With 90 counties in the state at an elevated level for COVID-19, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) is urging all who are eligible to take advantage of the new bivalent booster shots that have been authorized by the CDC. IDPH is reporting 26,127 new confirmed and probable cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Illinois, including 70 deaths since August 26, 2022.
“Once the updated booster shots become available next week, I urge everyone in Illinois who is eligible to take advantage of the opportunity to get fully protected before we enter the fall season,” said IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra. “These new bivalent vaccines are designed to offer extra protection against the omicron variants which are now the dominant strain of the virus. Getting up to date now is especially important for those who are at risk of serious outcomes as the updated vaccines offer protection from hospitalization and even death.”
This week, the FDA granted emergency use authorization for two new bivalent booster vaccines that include an mRNA component of the original strain to provide an immune response that is broadly protective against COVID-19 and an added mRNA component in common between the omicron variant BA.4 and BA.5 lineages to provide better protection against COVID-19 caused by the omicron variant.
The Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent, is authorized for use as a single booster dose in individuals 18 years of age and older. The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent, is authorized for use as a single booster dose in individuals 12 years of age and older.
IDPH expects to receive 580,000 doses of the new bivalent vaccines for distribution in the next week. This is in addition to 150,000 doses designated for the City of Chicago. The updated boosters will be available at pharmacies, hospitals, and other healthcare providers. The best way to locate a vaccine provider near you is to go to www.vaccines.gov and search for bivalent booster availability.
According to the CDC, 30 Illinois counties are now rated at High Community Level for COVID-19. An additional 60 counties in Illinois are now rated at Medium Community Level.
Currently, IDPH is reporting a total of 3,696,385 cases, including 34,747 deaths, in 102 counties in Illinois since the beginning of the pandemic.
As of last night, 1,263 individuals in Illinois were reported to be in the hospital with COVID-19. Of those, 154 patients were in the ICU and 46 patients with COVID-19 were on ventilators. The preliminary seven-day statewide case rate is 205 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 Illinoisans.
The counties in Illinois listed at High Community Level are Adams, Champaign, Clark, Coles, Crawford, Douglas, Edgar, Ford, Franklin, Fulton, Grundy, Jackson, Jefferson, Johnson, Knox, Lawrence, Lee, Macon, Massac, Perry, Pike, Shelby, Stephenson, Vermilion, Wabash, Wayne, Whiteside, Will, Williamson, and Winnebago.
- Steve Polite - Friday, Sep 2, 22 @ 1:29 pm:
Yes.
- thunderspirit - Friday, Sep 2, 22 @ 1:31 pm:
Yep.
Vaccination is all about probabilities: giving your body the best chance to fight something off. If something improves those odds, math suggests it’s sensible to consider it.
- Stix Hix - Friday, Sep 2, 22 @ 1:34 pm:
Yes.
- Bourbon Street - Friday, Sep 2, 22 @ 1:35 pm:
Yep. As soon as possible.
- Steve Rogers - Friday, Sep 2, 22 @ 1:40 pm:
Of course. No brainer. If it keeps me from getting sick or lessens the severity of symptoms if I do get the virus, then why would I not get the booster?
Same answer for flu shot.
- Norseman - Friday, Sep 2, 22 @ 1:42 pm:
Yes.
I’m not going to be first in line because I want to avoid any possible reactions interfering with an upcoming minor procedure, but I’m going to get whatever is recommended.
P.S. I’m also going to get the seasonal flu shot.
- Live Wire - Friday, Sep 2, 22 @ 1:44 pm:
Yes
- don the legend - Friday, Sep 2, 22 @ 1:45 pm:
Yes. Why stop now.
- very old soil - Friday, Sep 2, 22 @ 1:46 pm:
Yes, definitely
- Amalia - Friday, Sep 2, 22 @ 1:49 pm:
Hell yes. to quote the Hawk, don’t stop now boys.
- Langhorne - Friday, Sep 2, 22 @ 1:49 pm:
Yes. I have a suite of underlying conditions.
- JS Mill - Friday, Sep 2, 22 @ 1:55 pm:
Yep
- JoanP - Friday, Sep 2, 22 @ 1:56 pm:
Darn tootin’ [banned punctuation]
- H-W - Friday, Sep 2, 22 @ 1:58 pm:
Yes. Also, I noticed that Adams County is in the “high” category. That has been a consistent theme over here in West Central Illinois. I wonder why some counties remain outliers. Fulton County, for example, wavers between high and low (small population, no doubt). But Adams seems more a matter of choice.
- wildcat12 - Friday, Sep 2, 22 @ 1:58 pm:
Heck yes. I feel lucky to have gotten out of my bout with COVID with no long-term complications. I don’t want to roll the dice again.
- Bolingbrook party of 7 - Friday, Sep 2, 22 @ 1:59 pm:
The question is, should the state still be in a Covid state of emergency? When does this end?
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Sep 2, 22 @ 2:01 pm:
===When does this end?===
What are you prevented from now?
To the QOTD?
