>> Braude: TONIGHT ON "GREATER BOSTON," MASSACHUSETTS' VACCINATION ROLLOUT STILL TRAILS MOST OF THE NATION.

WILL THE CHANGES ANNOUNCED BY THE GOVERNOR TURN THINGS AROUND?

A FORMER COMMUNITY HEALTH CARE EXECUTIVE AND A COMBINATION E.R.

DOCTOR AND STATE REPRESENTATIVE HAVE CONCERNS, THEY JOIN ME.

THEN, LATER, LIZ NEISLOSS BRINGS US INTO THE LAB OF THE LEAD RESEARCHER ON THE HIGHLY ANTICIPATED JOHNSON & JOHNSON VACCINE TRIAL.

PLUS, THE C.E.O.

OF DANA FARBER, DR. LAURIE GLIMCHER, JOINS ME ON THE PUSH TO MAKE CANCER PATIENTS A HIGHER VACCINE PRIORITY, AND THE DANGERS BEHIND A DROP IN CANCER SCREENINGS DURING THE PANDEMIC.

THEN, FINALLY, STORIES OF SOME OF THE REAL PEOPLE BEHIND THE COVID DEATH TOLL.

JOE BIDEN IS TEMPERING EXPECTATIONS WHEN IT COMES TO HIS COVID ECONOMIC >> FROM THIS WEEK FORWARD, GOODGOD WILLING, WILL ENSURE THAT STATES, TRIBES, AND TERRITORIES, WILL HAVE A RELIABLE THREE-WEEK FORECAST WITH THE SUPPLY THEY'RE GOING TO GET, THIS WILL MAKE SURE MAYORS, GOVERNORS, AND LOCAL LEADERS CAN CARRY OUT THEIR PLANS TO VACCINATE AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE.

>> Braude: BIDEN SAID TONIGHT HE'LL BE GIVING STATES 10 MILLION DOSES A WEEK, AND HE IS UPPING THE U.S.

VACCINE ORDER BY 50%, AIMING FOR 100 MILLION MORE DOSES BY PFIZER AND MODERNA TO BE DELIVERED BY MID-SUMMER.

IN MASSACHUSETTS, THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS WILL TELL IN THE CHANGES GOVERNOR CHARLIE BAKER ANNOUNCED YESTERDAY WILL MAKE IT ANY EASIER TO GET PEOPLE VACCINATED.

INCLUDING GETTING PEOPLE 75 PLUS TO BE ELIGIBLE ON MONDAY, AND THEN BUMPING UP PEOPLE OF 65 PLUS.

AND HE IS EXPANDING VACCINE SITES STATE-WIDE, AND THERE IS THE ADDITIONS OF THE STATE WEB PAGE THAT LET'S PEOPLE FIND A SITE AND REGISTER FOR AN APPOINTMENT IF THEY'RE ELIGIBLE, STARTING TOMORROW.

STILL, WHEN PRESSED ON WHY THE ROLLOUT HERE IS SO MUCH SLOWER THAN ANY STATE AROUND US, THE GOVERNOR STOOD BY HIS APPROACH ON HIS FOCUS TO GETTING THE VACCINES TO THE MOST VULNERABLE POPULATIONS FIRST.

>> Governor: I GET THE FACT THAT BY CHOOSING A NUMBER OF TARGETED COMMUNITIES AND POPULATIONS THAT WE FELT WE SHOULD START WITH, THAT WOULD CREATE A SLOWER ROLLOUT AND A SLOWER RAMP UP THAN YOU WOULD SEE IF YOU JUST TOOK BIG GROUPS BY AGE AND SAID GO.

BUT I DO BELIEVE THAT AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE MADE THE RIGHT DECISION OUT OF THE GATE.

>> Braude: WHEN I ASKED IF THERE MIGHT BE MORE ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT OR FURTHER STREAMLINING OF PROCESS ON THAT STATE'S WEBSITE -- >> HOW MUCH MORE STREAMLINED WOULD YOU LIKE IT TO BE THAN THAT?

>> Braude: I WOULD LIKE IT TO INCLUDE A PRE-REGISTRATION ELEMENT, LIKE SEVERAL OTHER STATES DO, WHERE YOU CAN SIGN UP AND IT ALERTS YOU, WHEN YOUR TIME IS UP, WHERE YOU CAN GO TO GET A SHOT.

WE ASKED THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE IF ANYTHING LIKE THAT MIGHT BE IN THE WORKS, BUT AS OF THIS TAPING, NO ONE HAS RESPOND.

WE'RE JOINED BY JON SANTIAGO, AN EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN, AND BILL WALCZAK, COLUMNIST FOR THE DORCHESTER REPORTER, WHO HAS BEEN BANGING THE DRUM FOR WEEKS ABOUT HOW MASSACHUSETTS SHOULD BE LEADING, NOT TRAILING, ON MASS VACCINATIONS.

