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VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATIONS CAN’T FEED ALL OF WESTCHESTER’S HUNGRY PEOPLE THEY NEED HELP YOUR HELP

Posted on April 21, 2024 by John Bailey

WPCNR NEWS AND COMMENT. By John F. Bailey April 21,2024:

THIS IS A BREADLINE IN WESTCHESTER COUNTY I PHOTOGRAPHED IT IN FEBRUARY. THIS IS THE ONLY PHOTOGRAPH OF THIS KIND I HAVE EVER SEEN IN WESTCHESTER COUNTY USA.

A TRUCK FROM FEEDING WESTCHESTER WAS UNLOADING PALLETS OF FOODSTUFFS, ONE AFTER THE OTHER, AND PERSONS WERE COMING IN TO PICK UP BAGS OF NEEDED FOOD.

WITH HORROR I REALIZED THIS WAS A BREADLINE.

AT THIS TIME, 9:45 IN THE MORNING, fEBRUARY 22, I COUNTED 75 PEOPLE: MEN, WOMEN, CHILDREN IN THAT LINE.

THE TEMPERATURE WAS 35 HARD EDGE COLD DEGREES.

UP CLOSE AND VERY PERSONAL QUESTION TO CITIES, TOWNS AND COUNTY HOW OFTEN DO THE POOR AND HUNGRY HAVE TO DO THIS? THESE PEOPLE ARE THE REFUGEES OF WESTCHESTER, NO ONE, NO MEDIA, NO PUBLIC OFFICIAL TALKS ABOUT: CITIZENS NOT IMMIGRANTS BUT RESIDENTS OF THE COUNTY FOR THE MOST PART.

YOU DIDN’T WANT TO BE OUT THERE THAT MORNING IN FEBRUARY WHEN I TOOK THIS PICTURE, FOR A SHORT WALK LET ALONE 2 HOURS WITH A SMALL CHILD IN YOUR ARMS.

THE ONLY THING MISSING WAS TRASHCANS WITH FIRES LIT TO WARM HANDS OF THE FREEZING AND WAITING.

IF YOU ARE COMFORTABLE AND HAVE FOOD AND A HOME, YOU ARE NOT AFFLICTED BY THE COLD.

IF YOU HAVE A JOB YOU PROBABLY ARE NOT AFFLICTED BY THE COLD UNLESS YOUR OUTSIDE WAITING FOR TICKETS TO A PERFORMANCE OR GAME.

THIS BREADLINE, AND I IMAGINE THERE ARE OTHERS LIKE THEM AT FEEDING WESTCHESTER PICKUPS ALL OVER THE COUNTY ARE A DISGRACE TO THE COUNTY.

IT IS AN ACT OF HUMANITY THAT FEEDING WESTCHESTER AND THE OTHER FOOD PROVIDER ORGANIZATIONS ARE DOING THIS.

THEY ARE THE HEROES.

NOT THE POLITICIANS FROM THE GOVERNOR ON DOWN.

THE PEOPLE ON THIS LINE AND THOSE ON THIS WEEK’S LINES ARE A WESTCHESTER FAILURE. COUNTIES FAILURE ACROSS THE STATE AND THE GOVERNOR’S FAILURE.

THE COUNTY AND COUNTY BUSINESSES HAVE TO LOOK HARD AND DO BETTER AND FORGET ABOUT BEING POLITICALLY CORRECT.

YOU CANNOT WASH YOUR HANDS.

I HAVE NEVER SEEN THIS BREADLINE CULTURE BEFORE IN MY ADULT LIVING IN THIS COUNTY.

THE NON-PROFITS OF WESTCHESTER, MOST NOTABLY, FEEDING WESTCHESTER ARE DOING THEIR BEST, BUT IT SHOULDN’T BE THEM DOING ALL THE WORK AND RAISING MOST OF THE MONEY RAISING WHEN BUSINESS IS IGNORING MR. MRS. AND MS. WESTCHESTER DOWN ON THEIR LUCK.

BUSINESSES I AM SURE WOULD BE GLAD TO HELP IF THEY KNEW. BUT THIS IS NOT A PLEASANT STORY. IT IS ABOUT FAILURE, INDIFFERENCE, BLAMING.

