Normal, IL, USA / www.cities929.com
Jul 19, 2021 | 2:54 PM
(The Center Square) – New guidance encouraging vaccines for students has been issued for Illinois colleges and universities as officials prepare to welcome students to campus next month.
The Illinois Board of Higher Education and the Illinois Community College Board are encouraging schools to require vaccinations before the fall semester. Most institutions around the state are requiring vaccinations, with a few exceptions.
The agencies say they are issuing the guidance to protect the public health of students, campuses and local communities.
“This guidance follows recommendations by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) to ensure students can safely return to campus this fall,” said Ginger Ostro, executive director of IBHE. “We are strongly encouraging universities to require vaccination to protect their campus and local communities as they bring students back f
Kent Casson
For The Daily Leader
FAIRBURY A large crowd filled the Prairie Central High School library during Thursday night’s regular July meeting of the Prairie Central Board of Education.
Several members of the public addressed the board about masks for the upcoming school year. Logan Spenard’s daughter is going into kindergarten and he shared concerns over mask wearing.
“They all need to see facial expressions,” Spenard said, referring to the students.
Spenard encouraged the board to support kids by making what he called a good decision.
Amanda Kester pointed to low infection rates as a way to safely remove mask mandates. She hopes the upcoming school year is mask-free and worries about headache, fatigue and muscle strain from mask wearing.
Three community vaccine clinics offered in Kane County this week
Posted7/19/2021 5:29 PM
The Kane County Health Department, in partnership with Illinois Department of Public Health, will provide COVID-19 vaccines at several community vaccination clinics this week.
• Wednesday, July 21, from to 7 p.m. in Elgin Community College, Jobe Student Lounge, ECC Building B, 1700 Spartan Drive, Elgin.
Register via www.kanehealth.com.
• Saturday, July 24, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Family Focus Back to School Event, 550 Second Ave. Aurora
All youths ages 12 to 17 receiving the Pfizer vaccine will receive two free tickets to Six Flags Great America Theme Park in Gurnee, while tickets remain. Minors under the age of 18 must bring a signed Pfizer consent form by their parental guardian to receive the COVID vaccine. Download the form at ow.ly/Ku6650FqSD8
Top Illinois Doctors Say COVID-19 Spike Likely In Fall, But No Policy Changes Imminent
CBS Chicago 2 hrs ago Syndicated Local – CBS Chicago
CHICAGO (CBS) Two top doctors in Illinois who have been the public faces of the COVID-19 pandemic teamed up Monday to clarify where things stand.
Since May 11 Illinois has seen the number of COVID-19 variant cases double. It is a trend that has both the head of the state and city health departments concerned. They are expecting a spike in the fall, but they say still no policy changes are imminent.
“No matter what new twist comes our way, we will be ready,” said Dr. Ngozi Ezike, director of the Illinois Department of Public Health.
ANGIE LEVENTIS LOURGOS
Chicago Tribune
Even though Mary Helen Wissinger has been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 since the spring, she avoids indoor dining and going inside public spaces when they appear crowded or the parking lot seems full.
The 67-year-old volunteer church secretary is still social distancing to some degree, choosing curbside pickup at big-box stores and takeout at restaurants.
âI just try to be overly careful,â she said. âEven though Iâve been vaccinated and I should be OK.â
Wissinger lives in Cairo, the southernmost city in Illinois and the seat of the county with the lowest coronavirus vaccination rate in the state.