Elevated COVID-19 levels in 86 counties has health officials urging precaution, vaccines

With winter on the way and cold weather already here, many people are seeking to make their inside interactions a bit safer by getting their COVID-19 vaccine or a booster shot as an extra layer of protection.

The continuing rise of COVID-19 and other respiratory viruses has the Illinois Department of Public Health urging people to also take basic health precautions such as frequent handwashing, wearing masks in public places, and COVID-19 testing.

"As we prepare for holiday gatherings with our loved ones, I want to remind Illinoisians that these elevated COVID-19 community levels, along with rising flu levels, are leading to a surge of respiratory infections, increased hospitalizations and limited hospital beds," IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra, said Friday in a statement. "I strongly recommend all Illinoisians take preventative steps to protect themselves and their family and friends, especially those most vulnerable including young children and individuals over 65."

In Illinois, 86 counties rated at an elevated level for COVID-19, up from 74 a week ago, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Sangamon, Menard, Christian, and Logan are among the counties with high community levels for the virus.

IDPH is making 1 million free COVID-19 rapid antigen tests available to 200,000 Illinois households because of the uptick in cases. Residents can request one package of five tests on a first-come-first-serve basis at the Project ACT website.

Similarly, after a three-month hiatus, the Biden administration is making four rapid virus tests available per household through covidtests.gov starting Thursday.

Vaccines continue as the best protection against the virus and are available to people of all ages.

“These preventative measures start with being up-to-date with the COVID-19 bivalent booster that is now authorized for children as young as six months old," Vohra said.

In Sangamon County, despite a majority of adults being fully vaccinated, many younger residents have not gotten the full protection of the vaccine.

What's the vaccination rate in Sangamon County?

According to data from IDPH, Sangamon County has fully vaccinated 65.1% of the population. While a solid number – the tenth-highest in Illinois – a closer look at the numbers by age indicates a significant divide between old and young.

More:For eight days of Hanukkah, Jews celebrate triumph and the miracle of light

For example, the Sangamon County Department of Public Health said that 93.51% of adults age 65 and older and 68.86% of adults 18-64 are fully vaccinated. However, 55.03% of teenagers age 12-17 and 30.36% of children age 5-11 have been fully vaccinated.

Those numbers are even lower in Menard County, even accounting for the lower population, with just 15% of people aged 5-11 being fully vaccinated.

Aren't younger people less likely to get serious ill from COVID-19?

They are, but just because it's less likely, doesn't mean that it can't happen. Dr. Douglas Carlson, medical director for HSHS St. John's Children's Hospital and chair of pediatrics at the Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, said that many parents may have ignored getting COVID shots for their children in large part because it hasn't affected children too seriously.

"I think it has to do with the perception – which is true – that you're more likely to get sick with COVID the older you are and the more chronic illnesses that you have," Carlson said. "But there can be a false sense of reassurance because COVID – while it rarely causes serious illness – can cause serious illness in children and adolescents. It is true that the vast majority of kids that get COVID will not get seriously ill. It's also true that many infections in our most vulnerable older people – grandparents – come from the grandchildren and older children.

It's important for the individual, but it's also important for the spread, so that young children aren't giving the infection to people that they care about."

Carlson pointed out that of the COVID-19 deaths nationwide, many caught the virus from a younger family member.

"Many of them are adults who caught it in the community, often from children with the disease," Carlson said.

How are parents' vaccine concerns being addressed?

Carlson said that HSHS takes the concerns of parents seriously and tries to explain the facts about the vaccine in a way that allows them to make an informed decision on what to do.

"When they come into our primary care specialty offices, we ask them about getting the vaccine," Carlson said. "We have it available in all age groups. Often, they say yes and we catch them up to the most recent bivalent COVID vaccine. (When) they say they have concerns, we spend time (with them) and we do the same thing."

More:Supporters of assault weapons ban in Illinois tell lawmakers bill doesn't go far enough

For example, when parents bring up the risk of cardiomyopathy with the booster shots, Carlson said that doctors are armed with the knowledge that the risk of that condition is lower with the vaccine than without and that the condition can be completely reversed.

"We go over the facts and hope that they will say yes and get their kids vaccinated," Carlson said.

This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: COVID vaccinations are lowest among the youngest people. What to know