By Charles Ellison, the b|e note

Surveys have documented disproportionate disinclination among Black people in the United States to be vaccinated against the novel coronavirus – a cause of substantial concern for public health professionals given the Black population’s high rates of infection, hospitalization and death from COVID-19. This study delves deeply into these compunctions, relying on an unusually large, random national sample of Black Americans, a review of the literature on vaccine uptake and consultation with experts in the field.  

Confirming previous findings, fewer than half of Black adults, 48 percent, say they probably or definitely would get a coronavirus vaccine if it were available for free – including just 18 percent who definitely would get vaccinated. Among Latinx adults, interviewed for comparison, far more likely would get vaccinated, 66 percent, including 31 percent definitely.

Safety and trust concerns are pervasive in both groups – but their higher levels among Black people are key in these differing vaccination uptake intentions. 

“Student Loans Weigh the Heaviest on Black and Hispanic Students” 

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Student loan debt weighs more heavily on students of color than on their white counterparts.

For example, if you look only at four-year public colleges, an estimated 86.8 percent of Black students borrow federal student loans to attend, but just 59.9 percent of White students do the same, according to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES).

With rising tuition costs outpacing inflation and wage growth, many students are struggling to afford college. In fact, about 44 million Americans owe over $1.48 trillion in student loan debt.

But according to our in-depth analysis of data from Demos and NCES, Black and Hispanic students are paying more when it comes to student loans than White students.

“Increased Winter Drownings in Ice-Covered Regions with Warmer Winters” 

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Winter activities on ice are culturally important for many countries, yet they constitute a high safety risk depending upon the stability of the ice. Because consistently cold periods are required to form stable and thick ice, warmer winters could degrade ice conditions and increase the likelihood of falling through the ice. This study provides the first large-scale assessment of winter drowning from 10 Northern Hemisphere countries. We documented over 4000 winter drowning events. Winter drownings increased exponentially in regions with warmer winters when air temperatures neared 0°C. The largest number of drownings occurred when winter air temperatures were between -5°C and 0°C, when ice is less stable, and also in regions where indigenous traditions and livelihood require extended time on ice. Rates of drowning were greatest late in the winter season when ice stability declines. Children and adults up to the age of 39 were at the highest risk of winter drownings. Beyond temperature, differences in cultures, regulations, and human behaviors can be important additional risk factors. Our findings indicate the potential for increased human mortality with warmer winter air temperatures. Incorporating drowning prevention plans would improve adaptation strategies to a changing climate.

SANTA RITA, GUAM— Machinist’s Mate (Nuclear) 1st Class Nicholas Miller, assigned to the Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarine USS Oklahoma City (SSN 723), from Ontario, California, poses for a photo on the pier after completing his retirement ceremony. Miller is retiring from the Navy after serving 21 years. Oklahoma City is one of four forward-deployed submarines assigned to Commander, Submarine Squadron 15 out of Polaris Point, Naval Base Guam.

Governor Gavin Newsom has announced that California will provide temporary tax relief for eligible businesses impacted by COVID-19 restrictions. The temporary tax relief entails an automatic three-month income tax extension for taxpayers filing less than $1 million in sales tax, extends the availability of existing interest and penalty-free payment agreements to companies with up to $5 million in taxable sales and provides expanded interest free payment options for larger businesses particularly affected by significant restrictions on operations based on COVID-19 transmissions. The total tax relief, if fully utilized, is estimated to have billions in impact.

Additional information on the tax credit program and applications can be found here.

The state will build on its ongoing support for businesses impacted by COVID-19 with a new $500 million COVID Relief Grant program. The Governor also announced that the state would expand the California Rebuilding Fund by $12.5 million, bringing the total investment to $37.5 million. These efforts are informed by recommendations made by the Governor’s Task Force on Business and Jobs Recovery. 

CalOSBA is establishing the COVID Relief Grant program and will make it available to small businesses as soon as possible – for updates on availability visit here.

Earlier this week, Governor Newsom discussed the potential for a new Stay at Home Order for counties in purple, this would include San Bernardino county. It is imperative that businesses prepare for the chance that the response to the pandemic would be a new stay at home order.

In addition, the governor discussed the expected hospitalization rates that could mean that ICU beds could exceed capacity 107 percent in southern California by mid to late December.

The news prompted the governor to reiterate the actions the state has taken to make available billions of dollars for small businesses relief. These relief funds and programs for small businesses can be found at covid-19.ca.gov website or https://covid19.ca.gov/business-and-employers.

STATE BUSINESS PROGRAMS

Emergency relief packages. For more information, please visit the websites included here to read all regulatory and grant application information.

