>>> COMING UP NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON.

WINTER ILLNESSES ARE SHIFTING FAST FROM FLU TO E. COLI CONCERNS.

WE'LL BREAKDOWN THE LATEST NUMBERS AND WHAT FAMILIES SHOULD WATCH.

>>> THE WORSE IS BEHIND US BUT FOOD BANKS ARE STILL GROWING.

>>> THE HOLIDAY EVENT RETURNS PAIRING OFFICERS AND CHILDREN FOR A SHOPPING EXPERIENCE LIKE NO OTHER.

>> ARIZONA MADE POSSIBLE BY FRIENDS OF YOUR ARIZONA PBS STATION.

>> GOOD EVENING, WELCOME TO ARIZONA HORIZON.

ARIZONA IS SEEING A SHIFT IN ILLNESSES.

COVID-19 SAW A MODEST UP TICK.

A CLUSTER OF E. COLI IS DRAWING ATTENTION BACK TO HAND WASHING AND SAFETY PRACTICES.

WILL IS WITH THE ARIZONA PUBLIC HEALTH ASSOCIATION.

GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> HAPPY PLEDGE WEEK.

>> THE NUMBERS ARE UP WHEN IT COMES TO THE FLEW.

>> JUST BARELY.

>> COVID-19 AND RSV HAS BEEN LOW THROUGH NOVEMBER.

WE AWE AN UP TICK, ESPECIALLY IN FLU BUT NOT COVID-19.

>> ARE WE COUNTING OUR CHICKENS BEFORE THEY HATCH.

WHAT ARE YOU EXPECTING?

>> WE WILL HAVE A FLU SEASON.

WAIT, TYPICALLY ARIZONA TOWARDS THE FEBRUARY OR MARCH PEAK.

SOMETIMES, YOU KNOW, IT'S IN NOVEMBER.

USUALLY A BIT LATER.

>> THE REASON WHY, I DON'T KNOW.

>> BEFORE WE GET INTO THE BIG PICTURE FEDERAL STUFF WHEN IT COMES TO VACCINATIONS.

HOW ARE WE DOING?

WE TALK ABOUT THIS IN THE PAST.

WHAT TRENDS ARE YOU SEEING SINCE THE HIGHEST DAYS OF COVID-19.

HAVE WE SEEN IT NUMBERS DROP OFF PRE2019.

>> WELL, THE BIG DROP OFF HAS BEEN ON COVID-19 VACCINES.

PEOPLE SENIORS GET THE VACCINE AND DROPPED OFF A LOT.

PEOPLE ARE LIKE, LOOK, I HAD TWO OR THREE.

I'M ON FIFTH.

I'LL GET ANOTHER ONE.

A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE LIKE I HAVE DONE MY PART ON THAT ONE.

THEY HAVE ADJUSTED THEIR THINKING.

IT HASN'T DROPPED OFF LIKE COVID-19 HAS.

IT'S NO A MESSENGER RNA VACCINE.

MAYBE SOMETHING THEY SEE ON FACEBOOK OR WHATEVER.

THEY DON'T LIKE THE MRNA VACCINE.

THAT'S HURTING COVID-19 VACCINATIONS.

>> MOST OF THOSE ARE RNA.

NOVA VAX IS NOT.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT MRNA.

JUST TO REALIZE THE DIFFERENCE.

>> IT'S A FAIRLY NEW TECHNOLOGY.

IT'S BEEN RESEARCHED FOR A LONG TIME.

WHAT IT WOULD ALLOW, BY THE WAY, STAGE THREE IS CLINICAL TRIALS TO DEVELOP A MESSENGER ARE IN AV SEEN.

WE COULD GET AN UPDATED VACCINE FOR INFLUENZA.

EVEN IN OUR SUMMER.

WHAT HAPPENED THIS YEAR.

IN OUR SUMMER, WHICH WAS THE WINTER, THERE WAS A NEW STRAIN OF INFLUENZA THAT'S BEEN CIRCULATING IN EUROPE AND THAT'S THE DOMINANT STRAIN WE WILL SEE HERE IN ARIZONA AND THE U.S.