HE IS ALSO THE FOUNDER AND FORMER C.E.O.

OF THE CODMAN HEALTH CENTER.

GENTLEMEN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

I APPRECIATE IT.

>> HAPPY TO BE HERE.

>> Braude: DOCTOR, STARTING WITH YOU, YESTERDAY'S ACTIONS BY THE GOVERNOR, EXPANDING WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR A SHOT, INCREASING PRETTY DRAMATICALLY THE NUMBER OF VACCINATION SITES, I THINK TO 165 BY MID-FEBRUARY, DID THAT MITIGATE MOST OF YOUR CONCERNS ABOUT THE ROLLOUT?

>> I THINK THERE ARE A NUMBER OF PHYSICIANS IN HEALTH CENTERS ACROSS THE CITY IN THE COMMONWEALTH HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR THIS AS A WHILE.

IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT IS HAPPENING ACROSS THE COUNTRY, THAT IS WHAT IS HAPPENING.

WE HAVE A WHOLE HOST OF NUMBERS OF VACCINES NOT BEING USED, AND WE NEED TO GET OUR DISTRIBUTION UP.

BY INCREASING THE AVAILABILITIES, WE CAN GET THERE.

>> Braude: I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE UNUSED DOSES IN A SECOND.

BILL, IN YOUR PIECE INT PIECE IN THE DORCHESTER REPORTER, YOU SUGGESTED IT WOULD BE THE MIDDLE OF 2022 BEFORE EVERYBODY IN THE STATE GOT VACCINATED.

YESTERDAY THE GOVERNOR TALKED ABOUT BY MID-FEBRUARY, INCREASING CAPACITY TO MORE THAN I THINK IT WAS SOMETHING LIKE 40,000 A DAY, AND BASED ON THE SUPPLY WE GET FROM THE FEDS, THE ABILITY TO ACTUALLY VACCINATE UP TO 25,000 A DAY.

DOES THAT ADDRESS YOUR CONCERNS?

>> WELL, IT'S A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, BUT IT IS NOT SUFFICIENT FOR US TO BE ABLE TO HAVE MASSACHUSETTS RESIDENTS ALL VACCINATED BY SEPTEMBER.

WE'RE NOT EVEN TALKING ABOUT THE SPRING HERE.

WE NEED 420,000 DOSES PER WEEK IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO MEET UP WITH THE REQUIREMENT TO GET TO 6.6 MILLION MASSACHUSETTS RESIDENTS BY SEPTEMBER 1st, WHICH I THINK SHOULD BE A GOAL, CONSIDERING THAT WE WANT KIDS TO GO TO SCHOOL, WE WANT THINGS TO SORT OF RETURN TO NORMAL, WHATEVER THAT IS.

ANY CASES, IT IS A SIMPLE MATH EXERCISE.

WE NEED 12 GILLETTE STADIUM SCENARIOS, WORKING AT FULL CAPACITY BY SEPTEMBER 1st.

IT IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.

BUT WE COULD GET THERE -- THE EPIDEMIOLOGISTS SAY THERE IS AN 80% NEED TO GET TO HERD IMMUNITY, AND WE NEED TO GET TO IT.

BUT WE NEED A LOT MORE CAPACITY AND INFRASTRUCTURE IN PLACE A LOT MORE QUICKLY.

>> Braude: BY THE WAY, THE GOVERNOR HAS PROPOSED, I THINK IT IS SEVEN, EIGHT, OR NINE MASS VACCINATION SITES THAT SHOULD OPEN AND FAIRLY SHORT ORDER.

BEFORE WE GET TO WHAT YOUR SUGGESTIONS ARE AS TO WHAT WE'RE DOING, DOCTOR, STARTING WITH YOU, WHY ARE WE DOING AS POORLY AS WE ARE?

WE'RE 321234-7BDnd IN THE NATION, ACCORDING TO THE "WASHINGTON POST" LISTING WE SEE EVERY DAY, ROUGHLY ONE HALF OF THE DOSES THAT HAVE BEEN SENT TO MASSACHUSETTS, ONLY ONE HALF, HAVE BEEN INJECTED INTO PEOPLE'S ARMS.

WHY ARE THE NUMBERS AS LOW AS THEY ARE?

>> Doctor: I THINK THIS HAS TO DO WITH WHAT PRE-DATED THE PANDEMIC.

WE HAVE AN UNDERSTAFFED, UNDERFUNDED PUBLIC HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURE, LONG BEFORE THE CORONAVIRUS ARRIVED ON OUR SHORES.

THAT'S WHY WE'VE BEEN UNABLE TO VACCINATE THE PEOPLE WE NEED TO DO.

MY HOPE IS MOVING FORWARD, WHEN WE GET OVER CORONAVIRUS, THAT WE INVEST HEAVILY IN THIS PUBLIC HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURE.

OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS AND MONTHS, IT WILL BE MORE CHALLENGING TO GET THE VACCINATIONS OUT.

