Healthcare providers are stocked up with influenza and COVID-19 vaccines, but some doctors say it's been a tough sell this year.
"The number of people accepting the vaccine is down that we're seeing here today, which is causing some concern," said Dr. Arnold Turner, Provident Hospital Chief Hospital Executive.
Dr. Turner says changing vaccine guidance from the Centers for Disease Control is contributing toward some vaccine confusion and hesitancy. For COVID, the CDC recommends getting the vaccine based on personal choice. Illinois and local public health officials will not adopt the same scaled-back recommendations.
"A physician and a leader in public health, I think it's incumbent on me to ensure and reassure the public that our public health policy making process is transparent and it's grounded in science," said Dr. Kirin Joshi, Cook County Department of Public Health CEO.
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Using the same guidance from previous years, Cook County public health officials strongly recommend people over the ages of 6 months get both the flu and covid vaccines.
"There is evidence that's emerged over the years that shows that covid vaccination can prevent long covid, which, again, can result in people experiencing things like brain fog, muscle soreness," Dr. Joshi said.
Doctors say they are starting to see a big increase of patients with upper respiratory illnesses. Based on other parts of the world, the flu and COVID season is expected to be more serious this year. Health professionals can't emphasize enough how vaccines have been given to millions of people worldwide safely.
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Rush University Medical Center Physician's Assistant Trey Owens worked in a New York City emergency room during the height of the COVID pandemic.
"I never once got COVID working in the emergency room because I was one of the first to get vaccinated and wore a mask, so that has something to say about efficacy of both," Owens said.
Most health insurance companies pay for flu and COVID vaccines. For those who are not insured, Cook County Health provides free vaccines by appointment or through vaccine clinics scheduled on certain dates.