Kid COVID vaccination confusion; escaping from Afghanistan to Louisiana

The Advocate's Top Headlines

with Matthew Albright| Assistant metro editor

Good afternoon! Here are some of the stories we're working on today.

Kid COVID vaccine confusion

Louisiana schools routinely send out reminders about vaccines kids have long been required to get, like the one for mumps, measles and rubella. But due to some formatting issues, some of those reminders that have gone out recently seem to suggest that the COVID vaccine is required — it is not.

This story explains how that has caused some controvery, and clears up the confusion over what parents are and are not required to do.

Escape from Afghanistan

When a man from Louisiana worked as a contractor in Afghanistan, he befriended an interpreter. When the country started to crumble to the Taliban, he launched a feverish quest to get his buddy out and safe in Louisiana.

This story describes what it took, the dangers the interpreter faced, and how he felt “It was like you were in a hell, and then you’re going to paradise.”

Virtual learning not up to snuff?

When COVID forced everybody to stay at home, it suddenly exposed a whole lot more kids to online school. Some even predicted that the pandemic might lead more families to pick virtual learning options for their kid.

However, a recent report says that Louisiana's virtual learning options are "spotty at best." Check out this story to see the concerns the report raised.

Thanks for reading, and have a great afternoon!