TWO-THIRDS OF THE VACCINATIONS THAT HAVE GONE OUT HAVE GONE OUT TO HOSPITALS WHERE THERE IS SOME INFRASTRUCTURE.

I, AT BOSTON MEDICAL CENTER, I GOT MY TWO VACCINATIONS OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF WEEKS, AND THINGS WENT AS SMOOTHLY AS COULD BE.

MY CONCERN IS MOVING FORWARD, AS WE BEGIN TO GO TO PHASE TWO, PHASE THREE, HOW THAT PROCESS IS DONE, AND MAKING SURE THERE IS A CENTRAL REGISTRY, AND ALL HANDS ON DECK, THE NATIONAL GUARD, NOT JUST THE BIG SITES, BUT THE SMALL SITES AS WELL, AND MAKING SURE THAT EQUITY IS AT THE CENTER CENTER OF ALL OF THIS.

>> Braude: I DON'T THINK THAT MARY LOU CENTER THINKS IT IS GOING AS SMOOTHLY IN HOSPITALS AND STATES.

>> WE HAVE DISTRIBUTED 651,871 DOSES OF COVID VACCINES TO PROVIDERS IN MASSACHUSETTS.

THIS WEEK HOSPITAL SYSTEMS DID NOT RECEIVE ADDITIONAL VACCINE INVENTORY.

THEY NEED TO UTILIZE WHAT THEY HAVE IN HAND.

AND IF WE MUST, WE WILL REDISTRIBUTE THESE FRAGILE VACCINES TO OTHER PROVIDERS.

>> Braude: DOCTOR, IT SEEMS TO ME WHAT MARY LOU SUDDERS IS SAYING IS THAT THE LOG JAM IS THE HOSPITALS.

>> Doctor: I WAS REFERRING TO MY PARTICULAR EXPERIENCE AS ONE INDIVIDUAL.

>> Braude: I UNDERSTAND THAT.

>> Doctor: OTHER STATES ARE MANDATING THAT FOLKS ARE REDISTRIBUTING THE VACCINES THAT ARE NOT BEING USED APPROPRIATELY.

YOU LOOK AT COLORADO, I THINK THEY SIGNED A PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT SAID IF THE VACCINE IS NOT DISTRIBUTED WITHIN 72 HOURS, IT HAS TO GO OUT TO SOMEBODY ELSE.

THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO DO RIGHT NOW TO GET PEOPLE SHOTS IN THEIR ARMS.

>> Braude: BILL, WHAT ARE THE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO DO IMMEDIATELY?

I KNOW WE NEED TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF DOSES, BUT HOW DO WE DO THAT?

WHAT WOULD YOU SUGGEST?

WHAT ARE THE ONE OR TWO THINGS YOU THINK THE GOVERNOR TO EMBRACE IMMEDIATELY TO GET THOSE NUMBERS UP THAT HE HASN'T SO FAR?

>> I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS HE HAS TO DO IS KIND OF MELD SOME OF THE PHASES -- I KNOW TALKING TO HEALTH SENATE DIRECTORS HERE IN DORCHESTER, ONE OF THE THINGS I TALKED ABOUT IS IF WE HAD A GREATER NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT WERE GETTING VACCINE, WE COULD USE -- WE COULD BE MORE EFFICIENT ABOUT DOING IT.

WE COULD GET MORE PEOPLE IN.

WE WOULDN'T HAVE TO WASTE VACCINES.

ANOTHER THING IS WE DO NEED 12 SITES.

WE NEED 12 SITES IN ORDER TO DO IT AT GILLETTE (indiscernable) IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO GET EVERYTHING DONE.

SO WE NEED THE INFRASTRUCTURE IN PLACE.

I THINK THE OTHER THING BROUGHT UP IS WE NEED MORE PEOPLE CAPABLE OF GIVING THE VACCINE.

RIGHT NOW WE'RE USING PROTOCOLS THAT PREVENT A LOT OF VACCINES FROM BEING DOSED BECAUSE WE'RE RUNNING A HEALTH CARE SYSTEM SIDE I SIDE BY SIDE.

THIS IS A PREVENTABLE ILLNESS, WITH THE VACCINES, WE CAN PREVENT DEATH.

SO IT SHOULD BE THE NUMBER ONE PRIORITY AND USING THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM TO ACCOMMODATE IT.

>> The Doctor: YOU'RE IN THE CRITICAL STAGE IN THE VIRUS RIGHT NOW.

IT LOOKS LIKE THE SECOND SURGE IS BEGINNING TO OCCUR WITH DEATHS AND HOSPITALIZATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

BUT WHAT I'M MOST WORRIED ABOUT IS THIS POTENTIAL THIRD SURGE COMING WITH THIS NEW VARIANT.

THE NEW VARIANT IS SIGNIFICANTLY MORE TRANSMISSIBLE, WHICH COULD RESULT IN MORE DEATHS.

