A single line often inverts meaning once you see what it
answers, so neighbouring messages are always shown.
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Oct. 18, 2009 - Take off to Paris with Patty Conrad for the 2009 AIDS Vaccine meeting of the IAS and Vaccine Enterprise. Extremely successful meeting in many ways. The RV144 (Thai trial) results were formerly presented coinciding with the online publication of the results in the NEJM. There was significant controversy surrounding the role-out of this vaccine a couple of weeks ago (see above). The complete data showed that the effect was modest, but real. Apart from a few remaining skeptics, the issue now is to learn from this by examining any correlates of immunity. I gave the closing talk on Oct. 22 together with Francois Barre-Sinoussi. My talk was extremely well-received as being visionary. I thoroughly enjoyed preparing and delivering the talk. I discuss the Thai trial, but also the need to pursue low-dose mucosal challenge models in the non-human primate (NHP). Also, I spoke about the importance of studying the early events in HIV infection for insight into the type of immune response that we need to elicit. Also, spoke of the differences in the transmitting versus the chronically replicating virus.
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Oct. 23 - 25, 2009 - Things really heating up with the press jumping all over the USG for "overpromising" the number of doses of vaccine that would be available. In fact, despite my warnings, BAARDA (Robin Robinson - nice guy, but naïve) believed the pharmaceutical companies that they would have 160 million doses by October 15. In fact they had 11 million and instead of ultimately getting 250 million, we are lucky if we get 140 million. Big gap between supply and demand with long lines for vaccine and widespread flu activity in 46 states. Perfect storm. wn (CNN), BBC distribution. Front I have been as much media as in the anthrax days. Just on October 23-25 I was on 11 major networks and cable trying to explain the vaccine supply problem - Today Show, NBC Nightly News, multiple MSNBCs, CNN Situation Room, CNN American Morning, Charlie Rose, NPR, WTOP, Good Morning America, Jim Lehr's The NewsHour, BBC, etc.
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Oct. 25, 2009 - Reception and dinner in Georgetown 1692- 31st Street, N.W., hone of Susan and David Axelrod to view live the "60 Minutes" show about their ordeal with their daughter Lauren's epilepsy that she has had from birth and that now at 28 years old has left her with significant brain damage. They are wonderful people and have started the organization called CURE (Citizens United for Research in Epilepsy) to do research on epilepsy. Typical high-powered DC gathering: Rahm Emanuel, VP Joe Biden and Jill Biden, Gen. James Jones, Mort Kondrake, Al Hunt, Bruce Reed, Linda Douglas (ABC), Bob Bennett, and many, many others.
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Oct. 26, 2009 - Media Frenzy continues - Lou Dobbs, Campbell Brown (CNN), BBC
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2009-10-27 00:00
Anthony S. Fauci
Oct. 27, 2009 - Extensive interview with Dan Rather for his Cable show "Dan Rather Reports". Very nice person. We related well and he told his producer (Patty heard the conversation) that I was a "superstar".
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Oct. 28-29, 2009 - Press is jumping all over HHS for delay in vaccine distribution. Front page stuff and all networks. They are calling it "Obama's Katrina".
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Nov. 3, 2009 - I continue to be all over the press - last night CBS Evening News; today CBS Morning News to explain the complex issues of why we do not have a lot of vaccine at hand - the virus just is not growing very well in eggs and much against my advice, HHS (BARDA, Jenny Backus) promised that we would have a certain number of doses and now we do not. They relied on and believed the projections from the pharmaceutical companies when I told them not to. They wanted to give a crisp message (they were still in campaign mode) and I told them not to. Now, everyone looks to me for what to do and they are putting me out on all of the shows. Actually NIAID is the only one giving good news sine our pregnancy trials and pediatric trials are giving good data - only 1 dose of 15 ugs for pregnant women is required for robust response and we proved that 1 dose for older kids (10 - 17 years) is good and 2 doses for younger kids (6 months to 9 years is required). I announced this at a press briefing at HHS yesterday. This is in conflict with WHO who say that we should give 1 dose to all kids.
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Nov. 4, 2009 - Major House Appropriations briefing/Hearing chaired by David Obey. Witness - me, Tom Frieden (CDC), Niki Lurie (ASPR) and health commissioner from Alabama and ?. Tough questions by members and staff regarding availability of vaccines. I came out looking good, but it was a intense hearing. Next day (Nov. 5) big picture of me on page 3 of both the Washington Post and the NY Times.
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Nov. 5, 2009 - Image and message issues continue to deteriorate when it was announced today that workers from Goldman Sachs, Citibank and other Wall Street firms had gotten lid220 H1N1 vaccine as pregnant women wait in line. The CDC is being blamed since they are responsible ultimately for distribution. In fact, CDC takes orders from States and locals and then distributes the vaccines through a contract with McKesson Corp, which sends to over 150,000 distribution sites within the states according to how the cities and states decide to distribute based on their best judgment. Since the Wall Street firms have large clinics, they can easily distribute vaccine to their pregnant employees and those with underlying conditions. It was Mayor Bloomberg's choice, but the image did not look good and the CDC took flak for it. Still getting massive (couple of times daily) media exposure. Media interest paused for a few days due to the terrible tragedy at Fort Hood (Texas) army base where a crazed Army MD psychiatrist who trained at USUHS and Walter Reed and is a Muslim (born in USA) went on a shooting rampage and killed 13 and wounded 30 soldiers getting ready to deploy to Afghanistan. Am extremely busy and very fatigued!