A new sex ed book puts kids at the center of the conversation

Plus: A look at the state of disability rights in America

View this email online July 31, 2022 by Andrea Muraskin This week: An update on second-round boosters for Americans under 50, a sex ed book that’s about more than body parts, and a journalist’s call for an expansion of disability rights.  Waiting for a (hopefully) better booster Mario Tama/Getty Images Last week, we reported that the Biden administration was considering offering a second round of COVID-19 boosters to adults under 50 before summer’s end, but opinions were divided. This week, officials told NPR that the FDA is scrapping those plans. Instead, the government is focusing on speeding up the rollout of a booster specifically targeting the omicron BA.5 subvariant, which is expected to be ready in the fall. The idea is to shore up immunity before a possible winter surge. But critics say that come winter, BA.5 might not even be the dominant variant. Rob Stein reports. Shout out to Rob for tirelessly providing up-to-the-minute COVID news from the beginning! Follow him on Twitter @robsteinnews.  Also: HHS boosts access to a drug that can protect the immunocompromised from COVID-19. Newsletter continues after sponsor message A new sex ed book puts kids at the center of the conversation Triangle Square Books for Young Readers/Seven Stories Press “There’s no right way or wrong way to have a body.” That’s the quote on the first page of You Know, Sex: Bodies, Gender, Puberty, and Other Things, a new book written for kids entering puberty, and their parents and caretakers. The book goes on to describe sexual experiences as multifaceted: people have sex to make babies, but — let’s be real — most of the time it’s not about reproduction. Sex can feel great. Also, it’s not wrong if you don’t enjoy it. Author and sex educator Corey Silverberg says they wrote the book to give young people the space to think through their feelings about sex — not just the mechanics of it. And they want to make parents aware of the ways sexuality shows up in the world: “We're teaching and talking to our kids about sex all the time. We just don't realize it,” Silverberg told Fresh Air. Read the highlights or listen to the full interview.  Also: More Americans are choosing to get sterilized, but some face roadblocks. Perspective: The ADA was a victory for the disabled community, but we need more. Jeff Markowitz/AP When NPR digital intern Shruti Rajkumar visited a bar in Washington, D.C. earlier this month, she was told her wheelchair couldn’t come in the front door. Later on, staff stopped her friends from carrying the chair to the dancefloor. She wrote about the experience on Twitter, and the thread went viral, with repliers venting their frustration at the bar and other “ableist” spaces. This week, on the 32nd anniversary of the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act, Shruti reflects on what the disability rights movement achieved with the passage of the ADA, like accessible buses in transit systems around the country. And she argues for more changes, including increasing education around disability, and adapting older buildings to make them accessible.  Also: Disabled people face a different reality as many return to “pre-COVID normalcy." Before you go: Julia Robinson for NPR Pregnancy loss happens. Here's how abortion bans are changing how it's treated in Texas. What to do if you get COVID on a family vacation.  Listen: Why some people enjoy the pain of spicy foods. San Francisco declares monkeypox a public health emergency. We hope you enjoyed these stories. Find more of NPR's health journalism on Shots and follow us on Twitter at @NPRHealth. All the best, Andrea Muraskin and your Shots editors Listen to your local NPR station. Visit NPR.org to hear live radio from WBEZ (edit station). What do you think of today's email? We'd love to hear your thoughts, questions and feedback: shots@npr.org Enjoying this newsletter? Forward to a friend! They can sign up here. Looking for more great content? Check out all of our newsletter offerings — including Goats & Soda, Daily News, Best of NPR and more! You received this message because you're subscribed to Health emails. This email was sent by National Public Radio, Inc., 1111 North Capitol Street NE, Washington, DC 20002 Unsubscribe  |  Privacy Policy