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House To Vote On Biden's $1.9 Trillion Covid Relief Package; U.S. Intel Report: Saudi Prince Approved Operation That Killed Journalist; FDA Panel Recommends J&J Vaccine For Emergency Use. Biden Orders Airstrikes In Syria, Retaliating Against Iran-Backed Militias; FDA Advisory Panel Endorses Johnson & Johnson Vaccine, Paving Way For Emergency Authorization; Biden Admin: About 4 Million Doses Of J&J Vaccine Ready To Ship Immediately; Biden Speaks At Vaccination Site In Texas After Viewing Storm Damage, Comforting Victims. Aired 5-6p ET
Aired February 26, 2021 - 17:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
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JAKE TAPPER, CNN HOST: It's at 9:00 a.m. and noon Eastern. Our coverage on CNN continues right now. I will see you Monday morning.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is CNN Breaking News.
WOLF BLITZER, "THE SITUATION ROOM" HOST: Welcome to our viewers here in the United States and around the world. I'm Wolf Blitzer in the Situation Room, we're following breaking news.
We're awaiting a key House vote on President Biden's $1.9 trillion COVID relief plan, but in a loss to the president and progressive, for that matter, the Senate parliamentarian rule that the minimum wage increase to $15 an hour can't be included in the Senate legislation.
We're also watching an FDA panel meeting right now. They're weighing whether to recommend the Johnson & Johnson single dose COVID vaccine for emergency use authorization. That decision, by the way could come at any moment.
And there's more breaking news we're following, a just released U.S. intelligence report says Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman approved the operation in which Saudi journalist and Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi was killed and dismembered.
Saudi Arabia just responded saying it completely rejects the U.S. intelligence report.
Let's begin this hour over at the White House. Our senior White House correspondent Phil Mattingly is joining us. Phil, President Biden, he's in Texas right now. He's seen firsthand the damage from those devastating winter storms and we expect to hear from him fairly soon. What's the latest? PHIL MATTINGLY, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Wolf, that's correct. The President slipping into a familiar role consoler- in-chief from down in a state that was ravaged by a deadly winter storm just a short while ago. We'll also be dealing with the issue of vaccinations here in short order something that his key $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package also addresses. That package Wolf now on the way to House passage, a key thing that the White House has been pressing for since the President took office, but it will be without one key element.
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JOE BIDEN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATSE: That's what the American rescue plan does, instead of chasing COVID-19 allows us to get ahead of it.
MATTINGLY (voice-over): Tonight President Joe Biden just hours away from clinching a major legislative victory, the U.S. House set to pass his $1.9 trillion COVID relief package along party lines but a key component of that plan the $15 minimum wage on the way to the cutting room floor.
The Senate parliamentarian ruling it runs afoul of the Chamber's rules something Biden has acknowledged was likely.
BIDEN: My guess is he will not be in it.
MATTINGLY: Even as the White House said he was disappointed with the decision but also adding this that Biden quote respects the parliamentarians decision and the Senate's process, a crucial position as progressives agitate to overrule the parliamentarian altogether.
REP. IIHAN OMAR (D-MN): It is unacceptable, I believe, for us to you know continue to come up with excuses on why we can't do the right thing on behalf of the American people.
MATTINGLY: The reality administration officials tell CNN is the removal of the provision clears a crucial hurdle to Senate passage with democratic senators Joe Manchin and Kirsten Sinema opposed to the wage increase, and Democrats with no margin for error and the chamber split 50-50.
Biden's proposal includes $1,400 direct payments hundreds of billions of dollars for schools, vaccines and state and local governments, as well as extensions for key emergency unemployment benefits.
Biden today in Texas visiting a state laid low by a deadly winter storm, as his administration continues to brief lawmakers on its first military strike, a move to hit back at Iranian proxies for rocket attacks in Iraq.
LLOYD AUSTIN, DEFENSE SECRETARY: We've said a number of times. We will respond at, you know, on our timeline. And once again, we want to be sure that the connectivity and want to be sure that we have the right targets. MATTINGLY: But one that also lays bare the difficult balancing act Biden faces as he attempts to shift course from his predecessor and make this the focal point of U.S. foreign policy.
BIDEN: Diplomacy is back at the center of our foreign policy.
MATTINGLY: Even as congressional Democrats raise questions about the legal authority for the strike, the administration standing firm and its justification, with White House press secretary Jen Psaki calling the strikes, quote, both necessary to address the threat and proportionate to the prior attacks.
This is the administration released a long awaited classified intelligence report on the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. That report coming a day after Biden spoke to Saudi Arabia's King Salman laying the blame right at the feet of the king son, saying explicitly the intelligence community assessed quote, Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman approved an operation in Istanbul Turkey to capture or kill Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
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MATTINGLY: And Wolf while the administration did imposed sanctions on individuals and entities today tied to that report one individual who did not receive any punishment, at least not to this point in time.
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Mohammed bin Salman, despite President Biden during the campaign, saying that was something he would consider administration officials telling CNN it was, quote, too complicated and could jeopardize Saudi and U.S. relations.
As for the Saudis, they did put out a statement saying they reject the intelligence report entirely believe it is false. And don't believe it is truthful in terms of the conclusions that it laid out. Wolf.
BLITZER: We're going to have much more in the story coming up. Phil Mattingly at the White House. Thanks very much. Right now I want to go to Capitol Hill. Our chief congressional correspondent Manu Raju is joining us right now. Manu, House lawmakers, they'll be voting fairly soon, on President Biden's nearly $2 trillion COVID relief plan. Give our viewers the latest information.
MANU RAJU, CNN CHIEF CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, there's very little margin for error for the House Democrats to achieve this passage of this bill tonight because they have a very narrow majority.
In fact, the House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn told me that he expected he they can't lose more than three Democrats in order to get this through. And they are expecting to lose one, maybe two Democrats. So this is expected to still pass tonight according to Democratic leaders, but perhaps by the narrowest of margins, and the vote can go straight to late into the night. It's unclear exactly when it could happen. But this proposal massive $1.9 trillion, could impact virtually all aspects of the U.S. economy from small businesses to states and cities to individuals who could get relief check soon as well as extension of jobless benefits.
Democrats have the deadline of March 14 to get something on to Joe Biden's desk but they still need to go through the legislative process. So tonight will be the first step getting it through the House, and then it will go into the Senate next week. And that's when the Senate they will strip out that $15 minimum wage because it was ruled out of order by the Senate parliamentarian not following the strict budget rules that would be needed to pass the bill through the process that we're using in that chamber.
Behind the scenes though, Wolf, Democratic leaders are scrambling and trying to figure out an alternative way to boost the minimum wage potentially by penalizing companies and forcing them to give their employees $15 an hour. But still there are questions about whether that can get through. But nevertheless, Democrats are still confident at the end the day the overall bill can get through perhaps without the minimum wage, but perhaps only by the Democratic votes. Wolf.
BLITZER: Important information and data. We'll see what happens first of all, later tonight. Manu Raju on Capitol Hill. Thank you.
CNN meanwhile is learning details of sweeping changes being recommended for the U.S. Capitol in a security review prompted by the January 6 insurrection. Let's go to our chief national security correspondent Jim Sciutto. He's working their story for us. Jim, you're getting very important new information from your sources. What are you learning?
JIM SCIUTTO, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: That's right Wolf. These are draft recommendations due to be released next week, members of Congress have already been briefed on them. And as you say, they recommend really dramatic changes to security on the Capitol in the wake of the January 6 insurrection.
Let's go through the headline points here. One is a recommendation to add more than 1000 new Capitol security personnel, both here in Washington, but also crucially, in member's home districts and in their homes due to threats they may face their.
Second, the establishment of a quick reaction force to react to threats on the Capitol. This will be composed of a National Guard battalion based in D.C. and available on call 24/7. Also crucial to these recommendations is the recommendation that they build a series of walls and fences around the Capitol that would be quickly deployable in the event of a threat. That's important.
Finally, also addressing one of those issues we heard consistently in the hearings this week on the Hill and that is trying to address the communication issues that were so crucial in the midst of the January six violence there in the Capitol, inability to communicate among officers attempting to address that as well. But when you hear these numbers of 1000 more officers, these walls and fences, a quick reaction force, it represents Wolf, just how seriously U.S. Capitol Police and others advising them see the threat going forward.
BLITZER: Yes, changes up on Capitol Hill, as you well know. They've been so dramatic since January 6. As you also know, Jim, there are Democratic and Republican lawmakers, plenty of them who've been opposed to what they see is this long-term fencing or these walls around the Capitol. They want people to walk around to see it to go up to the Capitol. What's the latest on that?
SCIUTTO: Well, it appears that the recommendations try to strike something of a balance here, right. They want to have and they recommend that there be long term barriers there that this threat is not going away tomorrow.
But the preferences for quickly deployable mobile barriers. In other words, if you can move them in, when there's a threat, there's a particular event, but maintain as best you can access to the capital.
But again, Wolf, you see here, you might say erring on the side of security and particularly notable that that threat extends beyond Washington right that these 1000 new personnel who are recommended will provide not only security here where it is widely seen that the current force is overwhelmed about 200 short at this point, but also crucially back in home districts because we know you and I've talked about this threats to members when they go home as well.
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BLITZER: Yes, there's a lot of threats out there, and totally understandable what's going on sad, but understandable. Jim Sciutto reporting for us. Thanks for that.
Let's get some more in all of this. The chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, Congressman Adam Schiff, of California is joining us. Congressman, thanks so much for joining us. We got several issues I want to get to. But what do you make of the security recommendations? You just heard our Jim Sciutto described?
REP. ADAM SCHIFF (D-CA): Well, many of us feel that the security has been inadequate for some time. And it's a particular concern, frankly, when we're away from the Capitol, we feel more secure, at least we did until January 6, around the Capitol than many of us do when we're in our district offices that don't enjoy anything like the same protection.
So I eagerly await and anticipate their recommendations. I have to say though, it disturbs me as it does my colleagues that we have to work in this, you know, walled in city right now, and I hope that this won't be long lasting.
BLITZER: Yes. So all of us hope that but right now the threats are intense. Let's get to the Coronavirus relief bill. You guys in the House are going to be voting on it the next few hours. A minimum wage hike will not be included in the Senate version. I understand it will be included in the House version will be stripped when it goes to the Senate. Should the senate parliamentarian, Congressman, from your perspective, the parliamentarian who made the decision that it can't be included in the Senate version be fired? Should her ruling be disregarded as some of your fellow Democrats are calling for?
SCHIFF: You know, I don't think you fire a parliamentarian if you have confidence that they're making their judgment to the best of their ability. You know, it's a separate question about whether you feel that you should overturn the judgment of the parliamentarian.
I would be, you know, open to the Senate exploring any way to get the minimum wage increase, it would lift millions of Americans out of poverty, and is among the most significant steps that we can take to bring immediate relief to families that are just barely hanging on right now.
But there may be other ways that we can go at this with standalone legislation, it may be the kind of thing, although, you know, we did -- we may need to overcome the filibuster more generally, where we can target different processes to get that particular bill passed.
But there are other aspects of the bill that are also essential, that will also lift people out of poverty like that child tax credit. So whether we're successful in the relief package with the minimum wage, there are other really important pieces that need to get done as well.
BLITZER: Right now the $7.25 minimum wage, which a bitter -- which has been the law since 2009. That obviously has to go up they have to figure some way to do that. As you know, the Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is considering what is essentially a workaround imposing penalties for corporations paying less than that $15 minimum wage, would you support that?
SCHIFF: I'd be very open to proposals like that. Anything that we can do, frankly, to ensure that more Americans who work hard work full time, don't have to live in poverty. It shouldn't be in a country as prosperous as ours, that if you work hard, you play by the rules, you pay your taxes, that you can't afford health care, you can't afford food or rent or your mortgage. You should be able to make it in America if you work hard. And so I think raising that minimum wage is really important.
BLITZER: Let's turn to this new U.S. intelligence report. It's been declassified released today that finds the Saudi crown prince personally responsible for approving the killing of the journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
You're the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee. You've been privy to a lot of sensitive information about this killing. Are you disappointed that the Biden administration chose not to take direct action against the Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman himself?
SCHIFF: You know, first of all, I think the report itself is pretty remarkable in saying in no uncertain terms, that the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia ordered the capture or killing of an American resident and journalists that essentially, the Crown Prince has blood on his hands.
I would like to see the administration go beyond what it is announced in terms of repercussions to make sure that the repercussions directly to the Crown Prince. To me, it's disheartening to say the least, that you go after those who follow the orders to kill someone, but not the person who gave the orders. And I think there are ways to do it.
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I think the Crown Prince should be shunned by the President. I don't think he should be invited to the United States. I don't think the President should meet with them or speak with him. And I think there are ways to go after controlled by the Crown Prince, that may have played a role in this capture kill operation.
So I'd like to see them do more. I think that would be consistent with our champion of human rights. And we could do so without bringing about a complete rupture of the relationship between the United States and Saudi Arabia.
BLITZER: Well, how do you do that? He is arguably, maybe after the king himself, the most powerful leader in Saudi Arabia right now. How do you avoid a complete rupture if the U.S. is going to sanction him personally and this report, which I've gone through the declassified version, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, we assess that Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman approved an operation and this level of Turkey to capture a killed journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
And then it says the Crown Prince viewed Khashoggi as a threat to the kingdom and broadly supported using violent measures if necessary, to silence him. So what specifically would you recommend to President Biden to do to punish the Saudi Crown Prince?
SCHIFF: Well, you know, look, there a continuum of things that can be done in the last administration, they weren't even willing to call it the Crown Prince out on the murder. And the President, the former president was proud of protecting the Crown Prince from any repercussion.
Now we have a full throated statement of accountability. But I think we can go beyond it in the ways that I mentioned by shunning the Crown Prince and by going after assets of the Crown Prince that may have been used in this operation.
The Saudis, including the Crown Prince, are going to decide what's in their interest. And if they think it, I believe that they will, that notwithstanding repercussions we attach to the Crown Prince, that there's reasons for them not to cut off relations with the United States, because indeed, they get more out of the relationship than we do that it won't result in a complete rupture, then there may be certain narrow areas of cooperation on counterintelligence counterterrorism on pushing back against Iran, on peace between Israelis and Palestinians, where they can continue to play a constructive role, and we ought to engage them. So they'll decide what's in their best interest. And I think they're going to decide the best interest is not to completely rupture relations, because we're holding them accountable for a murder that the Crown Prince knows that he helped commit.
BLITZER: A very quick question on another major development that's unfolding. Right now, the U.S. airstrikes in Syria yesterday, you call the Biden administration's congressional notification of the strikes inadequate. What kind of notification should they have given you? You specifically, you're a member of the so called Gang of Eight. You're the chairman of the Intelligence Committee. Were you notified in advance that these airstrikes were about to unfold?
SCHIFF: You know, Wolf, technically, yes, we were given advance notification. But it was done in such a manner that it wasn't meaningful notification. And so we have gone back to the administration. And we're going to try to make sure that where it's necessary in the future, that we get more effective notice in advance. We're also scrutinizing the legal basis for the strike, the proportionality of the strike.
I think there is a strong case on the basis of what I've seen thus far, although it's very preliminary, that this was necessary to respond to attacks on U.S. forces, and more importantly, to deter future attacks. I do think it was important for the Biden administration to send a message, a very clear message early on, that these attacks on our forces will not be tolerated.
And I think that they did just that, but I want to make sure that it's proportionate. I want to make sure of the intelligence that supported the strike, as well as look at the legal issues involving a strike on a sovereign nation in this case, Syria.
BLITZER: We'll see what happens on that front as well. Congressman Adam Schiff, the chairman of the Intelligence Committee, thanks so much for joining us.
SCHIFF: Thank you, Wolf.
BLITZER: We have breaking news just coming into the situation right now and FDA Vaccine Advisory Panel has just voted to recommend that the Johnson & Johnson COVID vaccine, a single dose vaccine is approved for emergency use authorization here in the United States. We're going to get details we'll talk to our experts. This is important information you need to know we'll be right back.
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BLITZER: The following multiple breaking stories here in the Situation Room. FDA Vaccine Advisory Panel just moments ago voted to recommend that the Johnson & Johnson single-dose COVID vaccine, they recommended that it should be a given emergency use authorization here in the United States. People start getting that Johnson & Johnson shot in the coming days, millions of doses will be made available. We're going to get more details, talk to our medical experts in just a few minutes standby for that.
Also breaking right now the U.S. intelligence community's new reports saying the Saudi Arabia Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman personally approved the operation that led to the murder of the journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
Let's discuss this and the US airstrikes in Syria with the Pentagon spokesman, retired us Admiral John Kirby. Thanks so much, John, for joining us.
I guess a lot of people are wondering because we've gone through this, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence Report on the Crown Prince, his personal authorization of the murder of this journalist, why isn't the Crown Prince being punished? So many other Saudis are being sanctioned, punished barred from coming to the United States? Why isn't the Crown Prince being punished despite this assessment in this intelligence report?
JOHN KIRBY, PENTAGON SPOKESMAN: Well, the administration has taken this report very, very seriously. And I think you saw them walk through some actions we were taken against Saudi officials and others responsible in Saudi Arabia for this horrific crime.
And the President has made clear that our relationship with Saudi Arabia is not going to be what it was before. It's going to have to be different going forward. You know, as we stand up for rule of law and human and civil rights, but Wolf, it's not uncommon that top leadership of nations are not themselves personally under sanction for actions like this.
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There are other ways we believe, other ways, more effective ways to hold the Saudi accountable for this and other civil and human rights violations and concerns that we have. And then here at the Pentagon, you know, we have commitments and security commitments in the Middle East, that require that the military to military relationship with Saudi Arabia remain healthy. And so we're focused on that to going forward.
BLITZER: But if the Crown Prince personally ordered the murder of a Washington Post, journalist Jamal Khashoggi, if he personally ordered that and all the others who were directly involved in going to Turkey and killing him, dismembering him with a chain, you know, with a chainsaw, if the others are all being sanctioned by the U.S., why not the individual who ordered the murder?
KIRBY: Well, again, we believe the actions that we're taking are suitable and appropriate to hold Saudi Arabia accountable, not to mention the fact that this relationship is going to be put on a different footing as it should be. We share everyone's concern over this horrific crime for so many different reasons. But we believe the actions we're taking are going to sort of refocus the relationship in a way that is more in keeping with our interests and our concerns over the rule of law. And then I think, you know, you will see that going forward.
BLITZER: Will the defense secretary be speaking meeting with the Crown Prince?
KIRBY: The defense secretary, Secretary Austin spoke with the Crown Prince last week. We gave a short readout of that conversation. But he did actually speak to the Crown Prince, and that's not inappropriate at all, because the Crown Prince, his official duties are as defense minister for Saudi Arabia.
BLITZER: So that dialogue will continue defense minister to defense secretary?
KIRBY: I believe that will. Yes.
BLITZER: All right. Let me get your thoughts on the US airstrikes in Syria yesterday against these Iranian backed militias that the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, Adam Schiff, he just called your notification to Congress. He said it was inadequate. Why were key committees in the House and Senate the armed services committees, for example, not informed before the strike was carried out?
KIRBY: Well, as I understand it, the chairman's concern is the speed with which it was conducted. I won't speak to that other than to say that we did inform key congressional committees, our oversight committees here at the Pentagon about this impending strike.
And we have also volunteered to come in and give them a classified briefing later this week. Consultations with members of Congress continue today. It only happened just last night. But we've been talking to staffers and members on the Hill today. And that will continue also throughout the week.
BLITZER: What was the administration hoping to accomplish with this airstrike yesterday? Do you think this operation achieved the goal?
KIRBY: Yes, two things. I think here, Wolf, one, we wanted to make an impact on the use of these facilities, this compound across the Iraq Syria border on the serious side, by these groups that we know were responsible for these recent attacks.
And so we demolished essentially nine buildings, that compound is now useless to them as an entry point, which they were using a waystation entry point, to support their operations inside Iraq, and number two, to send a very strong unambiguous message that we're going to do what we have to do to protect our troops, our facilities, our people, and those of our Iraqi partners inside Iraq. I mean, we're -- this was very much a defensive strike, to limit their ability to use this but also to send a strong message of our resolve in terms of self defense.
BLITZER: Senator Bernie Sanders just released the statement, John, saying that he was very concerned his words, very concerned that last night's up strike puts our country his words, again, on the path of continuing what he called the forever war instead of ending it. What's your response to the Senator?
KIRBY: I certainly appreciate the senator's concerns. What I would say is that this is not about continuing forever wars. This is about going after the groups that are putting our troops and our Iraqi partners in peril.
It's important to remember Wolf, that the reason we're in Iraq, first of all, at the invitation of the Iraqi government, but that's a continue to go after ISIS, while a greatly diminished threat is still there and still pose a threat to our interests and to our Iraqi partners interests.
And so that's what we're doing there a very limited footprint 2,500 troops in Iraq, only 900 or so, in Syria. This is not the same mission as what people continue to refer to as forever wars.
Now, that said, the President has been very clear that he wants to end these forever wars and he's intending to do that in ways that are sustainable and manageable, through political resolutions as much as possible. But this is a counterterrorism mission against a terrorist threat that still exists.
BLITZER: John Kirby's the Pentagon spokesman. John, thanks so much for joining us. Good luck.
KIRBY: Thank you, Wolf.
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BLITZER: We're going to have more breaking news coming into The Situation Room. Once again, FDA advisors have just recommended moments ago, Emergency Use Authorization for Johnson & Johnson's single dose coronavirus vaccine. Standby, Dr. Sanjay Gupta is joining us. We're also going to have the latest on those alarming coronavirus variants that are now spreading around the United States.
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BLITZER: We're following the breaking pandemic news. Right now, an FDA vaccine advisory panel has just voted to recommend that the Johnson & Johnson single dose COVID vaccine be approved for Emergency Use Authorization here in the United States, that paves the way for authorization, final authorization as early as later tonight. Millions of doses standing by for distribution around the country.
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Let's discuss a key member of the advisory panel. Dr. Paul Offit is joining us as well as CNN's Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta. Dr. Offit, you were there, you were among those who voted. You just told me it was a unanimous what, 22 to zero recommendation. Tell us what happened? DR. PAUL OFFIT, MEMBER, FDA VACCINES ADVISORY COMMITTEE: Well, we went through in detail for hours, all the safety data, all the efficacy data and came to this conclusion, this is a single dose vaccine.
It's refrigerator stable, meaning, can be in the refrigerator for three months, and you can ship it and store it and, you know, at refrigerator temperatures, it's roughly 74 percent effective in the U.S. at preventing moderate illness, about 85 percent effective at preventing severe illness virtually, 100 percent effective at preventing hospitalizations, and intensive care unit admissions. It's another weapon now in our fight against this awful virus.
BLITZER: And you only need one dose, right? No recommendation that maybe a booster shot should be available a month later, whatever?
OFFIT: Well, there are currently ongoing, a two-dose trial in the United States as well as a number of other countries. We may find probably in the second half of the year that a second dose induces even better immunity. But this is a fluid situation regarding boosting.
I think as - depending on sort of the variants and their impact, I think there may be booster dosing down the road anyway. But I think there - we'll say in the second half of the year, whether there will be a second dose recommendation for this vaccine. But certainly, one dose will keep you out of the hospital, keep you out of the intensive care unit and keep you out of the morgue.
BLITZER: Well, those -- that's really encouraging. Walk us through quickly what happens now in the next few days. When will Americans start getting Johnson & Johnson vaccine shots?
OFFIT: Yes. So the way this works is that we, the FDA Vaccine Advisory Committee, makes a recommendation to the FDA. The FDA considers that recommendation and then is likely obviously to recommend it, then it goes to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention through their committee.
The Advisory Committee for Immunization Practice will determine are there specific groups that may best benefit from this vaccine? That will probably happen on Sunday. I would think that by the middle of next week, probably by March 2nd or 3rd, this vaccine would start rolling off the shelves into the arms of the American public.
BLITZER: That's so, so encouraging. Millions of doses will be made available. What's your reaction, Sanjay, to this major development of the fight against this virus?
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, you know, it's been quite a year, right? I mean, a year ago, one year ago today, you know, we were talking about the beginning of this pandemic, the idea of a vaccine, let alone three. I don't think really -- I don't think anybody sort of anticipated that we would move that quickly, that it could be done that quickly. So, it's really -- it's encouraging. And, you know, obviously, there's been so much dispiriting news over this past year, Wolf, and the numbers on the right side of the screen. But I think that the fact that we're going to have three sounds like authorized vaccines now is optimistic and should make an impact hopefully by this summer.
BLITZER: A lot of people, Dr. Offit, are asking -- and I'll ask you the question, would you recommend that all Americans take this Johnson & Johnson vaccine as soon as they can get it, even if it's not necessarily quite as effective as the shots from Pfizer or Moderna?
OFFIT: Get what you can. I mean, we -- you know, this vaccine will help protect you against, you know, so-called medically attended illness, meaning, hospitalization and worse. Yes, get whatever you can. If it ends up being that there's a booster dose down the road, you get a booster dose, but for right now, you can safely say that one dose of this vaccine is certainly better than one dose of the mRNA vaccine. So get this -- the mRNA vaccine is a two-dose vaccine. This right now is a one dose vaccine. Get it if you can, get whatever you can.
BLITZER: Let me ask, Sanjay, you agree?
GUPTA: Yes. I mean, you know, if you -- if I tell you, you have a vaccine that essentially nobody died in that vaccinated group, nobody was hospitalized at the one month mark after receiving that vaccine. I mean, you know, I think that's what people, you know, fundamentally want from their vaccines.
And I think there's still some unanswered questions like how well does the vaccine do it preventing people from actually getting infected, things like that. But absolutely, no doubt. I mean, you know, my parents are in their late 70s. In Florida, they asked me about these vaccines. I would absolutely recommend it to them as well.
BLITZER: It's really, really important. Dr. Offit, walk us through a little bit what was going on when you and your colleagues were considering the various data about this Johnson & Johnson vaccine. As I noted, thanks to you, you told me was 22 to zero, everybody approved it. But was there any dissent, any kind of serious questions specifically about the fact that it's apparently less effective against some of these viral variants out there, especially the one that was first found in South Africa?
OFFIT: Actually, I think the New Zealand viral variants was excellent.
[17:40:01]
I mean, this was a vaccine that was tested in South Africa where the South African variant is predominant, accounts for virtually all cases, and yet it was highly effective against severe disease, the kind of disease that causes hospitalization, whereas, it was tested in Brazil, where about 70 percent of the case there are caused by the Brazilian variant, where again, it was highly effective.
That bodes very well, by the way, for the mRNA vaccines, because all these vaccines are essentially made to protect against the same strain, which is the strain that left China, it was the first variant and swept across Europe, swept across the United States, the so-called D641 variant -- D614G variant, rather. I mean, that's how all these vaccines are geared towards protecting that disease.
Now, you know that the J & J vaccine does protect at least against severe disease caused by, you know, the South African and Brazilian variants, that bodes very well for the mRNA vaccine. What hasn't happened yet, a line hasn't been crossed. You know that a line has been crossed with people who have either been naturally infected or fully vaccinated are nonetheless hospitalized with one of these variants. That hasn't happened yet. So I think, until that happens, we can be reassured that these vaccines are enormously valuable.
BLITZER: All right, Sanjay, we're almost out of time, but there are some other vaccines, the AstraZeneca vaccine, for example, that are still being tested, still being reviewed. Where do things stand? Right now three for all practical purposes have been approved here in the United States. What about the others?
GUPTA: Well, I think there's two more that are sort of coming down the pike, you know, and then they have been authorized in some countries around the world. So, my guess is the same process that we saw with Moderna, Pfizer and now J&J. At some point, and I don't know exactly when, but I think some point over the next few months, we may be going through that as well with AstraZeneca, Novavax for -- to name a couple of them.
BLITZER: What do you think, Dr. Offit?
OFFIT: I agree. I think those are the next two up. We'll see what happens. But I would think by April, May, we'll start to hear about data from -- generated from those two vaccines.
BLITZER: And I just want to thank you, Dr. Offit, for all -- what you and your colleagues have done. This is so, so important, life-saving, these vaccines that are being administered right now. And I hope people just go out and get them especially those who need them the most and don't have any doubts about their safety.
Dr. Paul Offit, thanks very much. Dr. Sanjay Gupta, thanks to you as well. There's more news we're following.
Coming up, former President Trump, the undisputed star of the Conservative Political Action Conference, now underway in Florida, where supporters are rehashing lies, lies about a stolen election. And we're also standing by to hear directly from President Biden as the House prepares to vote on his $1.9 trillion COVID relief plan.
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[17:46:50]
BLITZER: Take a look at this, the live pictures coming in from NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas. President Biden getting ready to go over there, vaccines are being given. He's going to be speaking. We'll have live coverage coming up, standby for that.
In the meantime, let's get to another major political story we're following. Conservatives are gathering in Florida right now to talk about the future of the Republican Party, and in a big hint, the conference features a golden statue, look at this, of Donald Trump.
CNN's Michael Warren is at the conference for us in Orlando. Based on what you're seeing, Michael, how big of force is Trump in the party right now even after -- hold on for a minute, as I anticipated, let's go to Houston right now. The President of the United States is walking out there. Let's watch and see what he has to say.
JOE BIDEN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: -- all day and it's dinner time. Good afternoon or almost actually it's evening. And I want to thank you, Governor Abbott for your hospitality and your friendship and Representative -- Senator Cornyn, I think he had to go back.
I think he's getting on a plane, he told me last, he came in to see me last event. And Representatives Sheila Jackson Lee, Al Green, Sylvia Garcia, Lizzie Pinelli (ph) -- excuse me, Pinel (ph). And what am I doing here? I'm going to lose track here. And Mayor Turner, Judge Hidalgo. Thank you all for welcoming us.
And Jill and I wanted to visit Texas today for a couple of reasons. First and foremost, let's people Texas know, our prayers are with you in this aftermath of this winter storm. And secondly, to let you know what I told Governor Abbott, Mayor Turner, and Judge Hidalgo in the congressional delegation, that we will be true partners to help you recover and rebuild from the storms and this pandemic and the economic crisis. We're in for the long haul.
Earlier today, we received an update on the storm relief efforts from Harris County at the Harris County Emergency Operations Center. Folks, they're doing God's work as my mother would say.
It was an important update on how the federal government and the states are working together through the major disaster declaration, emergency declarations that I made after the storm hit when the Governor contacted me. The Federal Emergency Management, FEMA, is providing millions of gallons of water and millions of meals direct assistance to uninsured homeowners to repair the damage. Burst pipes caused to millions of homes across the state.
The public assistance that comes with disaster declaration ensures that mayors and county officials can find shelter for folks in need and keep them safe and warm. This is an addition to the more than 125,000 blankets FEMA has also made available to storm victims, so children and families don't go to sleep cold.
FEMA working with the Defense Logistics Agency and the Army Corps of Engineers from the Defense Department has made generators and diesel fuel available to hospitals, and nursing homes and other critical facilities to keep the lights on and speed power restoration long its way.
[17:50:17] Many local military bases are helping efforts to distribute water and food, fuel and blankets all across the state. And I especially want to thank the service members for helping your fellow Americans in time of need. When we have a problem, we always call on the military, domestic or foreign, no matter what. The best in the world.
And I know millions of Texans have been impacted by the destruction of community water systems as a result of the power outages. The Environmental Protection Agency has deployed mobile drinking water labs in Houston, San Antonio, and Fort Worth to test water so we can get the -- so you get boil water advisories lifted, and get safe drinking water flowing through those faucets again.
There's more, but let me say this. We're not here today as Democrats or Republicans. We're here today as Americans. The American leaders with responsibility all of us here in this parking lot, responsibility to all the people we serve. When a crisis hits our states, like the one to hit Texas, is not a Republican or Democratic that's hurting, it's our fellow Americans that are hurting. And it's our job to help everyone in need. Look out for one another, leave nobody behind.
That's what we've seen today in our visit. After our briefing on the storm relief, we stopped by the Houston Food Bank. That's also doing God's work, incredible operation, just like everyone else here and in the vaccination center. They've done thousands of people, thousands of people, make us -- making a fundamental difference in the safety and security of people.
The more people get vaccinated, the faster we'll beat this pandemic. That's why one of my first steps in my first goals as President was to announce that I was going to get 100 million COVID vaccine shots administered in my first 100 days. Because of the people behind me and others, America would be the -- is going to be the first in the country, perhaps the first in the world to get that done. And I'm proud to say we're halfway there, 50 million shots.
Actually, I was telling the Congress and they're like cared (ph) with me, and a list every day, the number of -- the actual number of vaccines that have been administered. As of today, five -- as of last night, 503,587, every single one matters, in just 37 days. The weeks ahead of schedule, we're weeks ahead of schedule, even with setbacks from the winter storm. We're moving in the right direction.
Look, in the last six weeks, we've gone from 6 million shots right before we took office in total to 12 million shots per week now. We've increased vaccine distribution by 70 percent, 60 percent of the people over the age of -- 60 percent of people over the age of 75 have received at least one shot. Close to 50 percent of the people over the age of 65 got at least one shot. And you say why am I focusing on that? Well, it's especially important because people over the age of 65 account for 80 percent of all the COVID deaths, 80 percent.
Roughly 75 percent of the people live in long-term care facilities now have gotten their first dose. And those cases are at the lowest level since reporting began back in May. We're making this progress because of all of you. The federal government of the states are working together, along with public and private partners. It starts with supply. We work with vaccine manufacturers, Pfizer and Moderna to ensure we had enough supply to spy all adults in America by the end of July.
And we discovered the vaccine manufacturers though weren't getting prioritized when it came to securing supplies they needed to fix their problem and not be able to go more rapidly. So I use the Defense Production Act to speed up the supply chain for key equipment that's already helped increase vaccine production.
Last week, I toured the Pfizer vaccine manufacturing facility in Kalamazoo, Michigan. It's incredible. The precision, the safety, the pride, the sense of purpose, everyone involved that facility. And we've all seen the news about Johnson & Johnson vaccine today's just the third safe, effective vaccine, and it's out. They've approved it today. We're going to use every conceivable way to expand manufacturing of the vaccine, the third vaccine to make even more rapid progress in getting shots in people's arms.
[17:55:00]
Here's what else we're doing. We're increasing the number of vaccinators. The people putting in the vise (ph), one thing got the vaccine to get in people's arms. We brought back retired doctors and nurses by executive order, allow that to happen. We've already deployed more than 1,500 professional, medical professionals. You see during the natural disasters from the -- from FEMA. Our Commissioned Corps from the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Defense Department, including the National Guard, and we're lining up thousands more.
We're also setting up more places to get vaccinated. And today, as of today, we provided $3.8 billion to states, territories and tribes to create hundreds of new vaccination centers and ramp up existing ones. We're providing personnel and equipment. And we're covering the cost for states including the use of their national guards.
Here in Texas, we spent (ph) millions of dollars and hundreds of vaccinators working in community vaccination centers, and three mass vaccination centers in Arlington, Dallas, and right here in Houston and the other side here. They vaccinated thousands of Texans a day, tens of thousands overall.
I want to show the American people the extraordinary effort being made and undertaking and the most difficult operational challenge this nation has ever faced logistically. It's remarkable, about 6,000 doses a day here.
Folks who are eligible can call by phone, sign up online for an appointment, drive in, stay in their cars, get a shot, in and out in a very short amount of time, requires massive logistical coordination, and critical federal support from FEMA and the National Guard to work with cities and states. And the Houston Texans stand up this kind of site. Vice President Harris and I did a virtual tour of a similar vaccination center in Arizona. One nurse there said -- she talked about these shots, talking how many they were getting in people's arms. And she said she felt like she was administering, and get this, a dose of hope, a dose of hope. We're working with governors across the country to stand up and lend federal support to hundreds of vaccination centers, from stadiums like here to community centers, to houses of worship, large parking lots, delivery places, doses that hope we can get in people's arms as quickly as possible.
I've also sent millions of vaccines to thousands of local pharmacies, over 7,000 to make it easier for folks to get the COVID-19 vaccine shot like they would a flu shot. Because people are comfortable going to their local pharmacy, they'd go there for their flu shot, everything else.
They trust the pharmacist, and they're -- and likely to go. Here in Texas, that includes 500 pharmacies across this state, like Walmart and CVS, including 50 pharmacies here in Houston. And for the folks who didn't live near a vaccination center or a pharmacy, we're deploying mobile clinics to go out to those neighborhoods in rural areas where people are unable to get to the centers.
These are special vehicles, will pop up clinics and meet folks where they live. And where they don't have the transportation to get the shots, which they'll be launching very soon here in Houston, that mobile -- those mobile units as well as Dallas, Arlington and across the state.
We've also started to send vaccines directly to community health centers to help the hard to reach folks in cities, small towns, rural communities, in black, Latino, and Native American communities that have higher rates of COVID-19 infections and deaths than any other groups.
Here in Texas, we're already partnered with 12 community health centers in 10 cities, which have combined sites at over 100 locations across the entire state. We're going to save people's lives as a result of these round-the-clock efforts. In five weeks, America has administered the most shots of any country in the world. That's great progress.
It's also true the COVID-19 vaccinations are up, COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations are down. But I need to be honest with you. I said from the beginning, like Roosevelt, who said I'll shoot you straight from the shoulder. You can handle anything as long as you're told the truth. Cases and hospice hospitalizations could go back up with new -- as new variants emerge. And it's not the time to relax.
We have to keep washing our hands, staying socially distance and for God's sake, wear your mass, wear your mask. It's not a political statement. It's a patriotic thing to do. Some of our progress in this fight is because so many Americans are stepping up and doing these things. And the worst thing we could do now would we let our guard down.
