“Vaccinations in 2026: What’s the Sticking Point?” was the topic of the 2026 Skokie Healthcare Symposium, convened by Skokie Community Foundation in close partnership with the Village of Skokie Department of Health & Human Services. The March 11 afternoon session provided data on the alarming decrease in vaccination rates in our community and included featured several speakers addressing how we can encourage more residents to receive necessary vaccinations for communicable diseases.
Photo 1:
Keynote speakers Dr. Jennifer Seo, Pediatric Medicine Medical Advisor for the Illinois Department of Public Health, and Dr. Edward Linn, Skokie Board of Health Chair and IDPH Immunization Advisory Committee appointee, updated attendees on the need to increase vaccination rates in our community.
Photo 2:
Julia Shklovskaya, MPAA, Community Outreach and Engagement Manager for Sanofi, spoke about the importance of including diverse and underserved people in clinical trial testing for new vaccines. Sanofi sponsored the 2026 Skokie Healthcare Symposium.
Photo 3:
Ann Raney, Chief Executive Officer of Turning Point Behavioral Health Care Center in Skokie (top right), facilitated a “where do we go from here?” discussion among participants about how to increase vaccination rates in the community. Skokie Community Foundation Board Director Carolyn Anthony (top left) led and coordinated the 2026 Skokie Healthcare Symposium.