BREADLINES IN WESTCHESTER ARE AN UNCOVERED STORY. MEDIA DO NOT COVER. IT IS SUCH AN UNPLEASANT REALITY. IT HURTS RATINGS IF YOU MAKE YOUR AUDIENCE TOO SAD.

THE GOVERNMENTS: STATE, COUNTIES AND TOWNS CITIES SHOULD CARE AND PAY AND PROVIDE INDOOR FACILITIES TO WAIT IN LINE FOR THEIR FOOD.

THIS SCENE I TOOK SHOULD NOT BE THEY SHOULD BE INDOORS WAITING.

THOSE 100 PEOPLE OR WHO KNOWS HOW MANY IN THAT PHOTO I TOOK.. GET FROSTBITE IN THIS WEATHER.

HUNGER, BREADLINES IN THE OPEN, LACK OF CHILDCARE, IT IS ALL BEING COMPOUNDED IN EXPONENTIAL MISERY IN PERSONS WHO ARE LAID OFF, SICK, AND HUNGRY ALL THE TIME, AND NO MATTER THEY ARE NOT EATING RIGHT.

THEY ARE TIRED ALL THE TIME. DISCIPLINE SLOWLY DISAPPEARS DAILY. HUNGER DOES NOT GO AWAY. AND DESPAIR INTENSIFIES, JUST DETERIORATING THEIR LIVES AND THE CHILDREN CANNOT LEARN WHEN HUNGRY.

IF THIS IS PREVALENT ALL OVER THE COUNTY, THE COUNTY MUST PAY MORE ATTENTION TO IT. NO TALK. ACTION THESE PEOPLE CAN’T PAY FOR THE HIGH COST OF FOOD.

NEITHER CAN ORGANIZATIONS LIKE FEEDING WESTCHESTER.

THEY NEED $200,000 JUST TO COVER THE COST OF FOOD NOW OVER THE NEXT 9 MONTHS AND ARE ASKING THE PUBLIC, BUSINESS, AND THOSE WHO CARE TO MAKE UP THE DIFFERENCE WITH THE GENEROSITY OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. THE MOST CHARITABLE PEOPLE ON EARTH.

IF YOU WANT TO HELP HELP FEEDING WESTCHESTER AND THE FOOD PROVIDING CHARITY OF YOUR CHOICE.

THE RICHEST STATE GOVERNMENT AND COUNTY CAN’T FEED THEM?

BUT IT IS HARDWORKING PEOPLE TOO WHO ARE HUNGRY GO LOOK AT A WESTCHESTER BREADLINE AND YOU WILL SEE FOR YOURSELF.

THERE BUT FOR THE GRACE OF YOUR EMPLOYER GO YOU.

THE PEOPLE ON THAT BREADLINE ARE NOT MAKING MONEY ENOUGH TO GO TO THE SUPERMARKET.

MEANTIME, THE ROOT CAUSE OF HUNGER IS NOT HAVING JOBS. AS FEEDING WESTCHESTER POINTS OUT.

THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION FAILING TO SAY THAT WORK WITHOUT VISA AWAITING ADJUDICATION WAS OK IS PLAYING BOTH ENDS AGAINST THE MIDDLE. THIS ADMINISTRATION WILL BE IN THE VESTIBULE OF DANTE’S INFERNO THE PLACE WHERE THOSE WHO CANNOT TAKE A STAND FOLLOW A WHITE FLAG FOR ETERNITY.

I ALSO THINK THAT FOOD DISTRIBUTIONS HAVE TO ESTABLISH DISTRIBUTION POINTS INSIDE.

WESTCHESTER WINTER HAS BEEN A CRUEL COLD IN THE 20S AND MID-30S DURING THE DAY.

IN SUMMER THE MISERY WILL CONTINUE: THE POOR, THE HUNGRY, THE SWEATING MASSES WILL BE FACED WITH SWELTERING, DEHYDRATING HEAT. MORE HEALTH PROBLEMS

DISTRIBUTION POINTS SHOULD BE LOCATED AT PLACES TO SHELTER THE 100 OR SO COMING FOR THE FEEDING WESTCHESTER AND OTHER PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS DISTRIBUTIONS: THE COUNTY CENTER, URGENT CARE CENTERS (WHICH CAN CHECK THE WAITERS IN LINE FOR SYMPTOMS AND OVERALL HEALTH), GYMNASIUMS IN SCHOOLS, WAREHOUSES.

BREADLINES–INDOOR FACILITIES. WE CAN’T DO THAT?. WHY NOT?

THE SILENCE OF STATE AND COUNTY HEALTH OFFICIALS IS DEAFENING ON THE HIDDEN HUNGRY IN WESTCHESTER.

THE LAST OFFICIAL WHO CARED WAS ANDREW CUOMO.

I LOOK AT THAT BREADLINE AND I AM REMINDED HOW CLOSE YOU AND I CAN BE TO BEING JUST LIKE THOSE POOR SOULS.

IF WE HAVE AN ACCIDENT, GET FIRED, GET SICK, OR COMPANIES KEEP MAKING MONEY AT OUR EXPENSE AND MAKE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO FOR YOU TO AFFORD THE PRODUCTS WE NEED TO SURVIVE BECAUSE THE COMPANIES WANT TO MAKE MONEY. THAT’S THE REAL CAUSE OF THE INFLATION THE FED IS FEEDING INFLATION AND KILLING THE ECONOMY BY NOT LOWERING INTEREST RATES.

THERE ARE SEVERAL WOMEN WHO COME TO MY NEIGHBORHOOD ON RECYCLING DAYS TO COLLECT DISCARDED DEPOSIT RETURN CANS, THAT IS HOW POOR THEY ARE

BREADLINES..

IN 2024.

THIS IS AMERICA IN THE 1930S, NOT THE 2020S.

THOSE WHO WOULD BE LEADERS IN ALBANY IN BUSINESS ORGANIZATIONS, BUSINESSES, ALL RESTAURANTS MAKING UNCONSUMED FOOD AVAILABLE NEXT DAY MAYBE– SHOULD BE FOCUSING ON THIS SPREADING HUNGER .

SOME ARE. ALL SHOULD

THERE’S SOMETHING BROKEN AND CRUEL HERE IN THIS COUNTY AND IN NEW YORK CITY, LONG ISLAND.

TOO MANY HUNGRY WITH NO WAY TO FEED THEIR CHILDREN UNLESS WE THE CITIZENS BUY IT AND SUPPLIERS CONTRIBUTE.

IN ALBANY IN THE HOCHUL BUDGET THERE IS NO MENTION OF HUNGER IN HER PRESS RELEASE WHEN SHE TALKS ABOUT HELPING FARMERS.

NONE.

THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN. NOT JUST A MENTION BUT ACTION.

ACTION, ANYONE?

ONE LOOK AT THAT BREADLINE IS INCENTIVE ENOUGH.

MY VOTE FOR UKRAINE

Posted on April 20, 2024 by John Bailey

Yesterday, my colleagues and I voted to protect democracy abroad by sending much-needed aid to Ukraine.

The over $60 billion in aid for Ukraine included in the bill will help them continue to stand against Putin, and I am proud to support them. War should never be our goal, but leaving Ukraine to fend for itself is not an option. They are in a fight for democracy, survival, and human rights. I am glad that we were able to secure the assistance they need and be consistent with our defense of human rights across the globe.

I have been calling for weeks to separate the multiple foreign aid bills being considered by Congress so that we can register our unwavering support for Ukraine in a stand-alone vote on the floor.

The decision to send weapons abroad should never be taken lightly, and each instance deserves careful thought and consideration.

Our government has a moral obligation to fight for peace, dignity, and our shared humanity in everything we do.

I was proud to take this vote in support of Ukraine as they fight their ongoing war with Russia. This is about standing up for our values on the global stage. The larger implications of their success are critical for the very foundation of democratic systems worldwide.

