Discussion of Topics to Focus on in 2026
Moving on, Heidt opens the floor to the board members to see if they have any
suggestions for topics that they would like to discuss for the upcoming year. Roesslet
reports that there is nothing really coming up that she feels that the Board of Health
would want to weight in on to give a recommendation to council. She also adds that could
change at any moment so there could be something down the line, later in the year that
could be brought up to discuss.
Feirman brings up vaccine requirements for schools and daycares, stating that may be
one of the things that they would like to discuss. This brings Roesslet to the State of the
State Address that the Governor will be giving next week, she doesn't know what the
recommendations are going to look like, but states that Missouri still has vaccination
mandates. Roesslet tells how nothing has really changed with vaccination in the Health
Department, that they still provide all the vaccines that are recommended by the
American Academy of Pediatrics. And that nothing has changed as of right now with
school vaccination requirements. Feirman mentions that if the State does change the
requirements for vaccinations that may be a topic the Board of Health would want to
discuss.
Roesslet asks the board if there are any topics that they would want the PHHS staff to
present on, and departments that they would want more information on. The board does
not mention any at that time. Geiser did mention what the board had previously talked
about, having someone from legal come and present to them. Roesslet said that if legal
is available they will plan for that for the February meeting.
Day asks if City Council voted on the 24 hour sale of alcohol at the 2026 FIFA World
Cup. Roesslet tells how the Substance Use Prevention Advisory Commission submitted
a letter to council to opt-out, there legislation in on the next City Council agenda to need
a special permit process, that council meeting is January 20th, 2026.
They decide that at the next meeting, if they are available legal will come to present, and
that will be their next step. They will see what kinds of topics they want to discuss based
on the information provided from the February meeting.
Simelus at this time takes a moment to mention Compass Health's - Mental Health First
Aid Training, if there is anyone they know that is interested.
VI. REPORTS
Director's Report - Rebecca Roesslet
Roesslet starts the report stating that they have already discussed the vaccinations.
Going on to the number of Flu cases that are rising across the country and it is not any
different here for us locally. Mentioning that they haven't had any reported deaths from the
Flu. Hep B vaccination guidance advisory committee on immunizations practice has
shifted from a universal newborn Hep B vaccination recommendation to an individual
based decision making for infants born to mothers who test negative for the virus. She
also mentions that the U.S. faces the possibility of losing it measles free status. There
are new dietary guidelines that could have an impact on WIC and SNAP benefits
Rose brings up that there have not been any food safety or food handlers issues, and
Roesslet confirms that we have not had a large scale food borne illness outbreak. This is
something that could be presented by PHHS staff at a future meeting. That is all that
Roesslet has for the Director's report.
