Today on AirTalk, we answer your COVID-19 questions and update you on the latest news. Also on the show, we break down why parents have filed a class-action lawsuit against LAUSD; talk about parental consent for the COVID-19 vaccine; and more.
COVID-19: When A COVID Vaccine Is Available, Who Gets It First? A CDC Panel Meets Today To Decide On Recommendations
In our continuing series looking at the latest medical research and news on COVID-19, Larry Mantle speaks with Dr. Kimberly Shriner, infectious disease specialist at Huntington Hospital in Pasadena.
Today’s topics include:
- CDC panel to meet today to discuss recommendations on who gets COVID vaccine first
- AP: European regulator could OK 1st COVID-19 vaccine on December 29
- WSJ: For COVID long-haulers, a little-known diagnosis offers possible treatments -- and new challenges
- COVID vaccine faces skepticism in U.S., France
- LAT: As virus again surges in California, race is a defining factor in nursing facilities, research shows
Guest:
Kimberly Shriner, M.D., infectious disease specialist at Huntington Hospital in Pasadena
Parent Groups Sue LAUSD And CA Over Handling Of Distance Learning. Where Should The Blame Fall?
Nine parents of Los Angeles Unified students filed a class action lawsuit in September against the state's largest school district over how it handles distance learning, arguing the district's online offerings fall short and violate their children's right to an education.
The plaintiffs in the lawsuit include Black and Latino parents, parents of students with special needs, and parents of students learning English. Surveys of parents and
But wait there's more…
— Kyle Stokes (@kystokes) July 21, 2020
On the average week, ~20% of all @LASchools didn't meaningfully participate.
…but 35-40% of #LAUSD's English learners didn't participate.
…and 35-40% of #SpecialEducation students didn't participate in #distancelearning. pic.twitter.com/XqANDoOQtS
have shown that students in these groups, in particular, have struggled with distance learning. In a prior statement, an LAUSD spokesperson had said: "Many of the challenges society faces present themselves in schools including the impact of COVID-19. School districts like Los Angeles Unified have to balance the sometimes conflicting priorities of the learning needs of students and the health and safety of all in the school community.” Seven families also took the state of California to court this week arguing that the state is not providing “basic educational equality,” according to Politico.
Today on AirTalk, we check in on where parents’ arguments stand and what challenges exist for both students and districts as the coronavirus pandemic rages on. We also want to hear from you. Are you an education or a parent of a student? If you have thoughts, call us at 866-893-5722.
We reached out to LAUSD, but they were unavailable for an interview.
With files from LAist. Read the full story from Carla Javier here
Guests:
Judith A. Larson, a plaintiff in the class action lawsuit and a parent leader in the Worth More LA movement, which consists of a group of parents and community members who are critical of educational cuts that impact Los Angeles children
John Rogers, professor of education at UCLA, where he’s also faculty director of Center X, which prepares aspiring teachers to become social justice educators, he’s also director of UCLA’s Institute for Democracy, Education, and Access
It’s Giving Tuesday! What’s That, Exactly?
It’s the post-Thanksgiving Tuesday that’s internationally recognized as the day folks are encouraged to donate to charity, also known as Giving Tuesday. But where did Giving Tuesday come from?
Though it might feel part of the lexicon now, Giving Tuesday was created in 2012 by the nonprofit cultural and community center 92nd Street Y which partnered with the U.N. Foundation and created the hashtag and free marketing resources for nonprofits to use.
We dive into the origins.
Guest:
Kelsey Piper, staff writer for Vox's Future Perfect section, which covers news through the lens of effective altruism; she wrote the piece “Giving Tuesday, explained”; she tweets
The Latest On The Inquest Into Deputy's Fatal Shooting Of Andres Guardado
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputy who fatally shot Andres Guardado in June, his partner on the scene and two Sheriff’s homicide detectives all invoked — or signaled their intention to invoke — their Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination today during the first day of a coroner’s inquest into the killing.
