>>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR THIS SPECIAL EDITION OF KPBS NEWS.

IT IS IN A WEEK OF PROGRESS IN THE LOCAL AND NATIONAL PUSH TO ROLLOUT THE COVID-19 VACCINE.

THE WHITE HOUSE ANNOUNCED IT HAS SECURED AN ADDITIONAL 200 MILLION DOSES AND ANTICIPATES TO HAVE ENOUGH VACCINES FOR THE VAST MAJORITY OF AMERICANS BY JULY.

WE HAVE SEVERAL DAYS WITH CASES UNDER 1000 BUT DEATHS ARE STILL HIGH.

HUNDRED AND 78 WERE ADDED TO SAN DIEGO'S TOTAL THIS WEEKEND MORE VACCINATIONS I HAVE BECOMING AVAILABLE INCLUDING THE DELMAR FAIRGROUNDS THIS WEEKEND.

JOHN CARROLL HAS MORE.

>> Reporter: AT A PLACE KNOWN FOR HORSERACING AT THE SAND ANNUAL COUNTY FAIR, SOMETHING NEW, ON FRIDAY, THE FAIRGROUNDS WILL BECOME A LIFE-SAVING PLACE WHEN IT BECOMES THE COUNTY'S LATEST VACCINATION SUPERSTATION.

>> WE BELIEVE IT'S IMPORTANT FOR OUR COMMUNITY TO GET VACCINATED.

>> Reporter: IN THE SAME VEIN AS THE COUNTY PARTNERSHIP AT PETCO, THEY ARE NOW PARTNERING WITH THE COUNTY AND THAT FAIRGROUNDS TO OPEN THIS VACCINATION SUPERSTATION, AS LONG AS YOU FALL INTO THE TEARS, HEALTHCARE WORKERS AND THOSE 65 AND OLDER, YOU CAN GET VACCINATED.

>> IT DOESN'T MATTER WHETHER YOU HAVE INSURANCE OR NOT OR WHERE YOU LIVE WITHIN THE COUNTY.

>> I WANTED TO UPDATE YOU ON WHERE WE ARE IN THIS PANDEMIC.

>> Reporter: GOVERNOR NEWSOM GAVE HIS UPDATE FROM THE FAIRGROUNDS, HE HAD GOOD NEWS WHEN IT COMES TO COVID-19 IN CALIFORNIA.

>> A MONTH AGO TODAY, WE HAD 13.9% POSITIVITY RATE HERE IN THE STATE, TODAY WE ARE DOWN TO 4.8%.

>> Reporter: HE SAYS ONE MONTH AGO, HE REPORTED NEARLY 50,000 CASES ON ONE DAY ACROSS THE STATE.

TODAY, THAT NUMBER STANDS AT 8400.

THE GOVERNOR SAYS WE COULD BE DOING A LOT MORE IF NOT FOR ONE MAJOR PROBLEM.

>> WE SIMPLY DO NOT HAVE THE ALLOCATION WE NEED TO GET TO THE LEVELS WHERE WE ALL NEED TO GO.

>> Reporter: THE STATEWIDE SHORTAGE REFLECTED IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY.

>> UNFORTUNATELY, WE STILL DON'T HAVE ADEQUATE DOSES FROM THE FEDERAL AND STATE GOVERNMENT.

>> Reporter: NUISANCE IS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS RAMPING UP DISTRIBUTION SOME MORE DOSES SHOULD BE HEADING CALIFORNIA'S WAY IN THE COMING WEEKS.

THE GOVERNMENT WAS HECKLED BY PROTESTERS THROUGHOUT THE NEWS CONFERENCE, WHO WON HIM RECALLED.

JOHN CARROLL, KPBS NEWS.

>>> WHILE DELMAR MIGHT BE THE NEWEST LOCATION, IT IS FAR FROM THE ONLY PLACE AVAILABLE TO SAN DIEGO AND WE HAVE A DASHBOARD AT KPBS.ORG WHERE YOU CAN FIND A MAP OF SITES FROM NORTH COUNTY TO THE SOUTH BAY, WE ARE ALSO TRACKING THE PROGRESS TO GETTING OUR POPULATION VACCINATED, YOU CAN GET THE DASHBOARD TO THE TRACKING COVID-19 LINK AT KPBS.ORG.

>>> SOME SAN DIEGO'S ARE HARDER TO REACH THAN OTHERS, AND THAT INCLUDES THOSE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.

SERVICE PROVIDERS DOWNTOWN ARE ADMINISTERING VACCINES.

