. ♪ this is "nightline." tonight, had new strain. all eyes on the covid-19 mutation spreading across the uk, sparking calls for travel bans. >> we are going to see a really, really tough january. >> and growing backlash over who gets vaccinated first. the rich and privileged offering up catch to cut the line. and politicians getting the green light. plus, forgiving medical debt. >> this blessing that just appeared in the mailbox from nowhere and it just took care of it. >> the no strings attached movement to pay off medical bills. the big names and big hearts changing lives and wiping the slate clean. "nightline," will be right back.

thanks for joining us, tonight, growing hope and growing fear, a mutated strain of covid-19, scientists trying to figure out if it's more contagious and more lethal. >> shock waves rippling around the world after an alarming new development. the covid-19 virus has mutated again. the news triggering a rush of

people trying get out of the united kingdom as a growing list of countries are banning travelers from britain. scientists believe the new variant of the coronavirus spreads easier and faster than the original versions. early estimates show about 70% more infectious. >> can you walk me through what we know and don't know at this point? >> i don't think there's any reason to panic. there's reason to be concerned and it's why scientists have to be hyper focused on getting more data. most importantly we need to understand that the vaccine that we have is likely going to be totally effective and so, it really doesn't change the course of what we are doing today. >> reporter: is that new mutation appearing to be more deadly at this point? >> from the data that we have seen, it'sity not looking to be more lethal >> it's the grinch that stole christmas, the streets are quiet with the exception of ambulances and police cars moving around

the city. all but essential stores are closed again. people were up lifted by the fact that the vaccine was being rolled out. over half a million now have received it and now, a sense of trepidation of what the next few weeks will bring. >> and the concerns are growing here in the states as airports are hitting significant markers. we saw after thanksgiving the serge of covid cases and deaths do you think we will see the same? >> we called it a surge on a surge, and we are still in the thanksgiving surge, it's a surge on a surge on a surge, our health systems cannot handle it. >> with planes from the uk coming in to the u.s. without government restriction, some are arguing that the new mutation wi can make it worse. >> i believe it's already had here. >> the airlines have agreed to

test all passengers heading to the united states. >> this is a major problem. and for us to once again be incompetent as a federal government and take no action. we learned this lesson the hard way. and we are not going to go through it again. so far the trump administration has not increased the travel advisory for the uk today president elect biden rolled up his sleeve to get the pfizer vaccine. >> i'm doing it so people know they should be prepared to take the vaccine when it's available. there's nothing to worry about. >> so far, more than half a million doses have been administered and just this week, a second vaccine bymoderna became available. the cdc releasing updated guidelines today, recommending front line workers and elderly americans are given priority,

yet the temptation to jump the line is stronger than ever. the l.a. times reporting that the short supply could create a thriving black market. citing that doctors in los angeles are being offered up to $25,000s in exchange for early access to the vaccine. doctors reassuring they will follow the cdc suggested roll-out. and who has been receiving the shot first has raised eyebrows. vice president mike pence among a handful of politicians that received the vaccine in first week it was available. but with the shot came a dose of criticism. especially when white house staffers were originally intended to also get the vaccine. a plan that later came to a halt. >> our front line workers who have made the sacrifice to continue to make our country run should be the people who have been disproportionately impacted

should be the priority. >> also among the first to get vaccinated top leaders. including mitch mcconnell and house speaker nancy pelosi and eventually more members rolying up their sleeves after the capitol physician informed haul members of congress that they were eligible for the shots. both senators, rubio and graham facing backlash for receiving the shots first after months of down playing the virus. >> what the vaccine has is mrna -- >> representative cortez drawing criticism. senator rand paul who had the virus earlier this year tweeting he will wait to get the vaccine. calling out representative cortez and younger members for doing so writing, they should be among the last. not the first. the bronx representative responding saying, leaders should show we will not ask others to do something we will not do ourselves. >> i think it's a very careful balance. waiting a period of time before having the public displays is

probably important to make sure that enough of the sort of front line workers and vulnerable populations are getting it. but i think overall, it's good to see sort of, that, you know, that accept is answer -- that acceptance of the vaccine that will hopefully spread to the public. >> modern's vaccine was shipped off coast-to-coast. >> this has been the most important load that i have hauled. >> this is a box of ten vials. >> the first moerderna doses arriving this morning so that front line workers can be vaccinated. >> i'm confident and positive that this vaccine is going to work. do you think we have cause to be optimistic and hopeful? >> i overall think that we have a cause to be incredibly hopeful. i think the news on the vaccine, which i think is our crowning scientific achievement of our lifetimes is something that we should feel so good about.

