Chicago Department of Public Health Weekly Media Brief
COVID-19 News: Bivalent vaccines for all, 65 and up eligible for another booster
The FDA and CDC took some important action this week to simplify the vaccination schedule for most individuals and ensure further protection against COVID-19:
The current bivalent vaccines should be used for all administered doses to individuals 6 months of age and older. The monovalent Moderna and Pfizer vaccines will no longer be recommended for use in the United States.
For individuals who are 65+, or immunocompromised who have received their primary COVID-19 series, and it’s been more than 4 months since your last COVID-19 vaccine, you are now eligible for an additional booster dose.
Individuals who have not received a COVID-19 vaccine, may receive a single dose of a bivalent vaccine, rather than multiple doses of the original monovalent mRNA vaccines.
Find more information about the CDC’s announcement here.
In other vaccine news: Protect Chicago At-Home has updated hours of operation. Starting April 24, in-home vaccination appointments will be available 2 days a week, Saturday and Sunday, 8am to 6:30pm. Call 312.746.4835 to make an appointment or click here.
End of PHE: Get Ready to Re-Enroll in Medicaid
During the COVID-19 pandemic the U.S. government and the State of Illinois established temporary rules regarding certain health services and health care plans to ensure everyone had access to the tools needed to protect themselves. In the next few weeks, many of these rules will begin to phase out with the end of the declared public health emergency.
One thing that will change is automatic re-enrollment in Medicaid will end. That means if you and your family get health insurance through Medicaid, the State of Illinois will need to contact you re-determine your eligibility. It is critical that they have your updated mailing address, so you can get timely reminders about the re-enrollment process.
Here’s what you can do:
Call the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services to report address changes: 1-877-805-5312 (select Option 8), TTY 1- 877-204-1012; Hours 7:45a-4:30p
Use HFS online change of address form to report new address, phone, email – www2.illinois.gov/hfs/address.
Click Manage My Case at abe.illinois.gov to verify your address and find your due date.
Then, watch your mail. Information will be mailed to different households at different times, starting in May, and continuing for the next 14 months.
Biden Administration Spends $1B to Fund Free Covid Vaccines
The new program, called HHS Bridge Access Program For COVID-19 Vaccines and Treatments, is modeled after the country’s existing childhood vaccination program. It will cover an estimated 30 million uninsured people and is a unique government-private partnership with pharmacies with the U.S. government covering the administrative costs of administering vaccine doses once the covid health emergency ends. Pfizer and Moderna are participating.
CDPH Behavioral Health Team Honored for Expanding Access to Mental Healthcare
CDPH’s Behavioral Health Team was named one of the winners of the 2023 Mayor’s Medal of Honor, Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot announced this week. The award goes to “remarkable individuals, organizations, and collaboratives demonstrating extraordinary leadership, a passion for advancing equity across the City, and a commitment to improving the lives of all residents in Chicago’s 77 neighborhoods.” The CDPH team was honored for expanding mental health resources to all 77 neighborhoods across the city, greatly expanding the number of residents served, and for the first time providing services for children and adolescents.
Facebook Live Feature on CDPH's Maternal, Infant, Child and Adolescent (MICAH) Health Bureau
This week during Dr. Arwady's weekly live stream, CDPH Medical Director, Dr. Candice Robinson, joined as this weeks' guest to discuss the portfolio of work that falls under the MICAH Bureau, from nutrition and Chicago's WIC program, Family Connects Chicago, aschool health services, lead poisoning prevention to reproductive health. Visit onechifam.org to get connected to information, data reports, and other resources.
The Chicago Health Atlas is a place where the media, students and researchers, and any Chicagoan can review, explore and compare health-related data over time and across communities.