THIS IS WHAT IT LOOKED LIKE THIS WEEK AT FATHERS JOE'S VILLAGES WHERE 200 SHOTS WERE GIVEN OUT, THEY ARE FOLLOWING THE SAME GUIDELINES LIMITING ACCESS TO THOSE 65 AND OLDER.

FATHER JOE'S WILL DISTRIBUTE VACCINES EVERY TWO WEEKS.

EQUITY AND ACCESS IS AN ACTIVE ISSUE IN MANY NEIGHBORHOODS.

>> Reporter: IS VACCINATION SUPERSTATION'S HAVE OPENED DOWNTOWN IN THE SOUTH BAY IN NORTH COUNTY, CITY HEIGHTS AND THE REST OF THE MID-CITY AREA REMAIN WITHOUT A MAJOR HUB.

INSTEAD RELYING ON LOCAL PROVIDERS TO REACH OUT TO ELIGIBLE RESIDENTS.

THAT IS LEAVING PEOPLE BEHIND SAID LONGTIME RESIDENT ANNA DANIELS, WHO SAYS IT WAS HER OWN PRIVILEGE THAT MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR HER TO BE VACCINATED.

>> I AM A UPPER-MIDDLE-CLASS WHITE PERSON WITH A CAR.

I AM THE LOW HANGING FRUIT, THE PEOPLE THAT ALWAYS MANAGE TO GET IT FIRST.

>> Reporter: SHE IS WHERE THE COMPLICATED PROCESS TO SIGN UP FOR THE VACCINE AND THE NEED TO RELY ON A CAR OR RIDE-SHARE PUT SEPARATE BLOCKS FOR MANY PEOPLE.

THEY ARE FOCUSING ON VACCINATING ITS OWN PATIENTS BUT JAVIER RODRIGUEZ SAYS IF YOU ARE ELIGIBLE FOR THE VACCINE, MEANING YOUR 65 AND OLDER OR A HEALTHCARE WORKER, IT IS EASY TO BECOME A PATIENT AND RECEIVE ONE BY GOING TO ITS SCREENING STATION ON FAIRMONT AVENUE.

THEY HAVE ALREADY VACCINATED 1000 PEOPLE AND HAVE BEEN REACHING OUT TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO LET THEM KNOW ABOUT THE VACCINE.

>> THERE IS A LOT OF HESITANCY, RESISTANCE, SO I THINK COMING OUT, PROVIDING A LOT OF EDUCATION, WHETHER IT BE EITHER IN THOSE PHONE CALLS, YOU KNOW, AND THE TEXT THAT WE SEND, FLYERS WE HAVE COME UP WITH, SHOWING THEM THAT THEY ARE SAFE AND EFFECTIVE, THE VACCINES.

>> Reporter: HE ALSO SAYS THE HEALTH CENTER IS READY TO SEND OUT ITS MOBILE UNITS WITH NECESSARY COOLING EQUIPMENT TO COMMUNITIES, ONCE THE STATE GIVES THE OKAY.

CITY HEIGHTS COUNCILMEMBER SAYS THE CITY IT SHOULD BE OPENING UP MORE OPPORTUNITIES IN CITY HEIGHTS IN THE COMING WEEKS.

AND WILL LEAN HEAVILY ON COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS TO GET THE WORD OUT ABOUT OPPORTUNITIES AND OVERCOME YEARS OF DISTRUST BETWEEN THE MEDICAL ESTABLISHMENT AND THE BLACK LATINO IMMIGRANT AND INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES.

>> WE HAVE TO ACCEPT AND ACKNOWLEDGE OF THE DAMAGE THAT HAS BEEN DONE BY MISCONDUCT OR GOVERNMENT OVER GENERATIONS AND WELL AS THE TRAUMA FROM THEIR EXPERIENCES WHEREVER THEY MAY COME FROM.

WE CAN'T MOVE FORWARD WITHOUT ACKNOWLEDGING MY, ONCE WE HAVE MADE THAT ACKNOWLEDGMENT, WE CAN HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT IT MEANS TO DEVELOP TRUST.

>> Reporter: HE ALSO STRESSED ON DECISIONS WHERE TO PLACE THE FIRST SITES ARE BASED ON WHERE THE MOST CASES ARE REPORTED LIKE THE SOUTH BAY.

MORE VACCINE OPPORTUNITIES FOR CITY HEIGHTS ARE ON THE WAY, BUT CANNOT ATTACH A DATE, BASED ON STILL LIMITED SUPPLIES.

KPBS NEWS.