WE CANNOT UPDATE, WE KNEW ABOUT IT IN JUNE.

WE CAN'T UPTATE THE VACCINE BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO MAKE THE DECISION IN MARCH.

IT'S TOO LATE TO CHANGE IT.

IF WE GET AN MRNA VACCINE WE COULD ADJUST IT OVER THE SUMMER AND IT WOULD BE MORE ACCURATE.

>> I HAVE A GENERAL POLICY QUESTION.

AS MORE AND MORE PEOPLE ARE WORRIED ABOUT WHERE THEIR HEALTH COVERAGE WILL COME FROM AND SEEING CHANGES IN THE MARKETPLACE ETC.

DOES THAT EFFECT HOW OFTEN PEOPLE GET THE VACCINE AND HOW FOCUSED THEY ARE.

>> IF YOU DO UNINSURED.

THAT'S THE ISSUE IF THEY DECIDE THIS NEW MARKET PLACE, I'M ROLLING THE DICE AND GO UNCOVERED, THEY WILL NEVER GO UNVACCINATED.

IF YOU ARE ON THE BASIC BRONZE PLAN YOU NEED FIRST DOLLARS COVERAGE.

IF YOU HAVE A BIG DEDUCTIBLE YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET THE VACCINATIONS ABOUT CASH PAY.

>> DOES THAT CONCERN YOU AT ALL?

WE SEE CHANGES IN THE MARKETPLACE.

>> SORT OF, I THINK THESE BIGGER CULTURAL PROBLEMS AROUND THE RESISTANCE OF VACCINES IS A MUCH BIGGER PROBLEM.

ALSO, I DON'T KNOW HOW TO FIX IT.

THEY START TO REVS VACCINES.

THAT KIND OF RESIDENCE REALLY DAMAGES.

IT'S A MUCH BIGGER DEAL THAN THE INSURANCE THING.

>> THIS IS A FREGIT SEGUE.

I WAS GOING TO ASK ABOUT THE SECRETARY.

ANY TODAY.

>> THEY HAD A LOT OF DEBATES TODAY.

THEY WILL MAKE A DECISION TOMORROW ON WHAT TO DO WITH THE HEPATITIS B BIRTH VACCINE.

WE WILL BE ABLE TO TALK ON THE NEXT SHOW THAT WE DO TOGETHER WHAT HAPPENS THERE.

>> A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT HOW THEY ARE PRESERVED.

POINT OF MUCH TIME.

WHAT ARE YOUR BIGGEST CONCERNS OTHER THAN THE OBVIOUS ONES.

THEY ARE ELIMINATED AND NOW REAPPEARING.

>> KENNEDY LIKELY HAS THREE MORE YEARS.

HE'S REALLY GRADING THE ROAD TO UNDERMINED VACCINATIONS.

HE'S GRADING THE ROAD.

I'M AFRAID, IF THERE AREN'T ANY ACCOUNTABILITY CHECKS AND BALANCES BY THREE YEARS.

WE CAN SEE BIG GIANT CHANGES AND WHAT VACCINES ARE AVAILABLE WHAT THEY WILL THEY HAVE TO CHANGE THE RECOMMENDATIONS.

IT'S A THREAT BUT HE HASN'T DONE IT YET BUT I CAN SEE THE PATTERN DEVELOPING.

>> I.

>> WHAT HAPPENED AT THE STATE FAIR AND PEOPLE GETTING STRANGE SICKNESSES.

>> IT APPEARS THERE WAS A PIG INFECTED WITH A CERTAIN STRAIN OF E. COLI A THE PETTING ZOO OF THE STATE FAIR.

WHEN I WAS AT MY OLD JOB WE WENT TO THE STATE FAIR AND WE NEED A HAND WASHING STATION AT THE BEGINNING OF THE PETTING ZOO.

WE NEED A HAND WASHING STATION AT THE END AND RAILS THAT NEED TO BE MONITORS.

