A single line often inverts meaning once you see what it
answers, so neighbouring messages are always shown.
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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.
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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:
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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
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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:
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2021-09-23 00:00
Anthony S. Fauci
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";
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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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Sept. 25, 2021 - Global - USA - 42,800,000/684,900 I had a wonderful evening this evening. Joan Baez and her son Gabe who were supposed to go to New York City with Gabe's daughter Jasmine who wanted to go to a concert in Queens, NY. In addition, Joan was supposed to meet with officer Mike Fanone. For some strange reason officer Fanone just dropped out of sight and did not meet with her. He's the officer who was brutalized during the attack on the capitol on January the 6th, 2021. Really rather stange. And so, Joan and Gabe were stuck in Washington and planning to fly back to California tomorrow. Since they had nothing to do she took a chance and called me up to see if I was free. I was, and we had Joan and Gabe over the house for a pasta dinner. Gabe was constantly on the phone with his daughter in Queens who was totally excited at the concert and kept calling him. It was totally delightful as Joan is such an extraordinary person. We had a wonderful time.
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Sept. 27, 2021 - Global USA Things turning around with all parameters starting to come down even though things are still bad: New reported cases All time Last 90 days 7-day average -- 200,000 cases 100,000 l I I Feb. 2020 May Aug. Nov. Feb. 2021 May Aug. Tests Hospitalized Deaths UTM vv Feb. 2020 Sept 2021 Feb, 2020 Sept 2021 Feb. 2020 Sept. 2021 DAILY AVG. ON SEPT. 26 14-DAY CHANGE TOTAL REPORTED Cases E19 .633 -18% 42,905,619 Tests 1,740,685 +6% Hospitalized 86,043 -15% Deaths 20a. 423% 688,157 About this data There is now considerable confusion about exactly who should get the boost. We know what the general categories are; however, when people ask exactly who within these categories should get vaccinated there is lack of clarity. For example, when you say people with underlying conditions, exactly what are those underlying conditions. It is found somewhere on the CDC website, but it is very difficult to find and it does not very succinctly tell you what these conditions are. For example, of the underlying conditions we always talk about the fact that obesity is very importan in that regard . Yet, when you search for it, obesity is not in those areas that are easily accessible. PRESS: CNN "The Situation Room" with Wolf Blitzer
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Sept. 28, 2021 Yesterday was an important day during one of the zoom calls with the "TV doctors ", i.e. people who are practicing physicians and public health people who regularly appear on TV shows. I made it very clear that I was very much in favor of providing booster shots for virtually everyone who is eligible for a vaccination. I said to the group of perhaps 50 people , mostly doctors, that the idea that only thing that you have to worry about with vaccines is keeping people out of the hospital is a false narrative since there are many people who do not require hospitalization who suffer greatly from getting infected with the virus. I know that this is contrary to the current recommendations of the CDC and the current authorization by the FDA . However, I believe that the judgment of who should get it was overly determined by an understandable consideration of the lack of doses for people in the developing world. In addition, there is a concern about safety regarding myocarditis for younger people, mostly men; however, once this is taken care of in my mind there is no reason not to vaccinate essentially everyone. This becomes even more important since there is great confusion right now with the so called gradation and prioritization of who should get vaccinated regarding when and how. We are getting a lot of blowback about this confusion which I totally predicted when I said we should make things very simple. Anyway, I made my thoughts very clear to the group on this call. Another important thing that is rolling out is that Rochelle is getting a lot of widespread credit , which she deserves, about making a broader recommendation than the ACIP indicated. As indicated above , she made this decision based on very intensive persuasion that I made to her late at night before she actually made the announcement. Just a statement about things that have been evolving overtime. There is a lot of discussion right now and scrambling about getting doses of monoclonal antibodies for people who get infected. This is a major change from previously when monoclonal antibodies were underused. In addition, I have not mentioned it but on a very regular basis, literally weekly, we brief the governors is on a governors's call; we brief the principles (cabinet members and others); we have a zoom call with the physicians and public health people who are out there on the TV circuit (see above) in order to keep them up-to-date as to what we are thinking ; and we briefed the President himself. I do not take notes after each of these ; however it is important to mention that they occur on a very regular basis. Noteworthy is the fact that I had an extraordinary podcast interview for one hour with famous actor Alec Baldwin. He is an amazingly intelligent , funny, an extremely likable person who was very much in tune with my history and my life and asked very penetrating and important questions. Without a doubt, from a intellectual and substantive standpoint it was one of the best if not the best interview that I have ever given. It was a good day for interviews in that my interview with Ed Yong for the Atlantic festival was also extremely good. This is not surprising as Ed is one of the most impressive writers and interviewers that I have ever met PRESS: MSNBC "Morning Joe" with Joe, Meka and Willie; NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt; NBC with Lester Holt for "kids"; Interview with Ed Young as part of "The Atlantic Festival"; Podcast with Alec Baldwin.