In our continuing series looking at the latest medical research and news on COVID-19, Larry Mantle speaks with Dr. Robert Kim-Farley, professor of epidemiology and community health sciences at the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health. 

Topics today include: 

• Omicron variant spreads in CA as mask order takes effect. 
• Will we always need COVID-19 boosters? 
• Broadway is canceling shows due to positive tests, and we’ve heard about the uptick in positive cases among athletes, too.  
  
  • Is there something about these environments that just makes transmission more likely? 
  • Are infections inevitable in an environment like this at this point in the pandemic as other things are opening more? 
• Met Opera to require booster shots for staff and audience and the shifting definition of “fully-vaccinated”. 
• L.A. County falls far behind Bay Area in vaccinating Black, Latino residents. 

This program is made possible in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people. 

In our continuing series looking at the latest medical research and news on COVID-19, Larry Mantle speaks with Kristen R. Choi, professor of nursing and public health at UCLA. 

Topics today include:  

• C.D.C warns Omicron is spreading rapidly in the U.S. and could bring a punishing wave as soon as January. 
• Colleges are going back to drawing board again to fight COVID-19. 
• Omicron is spreading faster than any other coronavirus variant. 
• Why do we get side effects from vaccines? 
• More than 50 million total coronavirus cases have been found in the U.S. 

This program is made possible in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people. 

In our continuing series looking at the latest medical research and news on COVID-19, Larry Mantle speaks with Dr. Sam Torbati, co-chair of the department of emergency medicine at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. 

Topics today include: 

• California, once again, mandates masks. 
• California Dept. of Public Health provides updates guidelines for mega events.
• South African study finds omicron variant is more vaccine-resistant but causes less severe COVID.
• Pfizer says its anti-COVID pill prevents severe illness and should work against omicron variant.
• Looking back on one year of vaccines. 

This program is made possible in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people. 

In our continuing series looking at the latest medical research and news on COVID-19, Larry Mantle speaks with Dr. Kimberly Shriner, director of Infectious Disease and Prevention at Huntington Hospital in Pasadena. 

Topics today include: 

• At least 800,000 Americans have now died of COVID-19. 
• One year after the first COVID-19 vaccinations, where have we come and where do we have to go? 
• U.K. reports first death from the Omicron variant. 
• Omicron was in California weeks before officials raised alarms, water samples suggest. 

• What we know so far about the effectiveness of today’s vaccines against Omicron. 

  • Two vaccine doses doesn’t stop you from getting Omicron. 
  • Israeli study: Pfizer booster protects against Omicron. 
• LAUSD to delay vaccination mandate. 
• NYT op-ed: Will COVID evolve to be milder?
• As California’s COVID cases rise, antibody treatments go unused. 

This program is made possible in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people.

In our continuing series looking at the latest medical research and news on COVID-19, Larry Mantle speaks with epidemiologist and professor of medicine at UCLA’s school of public health Timothy Brewer, M.D.. 

Topics today include: 

• Study finds that COVID-19 attacks fat tissue. 
• As Omicron cases grow, vaccine makers are prepared to adjust their vaccines. 
• Los Angeles has seen a 100% uptick in new coronavirus cases in last 10 days. 
• Nearly 500 LAUSD employees were fired due to not complying with vaccine mandate. 
• LA County health officials are saying new Omicron case could’ve been from local transmission.  
• What time of day is the best to get your COVID-19 vaccine. 
• Study shows that those who receive a Pfizer booster shot 5 months after their second.  dose have 90% lower mortality due to COVID-19. 
• FDA authorizes Pfizer booster shots for 16 and 17-year-olds. 

This program is made possible in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people.

In our continuing series looking at the latest medical research and news on COVID-19, Larry Mantle speaks with Dean Blumberg, MD, professor medicine and chief of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at UC Davis Children’s Hospital. 

Topics today include: 

• Lab study shows Pfizer can offer some protection to the Omicron variant. 

  • Pfizer says its vaccine booster offers protection from Omicron. 
• UK study finds that mixing Pfizer or AstraZeneca vaccines with Moderna can offer a better immune response. 
• GLAXO claims its antibody drug has retained effectiveness against the Omicron variant. 
• Omicron, in its mutation, may have combined with the common cold. 

This program is made possible in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people.

In our continuing series looking at the latest medical research and news on COVID-19, Larry Mantle speaks with Dr. Sam Tobati, co-chair of the department of emergency medicine at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. 

Topics today include: 

• Opinion: Covid-19 vaccine efforts can’t let up because of new pills. 
• California preps for winter COVID-19 surge due to either Omicron or Delta. 
• Safely socializing in the pandemic’s booster era.  
• NYT: What is Omicron's contagiousness, severity and its risk to those vaccinated?
• Surgeon General warns of mental health crisis emerging in U.S. youth. 

This program is made possible in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people.

In our continuing series looking at the latest medical research and news on COVID-19, Larry Mantle speaks with Dr. Paul Adamson, infectious diseases physician and assistant clinical professor at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA.

Topics today include:

• New York City to impose vaccine mandate on private sector employers. 
• Fauci says early reports of the Omicron variant are encouraging. 
• Where Omicron could have spread. 
• The U.S. now averages more than 100,000 new COVID cases per day. 
• Starting Monday, international travelers to Los Angeles face new COVID testing rules. 

This program is made possible in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people.

In our continuing series looking at the latest medical research and news on COVID-19, Larry Mantle speaks with Dr. Shruti Gohil, professor of medicine and associate medical director for epidemiology and infection prevention at UC Irvine’s School of Medicine. 

Topics today include: 

• L.A. County records first case of Omicron variant; Officials urge more testing.
• Rapid test site at LAX international terminal starts today. 
• Most COVID vaccines will work as boosters, study suggests. 
• Germany locks unvaccinated out of public life, vaccine mandate looms. 
• Why Omicron cases weren’t detected sooner in the United States 
• Scientists say prior COVID-19 infection is little defense against the. Omicron variant. 
• With the Omicron variant emerging ahead of the holiday season, is it safe to travel? 
• F.D.A. aims for quick review of vaccines and drugs for the Omicron variant. 

This program is made possible in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people.

In our continuing series looking at the latest medical research and news on COVID-19, Larry Mantle speaks with Dr. Tara Vijayan, associate professor in the Division of Infectious Diseases at UCLA, and director for antimicrobial stewardship at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. 

Topics today include: 

• President Biden to address the nation on winter COVID-19 preparations: 

  • U.S. to require stricter COVID-19 testing for international travelers. 
  • Private health insurance to reimburse people for over-the-counter at-home rapid tests. 
  • Mask mandate for airplanes and public transportation extended to March. 
• Minnesota reports the second U.S. case of the omicron COVID variant in a resident who traveled to New York City. What does that tell us about domestic transmission? 
• After confirming first omicron case in the United States, California health officials assure residents it’s prepared. 
• How San Francisco confirmed the first U.S. Omicron case so quickly. 

This program is made possible in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people.