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Illinois health leaders are pleading with parents to get their children vaccinated against the flu, which is increasingly spreading in the Chicago area and threatening to further stretch already-strained children’s hospitals.

“We expect the number of children needing care for these viruses to increase significantly over the next several weeks,” said Dr. Larry Kociolek, medical director of infection, prevention and control at Lurie Children’s, referring to respiratory illnesses and the flu at a news conference Thursday. “This raises concerns for us. This raises concerns for parents. … But there’s hope. We can prevent many of these infections.”

Children’s hospitals in the Chicago area and across the country have already been packed for months, thanks to earlier-than-usual surges of RSV, which stands for respiratory syncytial virus, and other respiratory illnesses. Those surges have led to longer ER waits, occasionally delayed surgeries and difficulty transferring pediatric patients between hospitals.

Only about 9% of pediatric intensive care unit beds in Illinois were available as of Thursday morning, and earlier this week, that figure was as low as 4%, said Dr. Sameer Vohra, director of the Illinois Department of Public Health.

* ABC 7 Chicago…

Illinois Department of Public Health officials said not enough kids are getting flu shots this year, despite an early and widespread season.

IDPH said participation for kids under 5 dropped during the last two flu seasons amid the COVID pandemic.

“So far, we are seeing similar, not improved rates of Chicago children getting the flu vaccine this year compared to years prior,” said Chicago Department of Public Health Chief Medical Officer Dr. Jennifer Seo.

“You may not understand the risk your child has until you are in the ICU watching your child on a ventilator or planning a funeral for your child and thinking about things you could have done to prevent it,” said Dr. Larry Kociolek, Lurie Children’s Hospital Infectious Diseases medical director.

* The Center Square…

An Illinois public health official is warning of a surge in flu cases this winter.

Chicago Public Health Commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady said the flu picture has dramatically changed in the past week. She said the southeastern part of the country is getting hit and Illinois is not far behind.

Arwady advises to get a flu shot as soon as possible because it takes some time for the protection to kick in and she is concerned that it will spread as families gather for Thanksgiving.

* NBC 5…

Health officials across the Chicago area are urging people to get vaccinated ahead of the colder weather, especially with cases of RSV and the flu rising.

“This ‘tripledemic’… what we’re calling it right now involves three viruses,” explained Dr. Geraldine Luna, medical director for the Chicago Department of Public Health.

Respiratory viruses such as the flu, RSV and COVID-19 are “spreading rapidly” across Illinois, the state’s Department of Public Health said earlier this week.

The question: Have you had or do you plan to get a flu shot this year? Explain.

posted by Isabel Miller
Friday, Nov 18, 22 @ 1:04 pm

Comments

Got my flu shot with my covid booster before veto session started. Walgreens. Easy peasy.

Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Nov 18, 22 @ 1:04 pm
…I’ve never tested positive for covid, but I did catch influezna once and, whew, was I ever sick. So now I never miss my shot.

Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Nov 18, 22 @ 1:05 pm
My wife and I got our flu shots late last month, about two weeks after our last Covid boosters.

Comment by Retired SURS Employee Friday, Nov 18, 22 @ 1:08 pm
Got my flu shot and covid shot at the same time. I’ve had covid and my symptoms were mild. Same with the flu in the past with a vaccine. Mild symptoms. Get the shot.

Comment by Demoralized Friday, Nov 18, 22 @ 1:08 pm
Got a flu shot with a Covid booster.

Super easy.

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Nov 18, 22 @ 1:09 pm
Got mine early October at one of the state employee flu shot clinics.

Also got my 5th overall COVID vax (bievalent booster) in late September.

Hoping the RSV vaccine is introduced soon.

Comment by Stuck in Celliniland Friday, Nov 18, 22 @ 1:09 pm
Got the flu shot and COVID booster back in early October. Happy we have these available; the whole fam had their shots by mid October.

