[ ♪♪♪ ] PSH PSH >> COMING UP IN THE NEXT HOUR OF LOCAL NEWS ON ARIZONA PBS - ON "ARIZONA HORIZON" - WHAT VACCINES FOR KIDS AGED 5-11 IN THE FIGHT AGAINST THE SPREAD OF COVID.

AND ON CRONKITE NEWS - WHAT BEGAN AS A TRIAL POLICY TO CLOSE POPULAR HIKING TRAILS DURING EXTREME HEAT IS NOW PERMANENT.

THAT'S ALL AHEAD IN THE NEXT HOUR ON ARIZONA PBS.

[ ♪♪♪ ] PSH PSH >> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON".

I'M TED SIMONS.

YESTERDAY'S ELECTION RESULTS AROUND THE STATE ARE IN MANY CASES STILL BEING TABULATED, BUT IT LOOKS AS THOUGH MOST SCHOOL BONDS AND OVERRIDES PASSED, AS DID AN UPDATE TO SCOTTSDALE'S GENERAL PLAN.

RESULTS THUS FAR ALSO SHOW THAT GILBERT VOTERS NARROWLY APPROVED A HALF-BILION DOLLAR TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT BOND; CHANDLER VOTERS EASILY PASSED A QUARTER BILLION DOLLAR BOND TO PAY FOR A NUMBER OF PROJECTS; AND IN A SURPRISE, VOTERS EXTENDED AN AGREEMENT THAT INVOLVED WATER AND OTHER CITY SERVICES.

COVID VACCINES FOR KIDS ARE STARTING TO ROLL OUT ACROSS THE COUNTRY AFTER THE CDC YESTERDAY APPROVED THE PFIZER VACCINE FOR CHILDREN AGED 5-11.

IT'S A PROCESS THE CDC SAYS IT'S BEEN PREPARING FOR.

>> FOLLOWING F.D.A.

'S AUTHORISATION FRIDAY, TEAMS BEGAN TO PACK VACCINES FOR KIDS 5-11 INTO SPECIALISED CONTAINERS, AND THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING 24-7 TO SHIP MILLIONS OF DOSES TO THOUSANDS OF VACCINATION SITES ACROSS THE COUNTY.

PSH >> AND THE CDC'S DIRECTOR HAD THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE FOR PARENTS.

>> WE HAVE FOLLOWED THE SCIENTIFIC PROCESS AND DONE OUR DUE DILIGENCE, WE HAVE THOROUGHLY REVIEWED ALL THE SAFETY, IMMUNOAND EFFICACY DATA BEFORE RECOMMENDING FOR YOUR CHILD.

>> ARIZONA'S NUMBER OF NEW COVID CASES INCREASED BY CLOSE TO 2200.

THE DEATH COUNT SPIKED AT 124.

THAT'S A LOT.

AND PUTS ARIZONA'S SEVEN-DAY DEATH RATE AT THE 12th HIGHEST IN THE COUNTRY, AS FOR HOSPITALIZATIONS THEY ARE UP WITH KNOWN OR EXPECTED CASES AT 1800.

>> C.D.C.

APPROVAL OF COVID VACCINES FOR KIDS 5-11 IS THE LATEST MOVE TO FIGHT THE SPREAD OF COVID.

AND WE TALKED ABOUT THE IMPACT OF GETTING THE AGE GROUP VACCINATED WITH THE FORMER STATE HEALTH DIRECTOR WILL HUMBLE, WHO IS NOW THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE ARIZONA PUBLIC HEALTH ASSOCIATION.

ALWAYS GOOD TO HAVE YOU IN THE STUDIO.

KIDS, 5-11, CAN BE VACCINATED.

>> IT'S BEEN AUTHORISED.

NOT APPROVED.

IT'S UNDER EMERGENCY USE AUTHORISATION.

CLINICAL TRIALSAR COMPLETE.

THEY DID A LONGER TRIAL TO MAKE SURE THEY WERE CAPTURING ENOUGH DATASET.

AND IT TURNED OUT WELL.

THE VACCINE IS AUTHORISED AND BEEN DELIVERED AT A FEW SITES ALREADY, SHIPPED SUNDAY.

ASK ON WEDNESDAY, A LOT OF THE SITES GOT IT YESTERDAY.

>> VACCINATIONS CAN START NOW.

>> THEY HAVE TO BE.

THAT KIND OF STUFF.

>> C.D.C.

IS BASICALLY SAYING THE BENEFITS OUTWEIGH THE RISKS FOR THE AGE GROUP.

>> THAT'S THE CRITERIA THAT THEY USE FOR EMERGENCY USE, IT WAS DEFINITE DIFFICULT AND NUMBER WITHIN THE COMMITTEE AT C.D.C.

AND F.D.A.

'S ADVISORY COMMITTEE, THERE'S TWO INDEPENDENT COMMITTEES OF PEOPLE WITH NO CONFLICTS OF INTEREST WHO DO THE ANALYSIS AND MAKE - YOU'VE BEEN - I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE BEEN ONLINE TO THE MEETINGS YOU HAVE TO BE A NERD.

