GOV. GAVIN NEWSOM announcing his plans on Monday to require vaccination of school children (Governor’s office photo).

If you’re a kid in junior high or high school – or a parent of one – in California, get ready for the jab.

On Friday, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced that a mandate requiring all students in seventh to 12th grade get inoculated with a vaccine against the coronavirus could come soon, according to the Associated Press.  It will require a final OK from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration before being enacted and will go into effect the semester after such an approval.

Eventually, once federal approval is proclaimed, that mandate would be extended to children ages 5 to 11.

“We have to do more,” said Newsom. “We want to end this pandemic. We are all exhausted by it.”

Unvaccinated students will have the option of enrolling in a fully online school, taking independent study programs or be homeschooled, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Pill to combat COVID shows promise

MOLNUPIRAVIR (Merck)

A medicine showing “strong results” in cutting in half the risk of hospitalizations or death to certain coronavirus patient has done well in a clinical trial, according to The New York Times.

Developed by drug maker Merck, the pill has been effective when administered to “high-risk” people early in their cases. The drug, termed molnupiravir, may be approved for emergency authorization by the Food and Drug Administration.

The White House noted that antiviral pills were not a substitute for vaccination. Only about 56 percent of American adults have been fully vaccinated.

Also in the News …

• Alex Jones, a broadcaster who claimed that the 2012 massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut was a “hoax” is liable for damages to the families of children who died in the shootings, a Texas judge ruled on Friday.
• President Joe Biden visited the U.S. Capitol Friday to meet with the House Democratic caucus in an effort to line up support for an infrastructure bill. Moderates and progressives have been at-odds over whether to tie that bill to a $3.5 trillion social service and climate change package.

Sports: Dodgers winning but not gaining

Thursday’s 8-3 win over the San Diego Padres by the Los Angeles Dodgers (103-56) was the good news, but the San Francisco Giants’ 5-4 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks meant the Blue Crew didn’t gain any ground in the National League West race. The Giants (105-54) still lead by two games with three games left to play.

The Dodgers start a three-game series at home against the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday while the Giants host the Padres up north.

Meanwhile, the Angels (75-84) will be in Seattle again Friday (today) after losing 7-6 to the M’s. It was their third loss in four games.

In college football, USC (2-2) will visit Colorado (1-3) and UCLA (3-1) will take on Arizona State (3-1) on Saturday.

Weather:  It’ll be a warm weekend

Definitely not sweater weather in the West Orange County area this weekend, as the forecast calls for daytime temperatures in the 90s. Saturday is predicted to be 92 with an overnight low of 62, with Sunday at 93 (65 overnight). The thermometer will cool off on Monday (88/64) and even more on Tuesday (80/64). In the coastal areas of Huntington Beach, temps are forecast to be about six degrees cooler during the day.