As Pittsburgh families prepare for the new school year, Dr. Mandy Cohen, Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), has emphasized the importance of vaccinations and mental health support for students. Dr. Cohen visited the Spencer Family YMCA in Bethel Park on Thursday as part of a nationwide tour to promote routine vaccinations and mental health initiatives for children.
Dr. Cohen stressed the need for parents to ensure their children are healthy as they return to school, highlighting the importance of vaccinations. “Our kids can’t thrive in school unless they bring a healthy body there,” Cohen said, urging families to schedule flu and COVID-19 vaccine appointments before the school year begins.
The timing of Cohen’s visit coincided with the FDA’s approval of updated COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna, which are expected to be available shortly. These vaccines aim to protect against severe infections and reduce the risk of Long COVID, a persistent condition that can follow a COVID-19 infection.
During her visit, Cohen toured the Spencer Family YMCA and praised its collaboration with Bethel Park High School, which provides students with physical activity and after-school support. She also highlighted the YMCA’s “Y on the Fly” program, which brings mobile summer camps to underserved neighborhoods, serving over 2,000 children with physical activities and snacks.
YMCA program director Luke Kochka demonstrated some of the activities from the mobile camps, including exercises designed to keep children active and engaged. Cohen appreciated the YMCA’s efforts to extend its services beyond traditional facilities, reaching communities with limited access to physical activity opportunities.
A major focus of Cohen’s visit was youth mental health, an area of increasing concern since the onset of the pandemic, which exacerbated social isolation among students. Cohen underscored the importance of in-person connections and suggested that reducing screen time and increasing physical activity are beneficial for mental health.
Cohen also emphasized the role of routines in maintaining mental well-being, encouraging families to establish consistent sleep and meal schedules. “Making sure we’re going to bed at the right time, eating healthy food, and getting exercise are all key components of a good routine,” she said.
In addition, Cohen spoke with members of the YMCA junior board about a new teen suicide prevention group initiated by Bethel Park High School students. She commended the students for their proactive approach in addressing mental health challenges among their peers, noting that peer support is an effective strategy in mental health interventions.
Cohen’s visit highlighted both the CDC’s commitment to supporting child health and the importance of community partnerships in addressing public health challenges.
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