>> I MISS THOSE.

>> WE HEARD C.D.

V SAY THEY'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS SINCE LAST FRIDAY.

IT'S BEEN DELIVERED THEY'LL START AS SOON AS THEY GET THERE.

WHAT DO PARENTS NEED TO KNOW.

>> THE NO.1 THING PARENTS NEED TO DO IS FIND OUT IT THEY HAD PREORDERED NACK SEEN.

THAT'S THE GET CALL HOME FOR KIDS.

A LOT OF SIDS MISSED REGULAR SHOTS BECAUSE THEY MISSED PAEDIATRIC APPOINTMENTS, THIS IS THE CHANCE TO GET IN.

GET CAUGHT UP ON THINGS AND GET THE RECORD IN WITH THE PAEDIATRICIAN AND DO DEVELOPMENTAL SCREAMING.

THE MEDICAL HOME IS BEST.

THE COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS ARE THE PLACE TO GO.

THE COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER, AND THEN THERE'S A COMMUNITY VACCINATION SITE THAT THE MARICOPA COUNTY IS SETTING UP.

>> YOU MENTIONED PAEDIATRICIANS GO IN AND GET CAUGHT UM.

IS IT OKAY TO GET TORE - FOR KIDS TO GET THE SHOTS ALONG WITH OTHER VAC STONES.

>> GOOD QUESTION.

YOU CAN ADMINISTER THE COVID VACCINE, THE FLU OR ANY OTHER PAEDIATRIC IF THE KID IS BEHIND.

>> THAT BRINGS ME TO THE ADULT QUESTION.

TIME FOR FLU SHOTS, CAN YOU BET A BOOSTER AND FLU SHOT IN THE SAME SITTING.

>> YES.

IT'S GOOD FOR THOSE TWO.

>> HERE WE GO.

SIDE EFFECTS FOR KIDS, AGAIN, PARENTS WILL BE WORRIED ABOUT THIS.

IS IT A THIRD OF THE DOSE.

>> RIGHT.

PFIZER IS 10 MERCK GRAMS.

ADULT VACCINES IS 30 MICROGRAMS.

A THIRD OF THE AMOUNT IN THE CLINICAL TRIALS.

THEY WERE MOSTLY AWE ARM AND THERE WERE FOOER ELENTS EEVENTS.

THE SAID EFFECT WERE LESS.

>> TRASHING A BIG ABBING TENT OF HAVING THE AGE GROUP VACCINATED.

THE KNACK.

>> THERE'S A DIRECT AND UNDIRECT.

IT PROTECTS YOUR KIDS SO THEY ARE NOT INFECTED AT SCHOOL AND AFTER SCHOOL PRIMS, ENSURING THAT THEY DON'T GET AN INFECTION.

THE INDIRECT EFFECT IS THAT YOU HAVE A NEW POPULATION THAT IS PROTECTED.

THAT IS NO LONGER PART OF THE CHAIN OF TRANSMISSION.

REMEMBER THE BARS WERE A PROBLEM.

NOT BECAUSE PEOPLE IN THE 20S WERE GOING INTO HOSPITAL.

THEY WERE STARTING A SHANE OF TRNS MISSION THAT THEY PICK UP AT SCHOOL.

AND THEY MAY GIVE IT TO AN UNVACCINATED GRANDMA.

>> I'M SEEING REPORTS OF THE CHAIN OF TRANSMISSION IS HIGH, IS THAT TRUE.

>> YES, BY DESIGN.

THEY WERE SAYING IT'S THE ARE - IT'S TIMED REALLY FOR EMPLOYEES TO LOOK AT WHAT THEY ARE OFFERING TO WORKERS, IF THEY ARE KING TO KIND OF.

IN ORDER.

SURELY IN THE PANDEMIC, WE DID NOT HAVE A LABOUR SHORTIC SITUATION.

WE HAD A LOT OF DISSATISFACTION AND HIGH TURN OVER RATES IN STOP ENTRIES.

>> INTERESTING STUFF.

LEE, ALWAYS A PLEASURE, THANK YOU, SIR.

>> THANK YOU.

GOOD TO BE WITH YOU.

>> KARINA MANTA IS A FORMER SKATE, USA ICE-DANCER WHO WAS RAISED IN CHANDLER AND MADE HISTORY WHEN SHE AND HER DANCING PARTNER BECOME THE COUNTRY'S FIRST OPENLY LGBTQ ICE-DANCING TEAM.

MANTA RECENTLY WROTE A YOUNG ADULT BOOK ABOUT HER LIFE GROWING UP ON THE ICE AND THE MANY CHALLENGES SHE FACED IN FINDING HER PLACE IN THE WORLD.

WE SPOKE WITH KARINA MANTA EARLIER TODAY.

>>.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US, WE APPRECIATE YOU ALL THE WAY FROM MERRY OLD ENGLAND.

HOW ARE YOU DOING THERE IN OLYMPIANED LONDON.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

I'M HERE WORKING ON A SHOW.

