Katelyn Jetelina in Your Local Epidemiologist
As you may have heard, RFK Jr. has already revealed eight names for the new ACIP committee. As mentioned earlier, there was a spectrum of possibilities on who these names would be, going from “best case” to “worst case.” Let’s say there are some major red flags. But there may be more names, and I want to wait to comment until the entire list is revealed and I have a steady head. More soon.
Part of the exhaustion this week isn’t just professional. It’s also deeply personal…
Every night, I ask my girls about their day. Most of the time, their answers reflect their innocence and uncomplicated lives (“Someone cut in front of me in the lunch line.”) But my daughter’s response stopped me.
Daughter: Aiden* was being really mean today.
Me: Well, sometimes when someone is mean, that means they are really sad inside.
Daughter: That makes sense because he was crying all day.
Me: Why was he crying?
Daughter: Because his parents had to go back to Mexico.
Me: For a summer vacation?
Daughter: No, forever. He doesn’t know when he will see them again. He has to live with his grandma. [pause] Are you going to have to go to Mexico?
One in eight students in states like California have at least one undocumented parent. So I suppose it was only a matter of time before my daughters’ world collided with the reality of immigration policy. But nothing prepares you for the conversation.
Regardless of where you stand politically on immigration, it’s essential to understand that policy changes impact not just individuals who are deported, but the communities they leave behind, especially children. (continued on website www.skyline725.com)