Slow Going on Vaccines For Teens

Good Morning, I’m Kinsee Morlan sitting in for Annica Colbert….it’s Wednesday, May 5. Vaccines are open to kids 16 and up… But are teens actually getting the jab? That story soon, but first..... I’ve got your local headlines…. *** So...there’s an update on that boat crash over the weekend... A U-S citizen is now in custody, accused of captaining the boat that crashed near Point Loma, killing three people and injuring more than two dozen others. The name of the man suspected in the migrant smuggling operation has not yet been released. Two women and one man, all Mexican nationals, died Sunday when the 40-foot boat crashed into the rocky shoreline. 27 of the survivors were from Mexico and one was from Guatemala. *** Mayor Todd Gloria announced yesterday the formation of an Asian-Pacific Islander Advisory Group… He named 15 San Diegans who will initially be in the group, which will focus on guiding Gloria and his administration in tackling the unique challenges facing API communities. The advisory group will meet quarterly and is scheduled to hold its first meeting on May 17. *** John Cox ran unsuccessfully for governor in 2018. Now the Rancho Santa Fe-based businessman -- has announced his campaign to unseat Gov. Gavin Newsom in Sacramento…. And he did it...with a real, live bear by his side. Why? Well... Cox spoke to reporters in California's capital about the need to replace Newsom, who he referred to as a ``beauty,'' with himself, ``a beast”...get it...bear...beast? In any case.. the political stunt is already drawing some criticism from folks calling it “animal exploitation.” **** And now for some decidedly less weird news...some good news actually… A new RV resort and bicycle and pedestrian path were opened to the public in Chula Vista yesterday. The resort and path are the first two major developments completed as part of the Chula Vista Bayfront Project. ######### From KPBS, you’re listening to San Diego News Now. Stay with me for more of the local news you need. San Diego County has recorded its first COVID-19 case of the India variant that’s suspected of causing lots of big problems in that country. Health officials made that announcement yesterday. And our county failed to join Los Angeles and San Francisco counties in advancing to the least-restrictive tier. San Diego County has an adjusted case rate of five new daily cases per 100,000 population...which keeps us in the orange tier since the yellow tier is fewer than two cases. But hopefully things will keep getting better as more and more people get vaccinated, right? COVID-19 vaccinations are now open for those 16 and over, but are minors actually getting vaccinated? KPBS Health reporter Matt Hoffman looked into that question. He talked to experts who told him getting these teens vaccinated is challenging. SOT: “The reality is they don't get vaccinated we’re not going to be able to fully open up and get back to normal life.” At Rady Children’s hospital chief medical officer Dr. Gail Knight says their vaccination clinic is open for 16 and 17 year olds.. Getting shots to minors countywide has been slow going-- 1:40.872 We have to do some targeted campaigns to parents and to teens so they realize how important it is to get vaccinated Through May 1st, about 29 percent of 16 and 17 old county residents have gotten at least one dose of the vaccine.. That translates to around 22-thousand teens. 7:24.383 We want to engage the schools to do that because we know we’re going to have to be out in the community to get the population of kids vaccinated Just last week the first vaccination event targeting high-school students was held at Sweetwater Union High in National City. For 16 and 17 year olds, only the Pfizer vaccine is currently approved, and Dr. Knight says they have plenty of supply.. And while appointments are encouraged, Rady Children’s hospital is taking walkins.. Parental permission is required for minors to get shots, and the main question doctors are hearing is are the vaccines safe for my kid? 2:24.456 It’s good to be able to say absolutely- 16 plus were included in the early trials we have data and information And even though young people infected with the virus tend to have minor symptoms, there have been some coronavirus related deaths. 16:22.804 We don't have all the information long-term about what happens with kids with covid so we do not want to take it for granted that kids are going to be okay, we know they get sick Dr. Knight says in the coming weeks we could see federal regulators approve vaccinations for kids ages 12 to 15.. She says getting minors vaccinated will be crucial in reaching herd immunity and protecting those most at risk. 16:40.865 Your older friends your relatives your teachers all of the people that you think about that are older they don't have to be 80 even 40 or 50 In most cases parents will have to be with kids during their vaccination.. Teens are monitored for a little longer, about 30 mins after shots to watch out for symptoms. The San Diego County Board of Supervisors plans to send a letter to the White House requesting that all migrants released in San Diego County should be tested for COVID-19. KPBS reporter Alexandra Rangel (ran-hell) has more on the motion...which was passed by county supervisor Jim Desmond and the rest of the board yesterday: Jim Desmond, San Diego County Board of Supervisors “My concern is that the feds aren’t COVID testing the migrants that cross without inspection.” San Diego County Board of Supervisors board member Jim Desmond says some migrants getting released from immigration custody aren’t properly tested or treated for COVID-19. Desmond made a motion at Tuesday’s board meeting to send a letter to the White House requesting that any migrants released in San Diego County should be tested for COVID-19. The motion passed unanimously with a second from supervisor chair Nathan Fletcher. Nathan Fletcher, San Diego County Board of Supervisors “Obviously we want the federal government to do their job, which is the testing and treatment. So I think encouraging that is the proper thing to do as a board.” Although the county has made great efforts to COVID test asylum seekers, Desmond says he’s concerned about migrants who are released straight from border patrol custody. Jim Desmond, San Diego County Board of Supervisors “Now i realize some of them go through Jewish family services and other entities, but