Vaccines

An advisory panel to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration voted Tuesday in support of authorizing the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for children between the ages of 5 and 11. (Pfizer)

FDA advisory panel supports Pfizer COVID vaccine for 5-11 age group

CDC board to discuss next week; California among West Coast states set to issue separate approval

 

FILE — In-N-Out Burger, the popular California fast-food chain, is resisting San Francisco's public health rules that require indoor diners to show proof of vaccination. (J. Emilio Flores/The New York Times)

When it comes to San Francisco vaccine rules, In-N-Out should heed Biblical advice

Burger chain’s vaccine fight distracts from its tasty burgers and French fries controversy

 

FILE — A mother and daughter attend a parent meeting at Arleta Senior High School in Los Angeles on Aug. 16, 2021. The state has done remarkably well limiting outbreaks, even before its student vaccine mandate has been put into place. (Allison Zaucha/The New York Times)

California accounts for 12% of U.S. students but only 1% of COVID school closures

More protection may be needed if cases begin to climb again

  • Oct 19, 2021

 

A Muni train passes by San Francisco Police Department headquarters. Employees at both the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency and the SFPD could be fired if they don’t get vaccinated by November. (Harika Maddala/Bay City News) A Muni train passes by San Francisco Police Department headquarters. Employees at both the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency and the SFPD could be fired if they don’t get vaccinated by November. (Harika Maddala/Bay City News)

SFMTA should fire its unvaccinated employees holding us hostage to COVID-19

San Francisco’s public transportation workers must comply with the mandate

  • Oct 13, 2021
A Muni train passes by San Francisco Police Department headquarters. Employees at both the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency and the SFPD could be fired if they don’t get vaccinated by November. (Harika Maddala/Bay City News) A Muni train passes by San Francisco Police Department headquarters. Employees at both the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency and the SFPD could be fired if they don’t get vaccinated by November. (Harika Maddala/Bay City News)
The mandate to require COVID-19 vaccines for students 12 and older attending school in person allows people to opt out for personal or religious reasons; some California officials are considering legislation that would eliminate the exemption. <ins>(Allison Zaucha/New York Times)</ins>

One loophole remains in student vaccination mandate

Personal belief exemptions are allowed

  • Oct 7, 2021
The mandate to require COVID-19 vaccines for students 12 and older attending school in person allows people to opt out for personal or religious reasons; some California officials are considering legislation that would eliminate the exemption. <ins>(Allison Zaucha/New York Times)</ins>
A COVID-19 patient at Providence St. Mary Medical Center in Apple Valley is treated in December 2020; while hospitals in Central and Northern California called in National Guard troops to help staff COVID-19 wards, Los Angeles and Bay Area officials are considering lifting mask mandates as transmission in their regions plummeted. (Ariana Drehsler/New York Times)

Why COVID-19 looks so different across California

There is a huge variation in vaccination rates across counties

  • Oct 7, 2021
A COVID-19 patient at Providence St. Mary Medical Center in Apple Valley is treated in December 2020; while hospitals in Central and Northern California called in National Guard troops to help staff COVID-19 wards, Los Angeles and Bay Area officials are considering lifting mask mandates as transmission in their regions plummeted. (Ariana Drehsler/New York Times)
As of Sept. 30, some 300 Muni transit operators were either unvaccinated or did not report their vaccination status. <ins>(Samantha Laurey/Special to The Examiner)</ins>

SFMTA has over 600 unvaccinated employees. More than half are drivers

Operators need to get vaccinated by Nov. 1, or The City could face reduced service

As of Sept. 30, some 300 Muni transit operators were either unvaccinated or did not report their vaccination status. <ins>(Samantha Laurey/Special to The Examiner)</ins>
Gov. Gavin Newsom visited with students at James Denman Middle School in San Francisco on Oct. 1. (Jim Wilson/New York Times)

California’s fraught history with childhood vaccines

State has struggled with low immunization rates and resorted to laws to help raise them

  • Oct 5, 2021
Gov. Gavin Newsom visited with students at James Denman Middle School in San Francisco on Oct. 1. (Jim Wilson/New York Times)
Nearly 300 SFPD officers are refusing to get vaccinated despite a city mandate for public employees.

COVID is a cop killer. Why are California police officers rejecting vaccines?

