Indiana State Health Commissioner Dr. Kristina Box and Marion County Public Health Department Director Dr. Virginia Caine were honored with resolutions passed during the 2021 legislative session that recognized their work during the COVID-19 pandemic.
State Rep. John Bartlett presented the resolutions to two of the most visible health authorities in Indiana during an event May 7 at HIM by HER Collegiate School for the Arts.
Bartlett, a member of the Indiana Black Legislative Caucus, called Box and Caine superstars.
“I truly believe they saved a bunch of lives,” he said.
(Read Box’s resolution here and Caine’s resolution here.)
In a speech after she received the framed resolution, Box talked about the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on Black people and said anyone who gets a vaccine should share their story to encourage others to do the same.
“I just don’t want to lose any more people to this disease,” she said.
Caine joked about how often she’s talked with Box throughout the pandemic. Indiana’s statewide health guidelines left room for local governments to be more stringent, and Marion County has taken advantage of that.
“My goodness,” she said with a laugh, “I must talk to her two or three times a day.”
Contact staff writer Tyler Fenwick at 317-762-7853. Follow him on Twitter @Ty_Fenwick.
