MEDICAL DIRECTOR AT CDPH DISCUSSES COVID-19 AND MONKEYPOX

Dr. Candice Robinson is the Medical Director for Maternal and Child Health Bureau at the Chicago Department of Public Health. PHOTO PROVIDED BY GOLDSTAR COMMUNICATIONS.
Dr. Candice Robinson is the Medical Director for Maternal and Child Health Bureau at the Chicago Department of Public Health. PHOTO PROVIDED BY GOLDSTAR COMMUNICATIONS.

 Medical Director at CDPH discusses COVID-19 and Monkeypox

BY TIA CAROL JONES
Dr. Candice Robinson is the Medical Director for the Maternal and Child Health Bureau at the Chicago Department of Public Health. Robinson is a pediatrician by trade but has worked in the Public Health sector for 10 years.

In June, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced that children ages 6 months to 4 years old could receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Children ages 5-11 and 12 -17 will be allowed to get the vaccine. It means now all school-aged children are eligible to get the COVID-19 vaccine. Robbins recommends to parents, if they haven’t already done so, they should get their children vaccinated now.

“The COVID-19 vaccine is the best way to protect them from getting COVID-19 and to protect them those serious potential consequences of getting COVID. Children can get seriously ill from COVID and children can have consequences from COVID, as well,” Robinson said.

Children should be getting their required vaccines for Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Whooping Cough. Parents should make sure their children also are up to date on their physical examinations and have the necessary forms completed.

“For COVID-19, we continue to watch cases and follow the case counts. We continue to recommend vaccination for COVID-19, so if you’re not vaccinated, go ahead and get vaccinated. Booster doses have been recommended for everybody who are five years of age and older ,” said Robinson, who added that booster shots add another layer of protection against COVID-19.

A second COVID-19 booster shot has been recommended
for people who are 50 or older, or those who are
immunocompromised. Robinson also recommends that
people test themselves at home, if they feel like they have
the symptoms of COVID-19, and isolate if they test positive.

Robinson advises for people to follow the Dashboard at tinyurl.com/5me6pj8d for updates on COVID-19 Data from the City of Chicago. Robinson also advises people to continue to wash their hands and stay home when they are sick to keep the spread of COVID-19 down.

Cases of the Monkeypox Virus are on the rise in Illinois
and across the United States. In late June, Illinois Governor
JB Pritzker declared Monkeypox a Public Health emergency
in the State of Illinois. In early August, the Biden Administration
declared Monkeypox a National Public Health
emergency.

Monkeypox cases thus far, has been found in adults, the
median age is 35. The symptoms of the virus are a rash that
starts to look like a pimple, as well as flu-like symptoms. If
people have been exposed to a partner who has had monkeypox,
they can go to vaccination clinics for those at high risk.

Information about monkeypox is available at Chicago.
gov/MPV. “The health department is closely monitoring
monkeypox. They have vaccinations for persons who
are high risk. Monitoring is to protect those who are at
high risk for exposure before they get monkeypox and to
decrease the spread,” Robinson said. “There is an ongoing
investigation of cases for monkeypox.”

Robinson wants people to remain vigilant and take the
necessary precautions when it comes to COVID-19 and Monkeypox. She recommends that people wear a mask indoors
when the Dashboard data shows high risk.

For more information about COVID-19, visit www.chicago.
gov\coronavirus. For vaccination information, visit www.
chicago.gov\covidvax, or call 312-746-4835.

Latest Stories

Latest Podcast

STARR Community Services International, Inc.