California and the federal government are providing tax assistance and benefits to small businesses. https://covid19.ca.gov/taxes/ This includes:

• Interest-free deferral of sales/use tax up to $50,000 for businesses with less than $5 million in taxable sales

• A $1,000 tax credit for new employees hired by small businesses (up to $100,000 per business)

• Excluding forgiven Paycheck Protection Program loans from state gross income

• Federal tax credits to small businesses for COVID-19 employee paid leave 

• $25,000 for small businesses and nonprofits also included in this package.

• Tomorrow, December 1, the state is implementing a main street hiring tax credit for hiring qualified employees.

• The state has a tax relief program of $100 million to waive franchise tax fees for new businesses.

• SBA and the state are offering numerous programs for disaster relief loans for businesses that would not otherwise qualify for loans.

ALSO, restaurants, please review the great plates program providing you reimbursement for meals provided to seniors. The state will provide after 75% reimbursement for these cost and allow you to maintain your employees. The great bites program what’s discussed today by the governor and can be found at https://covid19.ca.gov/restaurants-deliver-home-meals-for-seniors/ For the next 6 to 9 weeks our small businesses might be even more severely impacted, some would say more the impact may be harder than all of 2020. It is important that you look into these programs in order to maintain your businesses.

By Quinci LeGardye | California Black Media

Nine months into the COVID-19 pandemic, three vaccine trials have yielded promising results, and the first round of Americans could begin to receive shots as early as mid-December.

Last week, the California Department of Public Health announced that California Surgeon General Dr. Nadine Burke-Harris will chair the state’s Community Vaccine Advisory Committee. The group Burke-Harris leads will help guide the state’s decision making about vaccine distribution.

“While the COVID-19 vaccine is new, we are not starting our planning process from scratch. This is an area of expertise we have strong partnerships in, building on lessons learned from previous vaccination campaigns, including H1N1 and the seasonal flu,” said Gov. Newsom.

But as the anticipated end of the global pandemic finally comes into our line of sight, some Black activists are raising concerns shared and echoed by skeptical African Americans across the country.

Earlier this month, San Diego civil rights organization People’s Alliance for Justice (PAFJ) sent letters to the four companies developing COVID-19 vaccines, asking them to release data regarding the diversity of vaccine trial participants.

“We need a break down of race and ethnicity to analyze data regarding whether communities of color are overrepresented in these trials or underrepresented or equally represented and how our communities are responding to the call for volunteering,” wrote Shane Harris, PAFJ’s president in the letter.

According to Harris, Pfizer, the global pharmaceutical company, has responded to his inquiry. He shared the letter with California Black Media.

“With regard to your data request, the demographic data collected to date shows that approximately 30% of trial participants in the United States have racially and ethnically diverse backgrounds,” the letter from the CEO of Pfizer reads. “More specifically, 10.1% of U.S. participants are Black, and 13.1% of U.S. participants are of Hispanic/Latinx origin.  Please find additional demographic information at the global and U.S. levels here.”

Pfizer says it also plans to present subgroup analyses by age, race and ethnicity and may also do an evaluation by country. 

Dr. Oliver Brooks, who is the immediate past president of the National Medical Association (NMA), said during a California Black Legislative Caucus (CLBC) press conference last week that he has also met with the companies developing vaccines and verified that African Americans are included in the trials.

The CLBC organized the virtual press conference to highlight work Black elected officials and healthcare professionals are doing to address the pandemic in California’s African American communities.

Asked whether the vaccine will be prioritized in communities that have been COVID-19 hot spots, which are primarily Black and Brown communities, Burke-Harris says she is taking steps to make sure that process is inclusive.

“We will be reviewing the distribution plan and ensuring that we are having an equitable framework for vaccine distribution,” said Burke-Harris.

Two of the companies developing a COVID-19 vaccine, Pfizer, in partnership with BioNTech, and Moderna, announced Nov. 9 and 16, respectively, that their vaccines are producing promising vaccine trial results. The Pfizer vaccine is estimated to be more than 90 % effective, with 94 trial participants out of nearly 44,000 contracting COVID-19. The Moderna vaccine was found to reduce the risk of COVID-19 infection by 94.5 %.

A third company, AstraZeneca, which is developing a vaccine with Oxford University announced that its vaccine, from separate clinical trials is up to 90% effective.

Pfizer announced Nov. 20 that it has asked the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to grant an emergency use authorization for its vaccine. On Nov. 22, Moncef Siaoui, the head of Operation Warp Speed — the federal government’s program to produce and deliver 300 million doses of the vaccine by January 2021– told CNN that the group plans to begin administering the vaccine immediately.

“Our plan is to be able to ship vaccines to the immunization sites within 24 hours from the approval, so I would expect maybe on day two after approval, on the 11th or on the 12th of December, hopefully, the first people will be immunized across the United States, across all states,” Slaoui told CNN.