but, you know, we have conditioners for these next two months. we don't want to reach 400,000 deaths but we are on that road. you know, maybe half a million, if we don't do the tough things immediately. so, there's definitely hope but, you know, it's layered with some real anxiety over the short-term. >> between moderna and pfizer, experts hope 20 million vaccine doses can be distributed by the first week of january and people are lining up to receive them. >> good morning. it is 10 after 6:00, just got in the car, i'm heading over to my hospital where i have an 8:00 appointment to get my covid vaccine. >> this morning, my colleague, dr. jenn ashton, a practicing gynecologist waited to receive her vaccine. >> hi! >> an essential front line worker, dr. ashton still performs surgeries at her hospital.

>> i literally felt like i won the lottery. ♪ ♪ i'll be home for christmas >> her joyful mood infectious, some even breaking out in to holiday cheer who were waiting. >> i am right handed i will do left arm. >> the relief of finally getting vaccinated indescribable. >> i feel incredibly fortunate. i didn't realize until that needle was in my arm how much fear and concern i have had suppressed all year as i continued to take care of patients. it was incredible. >> thank you, my dear. >> you are welcome. >> and now we are incredibly fortunate to have dr. jenn ashton with us now. i know you had a history of severe allergic reactions, how are you feeling hours after taking the vaccine? any side affects? >> physically i feel fine. i do have a history of severe allergic reaction to food, i had

my epi pen ready and i was in a safe environment and monitored for 30 minutes. my risk of allergic reaction is lower than covid so it was a easy decision. >> there's controversy aren't politicians getting vaccines. walk us through the guidelines on who gets the vaccines first. >> what the cdc said, that 1-a, should go to the long-term care facilities. nursing homes and front line health care workers. then, the cdc just out with recommendations about who goes second, group 1-b, they are suggesting essential is workers and adults 75 years of age and older and essential workers are a big group. people who work in food, agricultural, transportation, first responders, education, and prisons. there have been some small

subset of politicians, government officials for whom national security deems them an essential worker. >> and briefly can you give us the context of the alarming headlines coming out of the uk about the new mutation of covid? >> the deep dive on that, juju, is that viruses mutate for a living. we should not be surprised to hear there's new strains or variants of covid. i just spoke to dr. anthony fauci about it, and he said we have to be careful when we throw around a term like 70% more transmissable and it's not made covid more lethal and there's no evidence that the vaccine will not be effective. we have been learning about the strains and mutations and we have to make sure that the vaccines stay well matched. right now, it looks like they will. but it's definitely possible

that we could see a situation down the road where we might need different vaccines just like we the do for the influenza virus. >> your insights are essential, we are glad you are feeling well, thank you the for joining us. >> thanks, juju. >> and coming up the stunning >> thanks, juju. >> and coming up the stunning gift for many in need just between us, you know what's better than mopping? anything! at the end of a long day, it's the last thing i want to do. well i switched to swiffer wet jet and its awesome. it's an all-in-one so it's ready to go when i am. the cleaning solution actually breaks down dirt and grime. and the pad absorbs it deep inside. so, it prevents streaks and haze better than my old mop. plus, it's safe to use on all my floors, even wood. glad i got that off my chest and the day off my floor. try wet jet with a moneyback guarantee new aveeno® restorative skin therapy. with our highest concentration of prebiotic oat intensely moisturizes over time