Retired appellate justice Candace Cooper, who is presiding over the proceeding, said she is not certain that the four men’s Fifth Amendment assertions are acceptable in all instances, adding that she will consult with county counsel on the matter. Deputy Miguel Vega shot the 18-year-old Guardado five times in the back June 18 as he allegedly reached for a gun outside an autobody shop in Gardena. Vega was subpoenaed to testify, but his attorney informed the inquest that he is out of the country, and in any case he will assert his Fifth Amendment right if called to answer questions. While saying she would “probably” accept Vega’s invocation of the Fifth, Cooper said she’s not sure that he can assert it “across the board.” Cooper adjourned the inquest Monday, saying she needs to review sealed documents provided to her by the Sheriff's Department and consult with counsel regarding the various invocations of the 5th Amendment. Depending on the outcomes of those deliberations, Cooper said she may need to call another session. The coroner’s inquest is the first in L.A. County in nearly four decades.
Today on AirTalk, we get the latest updates on the inquest into the shooting of Guardado.
With files from LAist. Read the full story here
Guest:
Frank Stoltze, KPCC public safety correspondent; he tweets
As COVID Vaccine Race Kicks Into High Gear, Will Teens Be Able To Get It If Their Parents Don’t Consent?
With several major pharmaceutical companies reporting promising results from clinical trials of the COVID-19 vaccines they are respectively testing, conversations are already starting about whether people would even consider getting a brand new vaccines that has been expedited through the approval process, and if so, who is first in line. But for some teens, the question becomes about whether or not they’ll be able to get vaccinated at all without their parents approval.
Santa Monica-based high school senior Kelly Danielpour takes this issue on in a recent op-ed she wrote that was published in The Los Angeles Times, advocating for a change to laws in California and other states across the country that prevent teenagers from getting a vaccine without parental consent. There has been movement to address this in some legislatures across the country in an attempt to give teens with “anti-vax” parents the ability to make their own decisions about being immunized, but she argues the coronavirus pandemic has increased the urgency behind the conversation and says all 50 states should amend their laws to allow teens to be vaccinated without their parents’ permission.
Today on AirTalk, we’ll look at what California’s laws currently say about teens getting vaccinated without parental permission, explore what policy and legal options exist to update or amend the law, and take your calls. If you’re a teenager, are you going to get vaccinated when there is one available for you? If you don’t think your parents would consent but still want to get the vaccine, what will you do? For parents, how are you navigating this with your adolescent children? Even parents who are not anti-vaxx might still have concerns about their kids getting this vaccine -- how are you going to handle that? Join the live conversation by calling us at 866-893-5722.
Guest:
Dorit Reiss, professor of law at UC Hastings, where her areas of expertise include vaccine law and policy, and a member of The Vaccine Working Group on Ethics and Policy, an independent, not-for-profit project that was formed to address key policy challenges associated with the testing and distribution of vaccines intended to prevent Covid-19 transmission in the United States; she tweets
Are You Still Hunched Over Your Laptop In A Stiff Old Chair? It’s Time To Do Something About Your Home Office Ergonomics
In the early weeks of the pandemic, perhaps you set up your laptop on an ironing board. When that became uncomfortable, you switched to the kitchen table. Now you’re dealing with daily neck pain, sore eyes and stiff joints.
Many workers able to do their jobs from home assumed the setup would be temporary, and invested little in a home office setup as a result. But now, over nine months into the coronavirus pandemic and little idea of when it will be under enough control to bring workers back in person, that eight hour sofa-induced hunch is becoming untenable. A recent piece in the Wall Street Journal looked into how companies and employees are approaching the ergonomic nightmare of a typical home, which has amenities set up for leisure and the rhythms of daily life (not hours spent in one static position). Some employers are prompting their workers to join in on virtual stretching and dance parties, while others are allowing their employees to expense new desks and chairs. Simple hacks, like a pillow on the seat, can help. So can high priced chairs, standing desks and other pieces of specially designed office furniture. The issue isn’t unique to home office workers, either; protective gear for essential workers can add extra weight that can strain necks and shoulders.
What is your work setup like? How have you invested to make it a more comfortable place to work? We want to hear from you! Comment below or give us a call at 866-893-5722.
Guest:
Rachel Feintzeig, work and life columnist for the Wall Street Journal and author of the recent piece “Your Home-Office Ergonomics Are Still a Mess—Do Something About It”; she tweets