ONE NEWS SOURCE, THE ROLLOUT OF THE NEW COLBERT HITTING OF THE NEW COLBERT HITTING SOME SNAGS AS CASES CLIMB SOME SNAGS AS CASES CLIMB ACROSS THE COUNTRY. ACROSS THE COUNTRY. I'M ELIZABETH SCHULZE I'M ELIZABETH SCHULZE IN WASHINGTON. IN WASHINGTON. TODAY'S BIG STORY. TODAY'S BIG STORY. FEDERAL OFFICIALS SAYING THERE FEDERAL OFFICIALS SAYING THERE ARE ANECDOTAL REPORTS ARE ANECDOTAL REPORTS OF AMERICANS DENIED COVERAGE OF AMERICANS DENIED COVERAGE WHILE TRYING TO GET THE NEW WHILE TRYING TO GET THE NEW COVID SHOT. COVID SHOT. HOPING HOSPITALIZATIONS RISING HOPING HOSPITALIZATIONS RISING TO LEVELS NOT SEEN SINCE TO LEVELS NOT SEEN SINCE THE SPRING. THE SPRING. I'LL SPEAK TO U.S. SURGEON I'LL SPEAK TO U.S. SURGEON GENERAL VIVEK MURTHY ABOUT WHO GENERAL VIVEK MURTHY ABOUT WHO SHOULD RECEIVE THE NEW VACCINE SHOULD RECEIVE THE NEW VACCINE AND WHO SHOULD PAY FOR IT AND WHO SHOULD PAY FOR IT IN OUR SPOTLIGHT. IN OUR SPOTLIGHT. DEMOCRATIC SENATOR BOB MENENDEZ DEMOCRATIC SENATOR BOB MENENDEZ INDICTED AGAIN FACING INDICTED AGAIN FACING NEW CORRUPTION CHARGES, NEW CORRUPTION CHARGES, WHAT PROSECUTORS SAY HE DID WHAT PROSECUTORS SAY HE DID IN EXCHANGE FOR BRIBES OF CASH IN EXCHANGE FOR BRIBES OF CASH A LUXURY CAR AND $100,000 A LUXURY CAR AND $100,000 IN GOLD BARS. IN GOLD BARS. BUT WE BEGIN WITH OUR BUT WE BEGIN WITH OUR BIG STORY. BIG STORY. FEDERAL HEALTH OFFICIALS SAY FEDERAL HEALTH OFFICIALS SAY THERE ARE ANECDOTAL REPORTS THERE ARE ANECDOTAL REPORTS OF INSURANCE DENIALS AS THE OF INSURANCE DENIALS AS THE NEW COVID VACCINE ROLLS OUT. NEW COVID VACCINE ROLLS OUT. AND AS CASES RISE THE COUNTRY. AND AS CASES RISE THE COUNTRY. JOINING US NOW FROM THE WHITE JOINING US NOW FROM THE WHITE HOUSE, US SURGEON GENERAL VIVEK HOUSE, US SURGEON GENERAL VIVEK MURTHY, THE SURGEON GENERAL, MURTHY, THE SURGEON GENERAL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE. BEING HERE. MY QUESTION TO YOU IS, DOES MY QUESTION TO YOU IS, DOES EVERYONE WHO WANT A COVID EVERYONE WHO WANT A COVID VACCINE, CAN THEY GET ONE? VACCINE, CAN THEY GET ONE? AND WHO SHOULD BE GETTING THIS AND WHO SHOULD BE GETTING THIS VACCINE RIGHT NOW? VACCINE RIGHT NOW? >> WELL, THANKS, ELIZABETH. >> WELL, THANKS, ELIZABETH. EVERYONE WHO WANTS A COVID EVERYONE WHO WANTS A COVID VACCINE SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET VACCINE SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET ONE AT NO COST BECAUSE ONE AT NO COST BECAUSE INSURANCE BE COVERING THIS. INSURANCE BE COVERING THIS. AND WE'VE ALSO WORKED HARD AND WE'VE ALSO WORKED HARD TO SET UP A BRIDGE PROGRAM FOR TO SET UP A BRIDGE PROGRAM FOR THOSE WHO ARE UNINSURED. THOSE WHO ARE UNINSURED. IN TERMS OF WHO SHOULD IN TERMS OF WHO SHOULD BE GETTING THEIR BACK, BE GETTING THEIR BACK, THE VACCINE, THE VACCINE IS NOW THE VACCINE, THE VACCINE IS NOW AVAILABLE FOR EVERYONE WHO IS AVAILABLE FOR EVERYONE WHO IS SIX MONTHS AND UP. SIX MONTHS AND UP. AND IT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE AND IT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE ARE SEEING AN INCREASE IN COVID ARE SEEING AN INCREASE IN COVID CASES. CASES. THANKFULLY, THE NUMBER THANKFULLY, THE NUMBER OF HOSPITALIZATIONS INCREASING OF HOSPITALIZATIONS INCREASING IS STILL MUCH LOWER THAN IT WAS IS STILL MUCH LOWER THAN IT WAS AT THIS TIME LAST YEAR AND FROM AT THIS TIME LAST YEAR AND FROM HISTORIC PEAKS. HISTORIC PEAKS. BUT WITH THAT SAID, WE WANT BUT WITH THAT SAID, WE WANT PEOPLE TO BE PROTECTED. PEOPLE TO BE PROTECTED. AND ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE IN AND ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE IN A HIGH RISK GROUP, IF YOU'RE 65 A HIGH RISK GROUP, IF YOU'RE 65 YEARS OF AGE AND OLDER, IF YEARS OF AGE AND OLDER, IF YOU'RE IMMUNOCOMPROMISED, IF YOU'RE IMMUNOCOMPROMISED, IF YOU HAVE OTHER MEDICAL YOU HAVE OTHER MEDICAL CONDITIONS, IF YOU'RE PREGNANT, CONDITIONS, IF YOU'RE PREGNANT, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE THAT PROTECTION AS QUICKLY HAVE THAT PROTECTION AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. AS POSSIBLE. VACCINES.GOV WHERE YOU CAN VACCINES.GOV WHERE YOU CAN GO TO FIND LOCATIONS NEAR YOU, GO TO FIND LOCATIONS NEAR YOU, WHERE YOU CAN GET THE VACCINE. WHERE YOU CAN GET THE VACCINE. AND TALKING WITH YOU, JUST AND TALKING WITH YOU, JUST TO CLEAR THAT UP, TO CLEAR THAT UP, THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN HAS ACKNOWLEDGED AND HUMAN HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THAT SOME AMERICANS HAVE THAT SOME AMERICANS HAVE STRUGGLED TO GET INSURANCE STRUGGLED TO GET INSURANCE TO COVER THE COST OF THE SHOT. TO COVER THE COST OF THE SHOT. SO WHAT SHOULD PEOPLE DO IF SO WHAT SHOULD PEOPLE DO IF THEIR PHARMACY SAYS YOU DO HAVE THEIR PHARMACY SAYS YOU DO HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS? TO PAY FOR THIS? ISN'T IT SUPPOSED TO BE FREE ISN'T IT SUPPOSED TO BE FREE LIKE YOU SAID? LIKE YOU SAID? WELL, THIS SHOULD BE COVERED WELL, THIS SHOULD BE COVERED BY INSURANCE OR IF PEOPLE ARE BY INSURANCE OR IF PEOPLE ARE HAVING A DIFFICULT TIME, HAVING A DIFFICULT TIME, CERTAINLY CAN CHECK WITH THEIR CERTAINLY CAN CHECK WITH THEIR INSURER TO ASK WHY IT'S NOT INSURER TO ASK WHY IT'S NOT BEING COVERED. BEING COVERED. IT SHOULD BE. IT SHOULD BE. AND ON OUR SIDE, VACCINES.GOV. AND ON OUR SIDE, VACCINES.GOV. WE DO HAVE RESOURCES SO WE DO HAVE RESOURCES SO HOW PEOPLE CAN ACTUALLY GET HOW PEOPLE CAN ACTUALLY GET SOME HELP AND CONTACT US. SOME HELP AND CONTACT US. SO THAT WE CAN HELP WORK SO THAT WE CAN HELP WORK WITH CUSTOMERS AND WITH WITH CUSTOMERS AND WITH WITH PATIENTS ACROSS WITH PATIENTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO ENSURE THEY GET THE COUNTRY TO ENSURE THEY GET THE VACCINES. THE VACCINES. ONE OF THE IMPORTANT THINGS ONE OF THE IMPORTANT THINGS THAT HAPPENED YEARS AGO IN 2010 THAT HAPPENED YEARS AGO IN 2010 WHEN THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT WHEN THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT WAS PASSED WAS A RECOGNITION WAS PASSED WAS A RECOGNITION THAT SERVICES LIKE VACCINES THAT SERVICES LIKE VACCINES SHOULD BE COVERED. SHOULD BE COVERED. THEY SHOULD BE MADE AVAILABLE THEY SHOULD BE MADE AVAILABLE TO EVERYONE. TO EVERYONE. AND THAT'S THE SAME PRINCIPLE AND THAT'S THE SAME PRINCIPLE THAT SHOULD BE BEING FOLLOWED THAT SHOULD BE BEING FOLLOWED HERE BY INSURANCE COMPANIES. HERE BY INSURANCE COMPANIES. COVID AS THE VACCINE IS A COVID AS THE VACCINE IS A PREVENTIVE MEASURE, AND IT'S PREVENTIVE MEASURE, AND IT'S ONE THAT EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE ONE THAT EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE ACCESS TO. ACCESS TO. NOW TO A TOPIC YOU'VE BEEN NOW TO A TOPIC YOU'VE BEEN WARNING ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH, WARNING ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH, ESPECIALLY WITH YOUNGER ESPECIALLY WITH YOUNGER AMERICANS. AMERICANS. EARLIER THIS YEAR, YOU RELEASED EARLIER THIS YEAR, YOU RELEASED A LANDMARK ADVISORY WARNING A LANDMARK ADVISORY