Illinois Health Officials Rally Residents to Outsmart Wintertime Illnesses Amid Holiday Celebrations

As the holiday swings into full gear, health authorities in the Land of Lincoln are sounding the alarm about a spate of wintertime bugs, with the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) pushing folks to keep their guard up against respiratory illnesses that are bedeviling the state. With flu season colliding with COVID-19 and RSV, IDPH is on a mission to get the word out: keep the vulnerable in mind as you deck the halls and spread joy, not germs.

The latest sitrep from IDPH, which threw a spotlight on the issue, shows a mixed bag: hospital admissions for COVID-19 are down slightly - a hairsbreadth less than 1 percent - but with 48 counties still wrestling with elevated hospitalization levels and 10 at a high level, the battle is far from over. IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra got into the holiday spirit, albeit with a public health twist, saying, "As we celebrate this joyous time of year with our loved ones, it is important to know your personal risk factors for severe health outcomes and learn how to protect those around you, especially those most vulnerable to severe disease," in a statement obtained by the IDPH.

As the sneezy season tightens its grip, IDPH's gone proactive, launching 'Tis the Sneezin’ - their campaign tailor-made to remind Illinoisans to roll up their sleeves for a flu shot, which is now available to everyone, egg allergy or not, and COVID-19 vaccines, including updated shots that can tackle the newest variants doing the rounds. RSV shots are now in the mix for those over 60 and pregnant folk, with the older and risk-prone group advised to have a chat with their health providers to find the best shot for their arm.

The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) has recently launched a novel Infectious Respiratory Disease Surveillance Dashboard, which provides weekly updated data on hospital visits and lab test positivity rates. This valuable resource is helpful for individuals seeking the latest information on the prevalence and spread of these infectious diseases. Furthermore, the federal government is also playing an active role in mitigating the impact of these diseases by providing households nationwide with four free at-home tests. Interested individuals can obtain these tests by visiting the COVID.gov website. For uninsured and underinsured patients, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offers the Bridge Access Program, which covers the costs of the COVID-19 vaccine. Lastly, telehealth services are available free of cost in Illinois through the SIU School of Medicine, and individuals can also avail themselves of the NIH Test to Treat line for free medical support in case of any concerns.