VOL. LXXVV, NO. 49 • $1.00 + CA. Sales Tax “For Over Eighty Years The Voice of Our Community Speaking for Itself THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12 - 18, 2013 Dr. Shirley N. Weber (D-San Diego) COURTESY PHOTO Alex Padilla COURTESY PHOTO nia Secretary of State Alex semblymember Dr. Shirley BY ANTONIO RAY HARVEY state, Gov. Gavin Newsom Harris. BY ANTONIO RAY HARVEY Padilla to be California’s N. Weber (D-San Diego) to California Black Media has appointed California Padilla will complete California Black Media next United States Senator, replace him. Secretary of State Alex Vice President-elect Har- he announced that he will If confirmed, Weber will Despite intense pres- Padilla to be California’sris’s term, which began Hours after Gov. Gavin submit to the State Legisla- become the first-ever Afri- sure from Black womennext United States Sena- in 2017 ends in 2023. He Newsom picked Califor- ture the nomination of As- {See WEBER A-7} political groups across the tor, replacing Sen. Kamala {See PADILLA A-7} DR. MAULANA KARENGA Heri za Kwanzaa, Happy Kwanzaa to Af- rican people everywhere throughout the global Af- VALERIE GOODLOE/L.A. SENTINEL COURTESY PHOTO COURTESY PHOTO rican community. We bring Bishop Kenneth C. Ulmer Pastor Terry L. Brown Pastor Shane B. Scott you Kwanzaa greetings of celebration, solidarity, and BY CORA JACKSON-FOSSETT also are among the crowds that His presence makes a continuing struggle for Staff Writer flocking to the stores andtremendous difference in good in the world. - Kwanunique time to remember less struggle to be ourselves overspending on gifts in- our lives. In fact, Bishop zaa is a special seasonand honor our ancestors; to and free ourselves and con- Christmas is here and stead of rejoicing about the Kenneth C. Ulmer, pastor and celebration of our sa- reflect on what it means to tribute to an ever-expanding despite the devastating coming of Christ and what of Faithful Central Bible cred and expansive selves be African and human in the realm of freedom, justice pandemic, people are still it means to the world. Church, recommended that as African people. It is a most expansive and mean- and caring in the world.obsessed with commer- Still, local pastors and Christians always focus on unique pan-African time of ingful sense; and to reaffirmAnd Kwanzaa is a specialcializing the holiday. Al- ministers haven’t ceased “the kingdom perspective” remembrance, reflection, the sacred beauty and good- and unique time and pan- though many believers to urge congregants to in- when it comes to both daily reaffirmation, and recom- ness of ourselves and the African space to recommit recite, “Jesus is the rea- corporate Christ into their mitment. It is a special and rightfulness of our relent- {See KWANZAA C-7} son for the season,” they celebrations and remember {See PFIZER A-7} The arrival of the Pfizer vaccine and the recent au- thorization of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine are much needed lights at the end of a 2020 tunnel. AP PHOTO Public health offi- cials urge everyone to stay home for Christ- mas as a second vac- cine comes to battle COVID-19. BY BRIAN W. CARTER Contributing Writer It’s Christmas and it needs to look a little different if we’re going to stop the lat- est surge of the COVID-19 pandemic. Health officials COURTESY OF TYREI LACY www.lasentinel.net {See PFIZER A-6} Inside The District by GS {See FULL STORY B-1} A-2 LASENTINEL.NET NEWS THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2020 LA Public Health Hosts COVID-19 Vaccine Town Hall BY KIMBERLEE BUCK HAYES ter and receive COVID-19 Contributing Writer updates].” Q: Will a vaccine be Earlier this month, the available for people under Food and Drug Administra- the age of 16? What happens tion (FDA) issued the first if the rest of our family gets emergency use authoriza- vaccinated, but our children tion of the Pfizer-BioNTech don't? and Moderna COVID-19 A: “The current vaccine vaccines to help slow the trials focus just on adoles- spread of Coronavirus. cents and adults, but as these As of press time, the COURTESY PHOTO COURTESY PHOTO COURTESY PHOTO COURTESY PHOTO vaccines roll out, there will Centers for Disease Control Los Angeles County health Public health chief science Los Angeles County Depart- Dean and professor for the be continued studies hap- and Prevention (CDC) officer, Dr. Muntu Davis officer, Dr. Paul Simon ment of Public Health divi- college of medicine at pening. In fact, the trials will reported 2,838,225 doses sion of medical affairs Charles R. Drew University, be extended to include chil- had been distributed, and bors every hour in Los “These symptoms were director, Dr. Seira Kurian Dr. Deborah Protrow-Stith dren and pregnant women to 556,208 doses have been Angeles County," he said. not surprising and are simi- get additional information. administered in the U.S. “This surge is putting a lar with many other vac- Governor Newsom and the who] will be prioritized When a vaccine is available, Since the release of the tremendous strain on our cines,” said Simon. governors of three other and how the vaccines will children will be prioritized Pfizer and Moderna vac- hospital network and, more The second vaccine, Western states, all completed be delivered to them,” said low because they are at a cines, some Americans are importantly, on our frontline Moderna, was also 95 per- independent reviews of the Kurian. slightly lower risk of infec- questioning the vaccina- healthcare workers who are cent effective in preventing data from the Pfizer trial and Question & Answer tion and complications,” tions' safety and effective- doing everything they can to COVID-19 infection and concluded the vaccine was Segment said Simon. ness. In contrast, others are save lives under extraordi- was not associated with any effective and safe for use.” More than 500 questions What's next? concerned with how quickly nary conditions. serious adverse effects. The Who gets vaccinated were submitted to the pan- According to Davis, the the vaccinations were devel- Davis says that the num- newly-approved vaccine first? elist before the town hall. public health community oped and administered. ber of COVID-related hos- was tested in adults 18- The final panelist for the Below is a list of answers to believes 75-80 percent of In a recent virtual town pitalizations is expected to years-old and older. evening, Kurian, explained the most frequently asked the U.S. population will hall led by the Los Angeles increase with fewer beds What’s the difference how people will receive the questions discussed during need to be vaccinated for the County Department of Pub- available in the ICU. between the Pfizer and the vaccine. the meeting. virus to begin to go away. lic Health, experts address The second speaker, Moderna vaccines? Both “Los Angeles County Q: How will zip code However, it will take the development of the vac- Simon, spoke on the vacci- require two doses; however, did receive the first ship- and neighborhood data be months for the vaccine to be cination, what to expect, dis- nation trials and safety con- the amount of time between ment of the Pfizer vaccine used in the distribution? widely available to the pub- tribution timeline, myths, cerns. the second doses varies. [last week]. This is account- A: “There are a variety lic. Until then, public health traveling safety, and the dif- Pfizer Vaccine vs. The Pfizer vaccine is ed for over 82,875 doses of different factors that are officials encourage residents ference between the Pfizer Moderna Vaccine administered three weeks and are being used to vacci- considered in determining to wear a face covering, only and the Moderna vaccines. “The Pfizer-BioNTech apart, while the Moderna nate health care workers, who gets the vaccine and travel for essential needs The event, moderated by vaccine was studied in a vaccine dosage must be with the priority being how it's distributed. Priori- and maintain at least six feet dean and professor for the clinical trial of more than administered four weeks health care workers who are tizing and understanding from individuals outside of college of medicine at 4,000 volunteers and is apart. at the highest exposure to which communities are their household. Charles R. Drew University, found to be 95 percent effec- How safe are the COVID-19,” said Kurian. impacted, especially hospi- “While the arrival of the Dr. Deborah Protrow-Stith, tive in preventing sympto- vaccines? Phase 1A includes vac- tals that are serving vulnera- vaccine offers hope for the featured the following guest matic COVID-19 infec- “I know some persons cination distribution to resi- ble populations, are part of future, we are still many speakers: Los Angeles tions,” said Simon. may have concerns about dents and healthcare work- the calculus we use to deter- months away from having County health officer, Dr. “The trial included ages the COVID-19 vaccine ers at long-term care facili- mine how to distribute these enough people vaccinated to Muntu Davis; public health 16-years-old and older and given how rapidly they ties. doses,” said Kurian. see the COVID-19 virus chief science officer, Dr. is found to be effective were developed,” said After Phase 1A is com- Q: How will I know diminished to a point where Paul Simon, and Los Ange- across all age groups, all Simon. pleted, Phase 1B will begin when the vaccine is avail- we began to see things les County Department of racial and ethnic groups, and “I want to assure you that and focus on essential able for me? return to normal,” said Public Health division of both men and women.” although the timeline for workers, followed by Phase A: “There will be wide- Davis.