Comment by Pot calling kettle Friday, Nov 18, 22 @ 1:11 pm
Got the bivalent booster, the flu shot, and the first shingles shot.

Comment by Big Dipper Friday, Nov 18, 22 @ 1:13 pm
Got my Flu shot, shingles vaccine, and tetanus shot in September.

Comment by Club J Friday, Nov 18, 22 @ 1:15 pm
I have a 3:00pm appointment today for a flu shot in one arm and a COVID booster in the other.

Comment by 47th Ward Friday, Nov 18, 22 @ 1:16 pm
Yep, got flu, Pneumonia, and covid booster shots last week

Comment by Bruce( no not him) Friday, Nov 18, 22 @ 1:17 pm
Got both my COVID booster and my flu booster in early October. Prior to the pandemic, I had not thought much about flu but since I was not ill much while masking and staying home, I discovered I like that now I try to avoid illness however I can.

Comment by cermak_rd Friday, Nov 18, 22 @ 1:19 pm
My little one got RSV last week. Wasn’t fun but is fine now. Got my flu shot with my booster at Walgreens as others on here have done. Family is all caught up on vaccines for the moment.

Comment by DHS Drone Friday, Nov 18, 22 @ 1:32 pm
Got flu shot in September, wife and kids also got theirs (kids got the mist for what its worth)

Comment by Unionman Friday, Nov 18, 22 @ 1:33 pm
Got my flu shot today. Covid booster in 2 months–got covid in early October.

Comment by Pius Friday, Nov 18, 22 @ 1:34 pm
Covid shot beginning of Oct., the double-strength quad valent flu shot end of Oct. Advised to still be cautious.

Comment by DuPage Friday, Nov 18, 22 @ 1:38 pm
Had a flu shot and COVID booster this month.

Comment by Just a Citizen Friday, Nov 18, 22 @ 1:40 pm
No, I stopped bothering to get them with each yearly report on how effective or hit or miss each shot was against the strain we actually got going around the country.

Comment by CT Guy Friday, Nov 18, 22 @ 1:40 pm
We both received flu shot and bivariant booster.
Wish they would get going with doing nasal test like other countries so we can develop nasal spray and oral that would stop covid at its entry points.

Comment by Vaccinated Friday, Nov 18, 22 @ 1:41 pm
Flu shot and COVID shot #5 in October.

Comment by Stormsw7706 Friday, Nov 18, 22 @ 1:42 pm
I, my wife and 4 kids went through Carle drive-thru a few weeks ago. You may have heard some of the kids screams all the way over in Springfield

Hoping they formulated for whatever strain(s) are going around this year

Comment by SalukinCU Friday, Nov 18, 22 @ 1:45 pm
Flu shot and booster. If you’re getting one, get ‘em both. Hyrdrating and keep the shoulder mobile after definitely helps.

Comment by In 630 Friday, Nov 18, 22 @ 1:51 pm
I got the updated COVID booster in late September and the high-dose flu shot in late October.

Comment by Wensicia Friday, Nov 18, 22 @ 1:53 pm
Got the flu shot early last month, plan to get my next booster tomorrow. And still wearing a mask indoors.

Comment by Loyal Virus Friday, Nov 18, 22 @ 1:56 pm
“Have you had or do you plan to get a flu shot this year?”

Flu shot and latest booster at the end of September.

– MrJM

Comment by MisterJayEm Friday, Nov 18, 22 @ 1:59 pm
Got the flu shot AND the flu. It was not fun, but I am sure it would have been worse were I not vaccinated.

Comment by Montrose Friday, Nov 18, 22 @ 2:05 pm
Ever since I officially became an old man I have taken many precautions that I previously ignored. I got both the Covid booster and the flu shot last month. Previously I got the shingles shot after I saw how painful that can be. Next month I will get my second pneumonia shot. I hope I have everything covered.

Comment by illini Friday, Nov 18, 22 @ 2:05 pm
Already got it and also got the latest Covid-19 booster shot.

