Dr. FRED BUCKHOLD, SLU Care general internist at SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital.  Officials in both St. Louis City and St. Louis County have lifted many COVID restrictions -- as new cases and hospitalizations continue to decrease.  Dr. Buckhold says he's glad we are having this conversation about whether this is the right time to do that or not -- instead of talking about tighter restrictions.  He says new case rates and hospitalizations are down but vaccination percentages aren't what he hoped for but they are decent.  Dr. Buckhold feels we went from zero to sixty in a hurry -- but he recognizes there is more than public health at stake.  Time will tell how this works out, he says.  Vaccinations are the key according to Dr. Buckhold.  How should vaccinated parents navigate this summer with their un-vaccinated kids? Dr. Buckhold has four daughters himself.  He says he may allow a few overnight camps.  But he says it is important to first check out any summer camp to make sure they are serious about dealing with any possible COVID cases and find out what protocols are in place.  He has slowly been expanding his daughters' circle of friends.  A lot depends, he says, on your comfort level as a parent.

Dr. MARK DYKEWICZ, SLU Care allergist, chief of allergy and professor of internal medicine at Saint Louis University School of Medicine and principal investigator of this new trial.  Saint Louis University is enrolling participants in a new clinical trial to study the risk of severe allergic reaction from the Pfizer and Moderna COVID vaccines.  Dr. Dykewicz says SLU is one of about 30 collaborating sites.  Participants will be assigned at random to receive either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, or a placebo followed by a vaccine.  Participants will be observed for 90 minutes on site after each injection in case any type of reaction occurs.  Dr. Dykewicz says this is the perfect trial for people who didn't get the vaccine fearing they might have a severe allergic reaction -- or for those who were rejected at other sites due to the high risk of a severe allergic reaction.  This setting, he says, is as safe as you can get.  They'll be looking for who has a reaction, then after quickly treating them, try to figure out why -- and later try to come up with ways and treatments to avoid such reactions.  For more info, you can email vaccine@slu.edu or call 314-977-6333.

AMY KONSEWICZ, manager of Bahavioral Health Services at SSM Health DePaul Hospital.  We've been hearing a lot of stories lately about the impact of the pandemic on the mental health of young people. Konsewicz says this past year has been especially hard on children and teens -- with the stress of getting COVID, isolation from friends, and not being able to participate in school and school activities.  She says this results in some teens and adolescents having increased depressive symptoms and increased anxiety -- resulting in an uptick locally in cases of self harming and in suicide attempts.  Konsewicz says parents need to be on the watch for any big change in their child's behavior.  Then talk with them about what you see going on...or seek professional help immediately.  She says kids are upset they weren't brought into the discussion about school closings -- and feel invalidated since they are missing out on many things like prom and graduation.  They are upset adults are making decisions for them.  She says there's a lot of frustration and sadness there.  SSM Health is the largest provider of behavioral health services in Missouri.  SSM Health's Behavioral Health Urgent Care was new in 2020 -- only one in the STL region -- it is on the campus of DePaul Hospital. She says you can walk in without an appointment and receive comprehensive care from therapists, nurses and doctors.  For more info, please call 314-344-7200.