WEAR A MASK.
ELLISON ON THE GROUND FOR US IN
BILOXI, THANK YOU.
>>> DR. COLLINS, IT IS, FIRST OF
ALL -- ITS AN EXCITING 24 HOURS
TO KNOW THAT WE -- IT FEELS LIKE
THE CLOSEST WE HAVE COME TO
BEING ABLE TO DECLARE SOME END
HERE.
I GOTTA ASK, IN THE LAST COUPLE
OF WEEKS, UNDER WHETHER IT WAS
QUESTIONING ON CAPITOL HILL,
QUESTIONING BY THE MEDIA, THE
CDC AND A LOT OF THE PUBLIC
HEALTH OFFICIALS SEEMED TO BE
PRETTY SURE WE WERE GOING TO BE
IN THIS SOME FORM OF A MASK
REQUIREMENT LONGER.
WHAT CHANGED AND HOW DID IT
CHANGE SEW QUICKLY?
>> I THINK -- FIRST OF ALL, YOU
STARTED OFF CALLING THIS A
SHOCKWAVE.
ISNT IT NICE WE HAVE GOOD NEWS?
LETS TAKE A MOMENT AND GO
HOORAY FOR THAT.
>> YES, IM WITH YOU.
>> HOW DID THINGS CHANGE?
SOME IS NEW DATA THATS
ARRIVING.
THE EFFICACY OF THE VACCINES,
WHICH WE KNEW WAS HIGH, 94%,
95%, IN CAREFULLY CONTROLLED
CLINICAL TRIALS, WHAT HAPPENS
WHEN YOU GET OUT IN THE REAL
WORLD?
ITS 94% TO 95%.
THESE VACCINES ARE INCREDIBLY
EFFECTIVE.
PEOPLE WHO ARE FULLY VACCINATED,
LIKE ME, REALLY ARE NOW IN A
POSITION WHERE YOU CAN BE IN
VARIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES AND NOT
WORRY NEARLY AS MUCH AS YOU DID
BEFORE.
I THINK ALSO, THERES MORE DATA
THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE VACCINATED
ARE LESS LIKELY TO BE CARRYING
THE VIRUS WITHOUT KNOWING IT
THEMSELVES AND, THEREFORE,
POTENTIALLY POSING A RISK TO
OTHERS.
THAT SEEMS TO HAVE GONE DOWN.
PUTTING THAT ALL TOGETHER,
LOOKING AT WHATS HAPPENED IN
ISRAEL, WHICH IS MAYBE A COUPLE
OF MONTHS AHEAD OF US IN TERMS
OF THEIR VACCINATION RATE, AND
SEEING THEY HAVE RELAXED ALL OF
THE STIPULATIONS AND SEEM TO BE
DOING FINE, ALTHOUGH THERES
OTHER POSSIBLE THINGS HAPPENING
IN ISRAEL, IT DOES GIVE YOU
CONFIDENCE THAT THE TIME IS NOW
TO EASE UP ON THIS.
CDC HAS A TOUGH TIME WITH THIS.
LETS GIVE THEM A BREAK.
IF THEY MAKE A MISTAKE -- IM
SURE SOME PEOPLE THINK MAYBE
THEY JUST DID -- OF GETTING TOO
RELAXED AND THEN WE HAVE AN
OUTBREAK AND THERE HAS TO BE
GOING BACK TO MASKS AGAIN, THERE
WILL BE A LOT OF MAD PEOPLE.
I THINK ITS TIME TO TAKE THE
CHANCE, AS THEY HAVE DONE, AND
TO SEE IF ALL OF US CAN GET
CLOSER BACK TO NORMAL LIFE.
A FUNNY STORY, I HAVE A TRAINER
I WORK OUT WITH TWICE A WEEK.
TODAY FOR THE FIRST TIME, HE
TOOK OFF HIS MASK, AS I DID,
BECAUSE WERE IMMUNIZED.
I REALIZED, THE GUY HAD BRACES
PUT ON 12 MONTHS AGO.
I NEVER SAW HIS FACE.
I DIDNT KNOW THAT.
THERES A LOT OF DISCOVERIES
HAPPENING HERE.
>> THERE IS.
YOU JUST ACTUALLY ANTICIPATED --
I WOULD LIKE YOU TO FOLLOW UP A
LITTLE BIT MORE ON A POTENTIAL
QUESTION.
YOU SORT OF HINTED, YOU NEVER
KNOW, THE CDC MAY HAVE TO
RESCIND THIS LENIENCY BECAUSE OF
A SPIKE.
WHAT WOULD YOU BE LOOKING FOR OR
WHAT WOULD THEY BE LOOKING FOR
WHERE THEY WOULD THINK, OH, YOU
KNOW WHAT, MAYBE WE LIFTED THIS
TOO SOON?
IS IT A SPIKE -- IS IT A MOVE IN
THE NUMBER OF CASES IN
VACCINATED PLACES?