THEY ARE NOT APPARENTLY HAVEN'T WITH KIDS YOU CAN'T SAY, YOU CAN'T DO IT THAT WAY.

YOU HAVE TO WASH THEM WASH THEIR HANDS.

I'M NOT AGAINST THEM THEY ARE SAFE BUT A GOOD WAY TO GET ACCOMMODATED WITH AGRICULTURE.

THE HAND WASHING IS THE THING THEY NEEDED TO DO AND IT DIDN'T HAPPEN THIS YEAR.

>> I'D LIKE TED TO DO A HAND WASHING STATION HERE AND THEY WON'T.

>> SOUNDS LIKE THERE ARE AT LEAST HUNDREDS OF CASES.

THIS IS NOT LIKE A RUN OF THE MILL, THIS IS A REALLY BAD STRAIN.

>> YES, IT'S BAD.

>> MY PLEASURE.

>>> THANKSGIVING IS OVER.

WE'LL LOOK AT THE OWN GOING NEED A LOT CAL FOOD BANKS.

TERRY, WELCOME.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANK YOU.

>> HOW MUCH DID THE EXTENDED GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN GO.

>> EFFECTIVE FOOD BANKS WE HAVE TO REMEMBER WHEN SOMEONE IS RECEIVING A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF FOOD BENEFITS.

IT MAY CAUSE OTHER THINGS TO HAPPEN LIKE MORE INTEREST RATES OR PUTTING UP A PURCHASE THAT NECESSARY OR AT A TIME LIKE THANKSGIVING.

WE ARE GETTING SPECIAL FOOD IN THE HOUSE.

THAT'S WHERE THEY COME IN HANDY FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE EXSUPERRANCING AN EMERGENCY FOOD CRISIS.

>> A SLIPPERY SLOPE.

>> YEAH,.

>> WE KNOW THE DISRUPTIONS AND WE DON'T HAVE MUCH OF IT WITH MEANS A FEW WEEKS AND FEW MONTHS RECOVERING.

YOU MIGHT BE ACCRUING INTEREST.

WHEN IT COMES TO A LOW INCOME HOUSEHOLD, THE ONLY MONEY THE LIGHTS WILL GO OFF.

THE RATTER IS TURNED OFF AND DOESN'T HAVE WHAT THEY NEED.

>> KNOWING IT'S RAISED.

LET'S GIVE MONEY AND MAKE SURE THEY HAVE A THANKSGIVING MEAL.

POST GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN.

DO PEOPLE START PAYING LESS ATTENTION AS THE YEAR ENDS.

>> NOT REALLY, FORTUNATELY, UNFORTUNATELY, WHEN PEOPLE FOCUS ON GIVING AND NOT JUST TO EACH OTHER AND HAVING CELEBRATIONS AROUND FOOD THEY ARE ALSO THINKING OF CHARITABLE DONATIONS AT THE END OF THE YEAR.

MOST FOOD BANKS IN ARIZONA ARE TAX CREDIT ELIGIBLE.

THERE IS AN EXTRA INCENTIVE FOR PEOPLE TO DONATE ESPECIALLY IF THEY ALIGN WITH THE FEDERAL TAX YEAR IT'S SUPER WONKY.

REALLY FOOD BANKS AND RELIEF ORGANIZES SEE A MAJORITY OF THE DONATIONS FROM INDIVIDUALS BETWEEN NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER EVERY YEAR.

>> HOW DO WE CHANGE THAT?

PEOPLE KNOW THEY EXIST AND PEOPLE HAVE PROBLEMS AT TIME.

FOR FOLKS WHO HAVE THEIR OWN CHALLENGES AND UNDERSTAND THAT AS WELL.

IS THERE A WAY TO CHANGE THE NARRATIVE IN THE SENSE PEOPLE START THINKING ABOUT PEOPLE AREN'T CHARITABLE.

THEY ARE NOT THINKING ABOUT FOOD BANKS IS OTHER WAY.

THEY ARE HUNGRY IN APRIL AS MUCH AS NOVEMBER?

