Nancy Mesonnier, MD, director of the National Immunization Center and Respiratory Diseases at the CDC, was the first public health official to warn the public about the next impacts of Covid-19 in everyday life. In a new interview with WebMD, Mesonnier talks about his current work at the launch of a Covid-19 vaccine, a topic that she will be addressing at the next South Health Conference.
This interview was edited for greater clarity and length.
. WebMD: Do you have any prediction as we move to fall and winter? What are you waiting for?
. Mesonnier: The concern, of course, this co-circulation of influenza and Covid-19 will really be difficult. One of the interesting things is that the mitigation measures that we are all undertaking to respond to Covid - which is social distancing, washing our hands, using masks - are exactly the same measures that expected to have an impact on the flu. And in fact, we are actually seeing this year in the Southern Hemisphere, which they have the flu season before our, less influenza activity, and this can really be due to these preventive behaviors, which is great.
But the point is that we certainly hope it is less disease for the flu this year. But the flu is unpredictable, and especially a flu season amid a pandemic, so what I would say that people are, definitely, we hope that the mitigation measures are to reduce the risk of influenza, we still believe that people are vaccinated because vaccination is an important vaccination way they can protect themselves.
. WebMD: I want to go back to one of the last press briefings I heard you. It was February 25 and their care to the public that day were eventually remarkable. You said that the interruption of everyday life can be severe. You have warned us about the need for long-term telecommuting, canceling mass meetings, delaying elective medical procedures, the possibility of school closures and the impact they would have in everyday life. And you said these are the things we need to be thinking now and that you were back in February, and no one else was saying these things at the time. What inspired you to give these warnings and why did the country begin to prepare for these things in February?
Fat Loss Process - CDC's Messonnier Says She Trusts COVID Vaccine Process
. Messonnier: You know, I think today what I really want to focus is what we're going to do from now and how we're going to keep advancing. So I think they are the best strategies for today's conversation talk about what all of us as a community and a country can do today. What I think people can do today is to continue following the recommendation to get their influenza vaccines and prepare for the hopefully very fast availability of Covid vaccine.
. WebMD: Since you work in the vaccine, when can we reasonably expect a vaccine to be available?
. Mesonnier: We are working in partnership with the speed of warp and my colleagues say there will be a vaccine available in this fall, but that they expect the quantities of vaccine to be limited. Next year, we must have much larger amounts of vaccines available. So on the childbirth side, we are working ready for the first implementation of the vaccine this fall, but also preparing for much larger availability of vaccine next year.
. WebMD: So you think we'll see some kind of emergency use authorization for a vaccine this fall?
. MESSONNIER: Based on operating warping speed projections, they believe that vaccines will be ready for submission for a UA (emergency use authorization) this fall. And you know as a country, we certainly do not want to have a vaccine available and not be ready to deliver it, and then my focus is to ensure that as soon as this vaccine is ready and available, the country is ready to distribute it and Lo, and that we know who is receiving and makes sure, as much as possible of this process is perfect.
. WebMD: The Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices (ACIP) will have any role in making recommendations on Covid-19 vaccine, especially for children? Children are not included in clinical trials, and so I'm wondering if this will fall to ACIP to sort science available to try to find out whether or not to vaccinate children.
. MESSONNIER: ACIP will certainly play a role in making recommendations for the CDC director on the use of available vaccines.
In terms of children, I will certainly look forward to the day there will be a vaccine available for children. I have children alone, and I would definitely like to see them protected as soon as possible. I understand that current clinical trials in the United States are in adults, but definitely there are plans to start looking at these vaccines in children, and I hope it moves as fast as possible.
. Webmd: You personally have been on par for any of the science or study results because they come from WARP's speed tests?
. Mesonnier: So, the current phase III studies, I think they are what you are talking about. And those are types of large clinical trials, where people are being vaccinated by the study vaccine or placebo. In fact, it is the data security monitoring board (DSMB) that has access to this data. So I certainly did not see any of this yet.
. WebMD: What do you think so far from Phase I and II?
. Mesonnier: I think these vaccine candidates seem really promising and like all others in the country, I hope, I'm waiting to see these bigger trials. I am encouraged. I am also encouraged by the fact that we have optimal systems to ensure that the results of these studies are carefully evaluated by the data security monitoring board by the FDA Advisory Committee and then by the CDC ACIP. These are the systems we always use to evaluate vaccines and these are the systems that were being used now, and I think you know, we should feel that it is satisfactory to know that this will depend on these regular systems.
. WebMD: Will you get a vaccine and if yes, when will you do it? So one is available?
. Mesonnier: So I think I definitely trust the systems and how a vaccine is authorized and recommended by the CDC. If I am in one of the groups they identified as a priority, it would be vaccinated. I think it will be difficult for people to understand, especially in the fall, that while the vaccine may be available, it may not be available yet for everyone.
And as everyone in the country, I will follow the guidelines and get the vaccine when it is my turn.
. WebMD: The CDC has been in the midst of some public policy reversals on the main security guidelines. All this left some people who feel like science and reputation of the CDC were damaged. How is morale and how does the agency plans to repair the damage and rebuild public confidence?
. Mesonnier: I certainly can not speak all over the CDC. But what I can say, and what I would like the public to know, is that I work with great people on the CDC and throughout the country public health professionals are working every day to stop Covid and keep our communities in Atlanta and all United States United States. I know that I and our team will continue to do this work every day.
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