- Wheelan-Pressly Funeral Home and Crematory, a proud supporter of WQPT, has been serving Quad city families since 1889.

They now have livestream capabilities for viewing your loved one's funeral or memorial service.

- Children over the age of 12 can now get the COVID-19 vaccine, but what should parents do?

And the other concerns they may have for their kids.

Plus a world of color has found its home in the cities.

(upbeat music) The centers for disease control and prevention now says anyone 12 and older can and should get a COVID-19 vaccination.

It's another milestone on this 15 month March through the start, the worst, and now the easing of the COVID pandemic.

But parents may rightly have some concerns.

The FDA says it's tests on children found no adverse effects and the Scott County health departments medical director, Dr. Lewis Katz says he wants to see children immunized yesterday.

Well, we talked with rock Island County health departments, Janet Hill about the effort now to get children they're shot.

This is a big step to allow 12 year olds and everyone older now to get the Pfizer vaccine.

- Yes, it is.

We're so excited about being able to do 12 year olds.

We need to get as many people as possible vaccinated so we can get close to having herd immunity and just getting this group, these kids have had a particularly tough time.

I mean, just think about being a young teenager and your life revolves around your friends in school.

And that's been taken away from them for the last 14 months.

So we're really really happy to be able to give this back to them.

- I have heard from parents, you know a lot of people waited as far as the adults are concerned.

I'm going to let other people go first.

I'm going to wait a while before deciding getting the vaccine.

You're hearing that even more with parents who are more worried about their children, let's wait and see.

- Well, the studies have been really successful now more than a thousand kids were vaccinated, not a single one had a serious side effect and not a single one got COVID.

And that's really clear to me that that this vaccine is shown to be effective in everyone 12 and older.

- Has it shown to be equally effective for adults?

I mean, we've talked about some adults that have gotten sick from some of the vaccines, but millions of doses have been administered.

- That's right.

There has been a handful of breakthrough cases where people have gotten sick after getting vaccinated.

But that is to be expected that the vaccines are not a hundred percent effective.

They are 90 to 95% effective.

And so that means that some people may just be the unlucky one to still get a case of COVID.

That seems to be a lesser case.

They may not suffering as much after vaccination.

- Some parents might say, look, kids might get COVID but they don't get that sick from it.

Why should they get the vaccine?

- So it getting the vaccine protects you but it also protects your family and your community.

So the kids may not get as sick, but they could possibly get someone else who has not vaccinated sick.

And sometimes the kids do get it's rare but they get, could get a serious condition called multi inflammatory symptom or syndrome.

And that is really dangerous.

So if we can get these kids vaccinated, it protects them, and it protects their family, and it protects their community.

- On the other end of the scale, you do have a seniors and more than 70% of seniors in rock Island County I believe was the last statistic have already been administered all the doses and are fully vaccinated.

Is your job done there?

- I think we have another 30% we'd like to get vaccinated.

And you know, the closer we get to getting everyone vaccinated, the safer all of us are.

And we've have seen consistently through the pandemic that our older residents are the ones who get very sick and then the ones who are more likely to die.

- But the 70% is a pretty good number.

Right?

- That is a really good number.

We're very happy about that.

I'd sure like to see it 10 to 15% higher than - Yeah.

What about all adults?

I mean, from 18 over to the best of my knowledge you're still a little under 50% right now.

- That's right.

And you know, the, the CDC has said that they don't believe that we're going to reach herd immunity.

I think that we should still try it.

We can make the quad cities a safer area than maybe perhaps it is nationally but that's going to take everyone to do their part and get this vaccine that has been shown to be highly effective and very safe.

- We have seen this week where the government perhaps surprising a number of people changing its mass mandates really easing on the COVID restrictions.

Is that something that local health departments are applauding?

- Well, I can say that, you know, the the scientific message is clear.

If you're vaccinated, you can safely do so much more.

And if you are vaccinated fully vaccinated and what that means is two doses.

If it's a two dose series and two weeks after that, or if it's the one dose vaccine two weeks after that one dose then you can do more things.

