Oak Park's health department is urging residents to get flu shots and updated COVID-19 vaccines before respiratory illness season peaks.
The Oak Park Public Health Department said in a Monday, Oct. 5 release that flu shots are recommended for everyone older than 6 months. The department also encouraged residents to add the COVID-19 vaccine to their annual schedule.
County-level vaccination rates remain low. Last season, only 29.1% of Cook County residents received a flu shot, and just 11.9% got a COVID-19 vaccine, according to the Cook County Department of Public Health. The 2024-25 flu season was classified as high severity, the first since 2017-18. Across Illinois, 2,488 influenza cases required intensive care.
"Flu is not just a bad cold. It can cause serious illness, hospitalization and death, particularly among older adults, young children and people with certain health conditions," Dr. Kiran Joshi, chief operating officer of the Cook County Department of Public Health, said in a Wednesday, Oct. 7 statement.
Most health-care providers, pharmacies and grocery stores in the Oak Park area offer flu shots and accept private insurance or Medicare Part B, the department said. Many of those sites vaccinate children as young as 18 months. COVID-19 shots are available at most of the same locations.
Low-cost vaccine options for uninsured residents
For children on Medicaid, uninsured children or those on plans that don't cover vaccines, the department pointed to two local resources: the Infant Welfare Society Children's Clinic and PCC Community Wellness Center.
PCC's Oak Park location, a federally qualified health center at 14 Lake Street, accepts Medicaid and insurance and offers sliding-scale fees. The phone number is 708-383-0113.
The department also reminded parents that children who have fallen behind on routine immunizations required for school should get caught up before the school year progresses.
Residents with questions about finding an affordable flu shot can email [email protected] or call 708-358-5480.
