Dear Friend,
Happy Halloween! I know that these continue to be challenging times, but did want remind families that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has not only encouraged families to go trick-or-treating tonight, but has also offered guidance to be safe while celebrating the holidays. Find that guidance here, at this link.
Here’s an Eskamani Family photo from Halloween in 1999 to help get folks in the holiday spirit! I was dressed as Queen Amidala from Star Wars, my twin sister was Padmé, and our brother was a soldier of the Union Army. Our turtle lived in the backyard but joined us for the festivities.
Speaking of families: this past Friday, the Food and Drug Administration granted emergency use authorization to the Covid-19 vaccine developed by Pfizer for children ages 5 to 11, a significant step toward making the vaccine available to millions of school-age children.
Before the vaccine becomes widely available, it will also need to be recommended by the CDC. The decision on that recommendation is made after a meeting of an expert committee, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, or ACIP. The CDC director must then approve ACIP’s recommendations.
That committee is scheduled to meet on November 2nd and we will definitely keep you posted as new information becomes available.
We also wanted to remind you that starting tomorrow, Orange County students can stop wearing face masks to class but only if their parents provide a note opting them out. Orange County Public Schools’ 60-day mask mandate expired Saturday and Superintendent Barbara Jenkins said it would not be extended in part because of the “significant reduction in the number of COVID-19 cases in Orange County.” Read more here.
Brianna Banuelos (L), 12, receives a first dose of the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine after it was approved for use by the FDA in children 12 and over at a Los Angeles County mobile vaccination clinic on May 14, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Patrick T. FALLON / AFP) (Photo by PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images)
Finally — did you know that there might be elections taking place in your neighborhood this Tuesday?
Local elections are taking place across Florida. You can check out the Florida Division of Elections’ local elections database at this link to confirm what’s happening in your community. Just select your county and the year 2021, and it’ll let you know!
For those in Orlando we have elections in three different City Commission races: 1, 3, and 5. Early voting is available today at the Orange County Supervisor of Elections Office from 11:00am to 3:00pm.
If you can’t Early Vote, then Election Day at your polling place will be your final option to vote in-person. If you still have a Vote By Mail ballot, please drop it off versus mail it in.
Onward,
Representative Anna V. Eskamani