FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 7, 2026
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Efrat Dallal Stein – [email protected]
Campaign Art for Media: English /Spanish
CCDPH Launches “Spread Facts, Not Flu & COVID” Campaign Ahead of Respiratory Virus Season
Saturday vaccination clinics will offer flu and COVID-19 vaccines at locations throughout suburban Cook County at no cost.
SUBURBAN COOK COUNTY, IL – Cook County Department of Public Health (CCDPH) is launching “Spread Facts, Not Flu & COVID,” a new public awareness campaign encouraging suburban Cook County residents to protect themselves and their families from respiratory illness by getting vaccinated and getting trusted information.
The campaign comes as flu season approaches and misinformation about vaccines continues to make it harder for people to know which health information they can trust. Consisting of Pace bus ads and digital ads on Meta, TikTok and Google Search, the campaign targets communities with lower vaccination rates that may face barriers to accessing vaccines and reliable health information.
“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,” said Dr. Kiran Joshi, chief operating officer of Cook County Department of Public Health. “Our message is simple: spread facts, not flu. Get your information from trusted medical and public health sources and take steps now to protect yourself and the people around you.”
Last year’s flu season was a reminder that flu can be serious. During the 2024–25 season, Illinois reported 2,488 influenza cases requiring intensive care. Nationally, CDC estimates flu caused 51 million illnesses, 710,000 hospitalizations and 45,000 deaths. The season was classified as high severity, the first high-severity flu season since 2017–18.
Vaccination can substantially reduce that burden. CDC estimates flu vaccination prevented approximately 10 million illnesses, 180,000 hospitalizations and 12,000 deaths during the 2024–25 flu season.
However, in Cook County, only 29.1% of residents received a flu shot, and only 11.9% of residents received a COVID shot.
Spread Facts, Not Flu & COVID
The Spread Facts, Not Flu & COVID campaign encourages residents to get vaccinated and believe the facts, not the myths, about vaccination. The campaign addresses common vaccine myths about flu and COVID vaccines with clear, science-based information, including:
MYTH: The flu shot can give you the flu. FACT: The flu shot cannot give you the flu. Flu shots use inactivated virus, weakened virus or components of the virus that cannot cause influenza illness.
MYTH: I got a flu shot last year, so I don’t need another one. FACT: Flu viruses change over time, and flu vaccines are updated to protect against the viruses expected to circulate during the upcoming season. In fact, all three virus components in the 2026–27 U.S. flu vaccine were updated from last season.
Saturday Vaccination Clinics
To help Cook County residents prepare for respiratory virus season, CCDPH, Cook County Health and CountyCare will offer Saturday vaccination clinics at five Cook County Health ambulatory health center locations throughout suburban Cook County beginning Oct. 17.
Flu and COVID-19 vaccines will be available to residents ages 6 months and older, regardless of immigration status or insurance coverage. No appointment is needed.
Who Should Get a Shot
CCDPH follows the 2026–27 respiratory virus immunization guidance issued by the Illinois Department of Public Health, based on recommendations from the Illinois Immunization Advisory Committee and consistent with current recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Family Physicians.
Under the Illinois guidance:
- Flu vaccination is recommended for everyone ages 6 months and older.
- COVID-19 vaccination is recommended for all adults ages 19 and older, children ages 6 through 23 months, pregnant people, and certain children ages 2 through 18. Vaccination may also be given to children ages 2 through 18 when a parent or guardian desires protection.
- RSV immunization is recommended for certain infants and young children, pregnant people during weeks 32 through 36 of pregnancy, adults ages 50 through 74 at increased risk for severe RSV disease, and all adults ages 75 and older who have not previously received an RSV vaccine.
“Respiratory viruses can change from year to year, but the steps we can take to protect ourselves remain the same,” Joshi said. “Get vaccinated when you are eligible, stay home when you are sick, and rely on credible sources for health information. Those actions can help keep our families and communities healthier this fall and winter.”
For vaccination clinic schedules, vaccine information and answers to common vaccine questions visit: Spread Facts – Cook County Department of Public Health
###
For more information about Cook County Department of Public Health programs and services, visit www.cookcountypublichealth.org
About Cook County Department of Public Health:
Cook County Department of Public Health is the nationally accredited, state-certified local health department serving suburban Cook County. We build healthier, more equitable communities by protecting health, preventing disease, engaging communities, and analyzing and sharing data for action.