Anti-vaccine police officers risk public safety, unfit to serve in San Francisco

  • Oct 1, 2021
Nearly 300 SFPD officers are refusing to get vaccinated despite a city mandate for public employees.
In California to date, only about 42% of guards and 57% of all prison staffers are fully vaccinated. (iStock)

Judge requires COVID vaccines for California prison guards

Mandate would ‘lower the risk of preventable death among incarcerated persons’

  • Sep 28, 2021
In California to date, only about 42% of guards and 57% of all prison staffers are fully vaccinated. (iStock)
Golden State Warriors forward Andrew Wiggins (No. 22), pictured playing at Chase Center in May, has not been vaccinated for COVID-19. (Kevin N. Hume/The Examiner)

NBA denies Wiggins’ request for religious exemption from vaccine

Warrior will be barred from home games in SF until he gets inoculated

  • Sep 27, 2021
Golden State Warriors forward Andrew Wiggins (No. 22), pictured playing at Chase Center in May, has not been vaccinated for COVID-19. (Kevin N. Hume/The Examiner)
Federal officials have endorsed booster shots of the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine for many fully inoculated Americans. (Kevin Mohatt/New York Times)

When Californians will get COVID-19 boosters

Eligibility currently limited to those inoculated with Pfizer vaccine

  • Sep 27, 2021
Federal officials have endorsed booster shots of the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine for many fully inoculated Americans. (Kevin Mohatt/New York Times)
Mayor London Breed, pictured in May, encouraged more San Franciscans to get their shots following an announcement on social media that 80 percent of residents age 12 and older have been fully vaccinated. (Kevin N. Hume/Examiner file)

Mayor announces 80 percent of SF residents fully vaccinated

86 percent have received one dose

Mayor London Breed, pictured in May, encouraged more San Franciscans to get their shots following an announcement on social media that 80 percent of residents age 12 and older have been fully vaccinated. (Kevin N. Hume/Examiner file)
People undergoing cancer treatment may be among those eligible for a third COVID-19 vaccine. (Shutterstock)

S.F. offering third vaccine dose to people with immunocompromised health conditions

The San Francisco Department of Public Health will begin offering a third…

People undergoing cancer treatment may be among those eligible for a third COVID-19 vaccine. (Shutterstock)
Under California law, there are certain cases in which employers may have to accommodate workers who don’t want to be vaccinated. (Kevin N. Hume/S.F. Examiner)

Employers may require COVID-19 vaccines in the workplace

Exemptions may be granted on religious grounds, or for people with disabilities

Under California law, there are certain cases in which employers may have to accommodate workers who don’t want to be vaccinated. (Kevin N. Hume/S.F. Examiner)
Ezekiel Logan, a 96-year-old World War II Navy veteran, prepares to receive a COVID-19 vaccination from Kaiser nurse Jamie Rant at the opening of the COVID-19 mass vaccination site at Moscone Center on Thursday, Feb. 4, 2021. (Kevin N. Hume/S.F. Examiner)

SF to pause COVID-19 vaccinations at two mass sites as supplies run out

San Francisco’s two high-volume vaccination sites will temporarily cease operations Monday due…

Ezekiel Logan, a 96-year-old World War II Navy veteran, prepares to receive a COVID-19 vaccination from Kaiser nurse Jamie Rant at the opening of the COVID-19 mass vaccination site at Moscone Center on Thursday, Feb. 4, 2021. (Kevin N. Hume/S.F. Examiner)
The Vaccines' "Combat Sports" is 2018's "most perfect" album. (Courtesy Brad Elterman)

2018: Looking back at the best in rock

Musically speaking, 2018 wasn’t too memorable. You really had to dig for…

The Vaccines' "Combat Sports" is 2018's "most perfect" album. (Courtesy Brad Elterman)
The Vaccines -- from left, Yoann Intonti, Tim Lanham, Justin Young, Freddie Cowan and Árni Árnason -- appear at Slim’s on Oct. 2.

Vaccines score with ‘Combat Sports’

British rockers The Vaccines corrected their course on “Combat Sports,” a knockout…

The Vaccines -- from left, Yoann Intonti, Tim Lanham, Justin Young, Freddie Cowan and Árni Árnason -- appear at Slim’s on Oct. 2.
California Gov. Jerry Brown signs one of the hundreds of bills he has left to deal with as Garciela Castillo-Krings, right, his deputy legislative secretary, looks on at his Capitol office in Sacramento on Friday. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)

Brown rejects labor-backed laws in sweeping bill package

SACRAMENTO — Gov. Jerry Brown barred public schools from using the Redskins…

California Gov. Jerry Brown signs one of the hundreds of bills he has left to deal with as Garciela Castillo-Krings, right, his deputy legislative secretary, looks on at his Capitol office in Sacramento on Friday. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)
Justin Young, left, of The Vaccines worked on the band’s latest album in New York’s Chinatown.

Brit Vaccines make ‘English Graffiti’ in U.S.

The latest, third punk-pop recording from The Vaccines might be titled “English…

Justin Young, left, of The Vaccines worked on the band’s latest album in New York’s Chinatown.