You don't necessarily have to wear a mask and in a private or public, and you know to be absolutely safe because you don't know that who are who is around you, who is vaccinated.

You know, you can choose to continue to wear a mask.

- As you know, Scott County health departments medical director, Dr. Lewis Katz was saying that one of the other big developments from this past week was the federal government saying that children can get not only the COVID vaccine but the other vaccines that they need at the same time.

How big a deal is that?

- That is a really big deal for us.

throughout the pandemic, We've been seeing children's vaccination rates fall for just routine vaccinations.

And that's a little bit scary to us because, you know we need to avoid outbreaks of the other vaccine preventable diseases.

And parents should keep up with those well-child visits.

So we urge them to make their appointments to get not only their, their COVID vaccine, but to make sure that they're updated up to date on all their other ones too.

- The other thing that Dr Katz was pointing out is that there's a lot of questions about children younger than 12, getting the COVID vaccine and that tests are continuing in a number of locations.

And he was anticipating some kind of announcement either late summer or early fall.

- That would be wonderful.

I know that the studies are going down to children as young as six months at this point.

And the vaccine has been proven to be effective for 12 and older.

And I have every hope that it will be good for kids who are younger than that.

I mean, did you get to reach that herd immunity or close to that herd immunity, we need to have kids vaccinated.

And, and like I said, it's not just about the child getting sick, who may get a more mild case but what if that child is sick and is around another child who has not been vaccinated?

And that child gets that MIS and I talked about or a grandparent who hasn't had a chance to get vaccinated.

You know, just going back to taking care of your community.

And that's what this mass vaccination effort really is.

It's about taking care of your community.

- Well, and I was going to say there is, I mean, we've talked about people who are not believers in vaccinations and there is going to be a certain level of the population That's not going to get vaccinated.

Children won't get vaccinated.

I mean, unless you've got a Scarlet letter or a tattoo on your forehead, we really won't know whose vaccinated and who's not.

I mean, when you're talking about herd immunity you're coming up with statistics, but you can't really tell in public if those seven people in those three have and have not.

- That's right.

And that's why we just are urging people.

If they feel that they feel safer to wear a mask that they continue to do that.

If they need to social distance for their own mental health, continue to do that.

You know, we we are not going to make people get vaccinated.

We are just relying on they're on the honor system and their good intentions to take care of their community.

- We heard from Dr. Ken Doula, a pediatrician earlier this week, talking about the mental health of children that she has talked, you know, obviously she see kids day in and day out.

And, and she is concerned that there has been a growing mental health issue for our children, mostly due to isolation, but also the fact that they're not really around their friends and the normalcy that that provides.

- Now that, that's one of the most exciting things about this announcement is you know, two weeks after being fully vaccinated kids can go back to having sleepovers.

They can play on sports teams without worry.

They can go on a family vacation.

They can hang out with their friends.

And I know these kids have been suffering you know, throughout this.

And, you know, hanging out with your friends on FaceTime is not the same as hanging out with your friends in your living room.

And getting vaccinated will bring that opportunity back to all of our kids who really need that boost.

And for their mental health.

- We're seeing vaccinations now being distributed among some doctor's offices.

I, I believe that's being allowed in Illinois in in the coming weeks.

We, we know that drug stores like CVS and, and and places like Walmart and Walgreens are offering them.

How long will the Camden center actually be in operation?

- There'll be through the end of May, of the state has is making a switch from these mass vaccination sites to more targeted approaches.

The pharmacies will still get it, give them plenty of vaccine.

And there are many appointments available.

Some of them are even offering walk-in in our healthcare partners are starting to get it into the physician's office.

You know, we're, we're hoping that if people might be a little bit hesitant to go to a more public site, that they may have that conversation with their physician and be, you know, convinced that the vaccine is a good option for them.

And they can do that in the privacy of their physician's offices.

So, you know, while the large vaccination sites may not be as prevalent, the vaccine is still widely available - Because we are seeing more vaccination clinics even in churches or small community centers.

