Giving It Their Best Shot

Doctor applies bandage to preteen girl's arm following an immunization. — Witthaya Prasongsin/Getty Images

Vaccine Season

Giving It Their Best Shot

What’s going on: There are many things synonymous with fall: drinking PSLs, watching Nora Ephron movies, and getting your shots. And yes, you should be doing all three. But we understand if the messaging hasn't been easy to understand. To fill in gaps and clear up confusion from the Trump administration around COVID-19 and flu vaccines, major medical orgs got together to share some updated vaccine guidelines. The American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Family Physicians, and other groups agree: Everyone should continue to get their flu shots, and all adults should stay up to date on COVID-19 shots. Last week, the FDA approved updated COVID-19 shots and the CDC renewed its flu recommendations. However, the CDC hasn’t yet released its annual COVID-19 vaccine guidelines… because the advisory committee is currently frozen thanks to an ongoing lawsuit. "We cannot allow the breakdown of the federal process to create a vacuum in evidence-based vaccine guidance,” said vaccine expert Bruce Gellin, MD of the Vaccine Integrity Project.

So, should I get a shot?: Short answer: yes, preferably in October for the best protection. COVID-19 and flu vaccines can reduce the risk of severe illness and death. The updated COVID-19 vaccine protects against the new XFG strain, which makes up about 40% of current cases in the US — and COVID-19 is on the rise. Last year’s flu season was unusually severe, making vaccines even more important — even as many doctors remain “cautiously optimistic” that this year’s flu season won’t be as bad. As for whether your health insurance will cover the shots: Traditionally, most insurers look to the CDC when deciding what to cover, but most major insurance companies say they plan to approve both vaccines this year. Maybe you can treat yourself to a PSL after, with an extra shot of espresso — just to be seasonal.

The News in 6

🗞️ Two people were killed and six injured — including three police officers — in a downtown Minneapolis shooting Wednesday. The suspected gunman is also dead, but it wasn't immediately clear how he died, police said.

🗞️ Turns out foodborne illnesses like cyclospora can lead to long-term post-infection irritable bowel syndrome, lasting months or even years. That’s it, we’re cooking everything on high heat.

🗞️ The United Nations issued a first-of-its-kind report, saying we’ll soon pass a climate danger threshold. The new goal is managing the “overshoot period.” Gulp.

🗞️ Tiger Woods pleaded no contest to his DUI case stemming from a crash in March. He’ll pay a $1,000 fine and have his license suspended for five years.

🗞️ The NYC Department of Education is implementing new tech rules this school year, including an AI ban and no individual screens for students until third grade.

🗞️ Gloria Steinem, a feminist, journalist, and activist, passed away at 92, her Instagram page announced.

In Our Rotation

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Cue Wu-Tang's “C.R.E.A.M.”

Money Talks, but Parents Don’t

What’s going on: Most American parents would rather talk about the birds and the bees than… dollars and cents? In a new survey from financial wellness company Acorns, 57% of parents with kids ages 6 to 17 said they have an easier time discussing sex, drugs, and alcohol than money. One in three said their own financial situation is what gave them anxiety about raising the topic with their children — and today’s inflation, the rising cost of living, and concerns about putting food on the table aren’t helping. Plus, in a society where a person’s value is frequently tied to how much money they earn, there’s a lot of shame around not having it. As one parent shared with USA TODAY: "You want to be transparent as much as you can and educate your child, but you also know that this could get beyond your family."

But kids should know what’s happening, right?: While discussions about money are uniquely taboo for Americans (even more so than politics and religion), experts agree that kids should understand the basics. Still, many parents want to shield their kids from their financial woes, and for good reason: Our stress can become their stress. An earlier study this summer found a family’s socioeconomic status can affect childhood brain development — it can be as powerful as sleep deprivation or stress. So it’s how you go about the conversation that matters, according to experts. Seek age-appropriate ways to build healthy fiscal habits: Encourage them to put money in the (piggy) bank. You don't have to tell them that your layoff is the reason you can’t splurge on the latest Squishmallow, but you can remind them that’s why they saved their birthday money.

How About No?

Friends, Romans, Influencers, Lend Us Your Diaries

What’s going on: Workplace boundaries can be a beautiful, necessary thing. Not just a buzzword, they keep us from crossing lines or oversharing. But what happens when divulging details from your personal life is part of your job? This is the plight influencers increasingly face, as their fans feel more and more entitled to allllll the juicy details. Some argue they’ve brought this on themselves, having opened the metaphorical door to their lives for monetary purposes. Still, should their followers feel entitled to waltz right in, get comfy, and rifle into their diaries and innermost secrets (Anthony Fauci can relate)? Must they dish about divorces, breastfeeding journeys, and (gasp) even the deaths of precious puppies? Many followers say yes. And when they don’t get the tea, some get angry, unleashing their unrest in the comments. As one therapist told The Cut: “I think some people view it like they’re playing The Sims. Like, what happened? What happened? You have to tell us. And actually, people don’t.”

Sounds stressful: Sure does, but that can happen when you’re purposefully developing a parasocial relationship with your viewers. Still, it brings up tricky questions about what should and shouldn’t be shared. Does someone need to disclose they’re on GLP-1s? Probably not, unless they’re selling their smoothie recipe as the key to weight loss. Many followers are more amenable to “privacy” when kids are a factor, but parenting influencers still tow a difficult line. Naturally, this takes a toll on creators, whether your name is Alix Earle or you're a niche lawn care influencer. And researchers say the mental health toll of influencing is skyrocketing, and may not be worth that sweet, sweet ad revenue from a try-on haul. It’s also worth noting this is happening in a largely women-dominated industry. As TikToker Levi Coralynn put it: “I think hating influencers has become a socially acceptable way to hate women.”

Related: Robots Are Breaking Into the Influencing Game (Wired)

On Our Calendar

Thursday, September 3

🛍️ American Eagle x Lamine Yamal collection launches

The 25-piece collab with the World Cup superstar includes jeans, rugby shirts, and sweaters in men’s and unisex styles. Looks like a gooooallll to us.

🏙️ National Skyscraper Day

See how well you know the buildings that make up the skylines across the world with this quiz.

Psst… this is just the preview: Subscribe to theSkimm app and never miss a moment

Turn a word search into your favorite strategy game with Spelltower. Clear the board.

Vaccine Season