COVID-19 Records

Sept. 20, 2021 -

Tony's Diary Package, pp.877-878 · fauci_diary:entry:00702

Page text: p.877, p.878 · original PDF

Date
2021-09-20 00:00 (day precision)
Type
diary entry · diary
author
Anthony S. Fauci
Topics
VaccinesTesting and surveillance
Sept. 20, 2021 - Over 2000 COVID deaths in USA yesterday I have to mention I had an extremely enjoyable interview with Bryant Gumbel (see below). I had not previously met him and I did not realize what an incredibly nice person he is. Just saying. Important day in the relaxation of prohibition on traveling to the United State. It was just announced that travelers from any foreign country can come to the United states provided they show proof of vaccination and are tested within 3 days before getting on the plane coming to the United states and submit themselves to contact tracing if necessary. This news was widely welcomed by countries such as the UK and others in the European Union. Had another important and somewhat contentious meeting with the medical team tonight. We were discussing the importance of having the ACIP be aligned with what the decision of the FDA was from last week. Rochelle indicated that she believed that the ACIP would be aligned with the FDA. However , in a friendly but firm manner, I challenged her and asked her what she herself would want to do and not to rely on being driven by the acip. The discussion went on until 10:45 PM. Jeff was again frustrated by the fact that he wanted Rochelle to lead the acip and not to be blindly led by the acip. He felt this way because he wanted to have an organized non confusing response to all of this. We all felt that we were in line until the meeting was over and Leslie Dach sent an email to Vivek and David indicating that Peter Marks from FDA just heard "iOS fauci@niaid.nih.gov> 0PM lurthy@hhs.gov cessler, David (HHS/IOS) ich@hhs.gov> A EDT /.D.Zients@who.eop.gov>, "Murthy, Vivek (HHS/OASH)" that the CDC and acip we're not going to accept the recommendation of FDA about providing boosters for those who's occupational or institutional status put them at an increased risk of infection. Peter got so frustrated that he said he will pull back that recommendation so that we don't get into a fight with the CDC. e-mails below:

Extracted statements

Rule-extracted, not adjudicated. The grade says what may be done with each one; read the document above before relying on any of them.

StatementGradeAttributionStance
It was just announced that travelers from any foreign country can come to the United states provided they show proof of vaccination and are tested within 3 days before getting on the plane coming to the United states and submit themselves to contact tracing if necessary. quoted / not their view paraphrase_third_party reporting frame: 'United states' asserts
We all felt that we were in line until the meeting was over and Leslie Dach sent an email to Vivek and David indicating that Peter Marks from FDA just heard "iOS fauci@niaid.nih.gov> 0PM lurthy@hhs.gov cessler, David (HHS/IOS) ich@hhs.gov> A EDT /.D.Zients@who.eop.gov>, "Murthy, Vivek (HHS/OASH)" that the CDC and acip we're not going to accept the recommendation of FDA about providing boosters for those who's occupational or institutional status put them at an increased risk of infection. quoted / not their view quoted_external sentence carries quotation marks asserts

In context

A single line often inverts meaning once you see what it answers, so neighbouring messages are always shown.