WARNING ABOUT THE IMPACT OF SOCIAL ABOUT THE IMPACT OF SOCIAL MEDIA. MEDIA. YOU DESCRIBED IT AS A DRIVER YOU DESCRIBED IT AS A DRIVER OF THE MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS OF THE MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS AMONG CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS. AMONG CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS. SOCIAL MEDIA EXECUTIVES, SOCIAL MEDIA EXECUTIVES, OF COURSE, ARGUE THAT THEY OF COURSE, ARGUE THAT THEY ARE TAKING STEPS TO MITIGATE ARE TAKING STEPS TO MITIGATE ANY OF THESE RISKS. ANY OF THESE RISKS. BUT CAN YOU JUST EXPLAIN TO US BUT CAN YOU JUST EXPLAIN TO US THIS SCIENTIFIC CASE FOR WHY THIS SCIENTIFIC CASE FOR WHY SOCIAL MEDIA IS A MENTAL HEALTH SOCIAL MEDIA IS A MENTAL HEALTH RISK, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES RISK, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO KIDS? TO KIDS? ELIZABETH I'M VERY CONCERNED ELIZABETH I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING TO, ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING TO, THE MENTAL HEALTH OF OUR KIDS. THE MENTAL HEALTH OF OUR KIDS. I SAY THAT AS A FATHER OF A I SAY THAT AS A FATHER OF A FIVE AND SEVEN-YEAR-OLD MYSELF, FIVE AND SEVEN-YEAR-OLD MYSELF, BUT ALSO AS A SURGEON GENERAL BUT ALSO AS A SURGEON GENERAL WHO'S, GONE AND VISITED SO MANY WHO'S, GONE AND VISITED SO MANY COMMUNITIES ACROSS OUR COUNTRY, COMMUNITIES ACROSS OUR COUNTRY, HAS TALKED TO THOUSANDS OF KIDS HAS TALKED TO THOUSANDS OF KIDS AND PARENTS AND WHO'S HEARD AND PARENTS AND WHO'S HEARD FROM THEM ABOUT THE DEPTHS FROM THEM ABOUT THE DEPTHS OF THIS. OF THIS. THE MOST COMMON QUESTION THE MOST COMMON QUESTION I'M GETTING FROM PARENTS OVER I'M GETTING FROM PARENTS OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS HAS BEEN THE LAST FEW YEARS HAS BEEN ABOUT SOCIAL MEDIA. ABOUT SOCIAL MEDIA. PARENTS WANT TO KNOW HOW SOCIAL PARENTS WANT TO KNOW HOW SOCIAL MEDIA SAFE FOR MY CHILDREN. MEDIA SAFE FOR MY CHILDREN. AND THAT WAS ONE OF THE REASONS AND THAT WAS ONE OF THE REASONS THAT I ISSUED A SURGEON THAT I ISSUED A SURGEON GENERAL'S ADVISORY ON SOCIAL GENERAL'S ADVISORY ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH, MEDIA AND YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH, BECAUSE WHAT WE FOUND WERE BECAUSE WHAT WE FOUND WERE TWO CRITICAL THINGS WHEN WE TWO CRITICAL THINGS WHEN WE LOOKED AT THE DATA. LOOKED AT THE DATA. NUMBER ONE, THERE IS NOT ENOUGH NUMBER ONE, THERE IS NOT ENOUGH EVIDENCE TO SAY, IN FACT, EVIDENCE TO SAY, IN FACT, THAT SOCIAL MEDIA IS SAFE, THAT SOCIAL MEDIA IS SAFE, OUR KIDS. OUR KIDS. INSTEAD, WHAT WE'RE FINDING INSTEAD, WHAT WE'RE FINDING IS GROWING EVIDENCE. IS GROWING EVIDENCE. THAT SHOWS AN ASSOCIATION THAT SHOWS AN ASSOCIATION BETWEEN SOCIAL MEDIA BETWEEN SOCIAL MEDIA USE AND HARM TO CHILDREN. USE AND HARM TO CHILDREN. FOR EXAMPLE, WE'RE FINDING FOR EXAMPLE, WE'RE FINDING THAT KIDS WHO ARE USING AN THAT KIDS WHO ARE USING AN AVERAGE 3 HOURS OF SOCIAL MEDIA AVERAGE 3 HOURS OF SOCIAL MEDIA A DAY OR MORE, THEY DOUBLE A DAY OR MORE, THEY DOUBLE THEIR RISK OF ANXIETY THEIR RISK OF ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION. AND DEPRESSION. SYMPTOMS COMPARED KIDS SYMPTOMS COMPARED KIDS WHO DON'T. WHO DON'T. AND GUESS WHAT? AND GUESS WHAT? THE AVERAGE AMOUNT OF USES THE AVERAGE AMOUNT OF USES AMONG ADOLESCENTS. AMONG ADOLESCENTS. TODAY, IT'S THREE AND A HALF TODAY, IT'S THREE AND A HALF HOURS. HOURS. KIDS THEMSELVES ARE ALSO SAYING KIDS THEMSELVES ARE ALSO SAYING