Sponsored message
Audience-funded nonprofit news
radio tower icon laist logo
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
Subscribe
  • Listen Now Playing Listen
News

Vaccine Talks: When Will My Teen Brother, A Cancer Survivor, Be Protected? 

Anthony Luna. (Photo by Joshua Luna)

Truth matters. Community matters. Your support makes both possible. LAist is one of the few places where news remains independent and free from political and corporate influence. Stand up for truth and for LAist. Make your year-end tax-deductible gift now.

This is part of a series of conversations that Cal State Northridge students had with loved ones about COVID-19 vaccinations. Planning your own conversation with family or friends? Here are some tips.

Helenkate Luna, South Central

My 15-year-old brother Anthony is a cancer survivor; he's been in remission about seven years.

We talked about how his life has changed because of COVID-19 and he pointed out that he has to be extra careful because he obviously has a weaker immune system than most.

Sponsored message

He’s not sure when he's going to be able to receive the vaccine but feels that, as a student and a cancer survivor, he should be able to get vaccinated as soon as he has the opportunity. He hopes to return to school, but wants to feel safe doing so.

I wish it were easier to find a way to be able to get him vaccinated. I get frustrated when I think about how access to the vaccine is generally all over the place. The fact that people who are working from home are able to get the vaccine, yet my immunocompromised brother won't get his vaccine anytime soon is upsetting and genuinely makes me sad.

READ THE REST OF OUR 'VACCINE TALKS' SERIES:

Our news is free on LAist. To make sure you get our coverage: Sign up for our daily newsletter. To support our non-profit public service journalism: Donate Now.

You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our connected community. We are free to tell the full truth, to hold power to account without fear or favor, and to follow facts wherever they lead. Our only loyalty is to our audiences and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen our community.

Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive before year-end will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.

If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.

Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief

Make your tax-deductible year-end gift today

A row of graphics payment types: Visa, MasterCard, Apple Pay and PayPal, and  below a lock with Secure Payment text to the right