A single line often inverts meaning once you see what it
answers, so neighbouring messages are always shown.
-
Feb. 23, 2010 - Continued activity in trying to dissect out what went right and/or wrong with the response to H1N1 flu. Still considerable tension between Heidi Avery who wants s "to transform" the system and make some leaps and the slow, careful (and actually incompetent) response of the HHS people. Had the PHEMCE review led by Nicki Lurie under the auspices of the IOM. Held at the House of Sweden on 2900 K street by the Georgetown Waterfront. I presented a lively endorsement of the Avery plan. L felt that it made the HHS people nervous. This reminds me of 25 years ago when I was pushing HHS to accept the AIDS activists and they were conservatively reluctant. They are not bold at all.
-
Feb. 25, 2010 - As per the "review", a PCAST meeting c--chaired by Harold Varmus and Eric Lander was held at the Carnegie Institution on 1530 P Street, N.W. with David Baltimore, Tom Monath, Robert Coffman, Emilio Emini and others present. Their purpose was to look at the response to H1N1 and report back to the POTUS. I presented my theme of the absolute importance of developed a new paradigm of close interaction between USG and industry whereby USG pushes and shares to risk of developing innovative technologies (new platforms for vaccines and drugs) that industry can use for their own profits while the USG then has it available to respond to public health threats (existing, emerging and deliberate). I was very well received.
-
March 1, 2010 - Regular Monday evening meeting in the Situation Room of the White House led by Heidi Avery with the usual cast of characters. Still inertia on HHS part and agitation by Heidi. Couple of days later (~ March 3 or 4) Heidi called me at home at around 10:00 AM very discouraged at the inertia and lack of imagination of HHS people, particularly Peggy Hamburg, Nicki Lurie and Jess Goodman. Asked for my help in getting the initiative going or she even said that it might be hopeless with this cast of characters. She felt that Nicki was in over her head and that she was afraid of losing her command of the situation instead of capitalizing on what Heidi wants to do. Heidi also feels that Peggy is missing the big picture and that Jesse is hopelessly garbled in his thought and expression. I will try to help her by formulating a plan with her to get this initiative rolling.
-
March 5, 2010 - Gave my yearly talk to the Zuckernman Fellows led by Mort Zuckerman and David Gergen. Then had the usual receptions that evening at Ronald and Beth Dozoretz's home at 3005 45th Street, N.W. (right around the block from my house. Usual stars were there - Sonya Sotamayor, Desiree Rogers (Social Secretary at the WH), Justice Breyer, Dave Gergen, Wolf Blitzer, Andrea Mitchell, etc/
-
2010-03-06 00:00
Anthony S. Fauci
March 6, 2010 - Under the continued generosity of Wayne and Catherine Reynolds to Chris and me, we were their guests at the premier showing of the Opera "War and Peace" at the Opera House of the Kennedy Center. Special elegant dinner before hand in the Atrium followed by the opera. Guests were the usual DC lists of famous people: few examples - Gen James Jones, Sen. Tom Daschle, Marcus Brauchli (editor of Washington Post), many media people - Dana Priest, Wolf Blitzer, Sam Donaldson, etc. Long opera! lon Auditorium on
-
March 16, 2010 - Research Amer!ca Awards Gala at the Andrew Mellon Auditorium on Constitution Avenue. Usual cast of characters.
-
March 17, 2010 - For the past 2 Mondays have had the usual Situation Room White House meetings with Heidi Avery . Same theme - she is pushing HHS and I am very much on her side. Looks like a plan is taking shape. I am impressed with the relative incompetence of the HHS group. They seem clueless and short on leadership. Tom Frieden of CDC shines in my mind as an independent thinker with good ideas and a person who marches to the beat of his own drum. Gave talk to the NIAID Fellows on a "Career at NIH Monday, 15 March. They loved it. Radio and TV Correspondents Association Dinner - Black tie at Convention Center. Terrific night. Went alone but met with wide range of the usual cast of characters: Chris Wallace (Fox News - they invited me); multiple Senators, etc.
-
March 19 - 22, 2010 - Contamination of Rotarix (Rotavirus vaccine from GSK) with porcine circovirus (PCV-1). Spent many hours on conference calls over the weekend with FDA, CDC and HHS to determine roll-out. Difficult issue here is the message. There is no indication that there is a safety concern here since PCV-1 does not cause disease in pigs or in man; yet this virus should not be in the vaccine. It was at high concentrations even in the seed stock. The message is that the FDA recommends putting a hold on administration of the vaccine (without pulling it from the market) until the situation can be examined more closely. The potential downside is that this vaccine is used mainly in the developing world and if the vaccinations stop, kids will die of rotavirus disease. Merck makes Rotatec, which is used mainly in the USA and so the FDA recommends that where possible, clinicians switch from Rotarix to Rotatec. We fully understand that this might not be possible in the developing world and so we understand if they continue to use Rotarix.
-
March 24, 2010 - Continue intense WH meetings with Heidi Avery in Sit Room tonight. I finally put together my version of how the USG should take responsibility for the advanced development, preferably in a physical facility that we buy or rent. The facility at Texas A & M is a good model. Heidi really likes the idea. Laura Petrou called me and said that she heard that I was more forward looking about all of this than the FDA (Peggy), CDC (Tom) and HHS (Nicki) and wanted to hear from me about my ideas. She was actually receptive. The issue here is really that HHS does not want the WH (Heidi) to get in front of the Secretary. Yet the HHS process is slow, too cautious and bureaucratic. Heidi still calls me off line for my ideas.