On Friday, November 19, 2021, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) all endorsed booster vaccines for all adults, age 18 and over. Boosters are widely available in suburban Cook County as well as vaccines for children age 5 and older.
You can get a booster shot of any of the three approved vaccines. It does not need to be the same vaccine that you had previously received.
We are pleased by the decision because vaccinations are our only way out of the pandemic and booster shots further protect us. The more doses we administer, the less transmission of the virus occurs, and that is the key to moving forward.
If you are at least 18 years old and it’s been at least six months since your Pfizer or Moderna vaccine series, or two months since your Johnson & Johnson shot, you are eligible for a booster. Our “Destination: Vaccination” program allows you to locate the nearest or most convenient vaccine site, and we will provide a free ride to and from your vaccination. Child seats and accommodations for the physically challenged are available. Simply call 833-308-1988 to find the most convenient location to get your booster and take advantage of a free ride.
Boosters are particularly important now because they help reduce transmission of the virus, especially as most activities are now moving indoors (where transmission can more easily occur). Cases are rising again and we need to protect Cook County from another major surge that could lead to increased hospitalizations and deaths from COVID complications. Together we will get there, but we need everyone to play their part. So if you are eligible to receive a booster shot, we urge you to get one.