IF YOU LOOK AT PLACES LIKE DENMARK, THAT HAVE HAD A SIGNIFICANT LOCKDOWN IN PLACE, OVER THE LAST WEEK THEY HAD A 70% INCREASE IN INFECTIONS.

AND SO THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS, COUPLE OF MONTHS, COULD BE VERY CHALLENGING FOR HEALTH SYSTEMS.

>> Braude: SPEAKING OF THAT, DOES THAT -- AS THE NUMBERS HAVE GONE DOWN, AND YOU'RE TOTALLY RIGHT IN THE BACKGROUND IS THAT VARIANT, DOCTOR, BOTH THE GOVERNOR AND NOW THE MAYOR HAVE LOOSENED RESTRICTIONS BASED UPON THOSE NUMBERS, POSITIVITY RATES DOWN, NUMBER OF CASES DOWN.

ARE THEIR BEHAVIORS PREMATURE IN YOUR ESTIMATION, DURING?

>> Doctor: I WOULD BE VERY CAUTIOUS ON HOW WE BEGIN TO ROLL BACK THESE RESTRICTIONS.

IT IS A RACE OF HOW MANY PEOPLE CAN BE VACCINATED BEFORE THE VARIANT HAS MADE ITSELF HOME IN MASSACHUSETTS.

ALL OF THE EPIDEMIOLOGISTS PREDICT THAT BY MARCH THE U.K.

STRING WILL BE THE PREDOMINANT STRING IN MASSACHUSETTS.

THAT IS WORRISOME TO ME, AS SOMEONE ON THE GROUNDS, ON THE FRONTLINES.

>> Braude: BILL, THE GOVERNOR HAS GONE OUT OF HIS WAY TO MENTION, AND HE DID IT AT A PRESS CONFERENCE WITH MICHAEL CURRIE FROM THE NAACP, HOW HIGHER PRIORITY COMMUNITIES OF COLOR SHOULD BE.

BOTH OF YOU SPENT YOUR CAREERS IN THOSE COMMUNITIES.

ARE THOSE PROMISES BEING MET, BILL, IN YOUR ESTIMATION?

>> APPARENTLY THE DOSES WERE GRANTED.

THE BIGGER PROBLEM HERE IS THAT WE KNOW THAT IN LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES, THAT PATIENTS ARE MORE LIKELY NOT TO KEEP THEIR APPOINTMENTS.

AND THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM.

SO WE'VE HAD HEALTH DIRECTORS THAT ARE ASKING TO BE ABLE TO BROADEN THEIR ABLE TO GIVE DOSES OUT TO PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT RANKED IN ORDER RIGHT NOW.

THAT IS SOMETHING THAT HAS TO HAPPEN RIGHT AWAY.

THEY CERTAINLY ARE VERY WELL-AWARE OF THE FACT THE WAY TO GET VACCINES TO LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES IS THROUGH THE HEALTH CENTERS, AND THAT IS ABSOLUTELY TRUE.

BUT THEY NEED TO DEAL WITH THE REALITY THAT THERE IS A HUGE POPULATION OUT HERE THAT NEEDS THE VACCINES, AND WE NEED TO GET IT OUT THEIR QUICKLY.

THERE WAS 427,000 UNUSED DOSES AS OF SUNDAY.

>> Doctor: IT IS SIGNIFICANTLY MORE COMPLICATED.

THERE ARE COMMUNITIES, BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES, THAT ARE HESITANT WHEN IT COMES TO GETTING THE VACCINE.

SO WE HAVE TO BE MAKING SURE WE'RE USING CULTURAL EDUCATION AND LEADER AND GET THEM TRAINED AND MOTIVATED TO MAKE SURE THAT FOLKS THAT LOOK LIKE THEM ARE TAKING THE VACCINE, AND LETTING THEM KNOW IT IS SAFE.

IF WE'RE GOING TO GET OUR COUNTRY AND CITY BACK NORMALLY, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO GET HERD IMMUNITY, AND THAT'S THROUGH VACCINATION.

>> I AGREE.

>> Braude: DOCTOR, PLACES LIKE WEST VIRGINIA, THAT'S THE FIFTH POOREST STATE IN THE COUNTRY, AND WE'RE THE FOURTH WEALTH THEATER, HAVEWEALTHIEST, HAVE A PRE-REGISTRATION SYSTEM, THEY NOTIFY YOU WHEN YOU'RE ELIGIBLE, AND THEY TELL YOU WHERE YOU CAN GO, AND THEY MAKE AN APPOINTMENT.

WHY IS ONE OF THE WEALTHIEST NATIONS IN THE COUNTRY NOT HAVE THAT SYSTEM THAT EVEN WEST VIRGINIA HAS?

QUICKLY, IF YOU CAN.

>> Doctor: THERE IS A CONCERN AMONGST NOT JUST THE LEGISLATORS, BUT THE PUBLIC AT LARGE, THAT WE'RE NOT DOING ENOUGH.

