Health
10% of Chicago Residents Have Received Updated COVID-19 Vaccine: City Health Department
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About 10% of Chicagoans have received the updated COVID-19 vaccine while about 20% of residents have received the annual flu vaccine, according to the latest numbers from the Chicago Department of Public Health.
City public health officials are encouraging residents who have not yet received vaccinations to get vaccinated as soon as possible so they can get some protection ahead of holiday gatherings.
“We’re already starting to see some numbers like ED (emergency department) visits and test positivity rates starting to increase and usually by early January, those are really starting to surge up,” said Dr. Alexander Sloboda, medical director of immunization and emergency preparedness at CDPH.
About 289,300 Chicagoans, or 10.5%, have received the latest COVID-19 vaccine, while 601,200 Chicagoans, or 21.9% of residents, are up to date on the flu vaccine, according to the latest CDPH data as of Dec. 7.
Although vaccine rates for flu are typically between 20-25% during this time of year, vaccine rates for flu and COVID-19 are both slightly lower compared to last year, according to Sloboda, who noted that COVID-19 vaccine uptake tends to be lower than the flu vaccine.
Fewer people getting the updated COVID-19 vaccine can be attributed to the vaccine no longer being free after the federal government stopped purchasing COVID-19 vaccines last fall and the end of the federal Bridge Access Program this summer, which provided free vaccines to uninsured and underinsured adults, according to Sloboda.
Private insurance has since become one of the main avenues for people to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, which can be a barrier preventing people from getting vaccinated, according to Sloboda. Other barriers include misinformation, COVID-19 fatigue and the need for more education outreach about the updated vaccine.
“We just want people to be safe and protected against these viral respiratory illnesses so that they can enjoy their lives, their work, their holidays and not have to worry about getting sick and missing out or getting relatives or friends sick,” Sloboda said.
High-risk age groups like older adults and children under 5 are seeing higher rates of vaccination against the flu, and older adults also have higher rates of vaccination for COVID-19 compared to the rest of the population, according to Sloboda.
Older adults ages 60 and over, children under 5, people with chronic conditions and people who are immunocompromised are most at risk of severe illness from COVID-19 or the flu, according to Sloboda.
But young adults can still be at risk of severe illness.
Where to Find COVID-19 and Flu Vaccines
People with private health insurance or with Medicaid or Medicare coverage are encouraged to visit an in-network pharmacy or doctor’s office to get their updated shots.
Private insurance, Medicaid and Medicare will likely cover the cost of vaccination as long as you go to an in-network provider or pharmacy. If you’re unsure about which providers are in network, call your health insurance company beforehand to avoid out-of-network charges.
Those without health insurance can receive no-cost vaccines from one of three CDPH immunization clinics (Uptown, Greater Lawn or Pilsen South Ashland) regardless of immigration status. You can also get vaccinated at CDPH-sponsored vaccination events. Upcoming events can be found on CDPH’s vaccine clinics calendar.
Contact Eunice Alpasan: @eunicealpasan | 773-509-5362 | [email protected]
