Health officials are encouraging Chicago-area residents to get the new COVID-19 booster
Dr. LaMar Hasbrouck says residents need to battle pandemic fatigue and “boost up,” even if they are feeling “boosted out.”
Amid a local and national increase in COVID-19 cases, health officials are urging Chicagoans to “boost up” ahead of the rollout of a new vaccine tailored to tackle the dominant strains of the Omicron variant.
“People are asking why should I get this new COVID-19 vaccine,” said Dr. Stephanie Black, an infectious disease expert at Rush University who works with the Chicago Department of Public Health.
Black’s answer is blunt: “Vaccines have prevented doctor’s visits, hospitalizations and [many] deaths … and can protect individuals from developing long COVID.”
Health experts also say protection from the old vaccine gradually wears off, making it less effective against new strains of the virus.
Though COVID-19 hospitalization rates in Chicago are far from where they were at the height of the pandemic, health officials say the virus still poses a threat to all age groups, especially infants, those 65 years and older and those with underlying medical conditions.
The new COVID-19 vaccine will be available in Chicago within the next two weeks, and health officials say it will be distributed through several major pharmacies throughout the city that will provide vaccines to people with or without insurance. The Chicago Department of Public Health will also set up three vaccine clinics on the North, West and South sides of the city, as well as pop-up vaccine clinics at several City Colleges of Chicago.
Cook County officials will set up clinics in several high-priority communities throughout the south and southwest suburbs that were considered as high-risk areas early in the pandemic.
Health officials say they expect cases of COVID-19, the flu and common respiratory viruses like RSV to rise in the coming months as the weather gets colder and people spend more time indoors. But they do not expect the likes of last winter’s tripledemic, said Dr. LaMar Hasbrouck, Cook County Department of Public Health’s chief operating officer, partly because the public has learned how to navigate similar public health emergencies.
“We have great muscle memory from last year in terms of the things we need to do such as physical distancing and wearing masks,” Hasbrouck said. “So if things start ticking up, I think that people can revert back to some of those safety precautions that we’ve all learned.”
But the great muscle memory also comes with some serious COVID fatigue, as Hasbrouck said only about 20% of Cook County residents got a booster shot last year.
He expects this year’s vaccination rates to stay fairly low unless the city sees a sharp rise in case counts.
Still, Hasbrouck said the message they are pushing this winter through their social media platforms and advertising campaign is that people need to “boost up,” even if they are feeling “boosted out.” That includes people who have had COVID-19 before as natural immunity from the virus wanes over time.
Anna Savchenko is a reporter for WBEZ. You can reach her at @annasavchenkoo.
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Health officials are encouraging Chicago-area residents to get the new COVID-19 booster
Dr. LaMar Hasbrouck says residents need to battle pandemic fatigue and “boost up,” even if they are feeling “boosted out.”
Amid a local and national increase in COVID-19 cases, health officials are urging Chicagoans to “boost up” ahead of the rollout of a new vaccine tailored to tackle the dominant strains of the Omicron variant.
“People are asking why should I get this new COVID-19 vaccine,” said Dr. Stephanie Black, an infectious disease expert at Rush University who works with the Chicago Department of Public Health.
Black’s answer is blunt: “Vaccines have prevented doctor’s visits, hospitalizations and [many] deaths … and can protect individuals from developing long COVID.”
Health experts also say protection from the old vaccine gradually wears off, making it less effective against new strains of the virus.
Though COVID-19 hospitalization rates in Chicago are far from where they were at the height of the pandemic, health officials say the virus still poses a threat to all age groups, especially infants, those 65 years and older and those with underlying medical conditions.
The new COVID-19 vaccine will be available in Chicago within the next two weeks, and health officials say it will be distributed through several major pharmacies throughout the city that will provide vaccines to people with or without insurance. The Chicago Department of Public Health will also set up three vaccine clinics on the North, West and South sides of the city, as well as pop-up vaccine clinics at several City Colleges of Chicago.
Cook County officials will set up clinics in several high-priority communities throughout the south and southwest suburbs that were considered as high-risk areas early in the pandemic.
