IDPH starts messaging residents to boost COVID-19 vaccinations

The Illinois Department of Public Health said Friday it has started to reach out to more than 2.5 million Illinoisans who are due for a COVID-19 vaccine or booster dose.

The messages are sent to those with vaccination records in the state’s registry exchange, which allows healthcare providers to share the immunization records of Illinoisans with other physicians statewide.

“The most important thing we can do to protect ourselves and our loved ones from severe health outcomes from COVID-19 is to remain up-to-date with our vaccinations,” Amaal Tokars, IDPH’s acting director, said in a statement.

The Department of Public Health reported 19,551 confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 last week, a 39.2 percent jump from the prior week. Fifty-eight more Illinoisans died.

The new cases bring the state total to 3,114,036 cases, while the death toll increased to 33,568.

The seven-day average for new cases on Friday was 2,793, up 786 from the prior week. The seven-day average for daily deaths is eight, up two from the prior week.

The seven-day rolling average case rate per 100,000 people is 21.9, up 6.1 from the prior week.

Four Illinois counties, Champaign, DuPage, McLean and Piatt, are now rated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as having a “medium” risk of community spread.

As of Thursday, 613 Illinoisans were in the hospital with COVID-19, up 35 from Wednesday and up 149 from the prior week.

Of the patients in the hospital, 82 were in intensive care units, up five from Wednesday and up 12 from the prior week. Twenty-four percent of Illinois’ ICU beds were available.

There were 26 patients on ventilators, down two from Wednesday and down six from the prior week.

About 81.3 percent of eligible Illinoisans ages 5 and older have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, while 72.8 percent are fully vaccinated.

Illinois vaccinators have administered 21,760,073 COVID-19 vaccines, including 4,366,500 booster doses. The seven-day average for doses administered is 17,703.

About 60.1 percent of total doses administered went to white Illinoisans, while 15.5 went to Latinx residents, 11.2 percent to Black residents and 7.2 to Asian residents. About 3.1 percent went to those identified as “other races” while 2.3 percent are “unknown.”