>>> THE COVID-19 VACCINE APPEARS TO BE SAFE FOR PREGNANT WOMEN, NOW THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH WANT THEM AND BREAST-FEEDING MOMS TO BE PART OF YOUR CLINICAL TRIALS.

THEY WERE NOT INCLUDED EARLY ON, ACCORDING TO CLAIRE TRAGESER, DR. SAY THAT WAS A MISTAKE.

>> I PANICKED.

I WAS LIKE WHAT HAVE I DONE?

OH, MY GOD, THIS IS CRAZY.

>> Reporter: JENNIFER ELWELL, A NURSE AT UNIVERSITY SAN DIEGO RECALLS THE SCARY MAMA AFTER BREAST-FEEDING HER EIGHT-MONTH- OLD SON.

SHE HAD JUST RECEIVED HER FIRST DOSE OF THE VACCINE AND KNEW THE SCIENCE BEHIND HER DECISION.

>> IT JUST SEEMED LIKE AN EASY WAY TO HELP MY BABY, BUT YEAH, I THINK INITIALLY, RIGHT AFTERWARDS, EVEN BEFORE PEOPLE SAID ANYTHING, I GOT HOME, FED THE BABY AND I LOOKED AT MY HUSBAND AND I AM LIKE, SHOULD I HAVE NOT DONE THAT?

REMIC DOCTORS AND MEDICAL EXPERTS RECOMMEND WOMEN WHO RECEIVED THE VACCINES CONTINUE BREAST-FEEDING.

IN FACT, THE CONVENTIONAL WISDOM IS WOMEN WHO GET THE VACCINE LIKELY PASS ON PROTECTIVE ANTIBODIES TO THE BABY THROUGH THEIR MILK.

BUT CURSOR UNCERTAINTY IS UNDERSTANDABLE GIVEN THE FACT THAT NO CLINICAL TRIALS OF VACCINES WERE DONE ON PREGNANT OR BREAST-FEEDING WOMEN.

>> HINDSIGHT IS 2020, ALTHOUGH WE SHOULD NOT USE 2020 ANYMORE AS AN EXAMPLE.

>> Reporter: DR. LARS BORDA RUNS THE MOTHER MILK INFANTS CENTER, WHICH IS STUDYING THE IMPACT OF THE VACCINE ON BREASTMILK.

>> THAN OSHA'S NOTION WAS ORIGINALLY TO PROTECT WOMEN IN THIS VULNERABLE SPACE OF BEING PREGNANT OR DRESS FITTING SO WE DON'T TRY OUT ANY DRUGS IN THAT SPACE BUT WHAT WE SHOULD DO IS PROTECT WOMEN AND THEIR BABIES BY INCLUDING THEM IN THE RESEARCH TO THEN HAVE DATA.

>> Reporter: FOR THE PAST SIX YEARS, UC SAN DIEGO HAS RUN A COLLECTION CENTER CALLED MOMMY'S MILK THAT STUDIES THE EFFECTS OF ALL KINDS OF THINGS ON MOTHER'S MILK.

DR.

CHAMBERS IS THE FOUNDER AND DIRECTOR.

>> THE MOTHER, IN ADDITION TO PROTECTING HERSELF WITH THE VACCINE PRODUCE ANTIBODIES TO THE VIRUS THAT WILL ACTUALLY BENEFIT HER CHILD AS WELL?

WE WILL LOOK OVER THE COURSE OF THE VACCINE AND THEN AFTER THAT, WHEN THE ANTIBODIES APPEAR AND AT WHAT LEVEL, AND WE WILL ALSO LOOK AT OTHER THINGS ABOUT THE MILK, DOES IT, YOU KNOW, THE PROTEIN, CARBOHYDRATE COMPOSITION CHANGE AT ALL?

ARE THERE ANY VACATIONS THAT THE BABY HAS ANY UNUSUAL SIGNS OR SYMPTOMS?

>> Reporter: SO FAR, 1200 WOMEN FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY WHO HAVE RECEIVED THE VACCINE ARE SHIPPING MOMMY'S MILK, BAGS OF PUMPED BREAST MILK, ONE FROM BEFORE THE VACCINE AND SEVEN WERE OVER TWO MONTHS OF GIVING THE FIRST DOSED.

ANSWERS WILL TAKE THE MOST TIME, BUT THE RESEARCHERS ARE CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC THEY WILL FIND ANTIBODIES.

THEY ALSO EXPECT TO FIND THAT THE VACCINES DO NOT PUT ANYTHING IN BREASTMILK THAT IS HARMFUL TO BABIES.