Health officials say they expect cases of COVID-19, the flu and common respiratory viruses like RSV to rise in the coming months as the weather gets colder and people spend more time indoors. But they do not expect the likes of last winter’s tripledemic, said Dr. LaMar Hasbrouck, Cook County Department of Public Health’s chief operating officer, partly because the public has learned how to navigate similar public health emergencies.
“We have great muscle memory from last year in terms of the things we need to do such as physical distancing and wearing masks,” Hasbrouck said. “So if things start ticking up, I think that people can revert back to some of those safety precautions that we’ve all learned.”
But the great muscle memory also comes with some serious COVID fatigue, as Hasbrouck said only about 20% of Cook County residents got a booster shot last year.
He expects this year’s vaccination rates to stay fairly low unless the city sees a sharp rise in case counts.
Still, Hasbrouck said the message they are pushing this winter through their social media platforms and advertising campaign is that people need to “boost up,” even if they are feeling “boosted out.” That includes people who have had COVID-19 before as natural immunity from the virus wanes over time.
Anna Savchenko is a reporter for WBEZ. You can reach her at @annasavchenkoo.
Speaker 1: This WBEZ podcast is supported by Adler University educating students to advance socially responsible practices, healthy communities and a more just society with degrees in psychology counseling, public policy and leadership. Adler dot edu.
Speaker 2: You're listening to WBEZ Chicagoans can now book appointments to get a new COVID booster shot aimed at protecting against the latest sub variants. The vaccines arrival comes as COVID cases are on the rise locally and nationally, but only about 20% of Cook County residents got a booster shot last year. WBEZ S Anna Savchenko asked several Chicagoans if they'll sign up to get the shot. This time around.
Speaker 3: I found Amy watching her teenage daughter's soccer practice Saturday morning at a Northwest Side track. The mom from Chicago's Lincoln Park neighborhood didn't want her full name used, but she said she's getting the new COVID booster next week. I have an appointment already. She sounds very cautious about COVID. I asked her why. So before the vaccination came out, I had three people that died from COVID. So because after you see people die, when you take it more seriously, she says that with tears in her voice. But after wiping the mafia cheeks, she laughs and tells me about other family members who don't think vaccines are safe. They all live in Florida. That's all I've got to say about that. But you don't need to go all the way down to Florida to find somebody with opposing views. I bump into Yung mom walking laps around the same track. Her 11 month old is sitting in the stroller is she's pushing while her husband lagged behind with her four year old son in her hand, the mom who asked not to be named says she's not against vaccines, but neither of her kids has their COVID or flu shots. She wants to wait until they're a couple of years older and she is unclear why the new vaccine was developed people or asking why, why should I get this new COVID 19 vaccine? Dr Stephanie Black is with the Chicago Department of Public Health. She said the old booster is less effective against newer variants, which is why she says it's important to get boosted. Again. Vaccines have prevented doctor's visits and hospitalizations and deaths. And it's been shown that there is some evidence that vaccines can protect against developing long COVID. But not everyone is buying your elevator pitch to take the job. Ibrahim whom I meet outside of Truman College in the Uptown neighborhood. The aspiring nurse hasn't even heard about the new vaccine. Is this is the next, the next booster? Yes. Ok. Is it a high priority for you? Do you want to get it. What I am thinking is like since COVID 19, I never get fascinated, never get the shots. So I'm healthy. I don't think I will get it. But if this is the concern for the variety of people, maybe like helpful to other community, I think, Will Dr Lamar has Berg with Cook County's Health Department has a name for people like Ibrahim. We call
Speaker 4: them young invincibles. You feel like it's not a big deal for me. I'm not going to get the flu. I'm not going to get COVID. I've had it before and Young Invincibles act like they're invincible. So oftentimes they don't take heed and get the vaccine
Speaker 3: has. Brooks says vaccination rates are the lowest among these so called young invincibles between the ages of about 18 and 40. And since people had developed some serious COVID fatigue, he says he doesn't foresee thos rates rising, not unless COVID cases spike again like they did in the thick of the pandemic.
Speaker 4: If we start saying rates go up, I think that will encourage people to take it more seriously and say, hey, I better go get protected
Speaker 3: from where Hasbrouck sits. The virus is still a threat for people of all ages and he says people should get boosted up even if theyre feeling boosted out on the soft because it would be easy news.
Speaker 2: This is WBEZ
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