TAZEWELL COUNTY, Ill. – Area doctors and health professionals are once again urging vaccinations with the holidays starting now that Hanukkah is under way – not just for COVID-19, but other respiratory-type viruses as well.
COVID-19 hospitalizations remain at “medium” levels in Peoria and Tazewell Counties according to Centers for Disease Control data. But Tazewell County officials say COVID cases there went up 414 percent in the last month.
“Our clinic has been very busy with COVID vaccinations and flu vaccinations. However, we have seen fewer folks getting those vaccines this year than in previous years,” said Megan Hanley, Epidemiologist, Tazewell County Health Department, to 25 News.
Hanley says her office has seen 72 COVID cases this season, but also 13 flu cases, and 10 RSV cases.
She says vaccinations against all are important, even as the COVID vaccination has to change over time, because of the virus’ ability to sometimes evade defense mechanisms.
And, it takes a while for a vaccine to become effective.
“We may not be in a pandemic, but we can’t let our guard down,” said Dr. David Fletcher, CEO, SafeWorks Illinois, to 25 News. “Vaccines don’t instantly work, they take about 10-14 days to build up protective antibodies, so I recommend that people keep that in mind.”
Fletcher says other things like using nutritional supplements and frequent cleaning can also help keep viruses at bay.
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