THAT WHEN THEY USE SOCIAL THAT WHEN THEY USE SOCIAL MEDIA, IT DOESN'T OFTEN MAKE MEDIA, IT DOESN'T OFTEN MAKE THEM FEEL GOOD ABOUT THEMSELVES THEM FEEL GOOD ABOUT THEMSELVES . . HALF OF ADOLESCENTS SAY USING HALF OF ADOLESCENTS SAY USING SOCIAL MEDIA MAKES THEM FEEL SOCIAL MEDIA MAKES THEM FEEL WORSE ABOUT THEIR BODY IMAGE. WORSE ABOUT THEIR BODY IMAGE. SO I'M VERY CONCERNED AND IT'S SO I'M VERY CONCERNED AND IT'S WHY I LAID OUT A SERIES STEPS WHY I LAID OUT A SERIES STEPS THAT WE NEED TO TAKE TO ENSURE THAT WE NEED TO TAKE TO ENSURE THAT OUR KIDS ARE PROTECTED THAT OUR KIDS ARE PROTECTED AGAINST. AGAINST. >> THE HARMS OF SOCIAL MEDIA. >> THE HARMS OF SOCIAL MEDIA. A CRISIS AS YOU WARNED ABOUT, A CRISIS AS YOU WARNED ABOUT, ON THE TOPIC OF MENTAL HEALTH. ON THE TOPIC OF MENTAL HEALTH. I DO WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT I DO WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT THE MEDALLION AWARDS EVENT THE MEDALLION AWARDS EVENT EARLIER THIS YEAR AT EARLIER THIS YEAR AT THE KENNEDY CENTER HERE THE KENNEDY CENTER HERE IN WASHINGTON, HONORING IN WASHINGTON, HONORING PEOPLE WHOSE SERVICE PEOPLE WHOSE SERVICE AND SACRIFICES HELPED IMPROVE AND SACRIFICES HELPED IMPROVE THE MENTAL HEALTH THE MENTAL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF THEIR AND WELL-BEING OF THEIR COMMUNITIES. COMMUNITIES. JUST TELL US ABOUT THOSE JUST TELL US ABOUT THOSE WHO WERE HONOR THEIR. WHO WERE HONOR THEIR. WELL, THIS IS REALLY ONE OF WELL, THIS IS REALLY ONE OF THE MOST JOYFUL MOMENTS THE MOST JOYFUL MOMENTS THAT I'VE HAD OVER LAST THAT I'VE HAD OVER LAST YEAR WAS THIS PAST MONDAY. YEAR WAS THIS PAST MONDAY. I HAD A GREAT PRIVILEGE I HAD A GREAT PRIVILEGE AND HONOR OF PRESENTING AND HONOR OF PRESENTING THE SURGEON GENERAL'S THE SURGEON GENERAL'S MEDALLION, THE HIGHEST CIVILIAN MEDALLION, THE HIGHEST CIVILIAN AWARD THAT I CAN GIVE. AWARD THAT I CAN GIVE. I AM PRESENTING THAT TO I AM PRESENTING THAT TO SIX INDIVIDUALS SIX INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS DURING AND ORGANIZATIONS DURING THE LAST FEW DIFFICULT YEARS THE LAST FEW DIFFICULT YEARS HAVE BEEN SOURCES OF LIGHT. HAVE BEEN SOURCES OF LIGHT. THEY HOPE TO OUR COMMUNITIES. THEY HOPE TO OUR COMMUNITIES. THESE ORGANIZATIONS THESE ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS HAVE DONE AND INDIVIDUALS HAVE DONE THINGS LIKE CREATE MENTORSHIP THINGS LIKE CREATE MENTORSHIP PROGRAMS FOR AT RISK YOUTH. PROGRAMS FOR AT RISK YOUTH. THEY'VE HELPED CREATE PROGRAMS THEY'VE HELPED CREATE PROGRAMS IN HIGH SCHOOLS AND MIDDLE IN HIGH SCHOOLS AND MIDDLE SCHOOLS TO HELP CREATE SCHOOLS TO HELP CREATE COMMUNITY AND REDUCE LONELINESS COMMUNITY AND REDUCE LONELINESS IN SCHOOLS. IN SCHOOLS. THEY'VE HELPED TO BRING YOUNG THEY'VE HELPED TO BRING YOUNG PEOPLE TOGETHER TO EXPERIENCE PEOPLE TOGETHER TO EXPERIENCE THE LOSS OF A LOVED ONE, THE LOSS OF A LOVED ONE, TO DEAL WITH GRIEF AND TO DO SO TO DEAL WITH GRIEF AND TO DO SO TOGETHER. TOGETHER. AND THEY'VE ALSO FOUGHT HARD AND THEY'VE ALSO FOUGHT HARD TO SUPPORT OUR HEALTH CARE TO SUPPORT OUR HEALTH CARE WORKERS RECOGNIZING WORKERS RECOGNIZING THEY'RE BURNING OUT THEY'RE BURNING OUT IN TRAGICALLY LARGE NUMBERS. IN TRAGICALLY LARGE NUMBERS. AND SO IT WAS A WONDERFUL AND SO IT WAS A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY, RECOGNIZE THEM, OPPORTUNITY, RECOGNIZE THEM, BUT ALSO TO BRING THE COMMUNITY BUT ALSO TO BRING THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER WITH THE MUSIC, TOGETHER WITH THE MUSIC, TO