The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) reported that about 188,800 Illinoisans have received a dose of the new, updated COVID-19 vaccines since they were authorized for use at the beginning of September.
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Data indicates that daily vaccination numbers have jumped to the highest level seen since early February, during the major surge in illnesses caused by the Omicron variant.
The announcement comes as 66 counties in Illinois are at an elevated level for COVID-19. IDPH is reporting 17,584 new confirmed and probable cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Illinois, including 74 deaths since September 9, 2022.
"It is very encouraging to see Illinois residents turning out in such strong numbers to take advantage of the updated bivalent booster shots that are now available," said IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra.
"These new booster shots - designed specifically to offer extra protection from the dominant Omicron strain of the virus - are the latest, most advanced tool to protect Illinois residents from experiencing the worst effects of COVID-19. It's important for everyone who is eligible to get up to date on vaccines and boosters as soon as possible, before a potential fall and winter surge leads to increased infections."
IDPH reported that over the last week, an average of more than 21,000 doses of the new bivalent vaccines have been administered across the state each day.
This is more than double the daily average for all vaccinations for most of the summer.
Notably, older Illinoisans, who are at risk of more severe outcomes, have been turning out in higher proportions for the updated vaccines. While people 65 and older make up 20% of Illinois' eligible population., they have received 44% of the bivalent doses.
The CDC authorized two new bivalent booster vaccines on September 2 that include an mRNA component of the original strain to provide an immune response that is broadly protective against COVID-19 and an added mRNA component in common between the omicron variant BA.4 and BA.5 lineages to provide better protection against COVID-19 caused by the omicron variant.
The Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent, is authorized for use as a single booster dose in individuals 18 years of age and older. The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent, is authorized for use as a single booster dose in individuals 12 years of age and older.
The updated boosters are available at pharmacies, hospitals, and other healthcare providers.
According to the CDC,20 Illinois counties are now rated at High Community Level for COVID-19. An additional 46 counties in Illinois are now rated at Medium Community Level. ■