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medical bills and seeing a light in the darkness. >> this pastor in maryland, has long believed our nation's health care system is broken. years ago, when his infant daughter fell off of her changing table, he andhis wife faced a decision that still haunts him. >> we drove around the hospital for a few hours in a circle, watching her. >> their daughter ended up being fine, but the pastor said the fear of going in to debt for medical treatment kept him from going in to the hospital. >> to not be able to take care of ourselves out of fear of what it's going to cost and whether we can afford the long-term consequence has stuck with me. >> and that is why the pastor has dedicated his efforts to help wiping out the medical debt of others. it's an obstacle so many americans face. donna has been dealing with it for years. >> if you have something like an icu bill that's, you know, crazy

money. >> diabetes related issues landed her in the icu twice, it was a tough time, her sister died, her father died, she lost her job. >> my health is messed up. my job is gone, my sister's gone. my dad is gone. >> and the crushing medical bills were one more burden. >> you paid them when you could, or paid on them when you could or prayed that it did not affect you extremely negatively. >> but then, out of the blue, donna got a letter informing her that the debt was forgiven. we looked at it and thought, it was a scam thing. >> but it was real. do donna's debt was paid off. it's a nonprofit organization that uses donations to buy up medical debt at a deep discount and then forgives it. >> the beauty of it for us is that it's blind. so, there's no judgment here on our part. >> allison said the organization

has forgiven $3 billion of medical debt. >> we are not helping people who are well off. we are helping people who need the help the most. >> on the debt collection market, those so-called hardship debts owed by low income people are the least valuable because they are the least likely to be paid off. this man, once a debt collector is in the business of debt forgiveness. >> it's like you went to the other side, right? >> the industry itself, it felt like i was a traitor. they would not talk to me for two or three years like i was a monster. until they realized that you know, we have to help the people that can't pay and will never pay. >> and they had the idea of buying the debts in bulk for a fraction of the value and then forgive them. >> once we started helping and abolishing medical debt, we realized how big of a problem we

were helping fix as opposed to collecting. >> they say that every donated absolves100,000 of medical debt. >> it was this thing, this blessing that appeared in the mailbox. it confirmed that i know there's good people out there. >> are you ready to do this? >> you are about to watch me give away $15 million. >> the donors have included tv host john oliver who joined the debt forgiveness cause. >> it's done! >> but it's not only celebrities. regular american ins are rallying their communities to help contribute like this pastor's congregation in maryland along with 400 others large andsmall across the country. they have stepped in. >> where do you find this in the bible, medical debt? >> i think giving people a taste of freedom and forgiveness is

the mission of the church. >> pastor kenny said his congregation has wiped out the debt portfolio for 14 maryland counties and they are trying raise enough money to wipe out rip's portfolio for the state. >> we are not a wealthy congregation or large, but we are committed, i think, ask a group to trying to help our neighbors. >> clearing the medical debt is of so many is a ran done act of kindness. >> i dreamed, when will i be able to give away a million dollars. if i had it that way, i would, but this is how i have it. i have a company that can give away billions of dollars. and that makes me the happiestity man in the world. >> but while he is grateful for an opportunity to give back, rip's efforts shed light on a system that leaves so many hoping for a miracle. as great work, why is it up to you guys? >> it's a hard question to

answer. i want it to be different. my prayer is still that something will change. >> until the high cost to survive in the country is addressed, pastor kenny is making sure that those in need, don't have to carry that cross alone. for nightline, in maryland. >> our thanks to terry. up next, how one community sprinkled some holiday cheer to covid-19 patients at this hospital. did you know that geico's whole 15 minutes thing... that came from me. really. my first idea was "in one quarter of an hour, your savings will tower... over you. figuratively speaking." but that's not catchy, is it? that's not going to swim about in your brain. so i thought, what about... 15 minutes. 15 percent. serendipity. 15 minutes could save you 15% or more on car insurance.

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♪ and finally tonight, spreading some joy, nurse ashley freed works at the covid unit at the hospital in highland park, pennsylvania. inspired by her brave patients fighting for their lives and isolated from loved one. ashley reached on social media with a little request. >> i wanted to do something especial, i was thinking of bringing in trees that they could have in their room. >> more than 100 holiday trees

were donated, a little christmas spirit to brighten the day. >> it cheers had me up to see the tree. because i have something in here makes it ♪ happy holidays to all. and a programming note, the next installment espn 30 for 30 podcast is out called march 11, 2020, it tells of the day that covid-19 shu