Doctors encourage Illinoisans to participate in COVID-19 vaccine trials

Dr. Emily Landon. (Photo courtesy: Dave Dahl/WJBC)

By Dave Dahl

SPRINGFIELD – Doctors took the spotlight at Tuesday’s coronavirus briefing.

University of Chicago chief epidemiologist Dr. Emily Landon said, “A lot of you will look back on this and wonder why we had to stay at home, since nothing awful happened. But, like i said in March, this exactly is the mark of success. It’s what a flat curve looks like.”
Joining Landon was Dr. Richard Novak, director of the infectious disease division at UI Health. “The search for new treatments and prevention strategies is proceeding at an unprecedented rate,” he said. “Vaccine trials will be starting this summer here in Illinois and elsewhere. I encourage everyone to volunteer and participate in these important studies.
“The whole world is waiting for the results of these trials.”
And Gov. JB Pritzker also was positive, but tempering the mood a little.
“I am optimistic that we are falling from a peak; however, if you look at all the metrics, they’re not all headed straight down some of them have sort of flattened. They are floating a little bit off their peak.”

A 23rd resident of the Villas of Sherman nursing home has passed away, bringing the Sangamon County total to 28, with 323 cases. Illinois has recorded 4,379 deaths and 98,030 cases.

Dave Dahl can be reached at [email protected]

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…