Greater LA
Why COVID boosters could provide lasting immunity and become like flu shots
As the winter season approaches, LA County might be spared from another major COVID-19 spike.
By Steve Chiotakis • • 25m ListenAs the winter season approaches, LA County might be spared from another major COVID-19 spike. That’s due to rising vaccination rates and the lasting power of booster shots, says Paula Cannon, professor of microbiology and immunology at USC’s Keck School of Medicine.
On the first Saturday each month in Ladera Heights, a group of volunteers picks up trash along the stretch of La Cienega Boulevard by Slauson Ave. “Several residents and myself, we don't want to look at this anymore. If they're [city authorities] not going to do it, unfortunately, we're going to get out there and we're going to do it ourselves,” says Ran Craycraft, founder of the 28-month-old group.
Also, desert tortoise populations are heading toward extinction. Can they be saved?
In this episode
3 storiesFor desert tortoises, road to extinction is paved with solar panels, cannabis, hungry ravens
Here’s how you know a desert tortoise when you see one: It’s the thing that looks like it couldn’t possibly survive in the desert. They lumber along with these piston legs, like a stepstool that’s got somewhere to go.
Read the story10 minCOVID boosters could provide lasting immunity and spare LA from winter surge, says USC immunologist
“It may be that we start to look at boosters once every five or 10 years. Of course, I could be wrong, and we could need them every year. And if we do, we’ll just get it at the same time as you get your annual flu shots. And it really won't be any more onerous than that," says Paula Cannon, professor of microbiology and immunology at USC.
Read the story8 min‘It looks like a battle zone’: Volunteers clean up trash-clogged stretch of Ladera Heights
On the first Saturday each month in Ladera Heights, a group of volunteers picks up trash on the side of the road, in public places where everybody can see.
Read the story7 min
