COVID Boosters and Flu Photographs, Variety of Exams – NBC Chicago

Are you able to get your flu and COVID booster pictures on the similar time?

Specialists supply up their recommendation for what to do as temperatures cool.

This is what it’s essential know in regards to the coronavirus pandemic throughout Illinois right this moment:

Well being Specialists Encouraging Boosters, Flu Photographs Forward of Winter

As winter approaches, well being consultants are encouraging residents to get each a COVID-19 booster shot and a flu shot with instances of each viruses anticipated to rise within the coming months, NBC 5’s Lauren Petty reviews.

Will We See One other COVID Wave This Winter? What Specialists Are Saying

Might one other COVID wave be in retailer this winter? The seasonal shift has marked dramatic adjustments annually of the pandemic thus far, however as a 3rd winter approaches, consultants are on edge for what may occur — and there is one early signal they’re watching.

In every of the final two winters, COVID instances and hospitalizations have dramatically spiked within the state of Illinois, with final winter seeing the swap from the delta variant to the extra contagious omicron variant that has since spawned much more contagious subvariants now making up a majority of instances.

Learn extra here.

COVID vs. Flu: Figuring out Your Danger Ranges This Fall and Winter and Why They Might Be More durable to Examine

As extra individuals shift actions indoors with dropping temperatures throughout a lot of the nation, well being consultants are involved a few potential rise in flu and COVID-19 instances this coming winter.

In every of the final two winters, COVID instances and hospitalizations have dramatically spiked within the state of Illinois, with final winter seeing the swap from the delta variant to the extra contagious omicron variant that has since spawned much more contagious subvariants now making up a majority of instances.

This winter, consultants are additionally involved a few potential sharp rise in flu instances, with a rising expectation that flu instances will rise to pre-pandemic ranges.

Learn extra here.

Why High Chicago Physician Is Extra Involved About This Flu Season Than Earlier Years

Whereas COVID instances throughout Illinois and the Chicago space persevering with to lower, well being consultants together with Chicago’s high physician are starting to point out concern for a possible rise in additional a routine virus: Influenza.

“I’d be shocked if this yr we did not have the worst flu season that we have had whereas COVID has been with us, and I do not know for positive what that may seem like,” Dr. Allison Arwady, Commissioner of the Chicago Division of Public Well being stated on Tuesday throughout a Fb Reside.

Learn extra here.

How Many COVID Exams Ought to You Take? Specialists Say 1 Adverse Might Not Be Sufficient

In the event you take a COVID check and it comes again detrimental, that won’t imply you are within the clear simply but.

For these feeling sick, notably those that had a recognized COVID publicity, consultants warning that one detrimental check won’t be sufficient to find out you do not have the virus.

However what number of assessments is sufficient?

Learn extra here.

BA.5 Instances Proceed Decline as Different Omicron Subvariants Enhance Throughout U.S.

The BA.5 omicron subvariant, which has been the dominant pressure of COVID-19 in the US for greater than three months, remains to be answerable for 4-in-5 instances of the virus, however its grip is starting to loosen as two different variants acquire steam.

Based on the most recent figures from the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention, BA.5 is answerable for an estimated 81.3% of COVID instances in the US, down from 83.2% per week in the past.

Learn extra here.

So You Have COVID. Now What? This is What to Do If You Check Constructive

For many who contract COVID for the primary time, or who check constructive following up to date pointers from the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention this summer time, what’s the protocol?

In the event you had COVID beforehand and adopted the correct steerage, you may must take notice as the present suggestions aren’t the identical as earlier than. The CDC modified its quarantine and isolation steerage in August.

Learn extra here.

Get Your Omicron Booster Shot By This Date, White Home Doc Says — And it is Coming Up

Tens of millions of People have already obtained the brand new, Omicron-targeted bivalent COVID booster, officers say. However many extra have but to get the most recent shot — and a key date is arising.

The booster shot, approved by Meals and Drug Administration and beneficial by the Facilities for Illness Management in early September, is designed to struggle each the omicron variant and authentic COVID strains. In contrast to earlier booster pictures, anybody over the age of 12-years-old who has obtained a main vaccine collection is eligible for the brand new shot.

Learn extra here.