TRANSCRIPT
The Inside Story: The Vaccine Gap (Episode 3, September 2, 2021)
Voice of ELIZABETH LEE, VOA Correspondent:
Surging coronavirus cases puts the world back on high alert. The Delta variant presents a new threat in the global pandemic.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, Dir., Natl. Institute of Allergy & Infectious Disease:
The ability to transmit from person to person is much, much, greater, and more efficient than the prior variants the Alpha variant that we had.
ELIZABETH LEE:
Mask mandates return amid an anti-vaccine movement in America and the great need for them elsewhere.
Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa:
Twenty-four countries are in resurgence and deaths are rising in eight countries. This is a preventable tragedy if Africans can get fair access to the vaccines.
ELIZABETH LEE:
As hospitals are again pushed to capacity …
And students go back to school ...
The challenges of getting more shots into more arms now, on “The Inside Story: Vaccine Gap”
Hi. I am Elizabeth Lee, reporting from Washington, D.C. Despite easy access to COVID vaccines, the United States is dealing with a spike in hospitalizations and deaths. Most of the cases are from the most contagious COVID-19 strain so far: the Delta variant. Its spread here and around the world is of utmost concern in the race to make vaccines available to more people ---- especially as schools open with many children ineligible to be vaccinated. We are going to start with an overview of the COVID situation and how it’s trending. Here’s VOA’s Arash Arabasadi:
ARASH ARABASADI, VOA Correspondent:
The CDC is seeing red, and that means nearly every inch of the United States has a high level of transmission of COVID-19. This despite a recent downtick in both the numbers of cases and deaths from the disease. The CDC reports more than 74-percent of American adults have at least one vaccination.
Meanwhile, in Europe, French President Emmanuel Macron’s government is on track to deliver 50-million first vaccines in the coming days, bringing to 85% the number of people aged 12-and-up with at least one shot. That would put France behind only the UAE and Uruguay as the world’s top vaccinated countries ahead of Israel, the UK, and US. Earlier this week, the European Union recommended reinstating travel restrictions on travelers from the US due to rising infection rates.
Finally, in Africa, where health officials continue battling misinformation and distrust, the continent will is getting 10 million vaccine doses from France. Shots will be distributed through a partnership between the African Union’s AVAT, and the World Health Organization’s COVAX.
All this as kids across the world head back to school, with those younger than 12 still unable to be vaccinated. Arash Arabasadi, VOA.
ELIZABETH LEE:
Only about two percent of the population in Africa are fully vaccinated. Getting vaccines to Africa is one challenge. Another is convincing people to take the shot when it’s available.
One religious group in South Africa is going door-to-door to help the hesitant overcome their fears. Linda Givetash reports from Johannesburg:
LINDA GIVETASH, for VOA:
Dawn Crotz received her Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine in the comfort of her south-Johannesburg home. While the vaccine has been available to the 64-year-old since April, Crotz says rumors about the side effects made her hesitate. But the reality of the deadly virus changed her mind.
Dawn Crotz, Johannesburg Resident:
I decided to get it because I saw my daughter-in-law's father got so sicked he passed away. And then I thought I might also get it. I take a flu vaccine every year. I go in and I buy it and they give it to me. And then I thought, ‘No, let me do this also.’
LINDA GIVETASH:
With South Africa’s COVID death toll surpassing 79,000, volunteers like this paramedic are scrambling to quell people’s vaccine fears. The country’s Muslim Association launched an at-home vaccination program to provide individual attention to allay concerns and to remove the barriers of travelling to a clinic.
Muhammad Varachia, Paramedic
I think it's just a misconception, people reading on social media, people hearing from different people that is bad for you, that it’s manmade. How can we create a vaccine in a year, etc, etc. So, there's a lot of hesitancy that we've come across, but we put their fears to bed.
LINDA GIVETASH:
South Africa’s vaccine rollout has faced hurdles providing the vaccine. But experts say the more recent lag in inoculating the country’s 59 million people is a result of misinformation — fueled by social media — along with more practical concerns.
Ronelle Burger, Stellenbosch University Economics Professor
One is very worried about the social media rumors, broadly, the concern about the vaccine seems to be a bit more reasonable. And in our survey, for instance, it was shown that mostly individuals were worried about safety, and they were mostly concerned about the turnaround time for developing the vaccine.
LINDA GIVETASH:
Another problem is access to transportation and basic information, especially among the elderly.
Ronelle Burger, Stellenbosch University Economics Professor
The registration for vaccines are electronic. And even though you can also register at sites, you need to know where the sites are, before you can show up there.