>> IT'S TRUE.

SUMMERTIME IN ARIZONA IS ESPECIALLY HARD.

YOU HEAR HEAT OR EAT.

IN OUR SUMMER, WE HAVE A TRIPLE WHAMMY.

KIDS ARE OUT OF SCHOOL MEANING CHILD CARE COST, ALSO OTHER SCHOOL MEALS THEY ARE NOT GETTING AND ALSO SOME FOLKS HAVE LESS EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES.

THIS IS BECAUSE IT'S SUMMER IN ARIZONA AND SOME TAKEOFF BECAUSE IT'S TOO HOT.

IT'S A TRIPLE WHAMMY IN THE SUMMERTIME.

>> THIS STARTS DURING THE PANDEMIC AND EXTENDED AS WELL.

FOLKS GIVING TO FOOD BANKS ARE NOW IN NEED THEMSELVES.

HOW DOES THAT EFFECT THE COMMUNE OVERALL?

>> WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT BASIC NEEDS, IT'S A STRUGGLE TO SAY HOW IMPORTANT IT IS AND HOW CLOSE ANYBODY IS TO NEEDING A FOOD BANK.

AMERICANS ONLY HAVE A FEW MONDAYS OF SAVINGS.

ANYONE YOU TALK TO MAYBE TWO OR THREE PAYCHECKS AWAY FROM NEEDING AN EMERGENCY FOOD BOX.

WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT THAT WAY PEOPLE ARE ON THE EDGE.

THE CRISIS THAT HAPPENED IN NOVEMBER HIGHLIGHTED HOW IMPORTANT SUPPORT SYSTEMS LIKE SNAP ARE AND HOW MANY PEOPLE YOU MIGHT KNOW VERY WELL.

PEOPLE IN YOUR LIVE MIGHT NEED FOOD HELP AT ANY GIVEN TIME.

KEEP AN EYE ON YOUR NEIGHBORS AND FAMILY BECAUSE EVERYBODY NEEDS HELP SOMETIMES.

>> JUST A FEW SECONDS LEFT.

HOW CONCERNED ARE YOU THERE MIGHT BE ANOTHER SHUTDOWN NEXT YEAR EFFECTING SNAP BENEFITS?

>> WE ARE ALWAYS CONCERNED ABOUT ANYTHING THAT COULD IMPACT PEOPLE LIVING ON THE EDGE.

THEY ARE THERE AND DOING AS MUCH AS THEY CAN TO HELP AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE.

>> ARIZONA HAD THE FIRST IN THE COUNTRY?

>> YES, YES.

IT WAS FUNDED BY JOHN AND YEAH, HE'S KNOWN AS THE FATHER OF FOOD BANKING.

>> TERRY, GOOD TO SEE YOU.

GOOD LUCK.

>> THANK YOU.

>>> MORE THAN 100 PEOPLE ARE TAKING PART IN THE SHOP WITH A COP PROGRAM.

THE EVENT WILL HAVE A CHALLENGE.

WELCOME SERGEANT, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> TELL ME ABOUT THE GENERAL PROGRAM.

>> YEAH, IT STARTED WITH THE ARIZONA LAW ENFORCEMENT ASSOCIATION.

THEY HOSTED THIS FOR SEVERAL YEARS.

IT'S TAILORED TOWARDS OFFICERS SHOPPING WITH CHILDREN.

>> HAVE YOU BEEN INVOLVED FOR A WHILE.

YOU GET TO SEE THE FACE LIGHTS UP.

>> I JOINED THE OTHER PROGRAM AND IT'S HAND ON.

IT'S A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE THE AMOUNT OF PLANNING AND THE DRIVING FORCE TO MAKE CHILDREN HAPPY.

GET THE JOYOUS EXPERIENCE SHOPPING WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT.

>> IS THAT SOMETHING THEY MISS.

THEY DO THINGS TO PROTECT THE COMMUNE.

HOW IMPORTANT IS THAT FOR KIDS?

>> WE DO THE ENFORCEMENT SIDE.

