Today on AirTalk, we hear about the state of homelessness in LA County. Also on the show, we answer your questions on how to cook with what you have; discuss what a vaccine in November would mean; and more.
Would You Get A Vaccine If It Was Ready By November?
The federal government has told states to prepare for a coronavirus vaccine to be ready to distribute by Nov. 1.
The timeline raised concern among public health experts about an “October surprise” — a vaccine approval driven by political considerations ahead of a presidential election, rather than science.
In a letter to governors dated Aug. 27, Robert Redfield, director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said states “in the near future” will receive permit applications from McKesson Corp., which has contracted with CDC to distribute vaccines to places including state and local health departments and hospitals.
“CDC urgently requests your assistance in expediting applications for these distribution facilities and, if necessary, asks that you consider waiving requirements that would prevent these facilities from becoming fully operational by November 1, 2020,” Redfield wrote.
We look at the history and safety of this kind of expedited vaccine development. Plus, would you take a vaccine if it was available as early as fall?
With files from the Associated Press.
Guest:
Peter Chin-Hong, M.D., infectious disease specialist and professor of medicine at the UCSF Medical Center; he tweets
DOC AMA: Novavax Vaccine Early Immune Response, LA County Hair Salons Can Open Indoor Operations
In our continuing series looking at the latest medical research and news on COVID-19, Larry Mantle speaks with Dr. Tim Brewer from UCLA.
Topics today include:
Novavax coronavirus vaccine is safe, elicits immune response
LA County hair salons and barber shops can resume indoor operations at limited capacity
COVID-19 deaths significantly reduced by use of steroids
As Labor Day weekend approaches, Fauci urges caution to avoid coronavirus surge
There's a legitimate way to end coronavirus vaccine trials early, Fauci says
Guest:
Timothy Brewer, M.D., epidemiologist and professor of medicine at UCLA’s school of public health; has served on the advisory boards of the World Health Organization, the National Institutes of Health, and the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention
How To Cook Like A Pro With What’s Already In Your Pantry, Part Three: Keeping It Fresh
You’ve got a fridge full of sourdough starter, scallions overgrowing the windowsill, the last remnants of summer produce on the counter and one major challenge: you don’t want to cook.
It’s been months since consumers gutted grocery stores in anticipation of the coronavirus pandemic. Though supplies are now relatively stable, home chefs have moved past ingredient shortages to a more intangible problem— inspiration. March and April saw quarantine cooking trends flood social media (see: that sourdough starter in your fridge and the scallions on your windowsill), but the trends have since tapered off. Yet the prolonged nature of the coronavirus pandemic has continued to bring a host of challenges to home cooks. Now that the school year has begun, parents might feel overstretched and in need of easy, quick recipes to make for their kids. Newly unemployed Angelenos may be grocery shopping on a smaller budget than they’re used to, while others might be trying to work their way through pantry items. Some home cooks are cooking more than they ever have before, and might simply be looking for ways to take their skills to the next level.
No matter what your situation is, we’re here to help. Chefs Diep Tran and Noelle Carter are bringing their extensive food knowledge to the table to answer your questions. Need a simple recipe to please your picky kids? A use for that extra head of lettuce you bought at the store? Give us a call at 866-893-5722 to get your questions answered.
Guests:
Noelle Carter, chef, food writer and culinary consultant for Noelle Carter Food, a website sharing recipes, cooking techniques and helpful kitchen tips for the home cook; she is the former director of the Los Angeles Times Test Kitchen; she tweets
Diep Tran, research and development chef at Red Boat Fish Sauce; she is the former chef and owner of Highland Park’s Good Girl Dinette; she tweets
Herbie Hancock On The ‘Best Of’ Hollywood Bowl Performances And The Impact Of Jazz
KCET and PBS SoCal launched a new weekly music series which features the top live Hollywood Bowl performances from the past decade.
The six-episode series, called “In Concert at the Hollywood Bowl, includes archival performances from artists like Gustavo Dudamel and the Los Angeles Phil, Misty Copeland, Carlos Santana, Kamasi Washington, Audra McDonald, Herbie Hancock and more. It also offers conversations with artists and insight into the history of the Hollywood Bowl. The third episode in the series explores jazz at the iconic venue, looking at the first jazz concert there and the historical impact of the genre. Today on AirTalk, Larry sits down with Herbie Hancock, legendary pianist and composer and the LA Phil’s creative chair for jazz, to discuss the new series and what role jazz has played over the last 10 years.
Guest:
Herbie Hancock, noted jazz musician; Oscar and Grammy award winner; Creative Chair for Jazz at the Los Angeles Philharmonic; he tweets
Checking In On The State Of Homelessness And Those Experiencing It In LA County During COVID-19
Angelenos experiencing homelessness already face a daily slew of challenges, and this summer hasn’t let up in that department between the sweltering temperatures we’ve seen over the last month and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
But now about six months into the pandemic, we’re getting a better sense of the impact of the pandemic on both those experiencing homelessness and the public and private organizations that provide services and shelter to them.
Some researchers predicted early on in the pandemic that COVID-19 could lead to more than 400 deaths and 2,600 hospitalization of homeless people in Los Angeles County. But those numbers have fortunately been drastically lower than what was initially forecast. The Los Angeles Times reports that as of mid-August, of the more than 1,300 cases of COVID-19 among people experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles, there had been just 31 deaths. The reason for this isn’t clear, though some say the fact that homeless people spend most of their time outside, meaning they’re able to keep their distance more easily and don’t have to worry about proper ventilation.
For the county’s part, it continues to provide hotel and motel rooms to at-risk members of L.A. County’s homeless community through Project Roomkey. But some advocates for the elderly and disabled say the program discriminates against certain members of the population who aren’t able to do things like go to the bathroom or get out of bed on their own. They wrote the Los Angeles County Homeless Services Authority a letter last month outlining their concerns, and the two groups were scheduled to meet this week to discuss a way forward. LAHSA was also the subject of discussion at this week’s County Board of Supervisors meeting, where supervisors considered a proposal to consider changes to the agency’s governance model.
Today on AirTalk, we’ll check in on the impact that the pandemic is having on Los Angeles County’s homeless population, get an update on where things stand with Project Roomkey, find out what came from Tuesday’s Board of Supervisors agenda item to consider restructuring LAHSA and more. If you have questions, join our live conversation by calling 866-893-5722
If you are currently experiencing homelessness, or know someone who is, and you’d like to get help, you can call 211 or click here to be taken to LAHSA’s resource page.
Guests:
Heidi Marston, executive director of the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, the lead agency coordinating housing and services for homeless families and individuals in Los Angeles County; she tweets
Va Lecia Adams Kellum, president and CEO of St. Joseph Center which works with working poor families, and homeless men, women and children; they have offices in Venice, South L.A. and Downtown L.A.; she tweets
Rev. Andy Bales, CEO of Union Rescue Mission, a private Christian homeless shelter in downtown Los Angeles' Skid Row; he tweets