IS THERE A SPECIFIC METRIC YOU
WOULD BE LOOKING AT THAT WOULD
SAY, MAYBE WE DID THIS TOO
QUICK?
>> I DONT THINK THEY CHANGE THE
OPPORTUNITY NOW FOR FULLY
VACCINATED PEOPLE TO GO AROUND
OUTSIDE WITHOUT MASKS.
THATS NOT REALLY GOING TO
CHANGE.
I THINK THE EDGE OF THIS IS WHAT
HAPPENS INDOORS WITH CROWDED
SPACES, WHICH IF ITS REALLY
CROWDED, YOU ARE STILL
ENCOURAGED TO WEAR YOUR MASK.
LESS CROWDED SPACES, IF IT LOOKS
AS IF IN CERTAIN COMMUNITIES THE
VIRUS IS COMING BACK OR IF
THERES A NEW VARIANT THAT SEEMS
PARTICULARLY CONTAGIOUS, THEN WE
MAY NEED TO ADJUST THAT.
PART OF CDCS PROBLEM IS THEY
HAVE TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR
THE WHOLE COUNTRY.
THE SITUATION IN DIFFERENT PARTS
OF THE COUNTRY IS DIFFERENT, AS
YOU HEARD ABOUT THE REPORT FROM
ALABAMA.
YOU LOOK AT MAINE, FOR INSTANCE,
WHERE THE VACCINATION RATES ARE
VERY HIGH, IT DOESNT SEEM QUITE
LIKE THAT IS THE SAME THING.
THEY HAVE TO COME UP WITH AN
AVERAGE.
LETS BE CLEAR, CDC PUT OUT THE
RECOMMENDATIONS.
THEY MADE IT CLEAR THAT STATE
AND LOCAL JURISDICTIONS MAY HAVE
DIFFERENT VIEWS AND YOU SHOULD
LISTEN TO THOSE.
BUSINESSES MAY HAVE DIFFERENT
VIEWS ABOUT WHETHER ITS SAFE TO
BE INDOORS.
CERTAINLY, HOSPITALS AND
CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES AND
NURSING HOMES AND TRAVEL ON
PLANES AND BUSES AND TRAINS,
THIS IS NOT A MOMENT TO TAKE
YOUR MASK OFF.
FOLLOW THOSE GUIDELINES.
>> LOOK, THIS GUIDANCE ALMOST
SEEMS TO ENCOURAGE THE PRIVATE
SECTOR TO COME UP WITH A VACCINE
MANDATE.
RIGHT?
YOU HAVE TO COME UP WITH SOME --
IF THE RULE IS, FULLY VACCINATED
PEOPLE CAN GO WITHOUT MASKS,
WELL THEN THE NEXT INEVITABLE
QUESTION IS, HOW DO WE CHECK TO
SEE IF SOMEBODY IS VACCINATED?
WE HAVE CARDS.
DIFFERENT COMPANIES -- CRUISE
LINES ARE DOING THIS AND OTHERS
ARE DOING THIS.
IS THAT WHAT YOU ARE HOPING
HAPPENS HERE, THAT ESSENTIALLY
THE PRIVATE SECTOR BECOMES THE
ENFORCER?
>> I DONT KNOW ABOUT HOPING.
I THINK THE PRIVATE SECTOR IS
PRETTY SMART.
THEY WILL FIGURE OUT IN THEIR
GIVEN SITUATIONS WHAT MAKES
SENSE.
I CAN ASSURE YOU, THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT IS NOT GOING TO BE
ISSUING VACCINE PASSPORTS.
THATS BEEN MADE VERY CLEAR.
PRIVATE CONCERNS HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO DO SO.
UNIVERSITIES, OF COURSE, MANY OF
THEM HAVE ALREADY DECLARED IF
YOU LIVE ON CAMPUS, YOU NEED TO
BE VACCINATED.
THERE IS SOME LEGAL ISSUE ABOUT
THIS, BECAUSE THE VACCINES HAVE
NOT YET HAD FINAL APPROVAL.
THEY ARE UNDER EMERGENCY USE
AUTHORIZATION.
WE WILL SEE HOW THOSE LEGAL
BATTLELESSS PLAY OUT.
EVERY UNIVERSITY, EVERY
BUSINESSOWNER WILL HAVE TO
FIGURE OUT WHAT MAKES THE MOST
SENSE TO KEEP THEIR WORKERS
SAFE, GET THE ECONOMY GOES AGAIN
AND THEN MAKE THAT JUDGMENT.
>> THERE WAS NO GUIDANCE OR NOT
OBVIOUS GUIDANCE GIVEN TO
PARENTS OF UNVACCINATED.
IM IN A HOUSEHOLD OF TWO FULLY
VACCINATED PEOPLE, ONE ALMOST
FULLY VACCINATED TEENAGER AND
ONE WHO IS NOT YET VACCINATED.
