 The
CDC and IDPH will continue to monitor COVID-19 trends by measuring
the presence of the virus in wastewater in addition to other
existing surveillance methods. In Illinois, the data is posted by
the Illinois Wastewater Surveillance System, which tracks the levels
of COVID-19 and influenza in wastewater at 76 locations throughout
the state.
“I am very happy and relieved to report that COVID-19 cases remain
low as we continue the summer season,” IDPH Director Dr. Sameer
Vohra said. “IDPH’s focus remains on closely monitoring COVID-19,
along with other respiratory viruses such as flu and RSV-19, in
anticipation of a fall and winter when infections will likely
increase. The Department will continue to work closely with our
partners to provide the most up to date guidance on vaccines and
treatments that can decrease transmission and keep ourselves and our
loved ones safe.”
While the 2022-2023 flu season that ended in late April did not
experience a second wave, it nonetheless resulted in over 900
reported ICU admissions and 7 pediatric deaths this season. This is
an important reminder of the need for annual influenza vaccines,
which significantly reduce the risk of hospitalization. RSV activity
currently remains low as well, but a significant peak occurred in
October 2022 that stretched pediatric bed capacity across the State
of Illinois.
New and updated immunizations and therapies have
emerged to treat respiratory illness. IDPH supports ACIP’s (CDC’s
advisory committee on immunization practices) recommendations in
June 2023 based on updated scientific evidence that “All eligible
persons aged =6 months with egg allergy should receive influenza
vaccine. Any influenza vaccine (egg based or non-egg based) that is
otherwise appropriate for the recipient’s age and health status can
be used.”
ACIP also recommended use of a single dose of RSV vaccine, recently
approved by the FDA and ACIP in June 2023 for persons 60 years of
age and older. The General Best Practice Guidelines for Immunization
provides that coadministration of RSV vaccines with other adult
vaccines is acceptable. This includes giving RSV vaccines to adults
simultaneously with seasonal influenza vaccines. The FDA
Antimicrobial Drugs Advisory Committee (AMDAC) also voted
unanimously in favor of nirsevimab, a monoclonal antibody, for the
prevention of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) lower respiratory
tract disease (LRTD) in all newborns and infants born during or
entering their first RSV season. If also approved by the FDA in
2023, it may be available for the 2023-2024 RSV season.
In regards to COVID-19, FDA’s Vaccines and Related
Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC) met on June 15, 2023
to discuss the Fall Covid-19 vaccine and unanimously voted that the
Fall Covid-19 vaccine should be active against the most dominant
strain (currently the XBB 1.5 strain which evolved from the earlier
Omicron variant). Subsequently FDA advised manufacturers to develop
vaccines active against the XBB.1.5 strain and CDC’s ACIP Covid-19
work group will review the FDA authorizations to determine if annual
boosters will subsequently be recommended by ACIP.
[to top of second column] |
IDPH would like to remind Illinoisans about the
resources available to access Covid-19 tests, vaccines or
therapeutics as these products transition to the commercial market
this fall. Free testing could still be accessed through Project Act
and ICATT testing sites; vaccines will still be available for free
through VFC and CHIP programs and several healthcare coverage plans.
The Covid-19 treatments provided by the US Government will remain
free while supplies last and can be accessed through various
providers and pharmacies across Illinois.
Given the low level of transmission statewide, IDPH will continue a
monthly system of reporting COVID-19 data. Vaccine administration
data and numbers of deaths associated with COVID-19 will be reported
monthly by public health region. A full listing of each region and
the counties within each one can be found at the end of this news
release. Consistent with CDC’s approach, individual case totals will
no longer be reported.
The breakdown of COVID-19 hospitalization metrics and deaths by
region can be found at https://dph.illinois.gov/covid19/data.html.
The new public health regions for COVID-19 reporting can be found at
https://dph.illinois.gov/contact-us/regional-health-departments.html
and are listed below:
Bellwood Region – Cook County
Champaign Region - Champaign, Clark, Coles, Cumberland, De Witt,
Douglas, Edgar, Ford, Iroquois, Livingston, Macon, McLean, Moultrie,
Piatt, Shelby, Vermilion counties
Marion Region - Alexander, Clay, Crawford, Edwards,
Effingham, Fayette, Franklin, Gallatin, Hamilton, Hardin, Jackson,
Jasper, Jefferson, Johnson, Lawrence, Marion, Massac, Perry, Pope,
Pulaski, Richland, Saline, Union, Wabash, Wayne, White, Williamson
counties
Metro East Region - Bond, Calhoun, Christian, Clinton, Greene,
Jersey, Macoupin, Madison, Monroe, Montgomery, Morgan, Pike,
Randolph, Sangamon, Scott, St. Clair, Washington counties
Peoria Region - Adams, Brown, Bureau, Cass, Fulton, Hancock,
Henderson, Henry, Knox, LaSalle, Logan, Marshall, Mason, McDonough,
Menard, Mercer, Peoria, Putnam, Rock Island, Schuyler, Stark,
Tazewell, Warren, Woodford counties
Rockford Region - Boone, Carroll, DeKalb, Jo Daviess, Lee, Ogle,
Stephenson, Whiteside, Winnebago counties
West Chicago Region - DuPage, Grundy, Kane, Kankakee, Kendall, Lake,
McHenry, Will counties
[Illinois Office of Communication and
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