Comment by Louis G Atsaves Friday, Nov 18, 22 @ 2:09 pm
Like others here, got my flu shot with my COVID booster. I’m looking forward to the COVID booster being bundled together with the annual flu vaccine, which I believe is under devleopment.

Comment by Benjamin Friday, Nov 18, 22 @ 2:09 pm
Yes, got the Omicron booster and flu shot at the same time. Very convenient.

Comment by Grandson of Man Friday, Nov 18, 22 @ 2:09 pm
I got the Covid booster a month ago and the flu shot a week ago. Got the first shot of the 2 dose shingles shot at the same time I got the flu shot.

Comment by Facts Matter Friday, Nov 18, 22 @ 2:12 pm
Got the Covid booster and flu shot at the same time a couple weeks ago.

C’mon parents. If you love your kids, get them vaccinated. Trust your doctor instead of right wing crankshafts.

Comment by Streator Curmudgeon Friday, Nov 18, 22 @ 2:15 pm
Got the flu shot with a Covid booster.

Comment by Norseman Friday, Nov 18, 22 @ 2:26 pm
Got my flu/COVID/Tdap shots all in one sitting in early September. Knocked me out pretty hard the next day, but worth it.

Comment by Treefiddy Friday, Nov 18, 22 @ 2:34 pm
Got mine back at the end of September along with the Omicron-focused COVID-19 booster.

Comment by thunderspirit Friday, Nov 18, 22 @ 2:34 pm
I got both at the same time, as soon as the bi-valent COVID shot became available. Except for a sore arm (not sure which vaccine produced the pain), it was a very simple process.

I want to remind us all that some people do not have the access and means to easily get shots. I feel sorry for those who struggle to just get by day to day.

And of course, there is always some (small) number for whom the vaccination itself is risky.

But for those who can get vaccines but choose not to do so, I think less of them ever since the COVID epidemic.

Comment by H-W Friday, Nov 18, 22 @ 2:58 pm
Got the flu shot and COVID booster at the same time at my local Walgreens.
I’d do it anyway to be safe, but I had a lung transplant last year and I’m under doctor’s orders to be up to date on vaccinations.

Comment by Curious citizen Friday, Nov 18, 22 @ 3:20 pm
I got my flu and bivalent COVID booster one the same day when my work had a vaccine clinic on site. The timing worked out perfect since it was almost exactly 3 months after I got my first COVID infection. I had a tiny bit of arm soreness but nothing more than that.

Comment by Aaron B Friday, Nov 18, 22 @ 3:26 pm
Nope, never have.

Trying to get over COVID as we speak. Boosted to the max. Feeling very worn down and this thing just lingers….

Comment by JDuc Friday, Nov 18, 22 @ 3:41 pm
Nope, never have.

Trying to get over COVID as we speak. Boosted to the max. Feeling very worn down and this thing just lingers….

Comment by JDuc Friday, Nov 18, 22 @ 3:41 pm
I got a flu shot and my third COVID booster last month. I wanted time for my immunity to improve in time for the holidays. I became a consistent flu shot patient while teaching in the public schools. They do help except those times the vaccine (which is determined months ahead in order to produce a supply) was formulated too early to include what became the prevalent virus into the formula.

Comment by Nearly Normal Friday, Nov 18, 22 @ 3:43 pm
I got my flu shot along with my bivalent COVID booster on Monday morning. I got pretty tired by the evening, and went to bed early, but, other than the usual sore arm, I was fine the next day.

I always get a flu shot, because I’m not stupid. Same for the COVID boosters.

Comment by JoanP Friday, Nov 18, 22 @ 3:45 pm
Never got the flu shot until 2 years ago but it’s part of annual routine now

Comment by Etown Friday, Nov 18, 22 @ 3:49 pm
Have both flu and bivalent booster but am back to wearing a mask again. Think I picked up RSV somewhere and am feeling the effects.

Comment by Rudy’s teeth Friday, Nov 18, 22 @ 4:10 pm