Shots of Truth: Respiratory Vaccines for Fall 2025

Respiratory season has already started. It tends to peak in late December/early January.

Regarding RSV vaccine, roughly 30% of infants are vaccinated, as well as 30% of adults over 75 years of age.
New RSV vaccines have been introduced in the last few years that are very effective. Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) is encouraging infants and older adults to protect themselves by getting vaccinated.

90% of last year’s hospitalizations for COVID-19 were patients who were not vaccinated. COVID-19 patients who were hospitalized were mainly children under two years old and adults over 65 years of age.
Pregnancy is a condition that does put you at high risk for severe COVID-19 infection. That’s been proven, and IDPH seeing that for several years. It is essential that women, while they’re pregnant, are staying up-to-date on their COVID-19 vaccination, so they don’t have any complications, and can pass on some immunity to their newborn infant.
American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that any child under 2 years old should receive a COVID-19 vaccine. That includes both a primary series, so the first vaccination series for COVID, as well as any booster series for under two. This group continues to be a high-risk age group, for hospitalization and severe COVID outcomes.

Illinois has seen outbreaks of measles in areas where measles vaccinations are lower (91% as compared to 96%).
The two doses should be done by the time a child is six years old. The second dose is due between the ages of four to six, and it’s required for kindergarten entry.
Illinois has been under the United States average for kindergarten MMR vaccination rates, and IDPH is working to increase these numbers.