Cook County Commissioner Donna Miller and Public Health Officials Encourage Residents to Catch Up on COVID, Flu, and RSV Vaccinations Before the Holidays
Cook County Commissioner Donna Miller and Public Health Officials Encourage Residents to Catch Up on COVID, Flu, and RSV Vaccinations Before the Holidays (Cook County, IL) — Today, Cook County Commissioner Donna Miller hosted a fireside chat discussion alongside two Cook County Department of Public Health (CCDPH) officials — COO Dr. LaMar Hasbrouck and Chief Nursing Officer Denise Gilbert — to share information on the updated COVID-19 vaccines, which target the currently-spreading variants. The conversation, which took place at Moraine Community College, was held alongside a pop-up vaccine clinic sponsored by Walgreens, where attendees could receive seasonal vaccines for COVID, flu, and RSV.
“As new variants of COVID continue to emerge, we continue to develop updated tools to fight them. It’s crucial for our communities to know the most up-to-date steps to take to stay healthy and to understand how to access the resources available,” said Cook County Commissioner Donna Miller. “Now that we’ve reached cold and flu season, we want to do everything we can to combat the spread of illness among folks in Cook County, and I’m grateful to Dr. Hasbrouck and Denise Gilbert for joining me for this important conversation.”
As of September 30, 2023, just over 2% of Cook County residents have received a 2023 COVID vaccine. The low vaccination rates emphasize the need for continued messaging, especially after this summer’s surge when hospitalization rates spiked to an average of 20,000 weekly patients. You can visit boostupcookcounty.com to find out if you and your family members are up to date on all recommended vaccinations.
“Anyone can get a respiratory virus infection, but some people are at increased risk for serious illness, hospitalization, and even death, including infants and young children, seniors, pregnant women, and people with certain chronic health conditions,” said Dr. LaMar Hasbrouck, COO of the Cook County Department of Public Health. “There are actions you can take to protect yourself and others.”
The discussion emphasized the benefits of everyone getting up to date on their immunizations heading into the winter in an effort to prevent an occurrence like last year where all three viruses circulated simultaneously. The conversation emphasized getting updated COVID boosters and shared expert predictions that another “moderate” wave of the virus will hit in the coming colder months, with expected hospitalization numbers comparable to last winter.
“It is critically important that pregnant women get vaccinated against COVID, flu and RSV to protect themselves and their unborn infants from complications, including premature death,” said CCDPH Chief Nursing Officer Denise Gilbert. “All three vaccines are recommended as safe during pregnancy and breastfeeding.”
Commissioner Miller has made building healthy communities and addressing disparities in healthcare a priority during her time in office. She has led widespread campaigns on cardiovascular health during Heart Health Month, reaching English- and Spanish-speaking communities to ensure equitable access to health information, and has also been a leading voice in the fight to reduce maternal mortality among Black women in Cook County.
Cook County Commissioner Donna Miller and Public Health Officials Encourage Residents to Catch Up on COVID, Flu, and RSV Vaccinations Before the Holidays
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