[♪ THEME MUSIC ♪] >>> COMING UP IN THE NEXT HOUR OF LOCAL NEWS ON ARIZONA PBS.

ON "ARIZONA HORIZON," WE HAVE THE LATEST UPDATES ON CORONAVIRUS.

>>> ON CRONKITE NEWS AN UPDATE ON THE DROUGHT CONDITIONS.

>>> AND ON BREAK IT DOWN, HOW COLLEGE ATHLETES CAN NOW EARN MONEY ON THEIR NAME, IMAGE, AND LIKENESS.

>>> GOOD EVENING.

AND WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON."

I'M TED SIMONS.

THE STATE SAW A NEW INCREASE OF COVID-19 CASES TODAY.

THE AVERAGE NUMBER OF HOSPITALIZATIONS IS ALSO ON THE INCREASE.

ARIZONA'S SEVEN-DAY FATALITY RATE RANKS 15TH HIGHEST IN THE COUNTRY.

THE WHITE IS CONSIDERING MITIGATION UPDATES.

>> CERTAINLY, THE SURGE IN CASES AMONG UNVACCINATED BECAUSE OF THE DELTA VARIANT PROMPTS EVEN MORE DISCUSSION.

>> THE MAYO CLINIC TODAY ANNOUNCED THAT IT IS REQUIRING COVID-19 VACCINE FOR ALL EMPLOYEES.

EMPLOYEES WHO REFUSE TO BE VACCINATED WILL HAVE TO WEAR MASKS.

AND MORE THAN 50 MEDICAL GROUPS AROUND THE COUNTRY CALLED ON ALL HEALTHCARE WORKERS TO BE VACCINATED.

THEY CITE THE DELTA VARIANT AS THE ROOT CAUSE, AND SAY THE VACCINATIONS ARE THE ETHICAL COMMITTEE.

>>> A PROTEST OUTSIDE OF THE OFFICE OF KYRSTEN SINEMA LEAD IN THE ARREST OF JESSE JACKSON.

>> THIS IS OUR TIME TO SPEAK UP.

JUST BECAUSE WE SEEM LIKE WE MIGHT HAVE A MORE PROGRESSIVE SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT NOT GOING TO STOP US FROM PUTTING ON PRESSURE.

>> THE OWNER OF THE PROPERTY CALLED ON POLICE WHEN PROTESTERS REFUSE REFUSED TO LEAVE.

>>> MORE COMPANIES OF LATE ARE USING SMALLER PACKAGING TO OFFSET GREATEST COSTS.

>>> AND IT LOOKS LIKE THERE IS EVIDENCE OF WATER VAPOR ON JUPITER'S LARGEST MOON.

IT HAS SURFACE ICE THAT TURNS FROM SO SOLID TO GAS.

SCIENTISTS THING IF WATER IS ON THE MOON, IT IS LIKELY 100 MILES BELOW THE ICY SURFACE.

>>> COVID IS ON THE RISE.

WE SPOKE TO A DOCTOR WHO HAS BEEN WORKING FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA DOCTOR, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

HOW SERIOUS IS THE SPREAD OF THE DELTA VARIANT IN ARIZONA RIGHT NOW?

>> YEAH, SO COVID CASES ARE ON THE RISE, AND THIS IS A REAL PROBLEM IN ARIZONA.

WE JUST DON'T HAVE A LOT OF CERTAINTY ABOUT HOW BAD IT IS GOING TO GET.

WE'RE SEEING ABOUT 110 CASES PER 100,000 RESIDENTS PER WEEK.

AND SO WHILE THINGS ARE WORSE THAN THEY WERE, THEY ARE NOT NEARLY AS BAD AS THEY WERE SIX, EIGHT MONTHS AGO.

SO I THINK IT'S UNLIKELY WE'RE GOING TO GET BACK TO THOSE NUMBERS WE SAW, BUT STILL THERE ARE IN, MANY PEOPLE GETTING SICK, SO IT IS A REAL CONCERN.

>> IT IS MOSTLY BECAUSE OF SO MANY FOLKS STILL NOT BEING VACCINATED?