  1. 2021-09-15 00:00 Anthony S. Fauci open
    Sept. 15, 2021 - Global - 225,700,000/4,600,000; USA - 41,400,000/662,600 Confusion and controversy continues. There is a lot of discussion in the media about whether or not there's enough data to make a determination about giving boosters and at what age level to give them. The medical team feels pretty much in agreement that the FDA should approve . Waller; YouTube with : and Arthur Allen September 16, 2021 boosters down to about 30 to 40 year olds and go the rest of the way down to 18 years old after we get more safety data regarding myocarditis in the younger group. The media are having a ball in talking about imagined conflicts and disagreements between the FDA and the CDC. I keep insisting that I feel that a third shot boost should be part of the standard vaccine regimen and that a boost is not just the luxury but an integral part of the regiment. That is why I reject the concept that if protection against hospitalizations remains stable but infection rate is not protected by the vaccine that everything is OK. I believe that infection with mild to moderate disease is something that we should do whatever we can to prevent not only because it disrupts individuals and society but because of the problem of long COVID. The talking head docs on the outside all have their own opinion, many of whom have not seen the data that we have seen. The FDA's VRPAC will meet on Friday Sept. 17 and then all will be settled PRESS: Radio One Atlanta 107.9 FM - Beyonce Alowishus; Univision Radio "Santo Remedio" - Monse Medina; El Show de Erazno y Chokolata
  2. 2021-09-16 00:00 Anthony S. Fauci open
    Sept. 16, 2021 - Today - 155,000 cases Had my every couple of weeks Zoom call with Chris Whitty (UK). Oatrick Vallance is usually on the calls, but was not on today. We discussed a number of items including the tension around booster shots that I have described above. The UK has decided that they will give boosters to everyone 50 years of age and older as well as to their health care providers and immunocompromised. They are going to wait and observe before they go any younger than 50 years of age also they will very unlikely be vaccinating children younger than 12 years old. This is in contrast to our plans to complete the clinical trials and vaccinate two as young as six months old . It is likely that we will have enough data to vaccinate children from 11 years old to five years old by the middle to end of October into early November. PRESS: Daily Telegraph - Nick Allen -print; Instagram with Jessica Waller; YouTube with Roland Martin "Unfiltered"; WTOP Radio with Mike Murillo KLN (Kaiser Health News):
  3. 2021-09-17 00:00 Anthony S. Fauci open
    Sept. 17, 2021 Very important decisions made today at VRPAC meeting. They voted unanimously to approve booster shots for people 65 years of age and older as well as those with underlying medical conditions that put them at risk for severe disease as well as those with occupations that put them at risk for infection. This is going to be a very difficult communications challenge. We just got off a phone call with the medical team following the announcement of this decision by VRPAC. And it is clear that if you keep all these people in the loop even though it looks like it's very restrictive you're gonna have about 80% of the population that are eligible to be vaccinated will be getting that third boost. More later. Active severe cases (60+ actual numbers) Active severe cases (60+ per 100K) un-vax I vax without booster I with booster un-vax I vax without booster I with booster a 225 || 80 waerowrwr--s ° Pe in o1/o2z/21 01/03/21 __--01/o4/21__o1fos/2i1_--o1fo6/2i_--o1/o7/2i1_--or/os/2i_o1/o9/21 o1/o2z/21 01/03/21 __--or/oa/21_--or/os/2zi_--o1fosj2i_--o1fo7/2i_--orfos/21_01/o9/21 t+ableou é > k ep o PRESS: Univision TV "Despierta America"; MSNBC with Craig Melvin; White House Press conference;
  4. 2021-09-19 00:00 Anthony S. Fauci open
    Sept. 19, 2021 Was on three Sunday shows today talking about the FDA decision (see below). As expected all of the questions related to what was perceived as confusion between what the Medical Group and the president said versus what the actual outcome of the meeting of the VRPAC was. I explained in all of the shows that we had always said that what we were talking about and what the president was talking about was a plan to be able to roll out boosters starting the week of September the 20th. We would be prepared to do it for everyone who is eligible. The fact that the recommendation from VRPAC only included people over 65 years old and those from 18 to 64 who either had an underlying condition that would give them a higher likelihood of severe outcome or individuals who because of their institutional or occupational status puts them at an increased risk of infection . As mentioned above this constitutes about 80% of the population . I emphasized in my interviews that this was not the end of the story and that over the next several weeks two months we might see an expansion of the recommendation. Jake Tapper did ask me weather I had received a booster always planning to receive a booster. Since I did not want to give away my medical history I was very vague in my answer saying only that I definitely will receive a booster but he equivocated about whether or not I had received a booster. Although I was discreet and politic in the interviews, I still believe that the VRPAC got it wrong since they do not understand that the end game is not just to prevent hospitalizations. However, I will not push this , but I will let it play out. Israel data keep coming in: Active severe cases I O°" 9 D'Wp DIN Un-vax I no booster I with booster D2201NN NX'? I VUDIA NX>? |TUDIA Dy I 20-29 30-39 40-49 50-59 60-69 PRESS: NBC "Meet the Press" with Chuck Todd; ABC "This Week" with Martha Raddatz; CNN "SOTU" with Jake Tapper.
