CHICAGO, Ill. – Following the CDC’s recommendation this week of the new bivalent boosters for children five and older, Illinois Department of Public Health Director Dr. Sameer Vohra is recommending parents and guardians get children vaccinated to avoid the most severe effects of COVID-19.
Vohra is also reminding parents that with flu season underway, they should also take action to protect their children from the risk of serious illness by getting the COVID-19 and flu vaccines. Children can receive both these vaccinations at the same time.
The push to protect children comes as the CDC released data showing that 16 counties in Illinois are rated at Medium Community Level for COVID-19. IDPH is reporting 10,416 new confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 in Illinois, including 52 deaths since October 7.
“We’re seeing a real serious problem with the upper respiratory illnesses with cases across the country, and throughout Illinois. And, we’re starting to see a shortage of pediatric hospital beds, IDPH Spokesperson Mike Claffey says.
More than 890,000 Illinoisans have received a dose of the new, bivalent COVID-19 vaccines since they were approved for use in early September, including almost 190,000 doses in the last week.
Daily vaccination numbers are at the highest level seen since early February, during the major surge in illnesses caused by the Omicron variant.
IDPH reported that over the last week, an average of more than 27,000 doses of the new bivalent vaccines were administered across the state each day. This is more than double the daily average for all vaccinations for most of the summer.
Among the total eligible Illinois population of those 12 and older (until the approval this week for those 5 and older), 10.5 percent have received the new booster. The rate is higher among those 65 and older, at 19.8 percent of the eligible Illinois population.
The updated boosters are available at pharmacies, hospitals, and other healthcare providers.
For more information from the Illinois Department of Public Health, click HERE.