if they can’t take them, then these migrants are let go in San Diego County at transit stations and things like that.” Minority Humanitarian Foundation, a nonprofit in San Diego that helps migrant families confirmed to KPBS that migrants released by U.S. Customs Border Patrol were not being tested for COVID-19. The non-profit said dozens are dropped off daily at local transit stations. The San Diego County Board of Supervisors also voted 3 to 2 in favor of a program that will provide legal representation for immigrants facing removal proceedings. *** Advocates for San Pasqual Academy are still working to keep the foster youth facility open, as the state is trying to close its doors. KPBS North County reporter Tania Thorne tells us for that to happen, the county and academy supporters must agree to terms that not everyone finds agreeable. Tucked in the hills of rural Escondido near the Wild Animal Park sits San Pasqual Academy, a one of a kind residential educational campus for foster youth. But in March, the state of california informed the facility that their program would be ending in October. REV. SHANE HARRIS/SAN PASQUAL ACADEMY “So we kick this set of youth out, the youth we are responsible for, the dependents of the state and of the court, many of them who have no family , we put them out of their home.” Shane Harris and other advocates for the Academy have been fighting to extend the program until June 20-22. In order for that extension to happen, the County and the Academy must agree to a set of conditions that the state has sent in a letter. The main condition that advocates find troubling: no more foster youth can enroll in San Pasqual Academy. “To say that you are no longer going to send youth to this campus is to say that this academy will close.” Currently there are 82 foster youth living at SPA, 15 alumni that have graduated from SPA that have returned to live there, and over 100 staff are running the program. There is a new federal law that discourages funding for congregate living in foster care facilities, and it’s one of the reasons cited for shutting SPA down. The reverend Shane Harris is a former foster youth who attended SPA. He suggests the valuable land the academy sits on may be another reason motivating officials in charge. “There's a different goal with these 238 acres that maybe just maybe the state and the county have invested in, and I would like to know what that is. What is the plan for these 238 acres.” County supervisor Jim Desmond was not available to comment. Advocates will be asking the County board of supervisors for an amendment to the agreement allowing new foster youth enrollment. A rally is planned on Thursday at 11am at waterfront park. *** Coming up… How a new California law might change policing across the state. That story, after a quick break. So...a federal bill that’s making its way through Congress right now seeks to ban chokeholds and push other police reforms at the national level... California...though..already has its own standard for use of force, thanks to then-Assemblymember Shirley Weber's bill "AB 392,” which became law last year. CalMatters reporter Laurel Rosenhall breaks down the effect of the new law on police officers and citizens. On average, California police shoot and kill someone every two to three days. That's higher than the national average, even considering California's size. After several high profile cases of police shooting, unarmed people seat lawmakers decided to, I vote for AB three nine two that measure passed, passed a new law, tightening the standard for when police can use deadly force. Here's what the new law means for Californians and police. When prosecutors decide if. Police shooting is justified. They typically turn to illegal standard set by the United States Supreme court in 1989. Your argument next to number 87, essentially it says an officer's use of force must be reasonable. Would a reasonable officer in the same circumstances do the same thing. If so the shooting may be justified. Police see this reasonable standard as a critical legal protection. They need to perform a dangerous job. Civil rights advocates. See it as a squishy standard. That's failed to hold many officers. There's accountable for unnecessary killings with the new law, California is going beyond the reasonable standard to limit when police can shoot. Officers can now only use deadly force when necessary in defense of human life. The law says officers are supposed to shoot only if there's an imminent threat of death or serious injury. It also says that in determining if a shooting is justified, a third is, must look at the behavior leading up to the shooting of both the subject and the. Fusser that's supposed to encourage police to deescalate situations ever possible. We want to thank all of our sponsors and our supporters and donors. Yuma is a win for civil rights advocates. Who've wanted to restrict police use of deadly force for a long time, but to get the bill through the legislature, they had to compromise with police in the compromise. Lawmakers took out a definition of the word necessary. This means a lot of the power of the new law is largely going to be determined by the courts. Or cases it'll be up to them to decide what necessary means. They also incorporated ideas from the Supreme court's reasonable standard. So the new court question for deciding if a shooting is justified, will basically be what a reasonable officer think it was necessary. After the compromise police dropped their opposition to the bill and a few civil rights groups, including black lives matter, pulled their support. The law goes into effect on new year's day, 2020. And here's one more thing you should know. California lawmakers also advanced a police back bill about deadly force. It will give officers more training about the new standard as well as things like bias and alternatives to firing their guns for Cal matters. I'm Laurel Rosenhall. *** And that’s the show for today. Thanks so much for listening. And hey, the reason I’m filling in for Anica today is because we all wear multiple hats here at KPBS. Today is pledge drive day, which means she’s got to be at the station helping make that happen. So, long story short, we work hard here at kpbs to bring you the news you need. If you appreciate our effort...please, join the family by becoming a kpbs member today online at kpbs dot org slash donate. Thanks.