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Covid experts lead taskforce briefing after Biden said 'we're letting science speak again' – live | Covid experts lead taskforce briefing after Biden said 'we're letting science speak again' – live |
(32 minutes later) | |
Joe Biden purposefully not present at Covid-19 briefing after saying he wants Americans to hear directly from his scientific team | Joe Biden purposefully not present at Covid-19 briefing after saying he wants Americans to hear directly from his scientific team |
The White House press briefing is now beginning, focusing on the “climate crisis,” according to press secretary Jen Psaki and passes the mic to Gina McCarthy, a top climate advisor to Biden. | |
When the president thinks about the climate crisis, she said, “His first thought is about jobs.” McCarthy then begins to go through some of the executive orders Joe Biden plans to sign today. | |
She said this effort will “power the economy with good paying union jobs.” | |
Before we barrel into the White House press briefing with press secretary Jen Psaki, here are the main takeaways from the Biden administration’s first formal Covid-19 briefing: | |
Joe Biden was not present, by design. Covid-19 coordinator Jeff Zients said the president wants to leave briefings on the virus to the experts, and the administration intends to hold them regularly. The next one will be Friday. | |
CDC director Dr. Rochelle Walinsky said there are signs of hope in the pandemic, but many thousands more people will likely die in the US before the pandemic is over, including almost certainly reaching 500,000 deaths in February. | |
Experts urged people to continue to wear masks, wash hands and social distance to mitigate spread of the virus as cases remain “extraordinarily high” according to Wakinsky. | |
Dr. Anthony Fauci said vaccines remain efficacious against concerning new Covid-19 variants, including the B117 variant first identified in the UK. However, he said the US will need to continue to look to the future to develop drugs to treat new variants of Covid-19, specifically including monoclonal antibodies. | |
Right now, the US is 43rd in the world in terms of monitoring for new coronavirus variants through genomic sequencing. That process requires resources, which Walinsky said researchers need to continue this work. She called on Congress to pass Biden’s proposed $1.9tn stimulus package. | |
And the team also highlighted some of the policy changes made yesterday to expedite vaccine manufacturing and distribution. Among them: the US bought 200 million more vaccine doses from Pfizer and Moderna; it will provide 10 million vaccine doses per week to states for the next three weeks; and states will get more transparency about upcoming allotments. | |
Here’s an important point: the US is 43rd in terms of tracking genetic variants of Covid-19, like the B117 variant first identified in the United Kingdom. That means the US is not doing enough surveillance to identify changes in the coronavirus early. | |
The situation is “completely unacceptable,” said Covid-19 response coordinator Jeff Zients. | |
To track these variants, scientists need to do genomic sequencing of coronavirus samples. And in order to systematically collect, sequence and analyze those changes, CDC director Dr. Rochelle Walinsky said they need resources. | |
There are resources allocated for just this type fo surveillance in Biden’s $1.9tn American Resuce Plan, she said. Scientists “need access to those resources to do the level of sequencing we need.” | |
“We’ve identified 12 areas where the president has authorized us to use,” the Defense Production Act, said Andy Slavitt. The administration is also “actively exploring” whether factories can be retrofitted to produce more vaccines. | “We’ve identified 12 areas where the president has authorized us to use,” the Defense Production Act, said Andy Slavitt. The administration is also “actively exploring” whether factories can be retrofitted to produce more vaccines. |
“We have to make sure the vaccines that are produced are done the right way,” said Slavitt. Based on the current timeline, manufacturers would deliver all doses by early fall. “We don’t want to make a commitment to the public based on things that have not been accomplished,” said Slavitt. | “We have to make sure the vaccines that are produced are done the right way,” said Slavitt. Based on the current timeline, manufacturers would deliver all doses by early fall. “We don’t want to make a commitment to the public based on things that have not been accomplished,” said Slavitt. |
Slavitt is now running through some of the measures the Biden administration has taken to get more vaccines to people. Here are some of those measures: | Slavitt is now running through some of the measures the Biden administration has taken to get more vaccines to people. Here are some of those measures: |