ALL OF THESE THEORIES ARE COMPELLING TO DR. CHRISTINA PAID AN ER DOCTOR AT RADY TRAINING CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL AND MOTHER OF A SIX-MONTH-OLD.

SHE TOOK THE VACCINE, CONTINUES TO BREAST-FEED AND IS ONE OF THE STUDIES PARTICIPANTS.

IS IN A BREAST-FEEDING MOTHER KNOWS, IT CAN FEEL PAINFUL TO GIVE UP ANY PUMPED MILK, BUT SHE SAYS IT WAS WHERE THAT IN THIS CASE.

>> THEY WERE ONLY ASKING 1 TO 2 OUNCES WITH EACH SAMPLE, SO IN THE END, IT'S NOT EVEN A DAYS WORTH OF FEEDING.

SO I FELT LIKE IT WAS WORTH IT FOR SCIENCE.

>> Reporter: THAT SCIENCE IS WHAT OTHER MOMS, LIKE EARLY ARE WAITING FOR, SHE IS BREAST- FEEDING HER SON AND IS GENERALLY PRO-VACCINE BUT SAYS IT'S HARD TO MAKE A DECISION WITHOUT DATA.

>> THERE REALLY ISN'T ACTUAL DATA YET, SAYING THAT IT DOESN'T PASS THROUGH, AND IF IT DOES, MAYBE THAT'S A GOOD THING, A BAD THING, BUT THERE REALLY ISN'T ANYTHING STATISTICALLY OR DATA-DRIVEN THAT'S TELLING ME, YES, 100% GOOD FOR YOU AND FOR YOUR BABY.

>> Reporter: SHE MAY HAVE AN ANSWER BY THE TIME IT'S HER TURN FOR A VACCINE, AS RESULTS FROM THE FIRST 500 WOMEN FROM THE STUDY ARE EXPECTED IN A FEW MONTHS.

KPBS NEWS.

>>> THAT IS THE SECOND HALF OF A TWO-PART SERIES OF SPECIAL REPORTS BY CLAIRE THIS WEEK AND YOU CAN WATCH MORE ON OUR WEBSITE, KPBS.ORG.

>>> ON FRIDAY, THE CDC OPENED NEW GUIDANCE ON OPENING SCHOOLS.

IT'S NOT A GREEN LIGHT BUT IT'S MARKUP OR HANDS OF MEN WE HAVE SEEN IN THE PAST.

THE DECISION OF THE LOCAL ONE BUT ONE WITH NASHVILLE AND POLITICAL IMPLICATIONS.

DEAR ME DIAMOND HAS MORE.

>> Reporter: GUIDANCE PLEDGE TO REOPEN MOST SCHOOLS IN HIS FIRST HUNDRED DAYS MAY BE IN DOUBT.

>> I THINK IT'S TIME FOR SCHOOLS TO REOPEN SAFELY, SAFELY.

>> Reporter: TEACHERS UNIONS ARE HOLDING FIRM ON DEMAND FOR NEW SAFETY MEASURES AND THE ADMINISTRATION HAVE DELIVERED MUDDLED MESSAGING, WITH NEW GUIDELINES THIS WEEK COULD PROVIDE A CLEAR WAY FORWARD.

>> WE ARE TRYING TO GET UNEQUIVOCAL GUIDANCE AND RESOURCES SINCE LAST JUNE, SO I THINK THAT THE GUIDANCE FROM CDC , WHICH THIS PRESIDENT, UNLIKE THE LAST ONE, WELL ACTUALLY WRAPPED HIMSELF AROUND BECAUSE OF THE SCIENCE OF IT, IT IS GOING TO BE A HUGE STEP FORWARD.

>> Reporter: THE NEW GUIDANCE COMES AMIDST FRESH BLOWBACK OVER COMMENTS MADE BY PRESS SECRETARY JEN SAKI WHO SUGGESTED AN OPEN SCHOOL COULD MEAN ONE DAY OF IN PERSON LEARNING PER WEEK.

>> THE GOAL HE SAID IS TO HAVE THE MAJORITY OF SCHOOLS, MORE THAN 50%, OPEN BY DAY 100 OF HIS PRESIDENCY AND THAT MEANS SOME TEACHING IN CLASSROOMS.

>> Reporter: SHE CLARIFIED HER STATEMENT ON WEDNESDAY BUT DID NOT COMMIT TO A CLEAR BENCHMARK.

>> WE ARE NOT PLANNING TO CELEBRATE AT 100 DAYS IF WE REACH THE GOAL, WE HOPE TO BUILD FROM THAT.

