* Press release…

The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) today reported 15,131 new confirmed and probable cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Illinois, including 183 additional deaths since reporting last Friday, October 15, 2021. Of Illinois’ total population, more than 69% has received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose and 54% of Illinois’ total population is fully vaccinated.

Currently, IDPH is reporting a total of 1,680,908 cases, including 25,590 deaths, in 102 counties in Illinois. The age of cases ranges from younger than one to older than 100 years. Since reporting on Friday, October 15, 2021, laboratories have reported 773,791 specimens for a total of 34,492,598. As of last night, 1,277 individuals in Illinois were reported to be in the hospital with COVID-19. Of those, 323 patients were in the ICU and 152 patients with COVID-19 were on ventilators.

The preliminary seven-day statewide positivity for cases as a percent of total test from October 15-21, 2021 is 2.0%. The preliminary seven-day statewide test positivity from October 15-21, 2021 is 2.2%.

A total of 15,203,716 vaccines have been administered in Illinois as of last midnight. The seven-day rolling average of vaccines administered daily is 29,950 doses. Since reporting on Friday, October 15, 2021, 209,651 doses were reported administered in Illinois.

IDPH also aligns with the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices’ (ACIP) recommendation for a booster shot of COVID-19 vaccines in certain populations. The Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) and CDC’s recommendation for use are important steps forward as we work to stay ahead of the virus and keep Illinoisans safe.

For individuals who received a Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, the following groups are eligible for a booster shot at 6 months or more after their initial series:

• 65 years and older
• Age 18+ who live in long-term care settings
• Age 18+ who have underlying medical conditions
• Age 18+ who work or live in high-risk settings

For the nearly 15 million people who got the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine, booster shots are also recommended for those who are 18 and older and who were vaccinated two or more months ago.

Vaccination is the key to ending this pandemic. To find a COVID-19 vaccination and booster location near you, go to www.vaccines.gov.

*All data are provisional and will change. Additional information and COVID-19 data can be found at http://www.dph.illinois.gov/covid19.

* Jake Griffin on the numbers…

That’s the first time hospitalizations from the respiratory disease have dropped below 1,300 since Aug. 7, according to Illinois Department of Public Health records.

* Drop in the bucket…

But about 440 workers at Advocate Aurora Health in Illinois and Wisconsin “have parted ways” with the system because they weren’t vaccinated by Advocate’s Friday deadline and they didn’t have approved medical or religious exemptions, spokesman Mike Riopell said. Many of those individuals were not full-time employees. Overall, about 99% of the system’s 75,000 employees are vaccinated or have approved exemptions, or are in the process of doing so.

Nearly 100 of Rush University Medical Center workers stand to have their employment terminated because they didn’t get vaccinated or get approved exemptions, said Courtney Kammer, chief human resources officer at Rush. Overall, about 98% of Rush’s workers are vaccinated.

At Southern Illinois Healthcare, about 220 people are no longer employed because they refused to roll up their sleeves, said spokeswoman Rosslind Rice, though the vast majority of employees got vaccinated. The deadline to have started the vaccination process at Southern Illinois Healthcare was Sept. 24. […]

Southern Illinois Healthcare expects to be able to replace the departed workers with new ones quickly, Rice said. The system has been receiving a record number of job applications and has welcomed many new employees in recent weeks, she said. […]

Esperanza Health Centers is losing only two of its 311 employees because of its requirement that all of its workers get vaccinated by Oct. 13. Esperanza’s mandate was even tougher than that of many Chicago-area hospitals because Esperanza didn’t allow for religious exemptions, and is allowing medical exemptions only temporarily, such as while a person is undergoing medical treatment, said Dan Fulwiler, president and CEO of Esperanza.

* More…

* CDC gives go-ahead to J&J, Moderna and mix-and-match COVID boosters, beginning as soon as Friday

* No One Will Stop You From Getting Whatever Booster You Want

* What are the next steps toward vaccinating younger children?

* Illinois school districts plan COVID-19 clinics as they await arrival of Pfizer vaccine for kids 5 to 11

* Chicago vaccine mandate update: 130 firefighters, other city workers sue over vax requirement

* 12 tips for easing anxiety for kids getting vaccination shot

* A High-Risk Group With a Tragically Low Vaccination Rate: Only about 25 percent of expectant mothers have gotten a COVID-19 shot during their pregnancy. Worried for their baby’s health, many have opted for what feels safe, rather than what is safe.

* Maintenance workers at Shapiro now required to vaccinate