Are you thinking, I hate to say this but as a rock Island County, thinking of actually making it almost like when you're talking about mobile vaccination clinic, almost like a food truck driving around that's making the shots available to people.

- No, we have been doing a couple of pop-up clinics and very targeted approaches.

We are going to offer a vaccination here at the health department one or two times a week.

Watch for more information on that, you know, we've gone to a couple of churches.

We're going to go to St. Mary's in the Flora Siente neighborhood, and Moline coming up here next week.

You know, there are ample opportunities for people and we're trying to, trying to bring it to places where people are most comfortable in getting it.

Now, a lot of our communities of color there are is a lot of vaccine hesitancy.

So we believe if we can bring it to those communities where they go every single week or every single day, and are very comfortable that they may be more comfortable in getting the vaccine.

So, you know, so so far we've done Mount Zion church in East Moline.

We did second Baptist in Rock Island, and then we have St. Mary's and Molene coming up.

- Cause you really are now targeting, as you said people of color and people who are hesitant for more than just fear of the vaccine but are hesitant just to go to public places.

- That's right.

I mean, the, the Camden center, for example, you know we do a lot of social distancing masks are required and they still will be required going forward.

This is a health care facility, and the people by the very nature of the site are not vaccinated when they come there.

So, you know, we just need to make it as easy as possible.

And by having our health care partners and our pharmacy partners also pitching in to help.

This is not just a public health effort.

This is an entire public health and healthcare community effort to get our community as safe as possible.

- It has been 15, 15 months that is of COVID.

And I think health department, you guys have lived and breathed and slept all regarding COVID-19.

And I know, you know, that there's light at the end of the tunnel and that somehow this will be in the rear view mirror.

Is that something you're thinking about now, or do you think while we still have so much more work to do?

- You know, it it's, we're getting to the point where we can start to think about, you know taking some days off people here at the health department are scheduling some summer vacations and, you know making sure that they have some time for themselves.

It has been a long, 14, 15 months for us.

And, you know, your health departments have been working you know, six and seven days a week.

And as have many of our healthcare partners they're working long shifts, you know think back to, you know, during those surgeries for the nurses and physicians and medical assistants and CNAs, I mean, they were, you know very much working beyond capacity and, you know we need to get people vaccinated.

So we don't ever go back to a situation like that.

- I remember talking to Dr. Katz, the infectious disease specialist in the quad cities I think as early, as late April of last year.

And he's talking about, you know, how bad it could get and I'm sitting there thinking, yeah, it'll probably get bad around Memorial Day and then get better during the summer.

And it's not going to be that big of a deal.

Were you surprised at the scope of this pandemic as well and, and and how society adapted or, or even pushed back against it?

I mean, because there will be future pandemics there will be, you know, future health emergencies.

You now can write a book on how to handle them.

- You know, at the end of last May, I remember putting out a media release where we had zero cases.

And that was like, Oh, we can take a breath now.

And then cases started inching up a little bit after Memorial Day, and then a little bit after 4th of July.

And then by the late summer early fall, we were just at a level that we probably could not have predicted.

I mean, the fact that we have more than 14,000 cases in rock Island County and Scott County has more than 20,000.

And that is a very significant proportion of our population.

And while thankfully, you know we have a little more than 500 deaths, five to 600 deaths in the quad cities that doesn't take into account just the amount of suffering that people went through.

The amount of healthcare resources that were burned through you know, people want to just get on with life but you know, the pandemic is not completely over yet.

There is a light, but to get there, we need to get people vaccinated.

- Janet Hill, chief operating officer for the Rock Island County health department.

In a moment an amazing new exhibit, and a new permanent place to put it in the Putnam Museum.

But first Laura Adams is one of the happiest people around as many COVID restrictions are now eased and people can once again, go out and about.

(upbeat music) - This is out and about through June 3rd.

The free Illinois Elks children's Orthopedic Clinic takes place May 18th from 2:30 to 4:30 at ORA Orthopedics in Moline.

