Live reporting by
Ahmad Sayles
Measles Control Efforts: Comprehensive strategies discussed, including vaccination campaigns and community outreach, to combat measles outbreaks.
Ahmad Sayles
@ahmad_sayles
Good Morning! I’ll be live-tweeting the Chicago Board of Health meeting for @CHIdocumenters #CHIdocumenters. The meeting is scheduled to begin at 9:00 a.m. 🪡
08:53 AM Mar 27, 2024 CDT
Janet Lin, MD, President calls the meeting to order. A quorum is reached.
Commissioner’s Update from Olusimbo Ige, MD gives a Measles Update – Disease Control Bureau
The spread of measles in the city shelters is a concern for the Board of Health. Families at shelters with young children are expected to receive 2 shots of the MMR vaccine to stop the spread.
The board is now asking questions about the public health education campaign to stop youth from smoking tobacco.
Board members are concerned about whether recent disinformation about public health officials will affect the campaign. The commissioner is hopeful that the long history of data related to tobacco use and health outcomes will combat that misinformation.
A board member asks a question about measles spread at immigrant shelters. Commissioner Ige says that 9 out of 10 people who aren't vaccinated and exposed to measles contract the disease.
Commissioner Ige says that the main focus of the department is to educate recent arrivals about measles and vaccinations.
Commissioner Ige says that the first shot of the measles vaccine has a 93% effective rate.
Commissioner Ige says the verification process has been the most difficult part of this endeavor. Verifying the health records of recent arrivals has logistical challenges.
Commissioner Ige ends her update. CDPH now gives an update on the ongoing opioid epidemic and Narcan distribution in the city.
CDPH Narcan vending machine locations are being based on overdose hotspots.
CDPH wants to work with other locations to make public access to Narcan available in clinics, libraries, bars/clubs, and faith-based institutions.
CDPH’s NARCAN Saturation strategy update is over. The public comment period begins. There is one comment scheduled.
Joy Bunton is a public speaker from the People’s Response network. She says that vaccination records of CPS show an alarming amount of unvaccinated students and no child should be allowed to attend school without vaccinations.
With no further business before the board, the meeting is adjourned.
Chicago Board of Health meeting ends at 10:32 a.m. This ends my coverage for @chidocumenters, find more information through Arieon Whittsey’s notes at
chicago.documenters.org