  5. 2021-09-20 00:00 Anthony S. Fauci
    Sept. 20, 2021 - Over 2000 COVID deaths in USA yesterday I have to mention I had an extremely enjoyable interview with Bryant Gumbel (see below). I had not previously met him and I did not realize what an incredibly nice person he is. Just saying. Important day in the relaxation of prohibition on traveling to the United State. It was just announced that travelers from any foreign country can come to the United states provided they show proof of vaccination and are tested within 3 days before getting on the plane coming to the United states and submit themselves to contact tracing if necessary. This news was widely welcomed by countries such as the UK and others in the European Union. Had another important and somewhat contentious meeting with the medical team tonight. We were discussing the importance of having the ACIP be aligned with what the decision of the FDA was from last week. Rochelle indicated that she believed that the ACIP would be aligned with the FDA. However , in a friendly but firm manner, I challenged her and asked her what she herself would want to do and not to rely on being driven by the acip. The discussion went on until 10:45 PM. Jeff was again frustrated by the fact that he wanted Rochelle to lead the acip and not to be blindly led by the acip. He felt this way because he wanted to have an organized non confusing response to all of this. We all felt that we were in line until the meeting was over and Leslie Dach sent an email to Vivek and David indicating that Peter Marks from FDA just heard "iOS fauci@niaid.nih.gov> 0PM lurthy@hhs.gov cessler, David (HHS/IOS) ich@hhs.gov> A EDT /.D.Zients@who.eop.gov>, "Murthy, Vivek (HHS/OASH)" that the CDC and acip we're not going to accept the recommendation of FDA about providing boosters for those who's occupational or institutional status put them at an increased risk of infection. Peter got so frustrated that he said he will pull back that recommendation so that we don't get into a fight with the CDC. e-mails below:
  6. 2021-09-21 00:00 Anthony S. Fauci open
    Sept. 21, 2021 - Global - 228,800,000/4,700,000; USA - 42,200,000/675,100 Discussions continue to go on trying to align the FDA and CDC. Concern is mostly centered around the risk of myocarditis in younger individuals . We finally got the FDA agreed to agree that their recommendation or authorization would be four people greater than 65 and then 18 to 64 for people at risk for severe disease due to underlying conditions and 18 to 64 for people at eg occupational or institutional risk with the statement that 18 to 30 would be a permissive recommendation meaning that they should consult their physician. This is something that the CDC Advisory Board (ACIP) could probably live with . However, we shall see what happens tomorrow and in subsequent days. Jeff has been on the phone with me multiple times per day asking me to continue to mentor Rochelle such that the CDC /ACIP does not veer too far off the FDA recommendations and our ultimate intent. She is really very good and I love her but she just does not have enough experience to steer CDC and the direction that we all feel let you go. I must make a point that over the last few weeks more intensively over the last few days I have been stressed beyond the limit particularly compounded by the dark web far right maniacs continuing to attack me in the area of gain of function research, accusations of lying to the Congress under oath, and a variety of other conspiratorial accusations. Tonight I went to a reception at the temporary home of the British ambassador to the United states on 2934 Edgevale terracet, northwest. it was an honor of Prime Minister Boris Johnson of the UK and foreign minister Elizabeth Truss. It was a great reception and I got the opportunity to chat with the Prime Minister who clearly knew who I was and was very complimentary to the way I would have been leading the COVID-19 response effort in the United states we chatted for a bit and I told him how pleased I was with the relationship that we had developed with his medical people Chris Whitty and Patrick Vallance with whom I have a zoom call about every two to three weeks. The next couple of days I'm going to be interesting to see how the situation rolls out with the booster plan
  7. 2021-09-22 00:00 Anthony S. Fauci open
    Sept. 22, 2021 We continue to have 2000 deaths per day !!! Nice op Ed in the Post today. Written by Jeff and Tony Blinken announcing that the USA will donate an additional 500 million doses a vaccine (Pfizer) to the developing world superimposed up on the 160 million those says they have already given 290 countries and the 500 million doses that they will be distributing. The ultimate total will be about 1.5 billion doses with more to come. Wonderful e-mail from King Holmes. See below:
  8. 2021-09-23 00:00 Anthony S. Fauci open