I IMAGINE IM NOT THE ONLY
PERSON WITH CHILDREN UNDER 18 AT
HOME THAT WAY.
WHAT IS THE GUIDANCE IF YOU HAVE
A CHILD UNDER 12 WHERE YOU DONT
EVEN HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET
VACCINATED?
>> I THINK IF YOU DIG DOWN INTO
THE DEEPER PAGES OF CDC, THEY
ADDRESS THAT.
IM NOT SURE IT GIVES YOU A
PRECISE ANSWER.
A LOT HAS TO DO WITH WHAT IS THE
RISK IN YOUR COMMUNITY THAT THAT
UNDERAGE CHILD IS POTENTIALLY
GOING TO BE INFECTED AND GOING
TO SPREAD IT.
IF YOU AND THE REST OF THE
FAMILY ARE VACCINATED, YOUR
CHANCE OF CATCHING THAT IS NOW
SO LOW THAT I WOULD SAY THE
CHANCES ARE REALLY LOW AND YOU
SHOULD NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT
THAT CASE.
ON THE OTHER HAND, THAT CHILD
WHO IS NOT VACCINATED, MAY NEED
TO WEAR A MASK WHEN THEY GO TO
SCHOOL IF THERES COMMUNITY
SPREAD TO BE -- IN ORDER TO NOT
BE PART OF THE NEXT OUTBREAK.
>> WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO WHEN
IT COMES TO WEARING A MASK?
HOW OFTEN DO YOU EXPECT TO WEAR
ONE?
WHERE WOULD YOU DO IT?
>> I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO NEW
OPPORTUNITIES TO GO TO THE
GROCERY STORE AND NOT WEAR A
MASK.
IVE BEEN FAITHFUL ABOUT THAT.
I THINK I MENTIONED THIS MORNING
BEING ABLE TO DO A WORKOUT WITH
MY WIFE AND WITH THE TRAINER
WITH ALL OF OUR MASKS OFF.
THAT HASNT HAPPENED BEFORE.
WHEN IT COMES TO GOING TO WORK
AT NIH, WERE STILL A FEDERAL
FACILITY.
WE ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT
WHETHER THE FEDERAL MANDATE FOR
MASK WEARING HAS BEEN ABOLISHED
BY THIS FINDING.
WE DONT KNOW THAT YET.
OTHERWISE, PEOPLE ARE CONFUSED
BY THIS.
LET ME GIVE A RECOMMENDATION.
IF YOU GO TO GOOGLE AND DO CDC
CHOOSING SAFER ACTIVITIES, THERE
IS A VERY HELPFUL VISUAL THAT
LOOKS LIKE THIS ABOUT WHEN YOU
CAN WEAR A MASK AND WHEN YOU
DONT HAVE TO.
ONE SIDE OF THIS, THIS SIDE IS
PEOPLE WHO ARE IMMUNIZED.
A LOT OF GREEN.
THIS IS THE SIDE FOR PEOPLE WHO
ARENT YET IMMUNIZED WHO NEED TO
WEAR MASKS AND FOR WHOM THERE
ARE DANGEROUS SETTINGS.
WE NEED TO BE CLEAR ABOUT THAT.
EVERYBODY IS GOING, WE DONT
HAVE TO WEAR MASKS.
THAT APPLIED TO FULLY IMMUNIZED
PEOPLE.
IF YOU ARE NOT, YOU ARE STILL AT
RISK.
TO YOURSELF AND TO OTHERS.
THINGS STILL NEED TO BE PRETTY
FAITHFUL AS FAR AS MASK WEARING.
I HOPE THAT CAME ACROSS.
MAYBE ITS ANSIN INCENTIVE FOR
PEOPLE WHO WILL GET AROUND TO.
ITS TIME TO ACTUALLY DO SO.
IF YOU ARE WONDERING WHERE TO
GET VACCINATED, 438829, TEXT IT
AND PUNCH IN YOUR ZIP CODE AND
YOU WILL GET ANSWERS.
>> CARROTS AND STICKS.
LOTTERIES IN OHIO.
VACCINE MANDATES.
WHATEVER IT TAKES, LETS GET
MORE PEOPLE VACCINATED.
DR. COLLINS, THANKS FOR COMING
ON.
>> WHATEVER IT IS, YEAH.
>> I TAKE IT, IF IT ENTICES
PEOPLE TO GET THE VACCINE, YOU
ARE FOR IT.
DR. COLLINS, THANKS FOR BRINGING
YOUR OPTIMISM AS WELL TO THE
SHOW.
ITS ALWAYS A PLEASURE.
>> ITS A GOOD DAY FOR OPTIMISM.
WE DIDNT EVEN TALK ABOUT THE
FACT THAT ADOLESCENTS CAN GET
SAFELY IMMUNIZED AS WELL.
MY 14-YEAR-OLD GRANDDAUGHTER IS
GETTING HER SHOT TOMORROW.