WHAT I CAN TELL YOU IS IN MEETINGS WITH LEGISLATIVE LEADERS ACROSS THE REALM, WE WANT TO SEE THE STAFF, AND WE'RE WILLING TO PARTNER WITH ANYONE, FROM THE GOVERNOR ON DOWN, TO MAKE SURE WE CAN BECOME LIKE WEST VIRGINIA, AND MAKE SURE THAT FOLKS GET VACCINATED AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

>> Braude: JON SANTIAGO, BILL WALCZAK, THANK YOU BOTH FOR YOUR THOUGHTS AND TIME.

I APPRECIATE IT.

>> HAPPY TO BE HERE.

>> Braude: ANOTHER THING THAT WOULD CERTAINLY SPEED UP THE VACCINE ROLLOUT WOULD BE ANOTHER OPTION BEYOND PFIZER AND MODERNA, AND HIGH HOPES ARE BEING PINNED ON JOHN-JOHN, WHICH JOHNSON & JOHNSON, WHICH IS EXPECTED TO RELEASE RESULTS ON IT'S TESTS THAT WOULD DISTRIBUTE JUST A SINGLE DOSE.

LISLIZ NEISLOSS MET UP WITH THE C.I.A.

C.E.O.

SHE CAUGHT UP WITH HIM AGAIN TO TALK ABOUT ALL THAT HAS HAPPENED SINCE.

>> Reporter: A YEAR AGO, JUST ONE MONTH BEFORE THE COVID-19 LOCKDOWNS, WHEN NO ONE WAS WEARING A MASK, WE FOLLOWED DR. DAN BAROUCH INTO HIS LAB, WHERE HE AND HIS TEAM WERE LASER FOCUSED ON FINDING A VACCINE TO COMBAT AN ALARMING NEW CORONAVIRUS.

>> IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO SAY HOW LONG OR THE EXTENT OF THE CURRENT OUTBREAK, BUT IT IS LIKELY THAT IT WILL CONTINUE TO GET WORSE BEFORE IT GETS BETTER.

WHEN IT ACTUALLY GETS BETTER IS NOT CLEAR AT THIS POINT.

>> Reporter: NOW A YEAR AND MORE THAN TWO MILLION DEATHS LATER, EVEN HE HAS BEEN SHOCKED AT THE VIRUS' GLOBAL RAMPAGE.

>> Doctor: NEVER IN OUR WILDEST IMAGINATION WOULD WE HAVE ANTICIPATED THAT THE PANDEMIC WOULD HAVE UNFOLDED THE WAY IT HAS.

>> Reporter: NOW AMERICANS COULD SOON BE ROLLING UP THEIR SLEEVES FOR A THIRD VACCINE THAT HE HELPED CREATE WITH JOHNSON & JOHNSON.

UNLIKE THE OTHER TWO VACCINES, IT IS EASIER TO STORE AND REQUIRES JUST ONE SHOT.

IF APPROVED, IT WOULD MEAN MORE PEOPLE GETTING VACCINES MUCH FASTER.

>> WE THINK THOSE TWO PROPERTIES OF THE SINGLE-SHOT VACCINE, AS WELL AS NO SUBZERO FREEZING REQUIRED, WOULD FACILITATE THE LOGISTICS OF VACCINATION OF LARGE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE.

>> Reporter: THE JOHNSON & JOHNSON VACCINE USES A DEACTIVATED FORM OF A COMMON COLD VIRUS TO CARRY A PIECE OF THE COVID-19 INTO THE BODY AND TRIGGER AN IMMUNE RESPONSE.

>> THE REASON IS BECAUSE COMMON COLD VIRUSES ARE REALLY, REALLY GOOD AT DOING ONE THING, WHICH IS GETTING INTO HUMAN CELLS.

WE'RE BASICALLY COMMANDEERING THAT PROPERTY, AND ONCE IT IS IN CELLS, THE PROTEIN IS MADE AND THE BODY MAKES AN IMMUNE RESPONSE TO IT.

THAT'S ESSENTIALLY HOW THE VACCINE WORK.

>> Reporter: BUT THERE ARE FRESH WORRIES: NEW STRAINS OF THE VIRUS, AND THEY COULD MAKE VACCINES LESS AFFECTIVE.

>> THE EMERGENCE OF VARIANTS THAT ARE MORE CONTAGIOUS, POSSIBLY, AT LEAST, PARTIALLY RESISTANT TO ANTIBODIES INTRODUCED BY AN INFECTION OR VACCINE, AND THE THREAT OF THE EMERGENCE OF FUTURE VARIANTS, INCREASES THE NEED FOR EVERYONE TO COMPLY WITH PUBLIC HEALTH MEASURES, SUCH AS MASKING AND SOCIAL DISTANCING, AS WELL AS ACCELERATE THE VACCINE CAMPAIGN.

>> Reporter: AS THE RACE TO FIND VACCINES HAS ALSO BECOME A RACE AGAINST A CHANGING VIRUS.

LIZ NEISLOSS, GBH NEWS.

>> Braude: WE TALK A LOT THESE DAYS ABOUT THE CHRONIC HEALTH ISSUES THAT PUT PEOPLE AT HIGHER RISK IF THEY GET COVID-19.

AT THE TOP OF THE C.D.C.

'S LIST IS CANCER.

AND YET MANY STATES, INCLUDING THIS ONE, PEOPLE WITH CANCER FALL TOWARDS THE BOTTOM OF THE VACCINE PRIORITY LIST IF THAT IS THERE OWN CONDITION, AND THAT IS JUST ONE STEP AHEAD OF THE GENERAL POPULATION.

BUT THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR CANCER RESEARCH IS CALLING THAT TO CHANGE, CITING DATA SHOWING PEOPLE WITH CANCER ARE TWICE AS LIKELY TO DIE OF COVID-19 THAN PEOPLE WHO DON'T.

AND JUST AS TROUBLING, A NEW STUDY IN THE JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION FOUND ABOUT 1500 FEWER CANCER CASES WERE DIAGNOSED IN NEW ENGLAND DURING THE FIRST THREE MONTHS OF THE PANDEMIC LAST YEAR, THAN IN THE THREE MONTHS PRIOR, AFTER SCREENING DIPPED BY MORE THAN THREE-QUARTERS.

I'M JOINED BY THE C.E.O.

OF THE DANA FARBER CANCER INSTITUTE, DR. LAURIE GLIMCHER.

DOCTOR, IT IS GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> Doctor: NICE TO SEE YOU.

HAPPY TO BE HERE, JIM.

>> Braude: THANK YOU.

I DON'T QUITE UNDERSTAND THIS.

MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE PRIORITY LIST IN STATES LIKE OURS ARE A FUNCTION OF RISK.

IF PEOPLE WHO ARE CANCER PATIENTS, GETTING RADIATION OR CHEMOTHERAPY, ARE AT HIGHER RISK, WHY ARE THEY SO FAR DOWN THE CHAIN IN TERMS OF WHEN THEY GET A VACCINE?

>> Doctor: THEY ACTUALLY AREN'T THAT FAR DOWN THE CHAIN.

THE NUMBER ONE PRIORITY WAS, OF COURSE, TO PROVIDE THE VACCINE TO HEALTH CARE WORKERS, WHO ARE FACING PATIENTS AND TAKING CARE OF PATIENTS.

WE HAVETO ENSURE THAT OUR DOCTORS AND NURSES AND OUR ADMINISTRATORS WHO ARE SEEING PATIENTS CLOSELY WERE PROTECTED.

SO THEY WERE THE TOP PRIORITY GROUP.

AND WE'VE GONE THROUGH PRETTY MUCH OUR ENTIRE TOP PRIORITY GROUP.

AND WE WILL BE VACCINATING PATIENTS, HOPEFULLY, BY EARLY NEXT WEEK.

AND WE HAVE -- >> Braude: BUT -- >> Doctor: -- ALREADY GONE THROUGH ALL OF OUR PATIENTS TO IDENTIFY THOSE AT HIGHEST RISK TO GET THE VACCINE FIRST.

>> Braude: BUT -- I CAN'T BELIEVE I'M GOING TO DISAGREE WITH THE HEAD OF DANA FARBER, AT LEAST FROM MY UNDERSTANDING -- I UNDERSTAND YOUR PROVIDERS -- THAT I GET.

BUT IF YOU HAVE TWO OR MORE CO-MORBIDITIES, YOU'RE IN THE SECOND STEP, PHASE TWO.

BUT IF CANCER IS THE ONLY THING YOU'RE SUFFERING FROM, MY UNDERSTANDING IS YOU'RE BEHIND THAT WHOLE LONG LIST OF ESSENTIAL WORKERS.

AM I NOT RIGHT ABOUT THAT?

>> Doctor: I CAN ONLY TELL YOU THAT WE ARE GOING TO START VACCINATING PATIENTS PROBABLY FEBRUARY 1st.

ESSENTIAL WORKERS WERE ALSO BEING VACCINATED.

YOU KNOW, THIS IS DECIDED BY THE STATE GOVERNMENT, JIM.

>> Braude: OKAY.

>> Doctor: HOW -- I MEAN, CLEARLY, WE'VE HAD MANY PATIENTS COME IN WHO WE WOULD HAVE LOVED TO VACCINATE, BUT THE RULES WERE OTHERWISE.

SO I DO WANT TO SAY WE HAVE USED EVERY SINGLE VACCINE THAT WE HAVE.

WE HAVEN'T WASTED A SINGLE VACCINE.

IN FACT, OUR NURSES, WHEN WE GOT THE FIRST LOT OF THE PFIZER VACCINE, THEY REALIZED RIGHT AWAY THAT THE PFIZER VIAL CONTAINED NOT FIVE VACCINE DOSES, BUT SIX OR SEVEN.

