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BY ALAN TAPIA
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VACCINES FOR AGES 5-11
On Dec. 11, 2020, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first COVID-19 vaccine for those who are 16 years and older. On Oct. 29, almost a year later, the FDA authorized a pediatric COVID-19 vaccine for those who are five through 11 years old. In addition, as of Nov. 2, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends the vaccine to around 28 million children and allows for them to get the shot as quickly as possible. Pharmaceutical companies Pfizer and BioNTech, recently known for their effective COVID-19 vaccines in adults, have accompanied each other in developing and running clinical trials for this newly approved vaccine over the past several months. According to both the CDC and the Detroit Free Press, trials have shown a 91 percent effectiveness rate in preventing the disease. According to the Detroit Free Press, “Children in that age group would get two, 10-microgram doses - about one-third the amount adults are given, spaced three weeks apart.” Before the vaccine could be approved by the FDA, there had to be many tests and trials, in addition to research and monitoring. The FDA stated that all children in clinical trials should be monitored for at least two months to observe side effects. This was done as a precautionary measure to detect any rare side effects and promote safety and effectiveness before full approval. According to NBC Chicago, many people, specifically parents, have been hesitant to accept this new vaccine because of concerns over long-term impacts that have turned up in other younger vaccine recipients, which is why all of this extra testing was necessary. Throughout these trials, though, side effects were considered mild and mirrored those found in adults.
According to the CDC, “COVID-19 vaccines have undergone - and will continue to undergo - the most intensive safety monitoring in U.S. history.” Despite the unknowns and skepticism that can accompany any vaccine, this vaccine was still able to be approved long before many expected.
While it was still in the process of being tested, Director of the National Institutes of Health Dr. Francis Collins stated, “I’ve got to be honest, I don’t see the approval for kids - 5 to 11 - coming much before the end of 2021.”
As of Oct. 29, however, with the official approval of the vaccine, that claim has been disproved. BioNTech earlier stated that once the vaccine for ages 5-11 is officially distributed, they plan to start on a vaccine for those between the ages of six months and two years.
Photo by Casey Walters TheWalgreensinSugarGrovehasaspecificdeskfor people to check in to receive their COVID-19 vaccine. They have also started to offer booster shots.
FEWER TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS
On Sept. 20, 2021, President Joe Biden announced that starting in November, international travelers will be allowed to visit the U.S. again, including those from the European Union and the United Kingdom. This new policy under the Biden administration allows non-citizens to enter the U.S. provided they have both a vaccination card and a negative COVID test within three days of boarding the plane. Those who are fully vaccinated will not be required to quarantine after arriving. This announcement reverses the previous administration’s ban of international travelers from flying into the U.S. during
Photo by Anna Olp United Airlines customers must wait in line to board their flights at O’Hare International Airport. As air travel restrictions are modified, more passengers pass through the airport each day. the height of the pandemic. Former President Donald Trump placed restrictions on travelers hailing from the United Kingdom, China, Brazil and Europe.
These restrictions were still in place when Biden first took office, but according to KFF.org, “As of [the first week of November], federal data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show that 67% of the total population in the United States have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.”
As this number increases with time and new information is released every day, rules and policies can change. The CDC has also taken new steps to minimize further spread of COVID, including enhancing contact tracing, requiring airlines to collect phone numbers and collecting emails from foreign visitors.
The White House also announced they will be implementing tougher rules on unvaccinated Americans that are coming in from countries overseas. Unvaccinated Americans returning from international travel will be required to show proof of a negative COVID test within 24 hours of returning home. The CDC currently recommends that unvaccinated Americans from overseas be tested three to five days after returning and self-quarantine for seven days. Additionally, those who don’t get tested are asked to self-quarantine for 10 days after travel. This has been done to encourage unvaccinated people to consider doing so.
Meanwhile, the airline industry, which has lost significant revenue from travel restrictions, has rejoiced at the news. Many airlines have praised the decision, as it’s a lifeline for the industry. For many employees, this has provided more work opportunities and will generate revenue for the affected airline companies.
The U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Roger Dow called the decision “a major turning point in the management of the virus,” and he hopes that it “will accelerate the recovery of the millions of travel-related jobs that have been lost due to international travel restrictions.”
As restrictions change daily, people are hopeful for opportunities to come.
“Science tells us that vaccinations coupled with testing are the safest way to re-open travel, and we are optimistic this important decision will allow for the continued economic recovery both in the U.S. and abroad and the reunification of families who have been separated for more than 18 months,” Delta Air Lines spokesman Morgan Durrant said.
“Tangled from Disney. When I moved when I was little, we only had one DVD for our DVD player, which was Tangled. I watched it repeatedly and never got sick of it.” Olivia Yarbrough (Senior)
NOW SH
WHAT IS YOUR COMFORT MOVIE OR TV SHOW?