    September 23, 2021 Highly eventful day!!! Today was the day that the acip would make their recommendation to the CDC regarding the use of boosters. Inexplicably, they voted to allow boosters for people 65 years of age or older, which is fine, as well as those from 18 to 64 with underlying conditions leading to severe disease, which is fine . However, they rejected the proposal to give boosters to people who by occupational or institutional exposure would find themselves at high risk for infection. There was absolutely no reason at all to do this since that would mean that a 25 year old person who was obese would get a booster, but a 55 year old school teacher or a 55 year old intensive care nurse could not get a boost. The rationale for the acip was completely discombobulated. It had nothing to do with safety since they were talking about policy that was unrelated to the scientific issues at hand . They got distracted and began talking about what they were going to do with people who had Moderna as their primary regimen or J&J as their primary regimen, avoiding the fundamental scientific and public health question at hand. When I heard this we began a series of phone calls, multiple phone calls, among me, Leslie Dach, Jeff, and Vivek - all outrages by the recommendation. I texted Rochelle and I begged her to call me in order that I could explain to her how this would be a fatal mistake if she took the recommendation of the acip since none of us would be able to defend this. It was a very dramatic situation where she was in with the secretary and I was texting her late in the evening to please call me so that I can tell her what I feel she must do. Jeff and Courtney Rowe and Ian Sams were suggesting that I call up the secretary and give him my opinion. Things were getting very dicey since the hours were going by and no decision was made. I finally got a chance to speak with Rochelle and literally begged her to override that decision which was only a 9 to 6 decision and not an overwhelming unanimous recommendation. The tweets that were coming in when they heard of the recommendation of the acip were absolutely overwhelmingly against that decision. Yet Rochelle still felt she could not go against her committee. I pleaded with her over the phone telling her that I would absolutely strongly defend her publicly if she made allowance for teachers and healthcare workers to get vaccinated even though they were healthy. Again, she seemed hesitant to overrule them. Jeff called me multiple times asking me to call the secretary myself. I felt that I could not do this since it would be totally destroying Rochelle if I did that. I explained to Rochelle that if she does not do that she would be forever branded as someone with no leadership capabilities at all and if she did overrule them she could turn lemons into lemonade because she could reclaim her role as a leader since her reputation is one of unfortunately being a very weak leader. I am dictating this at 10:00 PM on September the 23rd and she still has not made her decision. I told her that I would be available all evening and the rest of the night if she wanted to talk. The whole team in the department and the White House is counting on my influence on her to get her to do the right thing here. I cannot understand why she is so reluctant to go against a 9 to 6 recommendation when the recommendation is so blatantly incorrect. Good thing happened tonight - I received the 2021 Bill Foege Award for Global health together with Carlos Del Rio and Kati Kariko. This was followed by a very enjoyable fireside chat with Bill. He is one of the true icons in public health and it was an honor to be talking to him PRESS: ABC ONLINE Town Hall with Jennifer Ashston; Irish Radio RTE "This Week";
  9. 2021-09-24 00:00 Anthony S. Fauci open
    Sept. 24, 2021 Alas! Rochelle listened to me. She overruled the recommendation of the ACIP. She actually called me last night at 11:25 PM and then a couple of minutes later to tell me that she had taken my advice and overruled their rejection of the third bullet. Unfortunately David Awwad had put a "do not disturb" between 11:00 PM and 5:00 AM on my cell phone and I missed her call. I then texted her add 5 30 AM telling her that I was sorry that I missed her call. She texted me right back and we spoke by phone at around 5:40. I congratulated her on what she had done and told her that she has now shown clear leadership as the director of CDC. Her recommendations are indicated below " CDC recommends: • people 65 years and older and residents in long-term care settings should receive a booster shot of Pfizer-BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccine at least 6 months after their Pfizer-BioNTech primary series, • people aged 50-64 years with underlying medical conditions should receive a booster shot of Pfizer-BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccine at least 6 months after their Pfizer-BioNTech primary series, • people aged 18-49 years with underlying medical conditions may receive a booster shot of Pfizer-BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccine at least 6 months after their Pfizer-BioNTech primary series, based on their individual benefits and risks, and • people aged 18-64 years who are at increased risk for COVID-19 exposure and transmission because of occupational or institutional setting may receive a booster shot of Pfizer-BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccine at least 6 months after their Pfizer-BioNTech primary series, based on their individual benefits and risks. PRESS: Breitbart: Fauci Defends NIH Funding Wuhan Lab: 'Only Regret' Is That It's Caused 'Such a Degree of Distraction' - This was an interview that I gave to Major Garrett on his podcast.

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