AND SO WE IMMEDIATELY ROUNDED UP MORE PEOPLE TO GET THE VACCINE.

WE ADMINISTERED THOUSANDS OF VACCINES SO FAR.

>> Braude: DOCTOR, QUICKLY IF YOU CAN, IS IT SAFE FOR THE AVERAGE CANCER PATIENT?

I KNOW, AGAIN, IT IS HARD TO SAY AVERAGE, IN THIS CASE FOR THE TYPICAL CANCER PATIENT TO GET A COVID VACCINATION?

>> Doctor: IT IS NOT STANDARD, JIM.

WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH VACCINE DOSES.

NOBODY HAS ENOUGH VACCINE DOSES TO VACCINATE EVERYBODY WE WOULD LIKE TO VACCINATE.

BUT THIS IS WHY WE TELL OUR PATIENTS, PLEASE CONTINUE TO STAY SAFE.

AND THAT'S WHY WE HAVE MADE DANA FARBER AN INCREDIBLY SAFE PLACE FOR OUR PATIENTS TO BE.

I'VE HAD A NUMBER OF PATIENTS SAYING TO ME I FEEL SAVER AT DANA FARBER COMING IN FOR MY INFUSION THAN I DO AT HOME.

SO THE TEAMS WORK VERY HARD TO MAKE IT SAFE FOR OUR PATIENTS.

BUT EVERYBODY NEEDS TO FOLLOW THE RULES.

THEY WORK.

MASKING WORKS, PHYSICAL DISTANCING WORKS, WASHING YOUR HANDS WORKS.

WE KNOW THAT BECAUSE LOOK AT HOW FEW CASES OF THE FLU WE HAVE.

WE SHOULD BE GETTING THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF FLU CASES, BUT WE'RE NOT.

PEOPLE ARE MASKING.

>> Braude: YOU KNOW, I MENTIONED ALSO IN THE INTRODUCTION TO YOU, DOCTOR, THAT THE DATA I HAD SEEN FROM THE FIRST SURGE WAS THE NUMBER OF CANCER DIAGNOSIS, FROM J.A.M.A., IN THE FIRST PART OF THE SURGE, WERE DOWN PRETTY DRAMATICALLY.

I'M AS ASSUMING BECAUSE PEOPLE WERE NERVOUS ABOUT COMING INTO A HOSPITAL WHEN THE INITIAL NOTIONS OF COVID-19 HAPPENED.

THAT'S REALLY TROUBLING, OBVIOUSLY, EVEN TO A LAY PERSON LIKE ME.

HAS THAT CHANGED IN THE INTERVENING MONTHS?

>> Doctor: IT HAS GOTTEN BETTER.

MOST OF OUR PATIENTS ARE REFERRED TO US BY THEIR PRIMARY CARE DOCS.

AND POTENTIAL PATIENTS WERE VERY RELUCTANT TO GO SEE THEIR PRIMARY CARE DOC.

SO THE SCREENING THAT WE REALLY RELY ON, MAMMOGRAPHY, COLONOSCOPY, PAP SMEARS, WENT DOWN BY OVER 90%.

THIS IS OBVIOUSLY VERY SERIOUS BECAUSE YOU'VE GOT TO DETECT CANCER EARLY, AS EARLY AS YOU CAN.

IF YOU PRESENT WITH STAGE ONE CANCER, YOU HAVE A VERY GOOD CHANCE OF BEING CURED.

BUT IF YOU PRESENT WHEN THE CANCER HAS ALREADY SPREAD, IT IS GOING TO BE TOUGHER.

AND SO WE HAVE ADVERTISED -- I MEAN, WE HAVE SAID TO SO MANY PEOPLE, YOU MUST DO YOUR SCREENINGS.

PLEASE DON'T BE AFRAID TO COME IN IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, BECAUSE WE WANT TO HELP YOU DEAL WITH YOUR CANCER.

AND, YOU KNOW, WE HAD A DECREASE OF ABOUT 50% OF PATIENTS COMING IN, AND WE'RE BACK TO PRE-COVID LEVELS RIGHT NOW.

SO THE VOLUME HAS RESTORED ITSELF, BUT I THINK PEOPLE STILL AREN'T GETTING AS MANY SCREENINGS AS THEY SHOULD BE, AND THIS IS IMPORTANT.

10% OF CANCERS ARE INHERITED.

WE NEED TO BE SEEING THE FAMILY MEMBERS OF INDIVIDUALS -- CANCER PATIENTS WHO HAVE INHERITED CANCERS.

>> Braude: AND YOU'RE SAYING YOU'RE MAKING -- YOU'RE SUGGESTING THAT THERE IS NO SAFER PLACE TO BE THAN DANA FARBER.

SO PLEASE DON'T HESITATE TO GET THOSE SCREENINGS.