WE ARE HUGE ON POLICING AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.

THIS HIGHLIGHTS THE ENFORCEMENT SIDE.

>> TELL ME THE SPECIFICS.

WHERE WILL THE KIDS BE AND HOW MANY OF THEM TAKE PART.

WHAT WILL HAPPEN FOR THE NEXT FEW DAYS.

>> THIS TIME WITH METRO DISTRICT THEY WILL HAVE OVER HUNDRED LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT.

>> WHERE DOES THE FUNDING FOR THAT COME FROM?

>> 1 1 TO 200 PER KID.

MOST OF IT COMES FROM DONATIONS AN LOCAL SPONSORS.

WE ARE HOSTING THE FUN RUN IT'S $35.

MOST GO WITH SHOP WITH A COP A POSITIVE EVENT.

>> WE ARE SEEING COOL IMAGES HERE.

>> THEY COME IN.

>> YEAH.

>> IS THAT DEPENDING ON WHO IS IN LINE.

>> WE GET A LOT OF VOLUNTEERS THAT SHOW UP.

WE GET THE CHILDREN THERE.

>> ONE OFFICER AND THAT'S IT.

THEY WILL GO SHOPPING WITH THEM.

THEY WILL GET A WARM RECOMMENDATION.

WE HAVE SANTA AND INTERACT WITH ALL OF THAT.

>> IS IT AN HOUR OR SO TO SEE HOW MUCH FUN PEOPLE ARE HAVING.

>> THERE IS NO TIME LIMIT TIME DOES FLY.

THERE IS NO TIME LIMIT AND GET PAIRED UP.

THEY WILL JUST HANG OUT.

WE STILL HAVE THE EVENT GOING THEY CAN CONTINUE TO HANG OUT.

>> WE'LL HAVE MORE ABOUT THE LAW ENFORCEMENT PARTAKING PART AS WELL OR MEETING WITH THE PUBLIC.

COULD YOU RUN WITH A COP AS WELL.

>> YOU COULD, YOU MIGHT.

WE WILL SEE HOW MANY SHOW UP.

WE WILL BE THERE HELPING OUT THE EVENT.

THIS IS A HUGE PROCEED EVENT.

>> I'D LIKE TO GET MORE TO THE COMMUNITY CONNECTION.

ESPECIALLY WITH KIDS SOME ARE NOT AS EXCITED TO SEE LAW ENFORCEMENT AND OTHERS ARE.

IF AN OFFICER IS IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND THEY ARE THERE TO MAKE THAT CONNECTION.

HOW IMPORTANT IS THAT CONNECTION TO MAKE.

>> A LOT OF THEM GET WHATEVER PERCEPTION THEY GET SOMEONE ELSE.

THEY INTERACT ONE-ON-ONE WITH US.

WE WANT IT TO BE A GOOD POSITIVE INTERACTION.

STARTED WITH THE CHILDREN AND A HUGE OPPORTUNITY.

THEY CAN DO THAT AND BUILD THE LONG LASTING TRUST.

>> MAYBE TALK WITH PARENTS OR GUARDIANS AND HAVE A FRIENDLY INTERACTION?

>> IF THE PARENTS ARE THERE, THEY CAN SEE HOW POSITIVE WE ARE WITH THE KIDS.

THEY HAD A BAD PERCEPTION THEY WILL CHANGE THEIR MIND.

>> YOU WILL BE THERE.

>> YES.

>> PAIRED WITH A KID OR TWO.

SPORTING GOODS OR TOYS?

>> I'LL PICK THEIR BRAINS.

THE ONE UNIQUE THINGS ABOUT THE EVENT.

YOU THINK THEY WILL SHOP FOR THEMSELVES.

MOST OF THE MONEY WILL BE SPENT ON THEIR PARENTS OR SIBLINGS.

IT'S A HEARTWARMING EXPERIENCE BECAUSE THEY PUT OTHERS BEFORE THEMSELVES.

>> SERGEANT, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

I'M STEVE IN FOR TED SIMONS.

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