Many school districts have resumed classes this week, including Chicago Public Schools. New his COVID-19 protocol will be in place this year as the pandemic continues to evolve.

“Science supports pretty much every change the CDC is making,” he said. Dr. Geraldine Luna, Medical Director of the Chicago Public Health Service. “Case reports in schools are declining and we expect the lowest levels to continue as children are vaccinated and sent to school protected.”

If parents of unvaccinated children are wondering if they need to be vaccinated at this stage of the pandemic, allergist and immunologist Juanita Mora, Ph.D. Not only is it there, it says it’s safer than ever.

“We have now given millions of vaccines to children and they are safe and effective. , let’s have a great school year,” said Dr. Mora. “It not only protects our children, but it also protects their grandparents, their communities, and our country, because children are often carriers of contagion and schools remain open. because it becomes

2022 also brings with it new health concerns. With the monkeypox outbreak, many parents are concerned about the virus reaching school. Dr. Luna said CDPH is optimistic that it won’t be a problem for students.

“We haven’t seen any cases of monkeypox in children here in Chicago, which is very encouraging,” Dr. Luna said. “The vaccine is rolling out now. Europe is starting to see a slant of these cases, and whatever we see in Europe will later be reflected here in the United States. I hope that the chances of us meeting are less than zero.”

Chicago Public Schools’ 2022 COVID protocols do not include universal mask requirements for students, faculty and staff, but Dr. Mora wants parents to consider keeping their children wearing masks. I mentioned that there are some situations.

“If someone is very immunocompromised at home, they may consider hiding their children. , newborns, etc.

Dr. Luna also encourages parents to get their children vaccinated against the flu this year.

“Flu season is quickly approaching. It’s around the corner in September and very harmful to children and the elderly. Talk to your doctor and get protection,” Dr. Luna said.

The release of a COVID vaccine for children under five was welcomed by some parents earlier this summer, but vaccination coverage remains low in that cohort. Dr Mora said he is urging parents of children under the age of five to get vaccinated.

“Especially now they’re back in daycare, pre-kindergarten, etc. We’ve vaccinated millions of these age groups. I’ve vaccinated children as young as 6 months old, myself included. Everything went well,” said Dr. Mora.

The recent polio flare-up in New York City has alerted public health officials, and Dr. Luna said Chicago’s public health department continues to monitor the water system here with due diligence. .

“The last case reported in Illinois was in 1970 and was from another polio-endemic country,” Dr. Luna said. “We are making sure we are checking our water systems, as we always do.