>> Reporter: DESPITE THE CERTAINTY, CHICAGO BROKERED A TENTATIVE DEAL WITH ITS TEACHERS UNION TO REOPEN SCHOOLS FOR IN PERSON LEARNING AND IN NEW YORK CITY, MARRIED BILL DEBLASIO ANNOUNCED IN ALL SCHOOL STUDENTS WOULD BEGIN TO RETURN TO THE CLASSROOM BY THE END OF THE MONTH.

THE NEW CDC GUIDANCE IS NOT EXPECTED TO REQUIRE TEACHERS BE VACCINATED, INSTEAD FOCUSING ON SAFETY MEASURES, LIKE MASKING, HANDWASHING, VENTILATION AND SOCIAL DISTANCING.

>> IT DOES NOT SUGGEST THAT TEACHERS NEED TO BE VACCINATED.

>> Reporter: THE HEAD OF THE LARGEST TEACHERS UNION CONCEDES VACCINES ARE NOT A PRECONDITION FOR RETURNING TO THE CLASSROOM BUT SAID TEACHERS SHOULD BE A PRIORITY.

>> IT IS A LAYER OF PROTECTION SO THAT ESSENTIAL WORKERS, WHEN YOU HAVE HUGE COMMUNITY SPREAD, ARE PROTECTED OUTSIDE OF THEIR COMMUNITIES, AS WELL AS DOING THEIR WORK.

>> THAT WAS JEREMY DIAMOND REPORTING, HERE IN CALIFORNIA, THE GOVERNOR SAYS THE STATE LEGISLATURE IS CLOSE TO TAKING ABOUT PLAN TO REOPEN SOME OF THE STATE SCHOOLS, THE FIRST PHASE WOULD INCLUDE YOUNGER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS, DOING SO WOULD COST ABOUT $6 BILLION.

LOCAL SMALL BUSINESSES ARE ALSO WONDERING FULL CAPACITY, MATT HOFFMAN SPOKE TO A LOCAL BUSINESS OWNER WHO WAS ABLE TO TALK ONE-ON-ONE WITH THE MAN WHO WAS MAKING THOSE DECISIONS.

>> PEOPLE ARE BEING CAUTIOUS AND STAYING HOME, THEY JUST HURT SMALL BUSINESSES.

>> Reporter: THEY ON THIS ICE CREAM SHOP WHICH HAS THREE LOCATIONS IN SAN DIEGO, INCLUDING THIS ONE.

>> WE SELL TRADITION, IT IS A CULTURAL THING, WE COME FROM MEXICO, IT IS TRADITIONAL TO GO TO THE PLAZA AT NIGHT AND HAVE A DRINK OR A SUNDAY.

THERE WAS NOTHING LIKE THAT AROUND HERE WHEN WE STARTED.

>> Reporter: LATELY, BUSINESS HAS NOT BEEN GOOD.

>> RIGHT NOW, LUNCHTIME SHOULD BE BUSY, TABLES FULL, PEOPLE WALKING IN THE DOOR BUT IT'S JUST NOT TO THAT POINT YET.

>> Reporter: RAMIREZ HAS LOST EMPLOYEES DURING THE PANDEMIC AND SAY HE AND HIS DAD HAVE TO PUT IN LONG HOURS.

>> IT'S BEEN A ROLLER COASTER, THEY TELL PEOPLE THEY CAN GO OUT AND THEN THEY TELL THEM THEY CAN'T.

>> Reporter: HE WAS REWARDED A $15,000 GRANT THEN HE GOT A CALL SAYING THE GOVERNOR WAS COMING THE NEXT DAY.

>> YOU GOT LEMONADE.

>> Reporter: HE WAS IN SAN DIEGO TOURING THE PETCO PARK VACCINATIONS AT BEFORE STOPPING IN FOR A TREAT.

RAMIREZ SAYS HE'S NOT A POLITICAL GUY IN THE WHOLE ENCOUNTER WAS PRETTY QUICK THAT HE DID HAVE THE GOVERNOR'S EAR FOR A FEW MINUTES.

>> HE HAS SOME QUESTIONS HOW WE WERE DOING AND I TOLD HIM WE ARE HAVING ISSUES WITH EMPLOYEES, LOW SALES.

>> Reporter: NEWSOM TOLD HIM HE WAS HOPING TO INCREASE THE GRANT FUN, SO FAR MORE THAN $500 MILLION HAVE BEEN ALLOCATED TO BUSINESSES IMPACTED BY THE PANDEMIC.

