New Flu and COVID-19 Vaccine Data Dashboards

Respiratory viruses don't take a holiday break! CDPH is reminding everyone 6 months and older to get their annual flu shot and the updated 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine to stay healthy during the coldest months of the year.

CDPH recently launched two new dashboards to share data on the number of Chicagoans who received their vaccines to date.

The flu vaccine dashboard shows that 21.9 percent of Chicagoans have received their annual flu shot this respiratory virus season. According to the COVID-19 vaccine dashboard 10.5 percent of Chicagoans have received the updated 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine. The dashboards also have information about vaccine coverage by age, race/ethnicity, community area, and zip code.

It's not too late to get vaccinated! If you have health insurance, visit an in-network pharmacy. Those without health insurance can visit one of three CDPH immunization clinics (Uptown, Greater Lawn of Pilsen South Ashland) or check our calendar of vaccine events.

It's OK to Not Be OK During the Holidays

The holidays can be tough, especially if you're faced with loneliness, isolation, substance use, or mental health challenges. Remember that you're not alone - help is here, if you need it. Here are some resources to access if you or someone you know is experiencing a crisis:

1. Call 988 for 24/7 support in the event of a mental health crisis.
2. Join a free Suicide Prevention Training here. There are training sessions available through 2/11/2025.
3. To find mental health resources near you,
   • call 833-NAMI-CHI (626-4244),
   • or visit Hope for the Day at https://www.hftd.org/find-help
4. If you're experiencing domestic violence, call the national hotline at 800-799-7233, or visit https://www.thehotline.org
5. Stay safe if you're using - test your drugs, carry naloxone, and don't use alone. Call the Overdose Prevention Helpline at 877-696-1996, or visit Neverusealone.com
6. Are you concerned about your Opioid use disorder? Call the Illinois helpline at 833-234-6343 to begin Medication Assisted Recovery (MAR) Now.
   • MAR reduces withdrawal symptoms and the risk of overdose and death, and care managers ensure that callers are connected to long-term care.

Healthcare Open Enrollment Ends This Weekend

The federal Open Enrollment period is now ongoing, marking a critical time for individuals to enroll in, change, or cancel their health insurance plans. This limited window only lasts a few weeks, and once it closes, individuals will have to wait until next year's enrollment period to make any changes. Open Enrollment for the Marketplace began on November 1 and ends on December 15.

According to the latest data from CDPH, nearly 1 in 10 Chicagoans remain uninsured with Latinx residents facing a particularly high burden. Uninsured rates in the Latinx community are nearly four times higher than those of White residents and twice as high as those of Asian and Black residents.

CDPH encourages individuals to take advantage of the Open Enrollment Period before it ends and secure health coverage for the upcoming year. Residents can access free, year-round navigation assistance in their neighborhood at getcovered.illinois.gov.

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