LINDA GIVETASH:
For people like 22-year-old Kurt Fischer, who is quadriplegic, getting to a vaccination site is difficult both physically and mentally, says his father. The rest of the Fischer family has been vaccinated.
Kevin Fischer, Kurt’s Father
I would have sacrificed not having it to give him my shot, if possible, that he’s, he’s first. The familiarity of being able to be in his house is a big benefit, that there's no stress of going to a foreign venue.
LINDA GIVETASH:
Experts say volunteer efforts are closing the gap in vaccinating more people, especially those most vulnerable. President Cyril Ramaphosa applauded the country’s youth on Monday for rushing to sites as vaccines were made available to those as young as 18.
But experts warn that fears and other barriers still need to be addressed, or the latest uptick could fizzle out as it did among older age groups. Linda Givetash, for VOA News, Johannesburg.
ELIZABETH LEE:
The spike in COVID-19 cases in the U.S. is prompting the European Union to recommend restrictions on non-essential travel by Americans. Meantime, E.U. countries recently passed the U.S. in rates of vaccinations thanks to strict rules like vaccine passports and contact tracing. Once criticized for delays in vaccinations, the EU is now providing help to its most vulnerable citizens. More from our Henry Ridgwell in London.
HENRY RIDGWELL, for VOA:
A handful of gummy bears and a certificate — the rewards for these children receiving their coronavirus vaccinations in Germany. It is one of several European countries to begin vaccinating children. Many will begin rolling out booster shots for older age groups in the coming weeks.
Ursula von der Leyen, European Commission President:
The catch-up process has been very successful — but we need to keep up the effort.
HENRY RIDGWELL:
The European Union purchased vaccines for all member states. At first, it faced criticism for delays in approval and delivery. Now member states praise its efforts. Spain and Portugal are now in the global top five for percentage of the population fully vaccinated.
Carolina Darias, Spanish Health Minister:
The country's success, a success of all of us, has to do firstly with the European Union's advance purchase strategy.
HENRY RIDGWELL:
The surge in vaccination rates is also being driven by strict national rules. Over a dozen EU states have introduced some form of COVID-19 digital pass — which shows whether you’ve been vaccinated, received a recent negative test, or have recently recovered from the disease. Those without the pass are unable to enter bars, restaurants and many public places.
Fabian Zuleeg, European Policy Centre Chief Executive:
Of course, there will always be a certain group in society which is not going to get vaccinated, which is opposed to getting vaccinated. But those who are a bit more reluctant, those who are on the edge, can be pushed in that direction if there are consequences.
HENRY RIDGWELL:
France has among the strictest COVID-19 pass rules in Europe. Seine-Saint-Denis, north of Paris, is the poorest region of mainland France — and suffered the highest COVID-19 death rate in the country at the start of the year. But the region is now well above the national average for vaccine take-up. The local mayor says the COVID-19 pass is responsible.
Jean-Baptiste Borsali, Le Bourget Mayor:
When the measures were announced by the president, we saw a huge increase in vaccinations.
HENRY RIDGWELL:
In Italy, too, strict rules requiring a so-called COVID “Green Pass” to enter bars and restaurants have prompted a surge in vaccinations.
Melissa Rando, Rome Resident:
I think it's right to protect those who have been vaccinated so they don't end up locked up again.
HENRY RIDGWELL:
Not all approve. Thousands took to the streets of Riga, Latvia, this month protesting against COVID-19 pass rules. There have been similar protests in France, Spain and Italy.
Meanwhile, critics say that Europe is falling behind the United States and China in the number of coronavirus vaccine doses donated to poorer countries — and has given just a fraction of the 200 million doses pledged by the end of 2021.
The World Health Organization has recommended that vaccinations be distributed to less developed nations before third booster shots are given in richer countries. Henry Ridgwell, for VOA News, London.
Dr. Rochelle Walensky, Director, Centers for Disease Control:
First of all, we have, as I mentioned in my remarks, strict and detailed guidance as to how to keep our children safe in school. This includes vaccination of everybody who is eligible, wearing masks in school. And we are seeing in some schools --- as well as distancing, screening protocols --- we are seeing schools that are not following these guidance, specifically not masking, having lower rates of vaccination, are dealing with outbreaks especially in the context of this very transmissible Delta variant. And we are encouraging those schools to follow our guidance and to follow our assistance as they manage those outbreaks to get their kids safely back into school. With regard to pediatric hospitalizations, we know that there's an absolute number of children because of this highly transmissible variant, an absolute number of children that are infected now with SARS-CoV-2 and because of that absolute number, there is a larger number of children in the hospital. We're also simultaneously dealing with an RSV outbreak that is occurring in children now, That's atypical for this season but is also leading to where I can see of those pediatric hospital beds.
