Rep. Jean Philippe Barros and Sen. Valarie Lawson
Guest columnists
Rep. Jean Philippe Barros, D-Pawtucket, represents House District 59. Sen. Valarie Lawson, D-East Providence, represents Senate District 14.
According to the Rhode Island Community Food Bank, one in four local households will struggle to put food on their tables tonight. This is the highest level of food insecurity we’ve seen in 20 years, and the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has only exacerbated the problem.
If you’ve ever relied on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to buy food, you understand the importance of seeing a “50% OFF” sticker on an item you and your family need. For many Rhode Islanders, the search for those discounts is the only feasible way they can provide their families with the fresh, healthy food they need.
Local public health experts had mixed reactions to the federal government’s move Tuesday to recommend a “pause” of the use of Johnson & Johnson’s one-shot COVID-19 vaccine after a half dozen women experienced a rare but severe type of blood-clotting, even if cases were less than one in a million.
“Glad to see safety prioritized, even for incredibly rare events,” MassHealth medical director Lakshman Swamy tweeted, adding that the vaccine “still seems overwhelmingly safe” and effective against preventing hospitalization or death due to COVID-19.
“Many of us are caring for young people with severe COVID and see the benefits in front of us,” Swamy wrote. “If available, I would still get this shot.”
Barnstable Public Schools students to return to in-person learning in April barnstablepatriot.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from barnstablepatriot.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.