RECOGNIZE THAT WE'VE BEEN TO RECOGNIZE THAT WE'VE BEEN THROUGH A DARK PERIOD, THAT THE THROUGH A DARK PERIOD, THAT THE INSPIRING STORIES THAT WE HEARD INSPIRING STORIES THAT WE HEARD AND THE POWER OF THE ARTS, AND THE POWER OF THE ARTS, MUSIC IN PARTICULAR, CAN HELP MUSIC IN PARTICULAR, CAN HELP LIFT US UP AND CAN HELP POINT LIFT US UP AND CAN HELP POINT US TOWARD A BRIGHTER DAY. US TOWARD A BRIGHTER DAY. SO THAT WAS A WONDERFUL EVENT SO THAT WAS A WONDERFUL EVENT WE HAD AND WE WANT TO FIND WE HAD AND WE WANT TO FIND MORE WAYS TO USE THE ARTS MORE WAYS TO USE THE ARTS AND TO USE THESE KIND OF EVENTS AND TO USE THESE KIND OF EVENTS ,HIGHLIGHT THE BEAUTY AND THE ,HIGHLIGHT THE BEAUTY AND THE INSPIRATION THAT ALREADY EXISTS INSPIRATION THAT ALREADY EXISTS . . OUR COMMUNITIES THAT WE DON'T OUR COMMUNITIES THAT WE DON'T OFTEN HEAR ABOUT. OFTEN HEAR ABOUT. SURGEON MURTHY. SURGEON MURTHY. >> THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME >> THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME TODAY. TODAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH, ELIZABETH. THANK YOU SO MUCH, ELIZABETH. >> GOOD TO BE WITH YOU. >> GOOD TO BE WITH YOU. AND IF YOU ARE STRUGGLING AND IF YOU ARE STRUGGLING WITH MENTAL HEALTH DISTRESS, WITH MENTAL HEALTH DISTRESS, TEXT OR DIAL NINE, EIGHT, TEXT OR DIAL NINE, EIGHT, EIGHT. EIGHT. FREE HELP IS AVAILABLE 24/7. FREE HELP IS AVAILABLE 24/7. NOW, LET'S BRING THE BIG STORY NOW, LET'S BRING THE BIG STORY TO OUR PANEL. TO OUR PANEL. JOINING US TODAY, JOINING US TODAY, ABC NEWS MEDICAL CONTRIBUTOR ABC NEWS MEDICAL CONTRIBUTOR AND PHYSICIAN AT STANFORD AND PHYSICIAN AT STANFORD CHILDREN'S HEALTH, DR. PATEL, CHILDREN'S HEALTH, DR. PATEL, ABC NEWS CONTRIBUTOR AND FORMER ABC NEWS CONTRIBUTOR AND FORMER REPUBLICAN CONGRESSMAN FROM REPUBLICAN CONGRESSMAN FROM NEW YORK JOHN KATKO. NEW YORK JOHN KATKO. ABC NEWS CONTRIBUTING ABC NEWS CONTRIBUTING POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT, POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT, COAUTHOR OF THE POLITICO COAUTHOR OF THE POLITICO PLAYBOOK NEWSLETTER RACHEL BAY PLAYBOOK NEWSLETTER RACHEL BAY AND, ABC'S JAY O'BRIEN AND, ABC'S JAY O'BRIEN ON CAPITOL HILL. ON CAPITOL HILL. DR. PATEL, I WILL START DR. PATEL, I WILL START WITH YOU. WITH YOU. YOU ARE A PRACTICING PHYSICIAN. YOU ARE A PRACTICING PHYSICIAN. HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE ACTUALLY GETTING COVID VACCINE ACTUALLY GETTING COVID VACCINE RIGHT NOW? RIGHT NOW? WHAT ARE YOU SEEING AND HEARING WHAT ARE YOU SEEING AND HEARING FROM PATIENTS? FROM PATIENTS? >> I'M HEARING A LOT >> I'M HEARING A LOT OF INTEREST FROM PEOPLE WHO OF INTEREST FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE PAYING ATTENTION HEADLINES, ARE PAYING ATTENTION HEADLINES, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO ARE HIGH ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO ARE HIGH RISK. RISK. SO PEOPLE WHO HAVE UNDERLYING SO PEOPLE WHO HAVE UNDERLYING CHRONIC MEDICAL THESE THERE CHRONIC MEDICAL THESE THERE ARE IMMUNOCOMPROMISED, WEAK ARE IMMUNOCOMPROMISED, WEAK IMMUNE SYSTEMS, PARENTS OF A IMMUNE SYSTEMS, PARENTS OF A YOUNGER CHILDREN AND EVEN YOUNGER CHILDREN AND EVEN PEOPLE WHO MIGHT BE HANGING OUT PEOPLE WHO MIGHT BE HANGING OUT WITH SOMEONE WHO IS ABOVE WITH SOMEONE WHO IS ABOVE THE AGE OF 60 OR 65. THE AGE OF 60 OR 65. NOW, WE OBVIOUSLY ALL HAVE NOW, WE OBVIOUSLY ALL HAVE OUR EYES ON THOSE NUMBERS FROM OUR EYES ON THOSE NUMBERS FROM THE LAST WERE LESS THAN 20% THE LAST