(WTTW News)
With the arrival of the holiday season and the emergence of new variants of COVID-19, local religious leaders joined Cook County’s health authorities to encourage residents to be vaccinated and boosted if eligible.
Dr. Claudia Fegan, Chief Medical Officer of Cook County Health, said: “The number of cases of COVID-19 is increasing and there are new variants that are prevalent around the world. You need to be vaccinated to safely gather for celebrations and worship.”
Since South African scientists identified a new version of the coronavirus last week, multiple cases of the Omicron variant have been reported in the United States.
“As we know, the Omicron variant is in the United States and needs to act as if it were already in Illinois or Cook County. It will definitely arrive soon,” Cook County said. Dr. Rachel Rubin, co-leader of the Department of Public Health, said. “Variants like Omicron are created primarily by unvaccinated people, carried around and transferred to others.”
The COVID-19 vaccine has been approved for people over the age of 5 and is 18 years or older 6 months after being completely vaccinated with either Pfizer or Moderna, or 2 months after the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Booster vaccination is recommended for people with.
More than 73% of residents in the suburbs of Cook County have been vaccinated with at least one COVID-19 vaccine, while 57% of shy people have been fully vaccinated. According to data from the Cook County Public Health Service..
“There is a risk of Omicron or the following variants being widespread until we reach far more vaccinated individuals, not only throughout the county, but within each community within the county,” Rubin said. .. “Especially booster vaccination protects almost everyone from the possibility of infection and death of severe cases of COVID-19. This may also be supported by the omicron variant.”
There are concerns about Omicron, but Delta is still the predominant variant in Cook County and across the country, according to officials who urged avoiding mixing with unvaccinated individuals.
“If you are not vaccinated, you will not go to family or holiday gatherings. If you choose not to be vaccinated, take it or, if possible, keep it away from most others. Please respect others, “says Rubin. “At least if you haven’t been vaccinated, take the test 3-4 days before going to the event or meeting with people outside the house and test again the day before or on the day of the event.”
She also advised people to wash their hands, wear masks, avoid crowds, and keep physical distances where possible.
Local religious leaders of various religions have approved vaccinations, including Rabbi Shoshana Conover, whose brother died of the virus in the summer.
“The great darkness of COVID has fallen all over the globe, but in our hands we have the light and fire of a vaccine that can extinguish this darkness,” she said. “If you haven’t been vaccinated, get vaccinated. If you need a booster, go to the booster …. Exile the dark tragedy of COVID with the light of vaccination.”
Residents of Cook County can visit to get more information about vaccines, including where to get them. MyShotCookCounty.com Or call 833-308-1988.
Contact Kristen Thometz: @kristenthometz | (773) 509-5452 | [email protected]
Cook County Authorities, Faith Leaders Encourage COVID-19 Vaccination, Boosters | Chicago News
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