Tuesday, December 8, 2020

Global 66,700,000/1,500,000; USA – 14,800,000/283,000 Harvey Alter to receive Nobel Prize in Physiology or medicine to be presented to hi at NIH (Natcher) by the Swedish Ambassador to the USA. I am invited and will use this as an excuse not to attend the “Vaccine Summit” at the White House today. Trump will use it as a PR stunt to claim credit for the vaccines. Pfizer (Bourla) and Moderna (Bancel) have pulled out of attending. Biden announced his medical team today in Wilmington, DE. I was announced as his “Chief Medical Advisor”. I have made a video of my message to the group since I cannot attend (see above). • Had call with Joan Baez who wanted information about the effectiveness of masks in protecting you from acquisition of infection. Also, she is worried about her son and daughter-in-law who want to travel to South America. She wants to be able to tell them that I said that it was ill-advised. • Call with Ellen Sigal and then Larry Horowitz about FDA Commissioner. Lots of rumors and the usual anxiety about candidates. Josh Sharfstein is being considered but many people are pushing back. Kessler is being considered, but most everyone thinks that this is a bad idea. Janet Woodcock is emerging as a top choice. I like that. • Much concern that we did not contract with Pfizer for enough vaccine; we just did not accept their offer to provide more. Now it seems that this was a big mistake. Press are all over this. • Nancy Messonnier called. She is concerned that Gen. Perna is making decisions without proper knowledge and/or consultation with CDC. She has had long-standing problem with him. • Katie and Stephen Miller called me to thank me for the baby gift I sent them for daughter We had a nice discussion about life after Trump. • I was awarded “Sicilian of the Year” by the Magazine I Love Sicilia PRESS: KTWV Los Angeles Radio; BBC “Hard Talk”, TV and Radio; Wall Street Journal CEO Council;