WERE LESS THAN 20% OF PEOPLE WHO ARE ELIGIBLE WENT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE ELIGIBLE WENT OUT AND GOT IT BUT A HIGH OUT AND GOT IT BUT A HIGH PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE ABOUT THE PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE ABOUT THE AGE OF 65 DID. AGE OF 65 DID. SO RIGHT NOW WHAT WE'RE LOOKING SO RIGHT NOW WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT RIGHT NOW IS AN INTEREST AT RIGHT NOW IS AN INTEREST IN PEOPLE GETTING IT, IN PEOPLE GETTING IT, BUT MAKING SURE THAT THEY HAVE BUT MAKING SURE THAT THEY HAVE ACCESS THEY KNOW WHERE TO GET ACCESS THEY KNOW WHERE TO GET IT AND THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE IT AND THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE AVAILABLE TO ALL COMMUNITIES AVAILABLE TO ALL COMMUNITIES REGARDLESS OF SOCIAL ECONOMIC REGARDLESS OF SOCIAL ECONOMIC STATUS. STATUS. >> AND AS WE KNOW, THE THIS >> AND AS WE KNOW, THE THIS WHOLE CONVERSATION AROUND WHOLE CONVERSATION AROUND VACCINES INCREASINGLY PART VACCINES INCREASINGLY PART OF THE POLITICAL DIALOG. OF THE POLITICAL DIALOG. RACHEL FLORIDA GOVERNOR AND GOP RACHEL FLORIDA GOVERNOR AND GOP PRESIDENTIAL CONTENDER PRESIDENTIAL CONTENDER RON DESANTIS SAYS HE WANTS RON DESANTIS SAYS HE WANTS TO REVOKE FEDERAL FUNDING FOR TO REVOKE FEDERAL FUNDING FOR COVID VACCINES IF HE IS ELECTED COVID VACCINES IF HE IS ELECTED PRESIDENT. PRESIDENT. IS THIS A POSITION THAT'S GOING IS THIS A POSITION THAT'S GOING TO WIN HIM OVER TO WIN HIM OVER REPUBLICAN VOTERS IN THIS AGE REPUBLICAN VOTERS IN THIS AGE THAT WE ARE LIVING POST COVID? THAT WE ARE LIVING POST COVID? I MEAN, THE POLITICAL REALITY I MEAN, THE POLITICAL REALITY IS THERE IS A BIG PORTION IS THERE IS A BIG PORTION OF THE REPUBLICAN BASE WHERE OF THE REPUBLICAN BASE WHERE THAT DOES CATER TO THEM. THAT DOES CATER TO THEM. AND CLEARLY HE'S PANDERING AND CLEARLY HE'S PANDERING TO THAT WING OF THE PARTY TO THAT WING OF THE PARTY RIGHT NOW TO TRY TO GET RIGHT NOW TO TRY TO GET SOME SORT OF MOVEMENT ON DONALD SOME SORT OF MOVEMENT ON DONALD TRUMP. TRUMP. LOOK, I CAN TELL YOU THAT, LOOK, I CAN TELL YOU THAT, YOU KNOW, MY WHOLE FAMILY YOU KNOW, MY WHOLE FAMILY VACCINATED, ETC., A MONTH AGO VACCINATED, ETC., A MONTH AGO OR ABOUT A MONTH AGO EARLIER OR ABOUT A MONTH AGO EARLIER THIS MONTH, YOU KNOW, MY WHOLE THIS MONTH, YOU KNOW, MY WHOLE FAMILY GOT THIS NEW STRAIN FAMILY GOT THIS NEW STRAIN OF COVID. OF COVID. AND I HAVE A MONTH OLD AND, AND I HAVE A MONTH OLD AND, YOU KNOW, SHE'S TYPICALLY AN YOU KNOW, SHE'S TYPICALLY AN ENERGIZER BUNNY. ENERGIZER BUNNY. AND USUALLY THEY SAY WITH COVID AND USUALLY THEY SAY WITH COVID KIDS BACK BOUNCE BACK VERY KIDS BACK BOUNCE BACK VERY QUICKLY, THEY GET VERY ILL. QUICKLY, THEY GET VERY ILL. MY DAUGHTER, YOU KNOW, SHE WAS MY DAUGHTER, YOU KNOW, SHE WAS REALLY LAID OUT FLAT FOR REALLY LAID OUT FLAT FOR TWO DAYS. TWO DAYS. IT WAS REALLY SCARY. IT WAS REALLY SCARY. AND WE HADN'T HAD ACCESS TO AND WE HADN'T HAD ACCESS TO THIS NEW COVID BOOSTER. THIS NEW COVID BOOSTER. OF COURSE, NOW WE'VE ALREADY OF COURSE, NOW WE'VE ALREADY HAD IT. HAD IT. BUT I IT'S JUST IT'S BAFFLING BUT I IT'S JUST IT'S BAFFLING TO THINK OF, YOU KNOW, TO THINK OF, YOU KNOW, REPUBLICANS SAYING TO REVOKE REPUBLICANS SAYING TO REVOKE ANY FEDERAL HELP FOR TRYING ANY FEDERAL HELP FOR TRYING TO MAKE SURE VACCINES ARE UP TO MAKE SURE VACCINES ARE UP TO DATE WHEN YOU HAVE LIKE TO DATE WHEN YOU HAVE LIKE LITTLE THAT YOU'RE WORRIED LITTLE THAT YOU'RE