The FDA committee in charge of the emergency use authorization is scheduled to meet Dec. 10. According to reports, Pfizer and U.S. government officials expect to have 30 to 40 million doses of the vaccine before the end of the year, enough for 20 million people.

Officials have yet to decide which groups of people will qualify for the first round of vaccinations, but they are expected to start with groups vulnerable to infection first, including health care workers, older adults, and people who have risk factors such as obesity or diabetes. According to Slaoui, herd immunity is expected by around May 2021.

During a Nov. 13 press conference, medical officials spoke about the progress of various vaccine trials.

One challenge they discussed was the distribution logistics of the Pfizer vaccine, which must be kept frozen while stored and transported.

“This means this vaccine can only be given at distinctive locations where the personnel are very well-trained to do this. This is not a vaccine that will be available at the local pharmacy or in a physician’s office,” said Dr. Willam Schaffner of Vanderbilt University.

The doctors also discussed the possible side effects of the vaccines. Pfizer executive William Gruber told Stat News that their vaccine’s side effects include aches and fevers, and that he believed its side effect profile was “comparable to standard adult vaccines, but probably worse than Pfizer’s pneumonia vaccine or a flu shot.”

“Those side effects, that’s your immune system working to start with the vaccine, to develop your protection. You’re not getting COVID. You can’t get COVID from the vaccine,” said Schaffner.

Black doctors have also emphasized the importance of informing their communities about the vaccine.

“We look at our role as being messengers to African American physicians who then can be messengers to the African American community,” said Brooks.

‘Black on the Block’ Hosts ‘Walk with a Purpose’

Written by Naomi K. Bonman

RIALTO, CA— With new stay at home orders in California, many are wondering how they can stay in shape, be social at a distance, and support local community efforts. On Saturday, December 12 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Black on the Block: Young Entrepreneurs’ Expo will be hosting ‘Walk with a Purpose’ at Jerry Eaves Park located at 1485 N Ayala Dr. in Rialto.

Black on the Block is brought to you by Tomorrow’s World non-profit (501c3). Tomorrows World (est. 2001) is licensed by the state of California to serve mentally ill and chronically homeless men. Last Year, Black on the Block held the first annual Young Entrepreneurs’ Expo in an effort to build up the community by supporting local businesses in the Inland Empire area.

The group will convene at Jerry Eaves Park at 9 a.m. Masks and social distancing practices are required. There will be water and refreshments at each designated rest area. The walk will end at Rialto City Park where free lunch will be provided to all volunteers.

Visit www.westsidestorynewspaper.com for the link to register for the walk. For further information, please contact Vickie Davis at (951) 255-7382 or by email at blackontheblock.missd@gmail.com.

Get Tested from November 30 to December 9

In the height of COVID and now flu season, it is critical that people get tested and get a flu shot. Here are a few locations that are offering FREE testing and shots. Appointments are recommended; walk-ins accepted based upon availability. No symptoms required. No appointment needed for flu shots. All clients MUST wear a face covering.

Rancho Cucamonga – Rancho Sports Center
8303 Rochester Ave., Rancho Cucamonga
Dec. 4 from 9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.
*Offering FREE flu shots! No appointment required*

Redlands – The Contemporary Club
173 S. Eureka St., Redlands
Dec. 4 – 5 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Rancho Cucamonga – Victoria Gardens Cultural Center
12505 Cultural Center Dr., Rancho Cucamonga
Dec. 5 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Upland – George M. Gibson Senior Center
250 N. 3rd Ave., Upland
Dec. 7 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Fontana – Jessie Turner Health and Fitness Community Center
15556 Summit Ave., Fontana
Dec. 8 from 9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.
*Offering FREE flu shots! No appointment required*

Rancho Cucamonga – Chaffey College (Building 10, CCA)
5885 Haven Ave., Rancho Cucamonga
Dec. 8 – 9 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

To make an appointment for COVID-19 testing or to see all other County testing sites, please visit https://sbcovid19.com. For directions on how to register, call 909-387-3911.

FREE Tickets Available Now

NATIONAL—- Grammy Award-winning singer and actress Jennifer Holliday will join the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) as the featured performer for its 2020 Virtual Awards, streaming December 19 at 7:30 p.m. ET. Celebrity DJ Andre Mack will also join NABJ as the host of the awards show live afterparty.

Holliday is best known for her role in the smash Broadway musical, “Dreamgirls,” with her show-stopping performance as Effie “Melody” White. This iconic role garnered her a Tony Award for best actress in a musical. 

With over 30 years of experience on Broadway, Holliday got her start at age 17 while singing in her church choir in Houston, Texas. Holliday’s passion didn’t stop on the Broadway stage. She has appeared on television as Lisa Knowles on the Fox TV dramedy, “Ally McBeal.” She has also enjoyed a successful recording career, winning Grammy® Awards for her mesmerizing performances of “And I Am Telling You, I’m Not Going” (1982) and Duke Ellington’s “Come Sunday” (1985). Holliday has also received rave reviews for her first album in two decades – “The Song Is You” (2014).