Yep. Yes. Absolutely.
- Pot calling kettle - Friday, Sep 2, 22 @ 2:03 pm:
Yes. We’ve had a few encounters with COVID, but nothing serious because we are all fully vaxxed. Grateful for the vax and confused and saddened by those who reject it. (Lost a few unvaxxed friends)
- clec dcn - Friday, Sep 2, 22 @ 2:03 pm:
No need more data and information at this point. In the past I have but this time I am waiting to see. Will need to see what the medical professionals in my family say.
- Cook Street - Friday, Sep 2, 22 @ 2:08 pm:
YES.
- jackmac - Friday, Sep 2, 22 @ 2:14 pm:
Absolutely (if they’ll let me). I’m 60-plus, already have two vaccinations and two boosters. If I’m eligible for the new one, I’ll get it as soon as possible.
- Highland IL - Friday, Sep 2, 22 @ 2:14 pm:
Yes, I was waiting for this to be approved.
- Homebody - Friday, Sep 2, 22 @ 2:15 pm:
Probably.
Historically I’ve never bothered with flu shots, but at this point the personal cost to me is very low, and given I spend a lot of time in crowded places with other people (whether public transit, bars, etc) I’d rather get a jab and do my part than risk being complicit in future flare ups.
Ounce of prevention, and all that.
- Big Dipper - Friday, Sep 2, 22 @ 2:15 pm:
Yes ASAP.
- Cool Papa Bell - Friday, Sep 2, 22 @ 2:17 pm:
Yes for me, my wife and for our teenage boys.
- Roadiepig - Friday, Sep 2, 22 @ 2:18 pm:
Yes but not for a couple months- just getting over a nasty bout with Omicron, so our doctor recommended we wait since we should have some decent immunity for about 90 days. Second does of Shingles vaccine and a flu shot are next for us
- West Sider - Friday, Sep 2, 22 @ 2:19 pm:
Yup. Got the second booster at the beginning of August so, per Dr. Arwady, I will space them by 2 months, and get the new one in early October.
- DuPage Moderate - Friday, Sep 2, 22 @ 2:19 pm:
No. Have had three shots and Covid three times without much inconvenience. No need for a fourth shot.
- cermak_rd - Friday, Sep 2, 22 @ 2:27 pm:
Absolutely, to my knowledge I have not had COVID yet (if I did it was a danged light case) and I will get the new vaccine as well as a flu shot and maybe a pneumonia shot as well, since I’m aging.
- TheInvisibleMan - Friday, Sep 2, 22 @ 2:29 pm:
Yes. I’ll probably get it along with the flu shot when that comes around.
- Ron Burgundy - Friday, Sep 2, 22 @ 2:33 pm:
Yes, once I see what the guidance is for time since last shot and how long this is supposed to last.
- MisterJayEm - Friday, Sep 2, 22 @ 2:39 pm:
“Are you planning to get the new bivalent booster shot?”
Yes, and as soon as humanly possible.
– MrJM
- Give Us Barabbas - Friday, Sep 2, 22 @ 2:44 pm:
I’ll get it even if it comes in Pumpkin Spice only. I hope they are free for a long time.
- illini - Friday, Sep 2, 22 @ 2:44 pm:
Absolutely and as soon as possible.
- Red Ketcher - Friday, Sep 2, 22 @ 2:45 pm:
Yes
But just called my County Health Dept and person handling call was clueless and told me it wasn’t approved. I read the IDPH director quotes above which say it is approved and urges us to get it. And said I’d call back Tues
- Retired SURS Emoloyee - Friday, Sep 2, 22 @ 2:50 pm:
Absolutely, as soon as they are available. I am immunocompromised and have had all prior shots and boosters. I suspect that we will need booster shots every year, just like flu shots which, by the way, I will also get later this month or early next month, at the latest.
- New Day - Friday, Sep 2, 22 @ 2:59 pm:
When I’m eligible in October, you betcha.
- KBS - Friday, Sep 2, 22 @ 3:12 pm:
Yes, absolutely! And the flu shot too.
- a drop in - Friday, Sep 2, 22 @ 3:15 pm:
Yes.
- /s - Friday, Sep 2, 22 @ 3:51 pm:
Absolutely yes. I got my original booster in October 2021. I didn’t fall in the categories recommended for the second booster so decided to do the right thing and wait until they expanded eligibility. Got COVID this summer (almost certainly the B5 variant) and was sicker than the one year I didn’t get my flu shot and ended up getting the flu. 3 months post-infection (as is the recommendation) will put me almost at a year post-booster, so it would be time to top off anyway (in my non-medical opinion).
- Kevin Lampe - Friday, Sep 2, 22 @ 4:05 pm:
Yes - No nickname today
- I had a mild case of covid last month. My Doctor said without my vaccines and boosters; it could have been much, much worse for me (too many health risks on my chart)
- Paris2 - Friday, Sep 2, 22 @ 4:23 pm:
Yes
- DuPage - Friday, Sep 2, 22 @ 4:37 pm:
Yes