“I know it’s cliche, but The Office because it’s just so good. After all my schoolwork is done at night, that is always what I choose to watch because it is really funny to watch. It’s just legendary.” Ethan Volkening (Junior)
“I would say Space Jam, because why not? There is a lot of creativity in there and a lot of good characters that I enjoy.” Alexander Orrala (Junior)
HOWING
WHAT IS YOUR COMFORT MOVIE OR TV SHOW?
“I used to watch the movie Cars a lot when I was little. I could never seem to get tired of it. I loved watching it over and over with my brothers.” Cameron Phillips (Senior)
Berlyn Ruh (Sophomore)
“God Bless the Broken Road because it has a great story behind it, along with a great message. It kind of reminds me of why I have faith, and it reminds me that however hard things get, it always gets better.” Georgia Harvell (Sophomore)
Austin Koup (Freshman)
BY KYRA MOTYKA
Editor
Whether you’re a star athlete, a number one fan or nowhere in between, it is clear in daily life that sports, to many people, are more than just hobbies. Playing or being involved with a sport can create fulfilling careers, lifelong friendships and lasting memories.
Senior and four-year varsity softball player Olivia Stoker said almost every aspect of the game of softball has been a positive experience for her. She has played for 12 years.
“Sports have had a huge impact on me, most of them positive… [but] softball is such a game of failure, so the sport has taught me how to get through things, how to realize when you need help and how to make the game fun again,” Stoker said. Stoker has made lifelong friends in softball and has visited a few of her former teammates at college as well.
“I went to see Olivia Ortegel, who graduated last year, and see how she’s doing in college, and seeing [2021 graduate] Rose Roach play at Auburn is so cool. And my high school teammates are definitely people I will never forget and will hopefully stay in touch with for a long time,” Stoker said. Similar to Stoker’s view of softball, senior and three-year varsity soccer player Jack Rissman has great relationships with his current teammates and is still in touch with several former ones as well.
“Being around teammates in classes or seeing them in halls has helped develop relationships and bonds. Those I’ve connected with on past club teams or from Kaneland have allowed me to have
Photo courtesy of Marisa Janecek Sophomore Cora Heller prepares for a vault at a track meet last year. Heller hopes to break the school pole vaulting record this or next season.
Photo courtesy of Brian Beattie Senior wide receiver Samuel Gagne lines up before a play at Sycamore. Senior Brian Beattie posted this picture on his Instagram account @tbworks. support outside of just the sport,” Rissman said.
Playing a sport offers many positive impacts outside of making friendships. For sophomore cheerleader and track athlete Cora Heller, sports have aided how she carries herself every day. “Track has extremely positively impacted my life,” Heller said. “I feel like I’ve learned a lot of leadership skills and gained a lot of confidence.”
Even being involved in a sport without playing brings benefits. Senior Brian Beattie, an avid photographer and videographer, has had the opportunity to film high school and college basketball, in addition to high school football. “I’ve been able to film the Purdue basketball team, and one of their players is supposed to go top 10 in next year’s draft,” Beattie said. “[I’ve also filmed] a bunch of high schools around Chicago.”
Before finding his passion for filming in January of 2020, Beattie has been a huge sports fan since his childhood. “I’ve always loved sports. I’ve always loved watching sports and playing sports, and it has helped me make new friends. It’s like a connection, or a family almost,” Beattie said. Rissman, Stoker and Heller all said that the support provided by their teammates at Kaneland has only positively impacted their relationship with their sports.
“The amount of support when it comes to activities throughout the school has always been a positive to being involved in sports,” Rissman said.
But support can come from more than just your teammates. Stoker believes that culture goes much farther than the team alone.
“The Kaneland culture is the reason why I’ve stuck with softball for so long… in general, we have the best fans, coaches, even outside, like [Athletics and Activities Director David Rohlman], umps, even boosters. Everyone helps out, and it makes it super fun,” Stoker said. “Coach [Mike Kuefler] here at Kaneland has definitely had the best impact on me and probably the whole team. I love that guy.”
Heller agrees that her coaches help in ways beyond succeeding in her sport. “The track culture at Kaneland has allowed me to love the sport and want to go further with it. It makes me a little more determined and happy to go to practice and want to go places with it because it’s just so much fun to be around the people there,” Heller said.
Beattie said as a photographer and fan, it is easy to tell which teams prioritize or depend on teamwork. As a result, his interest in filming has broadened to other sports than just basketball. “[My passion] used to purely be basketball, but this year I’ve learned that if you know the team you’re filming for football, it’s so much of a better experience. It’s more of a family than basketball is. There’s just something about it that’s different,” Beattie said. “In basketball, a single player can take over the game, but in football, there’s no success without everyone coming together.”
Watching a game can entertain you in more ways than mindless activities. Kaneland offers many sports and athletic clubs for anyone interested in becoming a part of the athletics family, and every team is always looking for a fan base.
Photo courtesy of Olivia Stoker Senior Olivia Stoker waits on second base to see the play develop. She has played softball through the school and on a travel team for 12 years.