Jeffrey Zients / WH Coronavirus Response Coordinator:
And as our medical experts laid out, having reviewed all the available data, it is in their clinical judgment that it is time to prepare Americans for a booster shot. We announced our approach in order to stay ahead of the virus, give states and pharmacies time to plan, and to be transparent with the American people as the latest data and expert clinical judgments from the team to give them time to do their own planning. We have been very clear throughout that this is pending FDA conducting an independent evaluation and CDC’s panel of outside experts issuing a booster dose recommendation. So, the bottom line: this virus has proven to be unpredictable, and we want to stay ahead of it and plan for every scenario, and that's been our approach from day one and will continue to be our approach.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, Dir., Natl. Institute of Allergy & Infectious Disease:
I would like to appeal to this country to the people in the country who are not vaccinated to realize that we have the capability among ourselves to essentially cut down the time frame to getting the end of this pandemic very, very, clearly by just listening to everything you've heard on this press conference. Get vaccinated and the time frame will be truncated dramatically.
Rescue efforts are underway in the southeastern U.S. state of Louisiana, where a powerful Category 4 hurricane flattened homes and left more than 1 million without power this week.
Storm damage is also impacting frontline workers, who are struggling to handle a surge of COVID-19 cases among unvaccinated patients in the region.
The two crises are taxing an already overburdened healthcare system.
Earlier, I spoke with reporter Matt Haines in New Orleans for the latest developments on the ground.
Matt Haines, reporter:
I'm in the New Orleans area where I was before I evacuated. And my understanding is that the generators were able to keep the hospitals there pretty well-powered. And I know some of the, like, just west of New Orleans, in Kenner, a hospital there for example, I heard, I've heard stories of doctors who had to kind of like hand ventilate patients who were in critical condition because of COVID. So, yeah, there are some stories of that. But it seems like now, ENTERGY, is the energy company in the area, seems to have those, the hospitals, I mean obviously the hospitals are a big priority.
ELIZABETH LEE:
What is the --unvaccinated population compared to the vaccinated population in that area? Are there a lot of people who are hesitant? Is that why the numbers at the hospital have been higher? And is there a certain demographic that that tends to happen? Because-- and does that correspond with those who are hardest hit during a natural disaster like the hurricane? Because in the past, it's the underserved that gets hits the hardest during a hurricane, can you talk about that and whether there's connection there?
Matt Haines:
Yeah, I mean, I think, you know things have definitely changed recently with the Delta variant. I think that people, maybe some people who were previously hesitant, especially around the New Orleans - and I guess really that's an important place to start, is that It's kind of a tale of two places. There's New Orleans, which there's much less hesitancy. In the city I believe in New Orleans right now has 80% of its population without least one dose of one of the vaccines, versus Louisiana as a whole, which is even with New Orleans, the most populous city at 80%, the state is still at just barely, just about to get to 50%. And so, you know, I think it's unfortunately things have become so politicized. And you kind of have more conservative voters outside of the city. and I think that's, that also happens to be this time where a lot of the biggest damage happened to be from the storm.
ELIZABETH LEE:
Is there any word or an estimate as to how soon things could get back to normal again with power restored and so, at least the hospitals would be able to be back to normal?
Matt Haines:
Yeah, I mean I think it's hard to tell right now what are rumors versus what are like official statements. But I think the consistent numbers seem to be, for example in Jefferson Parish, which is one parish to the west of Orleans Parish where New Orleans is-- they released a statement saying that the city, Parish officials released the statement staying in Jefferson Parish they expect that 90% of the parish should have electricity again in three weeks. So they think a lot of people will get it before that but that's when they feel comfortable saying 90% of the parish will have it. And that is a very big parish, it goes all the way down south to where the hurricane made landfall in Grand Isle, for example where that's a much more vulnerable, vulnerable area.
ELIZABETH LEE:
Thank you, Matt Haines, for bringing that report and please stay safe.
Matt Haines:
Thank you very much -thanks for having me.
ELIZABETH LEE:
We are keeping an eye on events in Afghanistan, and the departure of the U.S. military.
With Kabul under Taliban control, hundreds of journalists, many of them women, are seeking sanctuary. VOA’s Esha Sarai tells us more in this week’s Press Freedom Spotlight.
ESHA SARAI, VOA Correspondent:
Barely a month ago, Storai Karimi and her husband were reporting from the front lines of Herat. Today, they are in hiding in Pakistan, having fled Taliban rule.
Storai Karimi, Afghan Journalist:
The Taliban’s spokesperson says: ‘We do not have any problem with journalists.’ But we see that they are after journalists, searching house to house. As you know, the whereabouts of more than 200 journalists and civil society activists are unknown. This shows that journalists are not safe. And more importantly, women journalists are not allowed to work in the media.
International media organizations say getting their Afghan colleagues to safety has been a difficult task. The International Women's Media Foundation says the press freedom community is fielding thousands of requests.
Nadine Hoffman, IWMF:
But this is certainly, in the time that we've been doing emergency assistance, the biggest, most complicated, most difficult operation to try to support journalists who are in immediate danger of losing their lives, that we've ever been involved with.
ESHA SARAI:
Even those who managed to flee say their lives are still in danger.
Storai Karimi, Afghan Journalist:
We are in Pakistan, but we do not have peace of mind. We are not in a good psychological state. We are still very worried.
ESHA SARAI:
As journalists try to find safe passage out of Afghanistan, or go into hiding for their own safety, many fear an impending blackout of information across the country.
Nadine Hoffman, IWMF:
It's a really terrible conundrum, right? Which is that if the journalists leave Afghanistan, then nobody knows what's happening inside. But if they don't leave, they may not be left alive to actually do their reporting.
ESHA SARAI:
With U.S. and NATO troops gone, the concern turns to those left behind.
Storai Karimi, Afghan Journalist:
How can we be sure of our safety? There is no (supporting) organization. We are in a city that is now controlled by forces that have been fighting for years in the mountains. How can they think of our safety? They have seen only killing and blood.
ESHA SARAI:
Esha Sarai, VOA News
ELIZABETH LEE:
The coronavirus pandemic is again threatening to disrupt school for millions of students and teachers worldwide. For those studying the sciences, they are losing critical time in the laboratory as well as the classroom. At the University of Johannesburg, they are trying to bring the lab to the students through virtual reality. Linda Givetash has more:
LINDA GIVETASH, for VOA:
It may look like fun and games, but these South African students are deepening their knowledge of science. The virtual reality hub at the University of Johannesburg’s faculty of education helps students to get up close to atoms, cells, and viruses.
Mafor Penn, Science & Tech Ed Student:
Students are learning in a more interactive way, in a more immersive way. It's more engaging in that they are able to visualize micro scientific phenomena, they are able to interact with this phenomenon. And you can actually repeat that over and over. It’s one of the greatest benefits of learning in this way.
LINDA GIVETASH:
Even before the pandemic made South Africa the continent’s hot spot, students’ laboratory time was limited. But not in the virtual world. The university developed a VR set, inspired by Google Cardboard, that costs less than $20 and works with any smartphone.
Zakhele Mtshali, Education Student:
I can use what I've been provided with at the comfort of my couch at home. You can just go to YouTube you can you use your device, your smartphone, if it's compatible with the apps. And then you can actually view cells for whatever science concepts that you are studying at that moment.
LINDA GIVETASH:
VR isn’t just helping these students study STEM – science, technology, engineering, and math.It’s also gearing up this next generation of teachers to use the technology to boost STEM in poorer primary and secondary schools.
Umesh Ramnarain, University of Johannesburg Science Education Professor:
Learners who come from very much impoverished backgrounds with schools are in disadvantaged communities where they don't have fully fitted laboratories. And unfortunately, because of those learning experiences that they have in STEM education, it has not inspired learners at school to pursue tertiary studies.
LINDA GIVETASH:
The shortfalls became apparent when pandemic lockdowns sent students home.
Schools scrambled to adopt distance learning technology. But as students return to the classroom, educators say the pandemic’s changes to learning will stick around.
Umesh Ramnarain, Prof of Science Education, University of Johannesburg:
The future of learning is actually blended learning or hybrid learning, whereby we are going to blend face to face interaction. So, students, there will be dedicated sessions whereby students will attend class, but that is going to be blended now with virtual online learning I do not believe that we're going to go back to as we were.
LINDA GIVETASH:
The University of Johannesburg is working with South Africa’s education ministry to bring the VR devices to public schools. If the program proves successful, they hope to replicate it across the country and around the continent. Linda Givetash, for VOA News, Johannesburg.
ELIZABETH LEE:
That’s it for now. Get the latest information on the coronavirus, at VOANews.Com.
And stay connected @VOANews on Instagram and Facebook.
Follow me on Twitter at Eleetv1.
I am Elizabeth Lee, reporting from Washington, D.C.
See you next week for the Inside Story.