>> YES.

HERE IN ARIZONA ABOUT HALF OF ELIGIBLE ARIZONANS ARE FULLY VACCINATED.

AND WHEN WE LOOK AT CASES ENDING UP IN OUR HOSPITALS 95% OF THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN FULLY VACCINATED.

>> FOR THOSE WHO ARE FULLY VACCINATED, HOW CONCERNED SHOULD THEY BE.

>> IT IS SOMETHING TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT BUT NOT FEARLY OF.

VERY, VERY FEW INDIVIDUALS END UP IN THE HOSPITAL, AND SO THE VACCINE IS VERY PROTECTIVE AGAINST SEVERE ILLNESS, AND A LITTLE BIT LESS SO AGAINST BEING FULLY INFECTED.

IT IS REALLY, REALLY UNCOMMON AT THE PREVENT TIME.

>> INTERESTING.

I WAS READING IN ISRAEL, PFIZER VACCINE JUST 39% EFFECTIVE AGAINST INFECTION, AND YET 91% IF YOU ARE FULLY VACCINATED.

DOES THE SEVERITY OF THE ILLNESS IMPACT HOW MUCH IT FACTORS IN YOUR LIFE LATER IN THE YEAR?

>> YES, THERE IS A CORRELATION BETWEEN THE SEVERITY OF THE DISEASE AND THE ABILITY OF DEVELOPING LONG-HAUL COVID OR PERSISTENT SYMPTOMS.

SO, YEAH, I STILL WANT TO BE VERY REASSURING.

YOU HAVE GONE TO THE TROUBLE TO TAKE THE TWO SHOTS.

YOU CAN FEEL CONFIDENT YOU ARE PROTECTED FROM THE DELTA VARIANT YES, THERE ARE SOME BREAK-THROUGH CASES, BUT THOSE ARE THE EXCEPTION AND NOT THE RULE.

>> SO THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN INFECTED ONCE OR EVEN TWICE, DO THEY STILL NEED TO GET THE VACCINE?

>> THERE IS SUCH A WIDE RAINNGE OF ILLNESS.

THE DATA SUGGESTS THAT A ONE VACCINE DOSE PRODUCES A STRONG ANTIBODY RESPONSE.

SO IT IS DEFINITELY REASONABLE FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE BEEN PREVIOUSLY INFECTED TO GO AHEAD AND START AND COMPLETE THE VACCINATION SEQUENCE.

IT WILL OFFER ADDITIONAL PROTECTION, MOST LIKELY TO THOSE WHO HAD THE MOST MILD CASES.

WITH THAT BEING SAID, THERE ARE VERY FEW INSTANCES IN THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN TESTED, AND THEN KWOP KWOP -- DEVELOPED A SECOND VACCINATION.

PRIOR RECOVERY DOES CAUSE CONSIDERABLE IMMUNITY AGAINST INFECTION INFECTION.

>>> HOW BEST CAN YOU PROTECT YOURSELF?

WHAT KIND OF PROCEDURES ARE IN PLACE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS COMING NEXT.

>> THERE'S TWO IMPORTANT PIECES OF INFORMATION WE'RE MISSING.

ONE IS THERE IS NOT ENOUGH CERTAINTY AROUND THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN PREVIOUSLY INFECTED.

WITH MANY PEOPLE GOING UNRECOGNIZED OR UNDIAGNOSED?

AND THE SECOND PEOPLE OF INFORMATION IS, HOW MANY PEOPLE WHO WERE PREVIOUSLY INFECTED AND RECOVERED ALSO WENT THROUGH THE VACCINATION SEQUENCE.

AND THAT IS NOT OWN AT ALL.

IT IS DIFFICULT TO KNOW HOW MANY REMAINING INDIVIDUALS HAVE NEITHER BEEN INFECTED FOR VACCINATED?

IF THAT NUMBER IS LARGE, THIS COULD GROW LARGE, AND RIGHT NOW THERE IS NO GOOD WAY TO GET THOSE PIECES OF INFORMATION.

SO WE'RE JUST TRYING TO ESTIMATE THE TRANSMISSION RATE OF COVID, AND WITH THAT INFORMATION, WE CAN DEVELOP WORSE-CASE SCENARIOS, AND SAY, THERE COULD BE QUITE A BIT OF DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHERE WE ARE NOW AND WORSE-CASE SCENARIO.

>> SO WHEN SOMEONE ASKS, AND EVERYONE HEARS THIS ALL THE TIME, IS THE WORST OF THE PANDEMIC OVER?

YOU ARE SAYING LIKELY, BUT YOU CAN'T SAY FOR SURE.

>> IF I WERE A BETTING MAN, I WOULD SAY YES.

WE'RE NOT GOING TO SAY THE OUTBREAK THAT WE HAVE SEEN.

WITH VACCINATION-PLUS SOME DEGREE OF NATURAL IMMUNITY, THERE ISN'T ENOUGH TO SUSTAIN A REALLY BIG OUTBREAK.

BUT THOSE WHO ARE UNVACCINATED WOULD DEVELOP A DISEASE AND DIE.

SO OUR GOAL IS TO REACH THOSE INDIVIDUALS STILL AT RISK AND PERSUADE THEM TO GET FULLY PROTECTED.

>> GREAT INFORMATION.

DOCTOR, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>>> AND UP NEXT A NEW PBS DOCUMENTARY DOCUMENTARY.

>>> MISLEADING AND INCORRECT INFORMATION ABOUT COVID-19 ABOUND.

A DOCUMENTARY LOOKS AT HOW PER PER -- PERVASIVE THAT INFORMATION IS.

DOCTOR, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.

MISINFORMATION ON VACCINES.

HOW PREVALENT IS THE PROBLEM?

>> IT IS OBVIOUSLY RIGHT NOW PREVALENT BIG TIME.

AND WE'RE SEEING LOTS OF MISINFORMATION GOING OUT TO DIFFERENT MEDIA AND DIFFERENT PEOPLE OUT THERE SPREADING INFORMATION.

>> HOW MUCH DO CONSPIRACY THEORIES PLAY INTO THIS?

>> WELL, IF PEOPLE ARE FOLLOWING SOMEBODY -- AND THERE IS A LOT OF SCIENCE NOW.

AND THERE MAY BE A GAP IN INFORMATION, FOR INSTANCE, WE DON'T KNOW EVERYONE.

SO THAT GIVES A HOLE FOR A CONSPIRACY THEORY TO COME OUT.

AND THE SCIENCE IS NOT ALREADY THERE.

>> HOW DOES IT TAKE OFF?

WHO IS BEHIND THIS?

>> A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE.

THERE'S CERTAIN PEOPLE THAT HAVE A REPUTATION THAT ARE INFLUENCERS, MAYBE ON SOCIAL, THAT CAN TAKE IT AND SPIN IT A CERTAIN WAY, AND I WOULD SAY INFLEW INFLEW INFLEW INFLEW INFLEW -- INFLUENCERS PLAY A BIG PART.

IF WE GO BACK AND LOOK JUST AT -- BACK IN THE SPANISH FLU, THERE WERE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT WERE VERY CONCERNED, BUT THE INFORMATION DIDN'T GET SPREAD AS FAST.

BUT THERE IS ALWAYS -- THERE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN CONCERNS OR PEOPLE HAVE RUMORS OR THEY SHARE EXPERIENCES AND THAT INFORMATION GETS SPREAD AS WELL.

>> THE MEASLES MUMPS RUBELLA, RARELY DID I HEAR A PROBLEM.

>> RIGHT.

AND WE ALL GOT VACCINATED WHEN WERE KIDS.

I REMEMBER EVEN ME IN SCHOOL, WE WOULD GET THE VACCINATION.

BUT THERE WERE POCKETS OF INFORMATION, BUT IT GOT STOMPED OUT REAL QUICK.

>> HOW CRUCIAL IS IT TO GET FACTS OUT THERE AND GET RID OF THE MISINFORMATION.