>> IT'S HARD TO KEEP YOUR BUSINESS WHEN YOU'RE NOT MAKING ANY SALES BUT HE SAYS HE IS TRYING TO WORK ON SOMETHING.

>> Reporter: THE MOST RECENT ROUND OF APPLICATIONS JUST CLOSED AND OFFICIALS SAY BUSINESS OWNERS SHOULD BE GETTING CHECKS WITHIN A FEW DAYS.

>> IT WAS A LOT EASIER THAN THE APPLICATIONS FOR THE FEDERAL GRANTS.

>> Reporter: LOCALLY, COUNTY SUPERVISORS VOTED THIS WEEK TO ADD AN ADDITIONAL $30 MILLION TO THE SAN DIEGO SMALL BUSINESS REALLY FUND.

THAT WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL ADDITIONAL STIMULUS DOLLARS COME AND PICK MATT HOFFMAN, KPBS NEWS.

>>> CROSS-BORDER BUSINESS IS SUFFERING DURING THE PANDEMIC AND ADVOCATES SAY IT'S IMPORTANT TO VACCINATE THOSE WHO REGULARLY ENTER THE U.S. TO WORK.

THE COUNTIES APPROACH TO VACCINATING MEXICAN CITIZENS.

>> Reporter: SAN DIEGO COUNTY IS THE WORKPLACE FOR PEOPLE FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE BORDER, SO WHEN IT COMES TO BACK THE NATIONS, THE COUNTY IS NOT WORRYING ABOUT CITIZENSHIP.

>> ANY INDIVIDUAL THAT LIVES OR WORKS IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY, THERE ARE MANY INDIVIDUALS THAT LIVE IN TIJUANA THAT CROSS OVER TO WORK AT MANY OF OUR MANUFACTURING PLANTS, FOOD PROCESSING PLANTS, AND THOSE INDIVIDUAL SHOULD BE VACCINATED BECAUSE THEY ARE INTERACTING, SO THE VIRUS DOESN'T KNOW WHO IS FROM TIJUANA OR WHO IS FROM NORTH COUNTY OR EAST COUNTY.

>> Reporter: NANCY MALDONADO IS THE PRESIDENT OF THE SHEKINAH FEDERATION, SHE BELIEVES LIKE HOUSING, VACCINES ARE A SHARED RESOURCE FOR THE REGION.

>> WE HAVEN'T TOLD THE WHOLE STORY AND RELATIONSHIP VERSUS JUST FOCUSING ON, MEXICAN RESIDENTS ARE COMING OVER TO GET THE VACCINE, THE TRUTH IS, THIS IS A BINATIONAL REGION AND IT'S ONE OF THE BUSIEST LAN PORTS IN THE COUNTRY AND IT'S A COMPLICATED RELATIONSHIP AND WE DEPEND ON EACH OTHER FOR A LOT OF THINGS, INCLUDING HOUSING, INCLUDING HEALTHCARE.

>> Reporter: SHE POINTS OUT THAT TIJUANA HAS LONG BEEN A PLACE WHERE AMERICANS HAVE COME TO RECEIVE HEALTHCARE.

>> THE REALITY IS, FOR YEARS, U.S. CITIZENS HAVE GONE TO MEXICO, HAVE GONE TO TIJUANA FOR LOW-COST CARE, WHETHER IT IS IN DESPERATE HISTORY, PLASTIC SURGERY, JUST MEDICAL CARE IN GENERAL BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE INSURANCE, THEY CAN AFFORD THE COST OF HEALTHCARE HERE IN THE U.S. AND THEY HAVE TAXED MEXICO'S SYSTEM FOR YEARS.

>> Reporter: CARLOS GUTIERREZ, THAT MEXICO, THINKS THIS POLICY WHO HELPS MANY ESSENTIAL WORKERS WHO LIVE IN SAN DIEGO WITHOUT OFFICIAL DOCUMENTATION AND MAKES A STRONG CASE THAT THESE WORKERS SHOULD BE GIVEN LEGAL STATUS.

>> IF YOU ARE AN ESSENTIAL WORKER, I THINK COVID-19 HAS SHOWN HOW MUCH THIS COMMUNITY, SOCIETY AS A WHOLE, DEPENDS ON WORKERS, A SIGNIFICANT PORTION UNDOCUMENTED.

>> Reporter: THEY ARE EXPECTING MORE VACCINE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE MONTH, THE MEXICAN CONSULATE HAS ALREADY ACTED AS A SUCCESSFUL COVID-19 TESTING SITE IN SAN DIEGO.