Peace and love,

Congressman Jamaal Bo

FUTURE OF COVID VACCINES FROM YOUR LOCAL EPIDEMIOLOGIST

Posted on April 20, 2024 by John Bailey

^{WPCNR EDITOR’S LOCAL NOTES: LOCALLY, COVID INFECTIONS ARE A LURKING FACTOR IN WESTCHESTER. HOSPITALIZATIONS IN THE MID HUDSON REGION WERE 63 COMPARED TO 81 LAST YEAR ON APRIL. WESTCHESTER COUNTY HAD THE MAJORITY OF THOSE CASES .}

^{FROM APRIL 9 TO APRIL 17, WHITE PLAINS HOSPITAL SAW 50 PERSONS ADMITTED AND 15 OF THEM POSITIVE FOR COVID, 30%. THAT WAS UP A LITTLE FROM 25% OF ADMISSIONS FOUND WITH COVID LAST WEEK WHEN 9 OF 36 ADMISSIONS TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVID.}

^{THE COUNTY AVERAGE 2.8 INFECTIONS A DAY FROM APRIL 7 TO 13, 196 IN A WEEK WHICH LAST WEEK ACTUALLY REACHED 216.}

^{IF WE CONTINUE THAT PACE APRIL WOULD HAVE 868 FOR THE MONTH. IN 2023, APRIL SAW 895 COVID CASES SO WESTCHESTER HAD ONLY 4% OR 27 INFECTIONS DOWN LAST APRIL WHEN INFECTIONS STARTED TO REBOUND UPWARDS INTO JUNE.}

^{THE PASSOVER OBSERVANCE HAPPENING LAST YEAR IN WESTCHESTER COMBINED WITH THE RELIEF OF COVID RESTRICTIONS PRODUCED 814 COVID CASES IN MAY, 796 IN JUNE, RESULTING IN AN EXPLOSION OF CASES IN JULY 2023 1,064 AND 1,962 IN AUGUST. WHAT WILL MAY AND JUNE SOCIALIZATION DO?}

THE NUMBER OF CASES NOW IS CLIMBING BACK TO 1,000 CASES A WEEK.

^{WILL COVID COME BACK?}

^{AT 860 CASES NOW IT MIGHT COME BACK FOR A 7TH WAVE AND LAUNCH ANOTHER MISERABLE COVID SURGE.}

^{PLEASE SOCIALIZE RESPONSIBLY. FOR THE RECORD LAST WEEK WAS THE 10TH IN 11 WEEKS IN THE LAST 2-1/2}^{MONTHS WE LOWERED THE CASES ( BUT ONLY 1 LESS THAN LAST WEEK. NOW TO DR. KATELYN JETELINA’S LATEST EDITION OF YOUR LOCAL EPIDEMIOLOGIST:}

We could definitely use better Covid-19 vaccines. While our current ones work well against severe disease, they could be better in other departments, like:

Stopping transmission
Covering future mutations
Having fewer side effects
Ability to combine with other vaccines, like the flu vaccine

A suite of vaccines—considered next-generation (NextGen)—are in the clinical trials pipeline. While some are showing positive results, there is still a long road ahead.

Where are they in the process? Let’s dig in.

Note: We tried our darndest to summarize this vaccine pipeline comprehensively, but this stuff is hard to find. This list could be incomplete or (a little) out of date.

A quick reminder

Vaccines undergo a long process to ensure they are safe and effective, from preclinical (i.e., testing in animals) to phase III (testing in hundreds of people) before authorization by the FDA. About 9 of 10 products fail at some point in this process. A typical vaccine takes 5 to 10 years—that is, when we aren’t in a massive emergency (with lots of money and the entire world working towards one thing).

While the U.S. government gave some NextGen vaccines a big financial boost at the end of the emergency ($5 billion), it will likely still be a while before we get them in arms. These vaccines are truly novel, and we are still trying to figure out how they work best.

NextGen Category #1: Variant-proof vaccines

One NextGen solution is a universal coronavirus vaccine that would protect against not only SARS-CoV-2 but also other coronaviruses that might cause future animal outbreaks and pandemics. However, this is a long way away.

We have made progress towards a pan-Covid-19 vaccine. This class of vaccines aims to be “variant-proof.” The idea is that these vaccines would induce an immune response that would make it impossible (or at least very difficult) for newer variants to escape antibodies, like Omicron did in 2021. This doesn’t necessarily mean that we would no longer need boosters or that these vaccines could stop transmission. Only time would tell us that.

