheese and the other prices that are rising, what would he think?

[07:50:00]

GREENGRASS: He'd think he landed on Mars. It's -- for example, an item like sablefish, which is very popular now -- it used to be the poor man's sturgeon. We get $69.00 a pound for it. He would be turning over.

I mean, this is where guys in the smokehouse used to practice how to slice on sable. Now it's not a diamond. It's like a -- it's like a bitcoin.

BERMAN: Is that because of inflation? Is sable $69.00 a pound because of inflation or is something else going on?

GREENGRASS: It's supply and demand. It's a -- it's a -- it's black -- a raw fish is black cod and over the last 15-20 years more markets have bought the raw product of black cod and that's raised the price and the demand. It's just supply and demand. You have the Eastern European countries coming online, so everybody is looking for that product. So if you really want the good -- the real deal you have to pay up.

BERMAN: Gary Greengrass, it's been an honor to speak with you. I have my fingers crossed for that shipment of cream cheese today. And you have my mouth watering merely talking about the sable at whatever cost.

GREENGRASS: Thank you.

BERMAN: So, thank you very much.

GREENGRASS: No, thank you. Have a great day.

BERMAN: You, too.

So --

KEILAR: What's a bagel without cream cheese? It's like a cucumber sandwich. What's the point?

BERMAN: He says we'd have to go back to butter, which doesn't seem like a palatable solution. Let me tell you something about this sable, though. I know he made it sound -- you have -- like, it's to die for.

KEILAR: It sounds amazing.

BERMAN: It will --

KEILAR: I'm totally down.

BERMAN: It will change your life --

KEILAR: All right.

BERMAN: -- next time you come up.

All right, CNN with exclusive new information on the phone records being subpoenaed by the January 6 Committee. We're going to ask a committee member what they hope to learn from them.

KEILAR: And just in, another country announcing a diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Olympics after President Biden made this move.

And Instagram's top boss about to be grilled on Capitol Hill amid disturbing new revelations about what the app is doing to kids.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[07:55:39]

BERMAN: Just in to CNN, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley introduced a resolution cosigned by fellow progressives to strip Lauren Boebert of her House committee assignments for her anti-Muslim comments toward Rep. Ilhan Omar.

CNN's Daniella Diaz live on Capitol Hill with the latest here -- Daniella.

DANIELLA DIAZ, CNN CONGRESSIONAL REPORTER: John, that's exactly right. Sources have told me this morning that Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley plans to introduce a resolation -- a resolution, excuse me, sometime today that if passed would strip Congresswoman Lauren Boebert, a Republican from Colorado, of her committee assignments for her very racist and anti-Islamic rhetoric toward fellow progressive Ilhan Omar. Now, sources have told Manu Raju last night that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has not yet decided where she stands on this issue of stripping committee assignments from Congresswoman Boebert for her comments because Democratic leaders are very worried about stripping committee assignments to any sort of members for any outlandish things they said, especially considering that in this case, Congresswoman Boebert was not threatening violence toward Omar. Instead, she implied that Omar was a terrorist.

In a fake story, she said that they met in the elevator.

Now, sources have also told us that the resolution, which plans to come out today -- it's unclear when it will hit the floor and if at all.

But, of course, keep in mind that Omar said and told our CNN's Jake Tapper during the "STATE OF THE UNION" on Sunday that Pelosi promised her that there would be act -- that she would act on this issue. She said, in a quote, "I have had a conversation with the speaker and I'm very confident that she will take decisive action this week."

Now, CNN has reached out to Pelosi and Boebert and has not yet heard back. So it's unclear how this will proceed but we know that this is happening today -- John.

BERMAN: Daniella Diaz, I appreciate that. Thank you very much.

I guess the key question, though, is it's going to be introduced by Ayanna Pressley but will it get to the floor? Will Pelosi allow it on the floor?

KEILAR: Yes. And look, we've seen some of these Republicans -- you know, Gosar, Marjorie Taylor Greene -- they're reprimanded. Sometimes they're stripped of their committee assignments. But you have to do that I think if you are leadership. But at the same time, kind of -- like they're there to do work. Can we just be honest?

BERMAN: Right.

KEILAR: They are there in Congress to be, like, performative victims, make a name for themselves, raise money, be these characters. And this just plays right into that even as leadership does have to take these actions.

BERMAN: You're not taking anything away from them that they care about, is what you're saying.

KEILAR: Kind of, yes.

NEW DAY continues right now.

BERMAN: Good morning to our viewers here in the United States and all around the world. It is Wednesday, December eighth. I'm John Berman alongside Brianna Keilar this morning.

And we do begin with breaking news. Pfizer announced that two doses of its COVID vaccine may not be enough to protect against infection from Omicron. But the bigger news might be that Pfizer is saying that with a booster -- with a third dose there is evidence that it does neutralize Omicron.

KEILAR: This pharmaceutical giant says two doses may still provide protection against severe illness, so that is definitely something to keep in mind.

Let's bring in CNN senior medical correspondent Elizabeth Cohen. OK, Elizabeth, how significant is this announcement knowing, of course, that this is coming from the company that makes this vaccine?

ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN SENIOR MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Right. Absolutely, that's something we want to keep in mind, Brianna. But what's interesting is this really does jive with research that came out yesterday from a group of South African researchers who don't work for Pfizer. So that definitely makes you feel better about it.

I've got to say I breathed a sigh of relief -- not 100 percent relief but some relief -- when I talked to the South African researcher yesterday. And I breathed another sigh of not 100 percent but some relief today when I saw the Pfizer data.

So let's break down exactly what it means because it can get really confusing.

So, what this data shows overall is that two doses may not provide sufficient protection against infection with Omicron -- against infection. In other words, if you got two doses, you may still get infected with Omicron. But if you don't get really sick that's not necessarily such a horrible thing.

However, what the data also shows is that two doses may still give significant protection against severe disease. That's what Dr. Alex Sigal, the South African researcher told me yesterday. He believes the two doses will give significant protection against severe disease. Against ending up in the hospital or ending up dead.