8,600 Illinois COVID-19 Hospitalizations Prevented By Vaccines: IDPH

ILLINOIS — Vaccinations against COVID-19 have prevented more than 8,600 hospitalizations across Illinois over the past four months, according to data released by the Illinois Department of Public Health.

Health officials announced the information on Friday when it said that 19,933 people have tested positive for COVID-19 in Illinois and that 64 people had died in the state from the virus since Sept. 2. As of Friday, 64 Illinois counties were at an elevated community level for COVID-19 at a time when updated versions of the vaccines were recently approved and released for use within the state.

IDPH data shows that more than 73 percent of Illinois residents ages 5 and up have been fully vaccinated while 81.5 percent have gotten at least one dose of the vaccines.

“The therapeutic treatments that are available for COVID-19 work,” IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra said in a news release. “The data from Illinois that IDPH released today show just how effective these treatments can be at protecting people who contract COVID-19 from being hospitalized and severe outcomes. These treatments are especially recommended for individuals over 50 and those with underlying medical conditions. The key is to start these medications quickly, within the first five days. If you have COVID-19 symptoms, please test and get treated right away.”

Vaccines continue to be the most effective protection against COVID-19 and prevent most symptoms associated with the virus, Vohra said. The new bivalent vaccines are designed to provide an extra level of protection not only against the original COVID-19 virus but the most recent strains of the virus, which are linked to nearly 99 percent of the new cases being reported around Illinois and the rest of the country, health officials said.

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. The best way to locate a vaccine provider near you is to go to www.vaccines.gov and search for bivalent booster availability.

According to the CDC, 28 Illinois counties are now rated High Community Level for COVID-19. An additional 40 counties in Illinois are now rated at Medium Community Level.

On Friday, state health officials announced that 1,314 people in Illinois were hospitalized with COVID-19, and of those people, 163 were in intensive care and 48 were on ventilators. The seven-date rate in Illinois is 156 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents.