Kane County health officials are recommending that residents get vaccinated against various respiratory viruses for the fall and winter months.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ranks Illinois as having high COVID-19 activity, with low but increasing levels of influenza and respiratory syncytial virus, according to a Sept. 19 news release from the Kane County Health Department. He said it was expected.
Officials said in a statement that thousands of people die and hundreds of thousands are hospitalized from these illnesses in the U.S. during each fall and winter virus season.
County health officials said in a release that residents should stay up to date on vaccines, wash their hands regularly, stay home when sick, improve indoor airflow, wear masks and He said you can protect yourself and others from these viruses by physically distancing yourself from others.
The latest coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccines and the new annual influenza vaccine are now available, and the RSV vaccine is also available for certain target groups, the release states.
Kane County Health Department Executive Director Michael Isaacson said in a release that vaccination is “the best way to reduce the spread of infection.”
“While these illnesses are mild for some people, they pose serious risks to older adults, young children and people with underlying health conditions,” Isaacson said in the release. “Vaccines are proven to be safe and effective, and we encourage you to discuss your best options with your health care provider.”
Vaccinations will be provided at community health centers and Medicare or Medicaid will also be accepted, according to the release. These centers also offer a sliding fee scale for low-income households, the release states.
Officials said in a release that the Kane County Health Department is also offering vaccines for children up to 18 years old. For eligibility, reservations and referrals, residents can call 630-264-7665.
Isaacson told the Beacon News that the county health department has not yet seen a sudden increase in coronavirus cases at local hospitals.
However, Isaacson said labs that conducted COVID-19 tests no longer have to submit individual results to the county health department. He said those labs are still reporting to the CDC.
Despite the low number of hospitalizations, Isaacson said he personally knows “far more” people who have recently contracted COVID-19.
“Many of those people are saying this is absolutely tragic and worse than other incidents they’ve had,” he said. “They said you don’t necessarily need to be hospitalized, you just feel miserable and completely devastated. But that’s anecdotal.”
Isaacson said the county will soon begin receiving data from school districts within the county on how many students in their districts are absent due to influenza or flu-like symptoms.
Last year, schools began reporting data to the health department in the first week of October, according to the health department’s webpage dedicated to influenza tracking.
rsmith@chicagotribune.com