Around 20 variant-proof vaccines are in the early stages of this process (preclinical), but 5 have reached human trials.

Variant-proof Covid-19 vaccines that have made it to clinical trials. Figure by YLE; Data from Hilda Bastian.

For example, the VBI vaccine (made by a Canadian company partnered with the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research) induced an immune response to many Covid-19 variants and coronaviruses, but the data is limited. Walter Reed described its vaccine as having “positive” effects, but no detailed data have been released yet.

NextGen Category #2: Mucosal Vaccines

The next category is mucosal (i.e., nasal) vaccines. These induce antibodies in a person’s nose and throat—the major site of infection by SARS-CoV-2—so they attack the virus at the starting line. Theoretically, this would better prevent infection and transmission than current vaccines. As previously covered on YLE, this is a hard scientific road for multiple reasons.

Twenty-seven clinical trials of mucosal vaccines have reached human trials, including a few in the U.S. A lot are still in the beginning stages, though.

Mucosal Covid-19 vaccines that have made it to clinical trials. Figure by YLE; Data from Hilda Bastian.

A few have reached later phases, and some have even been approved in other countries. However, they haven’t been authorized by a drug regulatory agency considered “stringent” for the WHO or the U.S. In the U.S., these manufacturers would have to submit their materials to the FDA and, after review, may have to run another clinical trial if they don’t have certain data. It’s not clear if this is happening (or not).

Some promising late-stage results so far include:

CanSino, a Chinese vaccine company, published their intranasal vaccine results as “highly effective.” In another phase IV trial, the intranasal vaccine had a slower immune response than the injected vaccine but lasted longer.
Bharat Biotech’s (India) intranasal vaccine elicited a higher immune response than the injected vaccine in phase III clinical trials.

NextGen Category #3: Everything else

Combining Covid-19 vaccine with the flu vaccine. Moderna, Novavax, and Pfizer are all working on a flu+Covid vaccine. Some are further along than others. Some manufacturers hope this will be available in the 2024 fall season. I’m skeptical.

Self-amplifying mRNA. This vaccine would include instructions on how to replicate RNA, once inside our body, allowing for much lower doses of injected mRNA. This means, in theory, fewer unpleasant side effects. There are two in the pipeline:

In Japan, a self-amplifying mRNA (samRNA) showed better immune responses against Omicron BA.5 than the Pfizer vaccine as a booster and has been approved for use there. This was endorsed by WHO.
Gritstone Bio (U.S.) is also working on one. They plan to study their vaccine in a phase 2b trial later this year.

Don’t forget about T cells! Some have developed vaccines to maximize our T cell responses by targeting other parts of the coronavirus (not the spike). These vaccines wouldn’t have much effect on transmission or infection, but they could be very valuable in preventing hospitalizations if/when we get another coronavirus pandemic.

Pfizer and BioNTech have reported preclinical data, which showed robust immune responses to non-spike targets.
The big challenge with this approach is manufacturers would need an absolutely huge trial (given the outcome is hospitalizations). They could try to justify the vaccine based on the T cell responses, but we don’t know how to interpret those in terms of real-world outcomes. This will take some work.

Bottom line

We need better Covid-19 vaccines. Biomedical innovation, such as the licensure of mRNA vaccines, was a huge scientific win during the emergency, and thankfully, scientists are not stopping there. While these will not likely be available this year, we can cross our fingers and toes that better ones are on the horizon.

Love, YLE and Andrea

Andrea Tamayo is an intern at YLE. She is a science journalist and master’s student at the University of California, Santa Cruz Science Communication Program. You can find more of her stories at andreactamayo.com.

Big thanks to Edward Nirenberg, who verified some of the data and scientific translations. And he didn’t let us forget about the cool work with T cells.

“Your Local Epidemiologist (YLE)” is written and founded by Dr. Katelyn Jetelina, M.P.H. Ph.D.—an epidemiologist, wife. During the day, she is a senior scientific consultant to several organizations, including CDC. At night, she writes this newsletter. Her main goal is to “translate” the ever-evolving public health world so that people will be well-equipped to make evidence-based decisions. This newsletter is free, thanks to the generous support of fellow YLE community members. To support this effort, subscribe below: