Experts from NIU’s College of Health and Human Sciences and the DeKalb County Health Department will join Chief of Staff to the President, Matt Streb, to answer questions and address concerns related to the COVID-19 vaccines on Tuesday, Feb. 23 from 3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. via Zoom.
“There are understandably a lot of questions surrounding the vaccine,” Streb said. “We thought this would be a great opportunity for our community to hear from experts who can answer some of those questions and bust some of the myths surrounding the vaccine.”
Streb will moderate the one-hour webinar that features Beth Squires, Public Health program coordinator for the College of Health and Human Sciences; Susan Caplan, chair and associate professor, NIU School of Nursing; and Cindy Graves, director of Community Health and Prevention and Health Promotion and Emergency Preparedness for the DeKalb County Health Department.
“There is so much information out there, and we are learning so much as we continue through the pandemic,” Squires said. “Having this touch point – where we can share up-to-date and accurate information – is important so people can be as educated as possible.”
Along with an overview of the Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines, the experts will discuss how vaccinations will impact an individual’s daily life and provide an overview of DeKalb County’s vaccine distribution process. The webinar will conclude with the experts fielding questions from attendees.
“You’ve got people who are ready and want the vaccine and you have others who are skeptical and have reservations,” Streb said. “Both groups will learn something from this panel.”
In addition, Streb said the webinar is an important platform to talk about what life will look like going forward – once a significant number of people are vaccinated.
“There is a light at the end of the tunnel but it is going to take some time,” Streb said. “Even with the vaccine available, we are still going to be in this mask-wearing, social-distancing state for a while and the panel will explain why.”
