COVID in L.A.

In our continuing series looking at the latest medical research and news on COVID-19, Larry Mantle speaks with Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, infectious disease specialist and professor of medicine at the UCSF Medical Center. 

Topics today include: 

• Merck pill gets FDA panel support in a 13-10 vote. 
• Biden administration expected to toughen testing requirements for international travelers. 
• Omicron likely had began to spread from South Africa prior to it being detected. 
• Los Angeles County has no significant plans for new COVID-19 restrictions. 
  
  • If vaccines prove to be ineffective, county health department’s first priority will be protecting nursing homes. 
• Bay Area Scientist explains Omicron variant’s set of mutations. 
• California patient confirmed to have first US case of 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 Doctor Kimberly Shriner, director of Infectious Disease and Prevention at Huntington Hospital in Pasadena. 

Topics today include: 

• The Omicron variant is coming, but we can prepare 
  
  • CDC urges all adults to get COVID-19 boosters as the Omicron variant looms. 
  • Regeneron’s monoclonal antibody treatment is not as effective against the Omicron variant, according to preliminary tests. 
  • Omicron variant isn’t likely to cause severe illness for vaccinated individuals, according to BioNTech founder. 
  • Moderna’s chief executive predicts current vaccines will struggle against the Omicron variant.
• Low income L.A. County residents are less likely to get COVID-19 vaccines. 
• Merck’s COVID-19 treatment pill is being reviewed by the FDA. 
• FDA is moving to authorize COVID-19 booster shots for 16 and 17 year-olds. 
• Tomorrow is World AIDS Day; we look at the history of the disease and how treatments have evolved.

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. Dean Blumberg, professor medicine and chief of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at UC Davis Children’s Hospital.

Topics today include:

• Omicron variant spreads around the world

  • How big a threat is the Omicron variant? W.H.O. warns it poses a “very high” global risk
  • How the Omicron variant rattled the world in one week 
  • Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna expect data on their vaccines’ protections against the new variant soon 
  • What California is doing to defend against the Omicron variant 
  • Video: Where do variants come from? 
  • In naming the Omicron variant, authorities skipped “xi” and “nu”
• Merck updates data on the effectiveness of its COVID-19 pill
• Enforcement of L.A.’s COVID vaccine mandate for indoor businesses starts today 
• Is California in a better place this year than we were this time last year? 
• How Puerto Rico became the most vaccinated place in America 

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, guest host Sharon McNary speaks with director of Infectious Disease and Prevention at Pasadena’s Huntington Hospital, Dr. Kimberly Shriner. 

Topics today include:

• Many seemingly worrying COVID-19 vaccine reactions are common and harmless
• CDC finds that vaccine immunity is more consistent than immunity gained from infection
• About 44,000 LAUSD students missed their first vaccine deadline
• COVID-19 booster shot uptake is lower in the hardest-hit LA County ZIP codes
• COVID-19 cases up 32% in kids from two weeks ago
• What you should make of the latest COVID-19 surge 

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, guest host Sharon McNary speaks with Dr. Sam Torbati, co-chair of the department of emergency medicine at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. 

Topics today include:

• The CDC has approved COVID-19 booster shots for all U.S. adults
• The most vulnerable groups face the biggest risk of breakthrough hospitalizations
• White House says 95% of the federal workforce has met the administration's vaccine mandate
• A CDC study has found the delta variant is linked to an increased risk of stillbirth
• What you can do to celebrate Thanksgiving safely
  
  • Dr. Anthony Fauci says fully vaccinated family members can gather without masks
  • Holiday season expected to strain COVID-19 home test supply
• More than 1 in 10 children ages 5-11 in California have received a vaccine shot
  
  • SoCal vaccinations for kids lag behind Bay Area

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 UCSF’s Dr. Peter Chin-Hong.

Topics today include:

• The TSA expects Thanksgiving air travel to return to near pre-pandemic levels
• LAUSD will offer $5 million in incentives for getting vaccinated
• OSHA is pausing enforcement of its vaccine mandate over a court stay
• FDA could authorize Moderna vaccine boosters for all adults this week

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

In today's episode: Pfizer Boosters For All Adults Could Be Coming Soon, Requirements For LAUSD Students In Spring 2022 And More

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 Timothy Brewer, M.D., epidemiologist and professor of medicine at UCLA’s school of public health.

Topics today include:

• 70% of Californians have received at least one vaccine dose 

• Pfizer to allow other companies to make its COVID-19 pill in developing countries 

  • Merck and Pfizer agreements exclude Brazil, Cuba, Iraq, Libya and Jamaica 
• L.A. officials worry that those vaccinated earlier this year could be hit in winter surge 
• CDC adds Hungary, Iceland, the Czech Republic and Guernsey to its level 4 warning list 

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:

• Experts warn of potential swell in California COVID-19 cases
• COVID-19-related hospitalizations drop to 600 in LA County
• Why new COVID-19 antiviral pills could be our ‘penicillin moment’
• U.K. COVID-19 surge fueled by unvaccinated children -- a warning for California
• Experts worry fewer Americans are getting their flu shot
• Austria starts COVID-19 lockdown -- but only for unvaccinated people

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, Austin Cross speaks with UCSF’s Dr. Peter Chin-Hong.

Topics today include:

• All Californians 18 and over are now eligible for a booster shot
• Booster shots are most popular in poorly vaccinated states where coronavirus rages

• Orange County sees robust demand for child COVID-19 vaccines

  • Should an 11-year-old wait to get the bigger COVID-19 dose?
• What we know so far about waning vaccine effectiveness
• CDC shifts pandemic goals away from reaching herd immunity

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