The US has exercised an option to purchase an additional 200 million doses of vaccine from Pfizer and Moderna, which will bring the total US supply to 600 million doses. That should be enough to vaccinate everyone older than 16. | The US has exercised an option to purchase an additional 200 million doses of vaccine from Pfizer and Moderna, which will bring the total US supply to 600 million doses. That should be enough to vaccinate everyone older than 16. |
The administration increased vaccine distributions to states to 10 million per week, from 8.6 million per week, for the next three weeks. | The administration increased vaccine distributions to states to 10 million per week, from 8.6 million per week, for the next three weeks. |
The administration will give states three weeks’ notice of upcoming vaccine allotments, to give them time to prepare. | The administration will give states three weeks’ notice of upcoming vaccine allotments, to give them time to prepare. |
Andy Slavitt, who is helping coordinate the Covid-19 response, said the Biden administration is working to get vaccines to Americans, “despite not inheriting a fully developed strategy or infrastructure to make vaccines available to Americans.” | Andy Slavitt, who is helping coordinate the Covid-19 response, said the Biden administration is working to get vaccines to Americans, “despite not inheriting a fully developed strategy or infrastructure to make vaccines available to Americans.” |
Now, we’re hearing from Dr Marcella Nunez-Smith, who is speaking about equity in the Covid-19 response. Communities of color have been disproportionately impacted by Covid-19. A task force for equity is being formed, she said, and will serve an advisory roll in the response. | Now, we’re hearing from Dr Marcella Nunez-Smith, who is speaking about equity in the Covid-19 response. Communities of color have been disproportionately impacted by Covid-19. A task force for equity is being formed, she said, and will serve an advisory roll in the response. |
“All Americans, everyone in our country, should have the benefit of a safe effective vaccine,” said Nunez-Smith. Being able to pay should not play a roll, not should transportation or work hours. | “All Americans, everyone in our country, should have the benefit of a safe effective vaccine,” said Nunez-Smith. Being able to pay should not play a roll, not should transportation or work hours. |
“We’re working to make sure transportation and paid time off are available,” she said. In some cases, the vaccine will need to be brought to people who need them, rather than vise versa. | “We’re working to make sure transportation and paid time off are available,” she said. In some cases, the vaccine will need to be brought to people who need them, rather than vise versa. |
Dr. Anthony Fauci is now giving an update on vaccines and drugs to treat Covid-19. He said current evidence shows vaccines appear to still be very effective against concerning Covid-19 variants. | Dr. Anthony Fauci is now giving an update on vaccines and drugs to treat Covid-19. He said current evidence shows vaccines appear to still be very effective against concerning Covid-19 variants. |
“What we’re seeing is a very slight, if at all, impact on vaccine induced antibodies,” for B117, said Fauci, and a “moderate” reduction in efficacy against the South African variant, though the vaccine is still effective. | “What we’re seeing is a very slight, if at all, impact on vaccine induced antibodies,” for B117, said Fauci, and a “moderate” reduction in efficacy against the South African variant, though the vaccine is still effective. |
“We have to be looking forward,” on virus mutations, said Fauci. | “We have to be looking forward,” on virus mutations, said Fauci. |
Walensky said the CDC is also monitoring virus variants, most notably the most transmissible variant B117 first identified in the UK. | Walensky said the CDC is also monitoring virus variants, most notably the most transmissible variant B117 first identified in the UK. |
“Viruses mutate and we have always expected variants would emerge,” said Walensky. However, more cases could “increase stress on our already taxed healthcare system,” she said. To date, 308 cases of the B117 variant have been found in 26 states. | “Viruses mutate and we have always expected variants would emerge,” said Walensky. However, more cases could “increase stress on our already taxed healthcare system,” she said. To date, 308 cases of the B117 variant have been found in 26 states. |
The first case of the P1 variant was found in the US in Minnesota. Researchers have not found any cases of the B1351 variant in the US. The variant was first identified in South Africa. | The first case of the P1 variant was found in the US in Minnesota. Researchers have not found any cases of the B1351 variant in the US. The variant was first identified in South Africa. |