Beehive, the sixties musical is a fun flashback to the fabulous females who left their Mark on 1960s pop music opening at circuit 21.

While the newly restored Forest Grove School number five is now open for tours, Saturdays through October 30th.

The third annual Earth Day Fair is coming to the Freight House Farmer's Market, the 22nd from 9-2, or shop with hops where you can sip, sample, and shop your way through LeClaire Iowa, starting at 3:00 on May 22nd.

Dipped in Iowa hosts The Good Makers Market May 28th and 29th featuring the best handpicked vendors in the Midwest at the Cedar County Fairgrounds.

Plus Ballet Quad Cities in the Quad City Symphony Orchestras Trio will headline a performance at the Adler Theater May 29th at eight.

Fleet Feet Davenport brings runners to the TBK Bank sports complex on the 31st at seven for a variety of races.

Be sure to register and run Memorial day weekend.

Stolen Set Improv at the spotlight theater is a family friendly improv show happening the 22nd at seven while comedy returns to the black box theater on the 22nd at seven 30 with improvisation from it's your fault and guys in ties.

For more information, visit wpt.org.

- Thanks Laura musician low Joe Russo says performing is her passion.

She says it's a long, strange wonderful trip of promise and adventure.

Now with many music venues still somewhat shut down.

She and so many entertainers have been on forced hiatus but she was kind enough to join us at Mullin's Black Box Theater before the pandemic to give us a performance of some of her original works.

Here's low Joe Russo with Restless Soul.

(guitar strumming) ♪ There's a sign down on Main street ♪ ♪ Attracts me like a moth to a flame ♪ ♪ Illuminating words ♪ ♪ Saying thank you please come back again ♪ ♪ It reminds my restless soul ♪ ♪ You've been here too long ♪ ♪ Without any word or a whisper ♪ ♪ Going, going, gone ♪ (guitar strumming) ♪ There's a girl back in Boston ♪ ♪ Remembers a better me ♪ ♪ When I took everything for granted ♪ ♪ Gave it all away for free ♪ ♪ It reminds me of a time ♪ ♪ When I thought I could do no wrong ♪ ♪ And like a fading photograph ♪ ♪ It's going, going, gone ♪ (guitar strumming) ♪ I am tired of running ♪ ♪ From all the lies that I've sown ♪ ♪ Comes a time and a place ♪ ♪ When you stand face to face ♪ ♪ With the weight of it all ♪ ♪ And oh it's so wrong ♪ (guitar strumming) ♪ There's a side to the story ♪ ♪ No one has ever heard ♪ ♪ It's a side that's the truth ♪ ♪ And a side that no one gets hurt ♪ ♪ I'm reminded that history is returned ♪ ♪ To those who are strong ♪ ♪ And like pages torn and tattered ♪ ♪ Going, going, gone ♪ ♪ I'm gone ♪ ♪ I'm tired of running ♪ ♪ From all my thoughts and regrets ♪ ♪ Comes a time and a place ♪ ♪ When you stand face to face ♪ ♪ With the weight of it all ♪ ♪ I heard it's all wrong ♪ (guitar strumming) ♪ There's a sign up ahead ♪ ♪ Telling me it's time to come home ♪ - Lo Joe Russo with Restless Soul, recorded at Molene's Black Box Theater.

The Putnam Museum is making the most of some of its biggest benefactors.

Think of the names, Figgy, Palmer, even Putnam itself.

They are Davenport families who grew prosperous and also grew amazing collections of art and treasures.

Now some of those treasures can be seen at the Putnam.

We talked with Putnam president, Rachel Mullins about an exciting new exhibit and exhibit space.

The Putnam is actually getting bigger, especially with exhibit space bigger than some people might think.

- Yeah.

Yeah.

And we actually, by the end of this month we will be fully reopened the entire facility with the opening of our giant screen theater reopening for the first time in 14 months, this this weekend with a new film.

And then we have a new gallery opening on May 22nd and 23rd to the public.