>> DANCING ON ICE, LIKE DANCING WITH THE STARS WIT SLIPPERY.

>> YES.

>> I'M GOING TO START WITH THE TITLE OF YOUR BOOK.

WHY "ON TOP OF GLASS."

>> THERE'S A LOT OF REASONS, THE OBVIOUS ONE IS ICE LOOKS LIKE GLASS.

IT'S THE STATEING IMAGERY.

THE ENVIRONMENT FELT PRECARIOUS, AND I FELT NERVOUS MAKING A MISTAKE LIKE THAT COULD BE DANGEROUS.

IT FELT LIKE IT MAY NOT HAVE ALWAYS BEEN SAFE FOR ME.

AND ALSO THE IDEA THAT MORE PEOPLE ADVOCATING FOR A MORE INCLUSIVE ENVIRONMENT, WE COULD GET ON TOP OF THAT.

>> THE BOOK BEGINS WITH YOUR LIFE AS A TEENAGER, YOU SEEMED TO BE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING.

YOU KNEW ONE THING, YOU LOVED ICE SKATING, AND YOU LOVED IT GROWING UP IN CHANDLER ARIZONA.

>> CHAPTER ONE OF THE BOOK IS HOW I WAS INVOLVED.

HOW I FELL IN LOVE.

WE'LL SIGN YOU UP.

HERE I AM, 20 YEARS LATER.

>> WORKED WELL.

IT'S REALLY NOT A FIGURE SKATING BACK AS A YOU BOOK.

TALK ABOUT THE STRUGGLES THAT YOU HAVE GONE THROUGH IN YOUR LIFE AND HOW CONFIDENT, COMFORTABLE YOU WERE IN PUTTING THESE DOWN ON BEIGES.

>> YES, YOU ARE RIGHT.

IT'S NOT TOTALLY - I LIKE TO SAY IT'S SORT OF UPDATELE AND BEING A TEENAGE GIRL.

I LOVE COMING OF AGE STORIES, HIGH SCHOOL, PROM SEEN.

IT KIND OF CHANGED MY LIFE.

AS A CAREER PERSON, AND MY LIFE AS A LATEEN A, AND OTHER EXPERIENCES UNDER MY LENS, IT WAS A JOY TO SHARE AND PROVIDE REPRESENTATION: >> AND YOUR COMING YOU HAVE AGE INCLUDES SOME ISSUES, AND AGAIN, THAT HAD TO BE DIFFICULT TO WRITE THAT STUFF DOWN AND ALMOST RELIVE IT.

>> IT'S DIFFICULT TO REVISIT AND LOOK BACK.

I THINK I'M GRATEFUL THAT WE ARE IN THE MOMENT WHERE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH A LITTLE MORE.

WE SAW IN THE LAST OLYMPIC CYCLE.

AND SOCCER, AND WHAT THEY HAVE DONE IN TERMS OF BRINGING MENTAL HEALTH TO THE FOREFRONT AND NORMALIZE IT.

AND CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE IT'S MORE ACKNOWLEDGED.

AND RESPECTED.

>> WHEN YOU WERE GOING THROUGH THE ISSUES FROM THE PROBLEMS.

WHAT TURNED IT AROUND.

YOU DIDN'T NECESSARILY HIT ROCK BOTTOM.

WHAT CHANGED.

>> DEFINITELY IN TERMS OF AN EATING DISORDER I WAYS GETTING DEEPER AND DEEPER.

I HAD MORE PEOPLE WATCHING ME.

I REALLY TRIED.

I WANT TO SAY, YOU CAN BE AN ELITE ATHLETE AND LOVE YOUR BODY AND EAT WHAT YOU FEEL LIKE EID EGG.

YOU SAY IT WAS DUE TO YOUTH.

DID YOU THINK YOU FELT THAT WAY.

YOU HAVE.

>> I COULD SEE MYSELF.

BUT THERE'S A TIME WHEN I THOUGHT I CAN'T TELL ANYONE, I'M AT A MOMENT I FEEL FREE AND OPEN: >> IS THERE A TARGETED AUDIENCE THERE.

IS THAT THE TARGET AUDIENCE.

I HOPE THEY PICK IT UP AND FEEL CLOSE TO IT.

HOPEFULLY EVERYONE CAN LEARN ABOUT IT A BIT MORE I FELT LIKE ADULTS DIDN'T TAKE IT SERIOUSLY.

UP TAKING IT SERIOUSLY.

IT WAS FUN TO READ.

HUE OUTLINED ARE YOU.

>> 25.

25 AND YOU'VE WRITTEN A MEMOIR.

CONGRATULATIONS ON THAT.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US, WE APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>>> THAT IS IT FOR NOW, I'LL TED SIMONS, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US, YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

[ ♪♪♪ ] COMING UP IN THE NEXT HALF HOUR ON ARIZONA PBS.

ON DESCRIBING KITE NURKS HOW A HIGH SCHOOL'S WINNING WEIGHING ON THE FOOTBALL FIELD ARE RALLYING A COMMUNITY.