>> THAT'S WHAT THIS DOCUMENTARY IS ABOUT.

THERE WAS ALL OF THIS MISINFORMATION COMING OUT, AND MY DAUGHTER WAS TELLING ME ABOUT IT, AND THERE IS SO MUCH OUT THERE, AND WHERE DO YOU GET GOOD INFORMATION.

WHERE DO YOU GET IT FROM, WHO IS REPUTABLE, AND GO TO PRIMARY CARE PROVIDERS, AND I'M A PHARMACIST, AND GO TO A PHARMACIST PHARMACIST, SO YOU CAN GO IN AND JUST TALK TO SOMEBODY AND GET THAT PERSPECTIVE.

AND THAT IS PROBABLY THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE.

AND ALL OF US THAT ARE IN THIS FIELD -- WE'RE READING EVERYTHING, AND REVIEWING STUDIES, AND WE HAVE TO GET GOOD SOLID SCIENTIFIC INFORMATION.

>> IT IS STILL SEEMS AS THOUGH -- HAVE PEOPLE GENERALLY FORGOTTEN HOW IMPORTANT VACCINES ARE, AND THE MIRACLES THESE THINGS HAVE BEEN THROUGHOUT OUR HISTORY.

>> EXACTLY.

I SHOWED OUR GRANDDAUGHTER -- I SHOWED HER THE VIDEO OF CHILDREN WITH POLIO, AND JUST WITH -- WE SEE ALL OF THESE THINGS THROUGHOUT HISTORY, AND THERE IS JUST A GENERATION -- WE HAVE FORGOTTEN HOW SCARY IT WAS TO HAVE THESE VIRUSES GO THROUGH, AND WE'RE LIVING LONGER BECAUSE OF THE VACCINES.

>> HOW BEST TO ACHIEVE THIS AND STOMP OUT THE MISINFORMATION.

>> THE BEST WAY TO STOMP IT OUT IS IF WE HEAR INFORMATION THAT IS -- WAIT A SECOND.

IS THAT REALLY TRUE?

YOU NEED TO FIND YOUR PRIMARY CARE PROVIDER OR NURSE PRACTICER, OR PHARMACIST, BECAUSE THAT'S EASY ACCESS.

YOU ARE WALK IN AND ASK THEM, CAN YOU TELL ME MORE ABOUT THIS.

I HEARD THIS, AND JUST GET THAT CLARIFIED.

AND IF YOU WANT TO READ MORE ABOUT IT, I'M SURE THEY I WOULD PROVIDE IT TO YOU.

AND IF WE HEAR INFORMATION THAT IS INCORRECT -- WE WANT TO HELP EVERYBODY GET VACCINATED BECAUSE OUR -- I WOULD NOT WANT TO GET -- I WOULD NOT WANT SOMEBODY I CARED ABOUT, MY FAMILY OR PEOPLE THAT I'M AROUND THAT WERE UNABLE TO GET VACCINATED, ESPECIALLY CHILDREN TO GET THIS VIRUS.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

WE APPRECIATE IT.

GOOD CONVERSATION.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>> ARIZONA PBS WILL AIR THE DOCUMENTARY TONIGHT AT 9:00.

>>> THE RETAIL GIANT WALMART HAS ANNOUNCED IT WILL OFFER INSULIN AT AN AT AFFORDABLE PRICE FOR THOSE WHO OTHERWISE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO PAY FOR IT.

TRACY BROWN JOINED US TO TALK ABOUT THIS ISSUE.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

WALMART IS CUTTING PRICES FOR INSULIN.

HOW IS THIS WORKING?

>> THANK YOU FOR WORKING ME.

IT'S GOODS TO BE HERE.

THIS IS A BIG, BIG DEAL.

INSULIN IS ONE OF THE HIGHEST PRESCRIPTION DRUGS OUT THERE, AND I WILL TELL YOU THAT PEOPLE LIVING WITH DIABETES ARE MAKING CHOICES BETWEEN BUYING THE LIFE-SAVING DRUGS THAT THEY NEED, VERSUS FOOD ON THEIR TABLES, HOUSES OVER THEIR ROOFS.

THIS IS A HUGE, HUGE DEAL.

INSULIN IS OUT OF REACH IN TERMS OF NOT AFFORDABLE FOR THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE.

SO IT IS A BIG DEAL.

>> HOW MUCH LESS EXPENSIVE NOW -- AS BEST USE CAN?

>> AGAIN, THIS BRAND BY WALMART, YOU CAN GET INSULIN VIALS FOR $70.82.

FOR THE PERSON LIVES WITH DIABETES THAT REQUIRES THIS -- THIS MEDICINE, THIS IS ABOUT $100 PER VIAL OF INSULIN, OR OVER $260 FOR THE PACKAGE OF PINS.

WHAT I WILL TELL YOU, TED, IS THAT FOR A PERSON LIVING WITH DIABETES, THEIR EXPENSES ARE ABOUT TWO AND A HALF TIMES THOSE WITHOUT DIABETES, SO ANY SAVINGS WITH A BIG DEAL.

THIS IS A HUGE STEP.

>> WHY ISN'T INSULIN AFFORDABLE FOR SO MANY FOLKS, AND WHY DOES THE PRICE KEEP INCREASING?

>> LISTEN, THAT'S THE MILLION DOLLAR QUESTION, TED.

THIS IS A -- WHERE IN THE ECOSYSTEM CHANGE, WHERE ARE THE DOLLARS?

I DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER FOR THAT.

BUT THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE IN THIS ECOSYSTEM, TED, FROM THE MANUFACTURER TO THE WHOLESALER TO THE PBM TO THE RETAILER, THERE ARE LOTS OF PLACES ON THE ECOSYSTEM BEFORE THE INSULIN GETS INTO THE HANDS OF THE PERSON LIVING WITH DIABETES.

THE NUMBER 1 ISSUE OF PEOPLE LIVING WITH DIABETES IS I CAN'T SUPPORT MY INSULIN OR PRESCRIPTION DRUGS.

AND NUMBER 2 IS WHAT CAN I EAT?

>> WITH WALMART DOING THIS -- IF WALMART DOES THIS, DOES THAT SUGGEST THAT THE PRICES FROM OTHER COMPANIES WILL START GOING DOWN BECAUSE THEY WILL HAVE TO COMPETE?

>> TED, MY -- I HOPE THAT WE CAN GET INSULIN AFFORDABLE FOR ALL.

NO ONE NEEDS TO ACTUAL MAKE A DIVISION ON WHETHER THEY BUY DRUGS THAT THEY NEED TO STAY ALOAN OR FOOD ON THEIR TABLE.

WE BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A GREAT STEP FORWARD, TED, AND IF WE CAN HAVE EVERYBODY COLLABORATED TO BRING DOWN THE COST OF INSULIN, SUCH THAT PEOPLE CAN GET THIS AFFORDABLY AND LIVE THEIR BEST LIVES TODAY, THAT IS THE GOAL.

>> IS THIS THE WAVE OF THE FUTURE?

>> HERE IS WHAT I DO KNOW.

IF WE DO NOT START COLLABORATING, WE'RE NOT GOING TO ACTUALLY BE ABLE TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM, TED.

SO THE MORE PEOPLE THAT CAN GET IT TOGETHER AND COLLABORATE AND DO WHAT IS RIGHT FOR AMERICANS IN THE COUNTRY, THE BETTER OFF WE ALL WILL BE.

I THINK THIS IS A GREAT FIRST STEP.

>> GOOD CONVERSATION.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU, TED.

SEE YOU LATER.

FR >>> AND THAT IS IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

♪♪ >>> COMING UP IN THE NEXT HALF HOUR OF LOCAL NEWS ON ARIZONA PBS, ON CRONKITE NEWS, A LOOK AT ARIZONANS COMPETING IN THE OLYMPIC GAMES.

AND ON BREAK IT DOWN, HOW COLLEGE ATHLETES CAN NOW EARN MONEY FROM THEIR NAME, IMAGE AND LIKENESS.