The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) is encouraging everyone six months and older who has not yet received the seasonal flu vaccine to get it this week as part of National Influenza Vaccination Week.
“This year it is more important than ever to get your flu shot to help avoid being co-infected with flu and COVID-19,” said IDPH Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike. “Not only could being infected with both a flu virus and the virus that causes COVID-19 result in severe health complications for individuals, it also places a tremendous burden on our health care system and health care workers who are being stretched due to the increase in COVID-19 cases. If you have not already received your flu shot, get it as soon as possible to protect yourself, your loved ones and your community.”
Vaccination is particularly important for people who are most vulnerable to developing serious flu complications, including people with certain chronic conditions such as asthma, diabetes and heart disease. In fact, during the last flu season, 9 out of 10 adults hospitalized for flu had at least one reported underlying medical condition according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
For more, please see this week’s print edition.