>> Doctor: YES.

>> Braude: YOU MENTIONED IF PEOPLE HAVE QUESTIONS, I KNOW YOU'RE DOING A FORUM TOMORROW, YOU GO TO DanaFarber.org AND CLICK ON THE BANNER THAT SAYS COVID-19.

AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE A PATIENT OF DANA FARBER, YOU CAN BE AN INTERESTED PERSON, A CARETAKER.

BRIEFLY, DOCTOR, WHAT WILL PEOPLE TAKE AWAY FROM THIS?

>> Doctor: I THINK IT IS GOING TO BE A GREAT DISCUSSION, JIM.

IT IS REALLY FOR CANCER PATIENTS, CANCER SURVIVORS, AND THEIR FAMILIES.

AND AS YOU SAID, IT IS TOMORROW AT 5:00.

AND, AGAIN, ANY CANCER PATIENT, CARE-GIVER,IS, IS WELCOME TO TUNE IN.

WE HAVE A GREAT GROUP OF SPECIALISTS WHO ARE GOING TO DO A PANEL, AND THEY'RE GOING TO TAKE QUESTIONS FROM WHOEVER WANTS TO ASK THEM.

I THINK THE INFORMATION THAT WILL BE TRANSMITTED WILL BE VERY HELPFUL FOR CANCER PATIENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES, AND ANYBODY WHO IS INTERESTED IN KNOWING HOW IS IT GOING?

WHO IS GETTING VACCINATED?

HOW MANY DOSES DO WE HAVE?

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE VIRAL VARIANTS THAT HAVE NOW EMERGED?

I THINK IT IS GOING TO BE A BROAD CONVERSATION.

>> Braude: WE ONLY HAVE 30 SECONDS LEFT.

I MENTIONED AT THE TOP THAT YOU WERE INTIMATELY INVOLVED IN THIS CANCER MOONSHOT THAT THEN-VICE PRESIDENT BIDEN SPEARHEADED.

WEREWAS THERE ANY EXPERIENCE YOU TAKE AWAY?

>> Doctor: I THINK WE'RE INCREDIBLY FORTUNATE TO HAVE JOE BIDEN AS OUR PRESIDENT.

HE UNDERSTANDS SCIENCE.

HE UNDERSTANDS MEDICINE.

HE UNDERSTANDS WHY IT IS SO IMPORTANT TO DO RESEARCH TO COME UP WITH NEW TREATMENTS FOR MANY DISEASES, INCLUDING CANCER.

SO TOOK A BIG SIGH OF RELIEF WHEN HE WAS INAUGURATED.

>> Braude: AND I SHOULD SAY BOTH THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK AND CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR SON, JAKE, BEING ELECTED TO CONGRESS FROM THE FOURTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.

I'M SURE YOU'RE QUITE PROUD.

DOCTOR, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

>> Doctor: MY PLEASURE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

STAY WELL.

>> Braude: THANK YOU.

YOU, TOO.

IF YOU WANT MORE INFORMATION ON THE CORONAVIRUS VACCINE AND HOW IT AFFECTS CANCER PATIENTS AND SURVIVORS, AS WE SAID, DANA FARBER WILL BE HOSTING A VIRTUAL FORUM TOMORROW AT 5:00.

DanaFarber.org AND CLICK ON THE COVID BANNER.

FINALLY, REMEMBERING SOME OF THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE COVID DEATH TOLL.

83-YEAR-OLD CATHY SULLIVAN OF MANCHESTER, NEW HAMPSHIRE, SAID SHE MOVED TO A CONTINUAL CARE FACILITY AFTER HER HUSBAND DIED AND WAS THRIVING.

BUT WHEN SHE GOT SICK THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO VISIT HER.

81-YEAR-OLD RYAN GORMAN DIED IN APRIL.

DOCTORS AND NURSES WOULD RISK THEIR LIVES TO GO INTO THE I.C.U.

TO HOLD UP THE PHONE FOR HIM.

WHEN THE CALL CAME, THE DOCTOR SOUNDED SO TIRED AND SAD HE COULD BARELY SPEAK.

AND FRED RAYMOND WAS THE FAMILY PATE YORK OF PATRIARCH.

HE WAS A DEVOTED HUSBAND, FATHER, AND GRANDFATHER, AND SERVED HIS COUNTRY AND COMMUNITY IN MANY WAYS THROUGHOUT HIS LIFE.

IF YOU LOST SOMEBODY TO THE PANDEMIC AND WOULD LIKE TO SHARE THEIR STORIES, PLEASE VISIT TWITTER/faces of Covid.

THAT'S IT FOR EYETHAT'S OUR SHOW FOR TONIGHT.

THE STATE OF RACE LOOKS AT HOW INEQUITIES DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECT COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.

TO REGISTER VISIT wgbh.org/state of race.

FOR NOW, THOUGH, THANKS FOR WATCHING, A