Back by popular demand, DJ Andre Mack is no stranger to NABJ. After performing at the 2020 Convention Opening Ceremony and Reception, co-produced and presented by Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, members and attendees raved about Mack’s skills on the turntables. He is frequently called upon to spin classic and soulful House, Old School R&B, Hip Hop, and Reggae music.

NABJ’s first-ever virtual awards will recognize the winners of its 2020 Salute to Excellence Awards and pay tribute to 2020 Special Honors recipients and Hall of Fame inductees. The hosts for the evening will be Lynn Whitfield, Emmy Award-winning actress; Craig Melvin, anchor of NBC News’ “TODAY”; Tichina Arnold, NAACP Image Award-winning actress; Michelle Miller, co-host of “CBS This Morning: Saturday”; and Kenneth Moton, co-anchor of “ABC World News Now” and “America This Morning.”

The awards ceremony, presented by FedEx, will kick off at 8 p.m. ET. It will be preceded by a pre-event reception at 7:30 p.m. ET. The post-event afterparty will be held from 10 p.m. to 11 p.m. ET. Tickets provide access to all three activities. 

“In such a critical time in America and in journalism, it is important that we take time to celebrate and applaud our members and industry colleagues,” said NABJ President Dorothy Tucker. “We are honored to have iconic artists and actresses like Jennifer Holliday, Lynn Whitfield and Tichina Arnold celebrating with us. We are also grateful to have our award-winning hosts and journalists Craig Melvin, Michelle Miller and Kenneth Moton. And, of course, we can’t wait to unwind with the talented DJ Andre Mack. Congratulations to our 2020 honorees and finalists. We are proud of all you’ve accomplished.”

The 2020 NABJ Hall of Fame inductees are:

• Fred Sweets
• Pam Johnson
• Pam Oliver
• Mary Mitchell
• John McCaa
• Cathy Hughes
• Clarice Tinsley  

The 2020 NABJ Special Honors recipients are:

• Journalist of the Year: Yamiche Alcindor
• Michael J. Feeney Emerging Journalist of the Year: Rachel V. Scott
• Legacy Award: Rehema Ellis
• Chuck Stone Lifetime Achievement Award: Kevin Merida
• Journalist of Distinction: Elaine Houston
• Ida B. Wells Award: Kimberly Godwin
• Journalism Educators of the Year: Susan Mango Curtis and James McJunkins Sr.
• Angelo B. Henderson Community Service Award: Chelle Luper Wilson
• Patricia L. Tobin Media Professional Award: Ramona Logan
• Student Journalist of the Year: Arthur Cribbs
• Best Practices Award: The Trace
• Percy Qoboza Foreign Journalist Award: Mahmoud Hussein
• Student Chapter of the Year Finalists: University of North Texas-NABJ, Michigan State University Association of Black Journalists and University of South Carolina – NABJ
• Professional Chapter of the Year Finalists: Greater Cincinnati Association of Black Journalists, Philadelphia Association of Black Journalists, National Association of Black Journalists – Los Angeles, and NABJ-South Florida

Salute to Excellence nominees can be found here.

Free tickets are available at https://nabj.digitalvirtualspaces.com/register.

SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY— The county has extended their deadline to December 13th and increased its grant amount to $5,000 for its COVID-Compliant Partnership Program. This is a grant and businesses must agree to follow COVID-Compliant business procedures.

To support local small businesses and help ensure ongoing compliance with State and County Health orders and direction, San Bernardino County is implementing the COVID Compliant Business Partnership Program.

This program has two components.

Original Funding of $2,500 has now increased to $5,000 for eligible Small Businesses and Nonprofits with 1-100 employees (some exceptions made for businesses with 0 employees)

Previous funding recipients that applied before October 31, 2020 will receive a check for the additional funding (Except Short Term Rentals and Private Schools).

Support and Partnership for ALL eligible County businesses who wish to become a COVID Compliant Business Partner.

This program will support our local small businesses by reimbursing and/or offsetting costs and impacts directly related to complying with COVID-19 related business protocols and providing support to all eligible County businesses who apply for the program. Additional business locations in the County under the same ownership will be eligible to receive an additional $2,000 per eligible location. 

Prior to receiving funding, San Bernardino County small businesses must demonstrate compliance with State/County public health orders, and incorporate safety and social distancing practices and measures in their business operations. Again, the business must agree to follow COVID-Compliant business procedures

Total funding available for this program is $30,000,000. Eligible businesses, per qualifying location, can receive up to $5,000. Deadline for Application Extended to December 13, 2020 or until funding is exhausted, on a first-come, first served basis. Visit: SBCovid19.com