THE GENERAL GUTIERREZ HOPE THERE WILL BE A DISTRIBUTION SITE IN THE COMING WEEKS.

KPBS NEWS.

>>> LAST YEAR, THE SAN DIEGO INTERNATIONAL JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL WAS ABLE TO HOLD ITS EVENT IN PERSON JUST BEFORE THE PANDEMIC HIT, BUT FOR THIS YEAR, THE FESTAL IS MOVING ON LINE.

HERE IS THIS PREVIEW.

>> COMMAND PUTS ON WHITE GLOVES AND CAREFULLY OPENED GRIMY, DECADES OLD FILM CANS TO DISCOVER AND THEN BREATHLESSLY, A FRENCH ARTIST UNSPOOLS AN OLD MOTION PICTURE NEGATIVE.

>> FEW PEOPLE ON THIS PLANET HAVE JOBS WITH WHITE GLOVES, RIGHT?

SHE IS THE FILM PROGRAMMING CHAIR FOR THE FILM FESTIVAL.

>> THEY TAKE US INTO THEIR WORLD.

, I LOVE THE DOCUMENTARIES LIKE THIS, WHERE I LEARNED SOMETHING AND I AM TRANSPORTED FOR AN HOUR OR SO.

>> Reporter: TOMORROW, WHEN THE APRICOTS BLOOM TRANSPORTS US TO 1930S EGYPT TO INTRODUCE US TO OTHERS WHO ARE KNOWN AS THE EGYPTIAN DISNEY IS, THE DOCUMENT TAKES YOU ON A DELIGHTFUL JOURNEY OF DISCOVERY AS WE GET TO SEE EGYPT'S FIRST ANIMATED FILMS.

YOU CAN MAKE A DOUBLE FEATURE OF WHITE GLOVED ACTIVISTS BY WATCHING GLASS NEGATIVES.

>> THIS WAS FOUND IN THE ATTIC?

>> YES.

>> A COLLECTION OF 2700 GLASS PLATE NEGATIVES WAS RECENTLY FOUND IN POLAND, THE PHOTOGRAPHS WERE TAKEN BETWEEN 1914 AND 1939.

A YOUNG WOMAN TRIES TO UNRAVEL THE MYSTERIES BEHIND THESE IMAGES.

>> WHAT IS THIS COLLECTION, DID ANYONE EVER RESOURCE THAT, DO WE KNOW WHO IS THE RICK KARLE PHOTOGRAPHER, WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE, SO MANY QUESTIONS, WHEN I STARTED ASKING THOSE QUESTIONS, I FOUND THAT MOST OF THEM DON'T REALLY HAVE ANSWERS.

>> THE FILM UNCOVERS SOME ANSWERS AND PROVIDES A GLIMPSE OF POLISH JUICE BEFORE THEIR LIVES WERE DESTROYED IN WORLD WAR II.

THESE FILMS REPRESENT JUST TWO OF THE 36 FEATURES AND DOCUMENTARIES FEATURED AT THIS JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL.

FESTIVALGOERS CAN BUY SINGLE TICKETS RATHER THAN A PASS WITH MOST FILMS AVAILABLE TO WATCH OVER THE NEXT 11 DAYS.

>> 25 OUT OF THE 36 ARE AVAILABLE ON-DEMAND THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE FESTIVAL.

THAT IS A HUGE, HUGE DEAL, TO LET THE VIEWER CONTROL THE VIEWING TIME.

>> ATTENDEES CAN EAT CREATE THEIR OWN VIEWING BLOCKS, SO ONLY SILENCE, ABOUT THE VATICAN'S RESPONSE TO ANTI- SEMITISM IS COMPLEMENTED BY SYNDROME K, ITALIAN DOCTORS WHO INVENTED A FAKE DISEASE IN ORDER TO HIDE JUICE IN THEIR HOSPITAL.

>> THE HISTORIANS AND SCHOLARS ARE UNCOVERING A LOT OF WORLD WAR II HISTORY, YOU WOULD THINK WE WOULD KNOW IT ALL BY THIS TIME BUT THAT IS NOT THE CASE.

>> Reporter: THE AFRICAN- AMERICAN JEWISH CIVIL RIGHTS ALLIANCE WILL ONLY BE AVAILABLE FOR A 48 HOUR WINDOW.

>> THE JEWISH PEOPLE HAVE DNA IN THEIR SOLE TO LOOK UP CLOSE TO WHAT HAPPENED.

>> IT LOOKS AT THE CLOSE CONNECTIONS BETWEEN JUICE AND AFRICAN-AMERICANS BETWEEN THE 1901 FOUNDING OF THE NAACP THROUGH THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT OF THE 1960S.

MANY FILMS WILL HAVE DISCUSSIONS ON LINES TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL CONTENT FOR FESTIVALGOERS.

KPBS NEWS.

>>> SAN DIEGO'S LARGE ASIAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY IS CELEBRATING THE LUNAR NEW YEAR THIS WEEKEND, THERE IS OPTIMISM FOR A BETTER YEAR AHEAD, BUT AS KRISTIE LU STOUT REPORTS FROM HONG KONG, THE ECONOMIC TOLL OF THE PANDEMIC IS LINGERING.

>> Reporter: IT'S USUALLY A TIME OF RUCKUS JOY IN HONG KONG.

THERE IS AN ANNUAL LIGHT.

WITH DANCERS AND COSTUMED PERFORMERS.

FIREWORKS OVER VICTORIA HARBOR AND HUGE SOCIAL GATHERINGS.

ALL OF THESE TRADITIONS ARE AND WHILE THAT'S HONG KONG CONTINUES TO BATTLE A FOURTH WAVE OF INFECTION WHICH HAS BROUGHT PARTS OF THE CITY UNDER LOCKDOWN FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE PANDEMIC.

ORCHIDS, A POPULAR TRADITION FOR DECORATING AND GIFTING HAVE BECOME HARDER TO SELL AMID THE PANDEMIC.

>> Translator: THERE WAS NO BUSINESS OF THE FLOORS, MEANING DISTRIBUTORS LIKE US WON'T HAVE BUSINESS AS WELL.

60% OF OUR BUSINESS HAS BEEN IMPACTED BEFORE THE LUNAR NEW YEAR.

>> Reporter: HE IS KNOWN AS THE ORCHID KING, HE SAID FARES ARE USUALLY THE BIGGEST SOURCE OF INCOME FOR FLOWER FARMERS EMMA BUT NOT THIS YEAR.

TO MINIMIZE INFECTION, THE GOVERNMENT CANCELED THE FARES AND THEN ALLOWED THEM TO RUN AT A REDUCED SCALE.

IT CAUSED INJURY FOR FLOWER VENDORS, THEY EXPECT TO LOSE $300,000.

>> Reporter: IF YOU RITUALS GO ON, LIKE THE BURNING OF INCENSE AND THE SHAKING OF FORTUNE STICK AT THE TEMPLE AHEAD OF THE LUNAR NEW YEAR, THIS YEAR, THE TEMPLE WILL NOT BE HOSTING THE FIRST AND SENDS OFFERING FOR THRONGS OF WORSHIPERS, INSTEAD, IT PLANS TO LIVE STREAM A CEREMONY FOR THE PUBLIC TO PRAY AT HOME.

>> Translator: WE CAME HERE LAST NEW YEAR'S EVE AS WELL, SO THAT'S WHY TODAY WE ARE HERE TO SHOW THINGS FOR THE BLESSINGS.

IF IT'S GOING TO BE LIVE STREAMED.

>> WE WILL PRAY AT HOME THEN.

>> Reporter: TODAY AT THE TEMPLE, JENNIFER OFFERED INCENSE FOR GOOD HEALTH AND PRAYED FOR THE PANDEMIC TO END SOON.

BACK IN THE NORTH OF HONG KONG, THE ORCHID KING SURVEY IS 7000 SQUARE-FOOT FARMING CONSIDERS THE FUTURE.

>> Translator: THE LONGER THE PANDEMIC IS, THE MORE MISERABLE WE ARE, IF WE CANNOT DO BUSINESS OF THE MARKETS, WE WILL BE REALLY MISERABLE.

>> HE HELPS MORE PEOPLE WILL GO TO HIM DIRECTLY TO BY HIS FLOWERS, OTHERWISE, THE SYMBOL WILL BE LEFT UNSOLD, HARDLY AN AUSPICIOUS START TO A NEW YEAR.

>>> A REMINDER YOU CAN FIND ALL OF OUR CONTENT ON THE TRACKING COVID-19 PAGE AT KPBS.ORG , IN ADDITION TO OUR REPORTER STORIES, WE ARE UPDATING OUR LIVE BLOG WITH THE LATEST NEWS AND CASE NUMBERS.

THAT IS ALL FOR THIS SPECIAL EDITION OF KPBS NEWS.

FROM ALL OF US HERE AT KPBS, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND STAY SAFE.