Friday, December 18, 2020

Global – 73,300,000/1,700,000; USA – 17,000,000/310,000 Moderna’s mRNA vaccine gets EUA from FDA. Likely start vaccinating within a few days (likely Monday, 21 December) Just found out that NIH will finally get doses of vaccine from Moderna (see above) which means I will likely get vaccinated on Tuesday, 22 December. I am insisting that I receive vaccine ONLY if Clinical Center ICU people ALSO receive it at the same time as I do, • Cases continue to surge. Deb’s comments: Continued deterioration in CA, AZ, NV,TX, FL, PA, OH, NJ, NY and will need staffing support in most of these states except FL and TX – most concerning is CA and NV for ICUs and hospital staffing. States are now using their vents that are in their state stockpiles which is the first we have seen this occur since summer. There is significant diversity in approach to vaccination – many states approach are self defined co-morbidities which could lead to long lines if its not a combination of age plus – ie first group essential worker over 50 and general population over 65 combination of risk of exposure and risk of severe disease. Mortality from the states that have been improving is still very high daily. Deb Did ceremonial vaccination with the Pfizer Product of VP Pence, Karen Pence and Jerome Adams in EEOB-350 at 8:03 AM. I gave remarks at the ceremony talking about the challenges ahead, the bitter-sweet nature of the situation with Bitter (record number of cases) and Sweet (Vaccines here). Also light at the end of the tunnel PRESS: NBC Today with Savannah Guthrie; on CNN for live coverage of the White House vaccination of the VP; Taped CNN Sesame Street with Sanjay Gupta and Erika Hill; WCBS Radio NYC; Stanford Fireside Chat with Alan Alda; Fireside chat with Andy Slavitt; Fireside Chat with the California State University systems; CNN Town Hall (done together with Jerome Adams) with Don lemon and Sanjay Gupta