WORRIED ABOUT ANYWAY. ABOUT ANYWAY. JOHN, WHAT'S YOUR TAKE, JOHN, WHAT'S YOUR TAKE, HOW THAT POSITION COULD PLAY HOW THAT POSITION COULD PLAY OVER WITH VOTERS AND THE OVER WITH VOTERS AND THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY? REPUBLICAN PRIMARY? YEAH, ELIZABETH, I AGREE A LOT YEAH, ELIZABETH, I AGREE A LOT WITH WHAT RACHEL JUST AND THIS WITH WHAT RACHEL JUST AND THIS SHOULDN'T BE A POLITICAL ISSUE. SHOULDN'T BE A POLITICAL ISSUE. THIS SHOULD BE A DECISION THIS SHOULD BE A DECISION BETWEEN A DOCTOR AND A PATIENT BETWEEN A DOCTOR AND A PATIENT BASED ON A LOT OF INTANGIBLES BASED ON A LOT OF INTANGIBLES ARE YOU 65 OR OLDER OR DO ARE YOU 65 OR OLDER OR DO YOU HAVE MORE MORBIDITIES YOU HAVE MORE MORBIDITIES THAT MIGHT CONTRIBUTE TO IT? THAT MIGHT CONTRIBUTE TO IT? DO YOU HAVE SOMEONE IN YOUR DO YOU HAVE SOMEONE IN YOUR HOUSE THAT IF YOU GET COVID HOUSE THAT IF YOU GET COVID COULD COMPROMISE THAT? COULD COMPROMISE THAT? THOSE ARE ALL CONSIDERATIONS THOSE ARE ALL CONSIDERATIONS YOU SHOULD TALK ABOUT WITH YOU SHOULD TALK ABOUT WITH YOUR DOCTOR. YOUR DOCTOR. BUT I DO WANT TO TAKE BUT I DO WANT TO TAKE ONE SECOND TO TALK ABOUT THE ONE SECOND TO TALK ABOUT THE MENTAL HEALTH ASPECT, ABOUT THE MENTAL HEALTH ASPECT, ABOUT THE SURGEON GENERAL TALKED ABOUT, SURGEON GENERAL TALKED ABOUT, BECAUSE THAT'S SOMETHING NO BECAUSE THAT'S SOMETHING NO ONE TALKS ABOUT. ONE TALKS ABOUT. I WAS HEAD OF THE SUICIDE I WAS HEAD OF THE SUICIDE PREVENTION TASK FORCE PREVENTION TASK FORCE IN CONGRESS AND THE MENTAL IN CONGRESS AND THE MENTAL HEALTH CAUCUS AND. HEALTH CAUCUS AND. IT'S FRIGHTENING. IT'S FRIGHTENING. THE NUMBER TWO CAUSE OF DEATH THE NUMBER TWO CAUSE OF DEATH FOR KIDS, 10 TO 20 FOR SUICIDE FOR KIDS, 10 TO 20 FOR SUICIDE AND THE NUMBER ONE CAUSE AND THE NUMBER ONE CAUSE OF DEATH FOR ALL AMERICANS, OF DEATH FOR ALL AMERICANS, SUICIDE. SUICIDE. AND NO ONE TALKS ABOUT IT. AND NO ONE TALKS ABOUT IT. IT'S A DISEASE JUST LIKE CANCER IT'S A DISEASE JUST LIKE CANCER AND EVERYTHING ELSE. AND EVERYTHING ELSE. AND THE MORE WE CAN TALK AND THE MORE WE CAN TALK ABOUT IT AND THE MORE WE CAN ABOUT IT AND THE MORE WE CAN EXPOSE IT, THE BETTER EXPOSE IT, THE BETTER IT'S GOING TO BE. IT'S GOING TO BE. AND WE'VE GOT TO ATTACK IT JUST AND WE'VE GOT TO ATTACK IT JUST LIKE WE DO EVERY OTHER DISEASE LIKE WE DO EVERY OTHER DISEASE IN THIS COUNTRY. IN THIS COUNTRY. >> SO I APPRECIATE THE SURGEON >> SO I APPRECIATE THE SURGEON GENERAL TALKING ABOUT IT. GENERAL TALKING ABOUT IT. >> JAY, MAYBE YOU CAN WEIGH >> JAY, MAYBE YOU CAN WEIGH IN A LITTLE BIT THERE FROM IN A LITTLE BIT THERE FROM CAPITOL HILL. CAPITOL HILL. IS THERE A CONVERSATION AROUND IS THERE A CONVERSATION AROUND SOCIAL MEDIA COMPANIES SOCIAL MEDIA COMPANIES AND ACCOUNTABILITY AS IT AND ACCOUNTABILITY AS IT RELATES TO THE MENTAL HEALTH RELATES TO THE MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS JON WAS JUST MENTIONING? CRISIS JON WAS JUST MENTIONING? IS THAT SOMETHING YOU HEAR IS THAT SOMETHING YOU HEAR ABOUT AS AS YOU'RE OVER THERE? ABOUT AS AS YOU'RE OVER THERE? >> YEAH, WITHOUT QUESTION. >> YEAH, WITHOUT QUESTION. THERE'S A CONVERSATION ON THAT THERE'S A CONVERSATION ON THAT ELIZABETH. ELIZABETH. THERE'S A BIPARTISAN BILL IN THERE'S A BIPARTISAN BILL IN THE SENATE, FOR INSTANCE, THE SENATE, FOR INSTANCE, WITH MARSHA BLACKBURN WITH MARSHA BLACKBURN AND RICHARD TOOMEY. AND RICHARD TOOMEY. RICHARD BLUMENTHAL RICHARD BLUMENTHAL CO-SPONSORING THAT PIECE CO-SPONSORING THAT PIECE OF LEGISLATION, GOTTEN A LOT OF LEGISLATION, GOTTEN A LOT OF TALK, BUT IT HASN'T OF TALK, BUT IT HASN'T NECESSARILY PROGRESSED IN WAY NECESSARILY PROGRESSED IN WAY THAT EITHER OF THOSE SENATORS THAT EITHER OF THOSE SENATORS WOULD LIKE. WOULD LIKE. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT BOTH THIS IS SOMETHING THAT BOTH PARTIES ARE BEHIND. PARTIES ARE BEHIND. BUT IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS BUT IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT DOESN'T SOMETIMES GET ALL THAT DOESN'T SOMETIMES GET ALL THE OXYGEN IT NEEDS THAT. THE OXYGEN IT NEEDS THAT. BLACKBURN BLUMENTHAL BILL, FOR BLACKBURN BLUMENTHAL BILL, FOR INSTANCE, TAKES A LOOK INSTANCE, TAKES A LOOK AT ALGORITHMS AND WHAT MANY AT ALGORITHMS AND WHAT MANY CRITICIZED AS ADDICTIVE CRITICIZED AS ADDICTIVE ALGORITHMS THAT LET USERS ALGORITHMS THAT LET USERS SPIRAL, AS THE CONGRESSMAN SPIRAL, AS THE CONGRESSMAN POINTED OUT, INTO THIS CYCLE POINTED OUT, INTO THIS CYCLE OF DEPRESSION. OF DEPRESSION. WE'VE HEARD A LOT OF TALK WE'VE HEARD A LOT OF TALK IN THE HOUSE, TOO, IN THE HOUSE, TOO, ABOUT ALGORITHMS, PARTICULARLY ABOUT ALGORITHMS, PARTICULARLY IT RELATES TO TICK TOCK, WHICH IT RELATES TO TICK TOCK, WHICH IS A WIDELY USED APP AMONGST IS A WIDELY USED APP AMONGST KIDS. KIDS. BUT THE QUESTION BECOMES, BUT THE QUESTION BECOMES, AGAIN, AS IS SO OFTEN THE CASE AGAIN, AS IS SO OFTEN THE CASE WITH THESE AND RACHEL KNOWS WITH THESE AND RACHEL KNOWS THIS BETTER THAN ANYBODY THIS BETTER THAN ANYBODY IS WHAT ISSUE IS RISING TO THE IS WHAT ISSUE IS RISING TO THE TOP RIGHT NOW? TOP RIGHT NOW? >> WHAT ISSUE IS GETTING >> WHAT ISSUE IS GETTING THE MOST OXYGEN? THE MOST OXYGEN? WHILE THIS IS TALKED ABOUT, WHILE THIS IS TALKED ABOUT, IT'S NECESSARILY THE THING IT'S NECESSARILY THE THING THAT'S BEING PROPELLED FORWARD THAT'S BEING PROPELLED FORWARD EVERY DAY IN THE CONVERSATION EVERY DAY IN THE CONVERSATION HERE ON CAPITOL HILL AS MUCH HERE ON CAPITOL HILL AS MUCH AS IT POSSIBLY SHOULD BE. AS IT POSSIBLY SHOULD BE. >> DR. PATEL, FINAL OVER TO YOU >> DR. PATEL, FINAL OVER TO YOU . . WE DO PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT WE DO PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT THE POTENTIAL EFFECT THIS THE POTENTIAL EFFECT THIS IS HAPPENING TO TEENS. IS HAPPENING TO TEENS. WE'VE GOT PREVIOUS SHOWING WE'VE GOT PREVIOUS SHOWING THAT SOCIAL MEDIA CAN INCREASE THAT SOCIAL MEDIA CAN INCREASE A TEEN'S RISK OF ANXIETY, A TEEN'S RISK OF ANXIETY, DEPRESSION, EATING DISORDERS, DEPRESSION, EATING DISORDERS, THE WAY THEY PERCEIVE SOCIAL THE WAY THEY PERCEIVE SOCIAL FEEDBACK AND CRITICISM, OTHERS. FEEDBACK AND CRITICISM, OTHERS. BUT WE CAN'T NEGLECT THAT. BUT WE CAN'T NEGLECT THAT. THERE ARE SOME BENEFITS FOR THERE ARE SOME BENEFITS FOR SOME TEENS WHO FIND A SENSE SOME TEENS WHO FIND A SENSE OF COMMUNITY. OF COMMUNITY. THERE'S GOOD EDUCATIONAL THERE'S GOOD EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES. RESOURCES. WE JUST HAVE TO HAVE WE JUST HAVE TO HAVE THAT NONPARTISAN, SCIENTIFIC THAT NONPARTISAN, SCIENTIFIC BASED DISCUSSION. BASED DISCUSSION. AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, PARENTS AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, PARENTS PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR KIDS PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR KIDS ARE DOING AND MODEL GOOD ARE DOING AND MODEL GOOD BEHAVIOR. BEHAVIOR. >> IF YOU ARE GLUED TO YOUR >> IF YOU ARE GLUED TO YOUR PHONE, YOUR TEENS MIGHT PHONE, YOUR TEENS MIGHT BE FOLLOWING