And we'll be fully reopened.

- Talk about that new gallery to the world culture gallery.

It is permanent.

It is new space in the Putnam and you're opening with something pretty colorful.

- That's right.

Yes.

So people that are familiar with the Putnam will know about the unearthing ancient Egypt exhibit.

It's a big favor for families and school groups.

And just outside of that space we've actually created a new gallery that will feature our world culture collection.

So it's objects from around the globe, but also feature the cultures right here in the quad cities area.

Over time, we've really grown our international community and this, this gallery will feature not only our world traveler founders and some of their collection but contemporary issues for international community.

- And that's what you really, I mean you're starting with a bang.

It's the colors of culture.

And you're really digging into the treasures of some of the most prominent citizens in the quad cities.

- Yes.

So we'll be featuring objects from the Palmer estate, and the Figgy family from our collection at the platinum.

And then we're partnering with world relief quad cities with objects loan from our newest newest quad Citians from the refugee resettlement program.

So we have some of the refugee families that are actually participating in the exhibit and they've loaned objects and clothing and some household items for the exhibit all that celebrate the various colors and what color means in different cultures.

- This exhibit is opening.

It's kind of a new part of the Putnam at a time when the world is reopening the quad cities is reopening.

And you had that last 15 months of, of COVID restrictions.

And like you said, I mean, you had a construction project and you were updating, it was almost kind of I don't want to say it was a blessing but it gave you a chance at opportunity to make some changes.

Explain to me what this means now.

And I know you're dealing with a cat.

- Sorry.

- No, you're fine.

(laughing) Explain to me what the opening and the easing of COVID restrictions mean.

- Yeah, so we are still maintaining face coverings at the Putnam as a science center.

We've really been tracking the case counts and the vaccine vaccine distribution in our community.

So the news from the CDC this week was so encouraging.

We're really excited and we're going to be reviewing those restrictions.

We've started lifting some of our group size restrictions and some of the caps that we've had in place on ticketing and max maximum group size in the different galleries.

So we're already starting to see not only the community but some of our galleries and Putnam programs starting to allow larger group size.

So we'll be reviewing over the next several weeks and kind of keeping an eye on the case counts here locally.

And yeah, it's a wonderful time in the community to start to, I'm starting to see some of these events coming back and and it's great that it's heading into the summer so that we can really focus on some of the outdoor activities as well during this time period, just to be cautious.

- Well, and the Putnam does offer programs for children and families during the summer.

That was all but abandoned last summer.

What are your plans for this summer?

- Yeah, our group size last summer was down to 10 kids.

We've, we've expanded that a little bit.

So our summer camps are back, but we're we're still kind of small groups serving a group of 15 students for the summer camp programs but we're also seeing some of those large events back.

In fact, the end of this month on May 29th we'll have our pollinator Palooza back at the Putnam.

It's a very popular event in partnership with master gardeners program at ISU extension big plant sale.

And we'll be featuring a flight of the butterflies in the theater - Which you have talked about before.

I mean, you've, you've done issues on pollinators for a while.

In fact, is it going to be nice?

Cause it's, I mean, the Putnam museum is always kind of neat to hear the echo of the sound of children.

And it's been kind of a little silenced over the last 15 months.

- Yeah.

We're starting to see our families back at the Putnam.

In fact, our weekend attendance is starting to rival where we were before we were required or required to close this.

- That's Great.

- So truly our families are ready to get back out what I'm hearing.

Two, one from families and our school groups that are starting to come back is that kids don't want to be in front of the screen anymore.

They're ready for that.

Hands-on learning that the Putnam is known for - Putnam president, Rachel Mullins on the air on the radio, on the web on your mobile device and streaming on your computer.

Thanks for taking some time to join us, As we talk about the issues on The Cities.

(uplifting music) - Wheelan-Pressly, funeral home, and crematory a proud supporter of WQPT, has been serving Quad City families since 1889.

They now have live stream capabilities for viewing your loved one's funeral or Memorial service.