Getting children as young as 5 vaccinated for coronavirus could take a big step forward this week and in Illinois preparations are already underway.
Here's what you need to know about the coronavirus pandemic across Illinois today:
More States Fall Off Chicago's Travel Advisory This Week
Four additional locations were removed from Chicago's travel advisory this week, dropping the list of places on the city's warning list to 41 states and two territories.
Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland and Mississippi have all dropped below the city's threshold for being under an "orange" category on the travel advisory, the city's health department announced Tuesday.
This marks the latest round of removals after Florida, Hawaii and the District of Columbia dropped off the advisory last week.
As many as eight additional states or territories - Alabama, New Jersey, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and the Virgin Islands - could come off the advisory next week, the health department said.
Read more here.
LIVE: Chicago Health Officials to Hold Update on COVID Vaccines and Kids
Chicago's top public health officials are set to deliver an update Tuesday afternoon on coronavirus vaccines in children.
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Chicago Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady and Chicago Public Schools CEO Pedro Martinez are scheduled to speak at 1 p.m. from City Hall.
The press conference aims to "provide an update on COVID-19 case data and vaccinations in Chicago and in Chicago Public Schools, and will discuss plans to roll out vaccine to 5-11-year-olds when approval comes from federal health officials."
Watch live in the player above or here.
What to Know as FDA Panel Debates COVID Vaccines for Kids as Young as 5
Children as young as 5 could soon be eligible for coronavirus vaccines, but the decision will face its first major test Tuesday.
The Food and Drug Administration's panel of expert advisers is set to debate whether the Pfizer shots are ready for the nation’s roughly 28 million children ages 5 to 11 Tuesday.
Full-strength Pfizer shots already are recommended for anyone 12 or older, but pediatricians and many parents are anxiously awaiting protection for younger children to stem infections from the extra-contagious delta variant and help keep kids in school.
So what can parents expect and when? Here's what we know so far.
Here Are the Most Common Side Effects of COVID Booster Shots
People have reported side effects like chills, fever and nausea after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine, but do you need to worry about developing such symptoms after getting a booster shot?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, symptoms of the booster appear to largely mirror how people felt after their second dose.
The side effects were mostly considered mild or moderate, and arm pain, fatigue and headache were the most commonly reported symptoms after the third shot.
Read more here.
Gov. Pritzker Says COVID Vaccines for Kids Under 12 Could Begin Next Week
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker said COVID vaccinations for children between the ages of 5 and 11 could begin as early as next week in Illinois.
Speaking during a coronavirus update Monday, Pritzker said that should the vaccine be approved for that age group by the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, administration could begin by "early to mid next week."
"We will have those vaccines in hand and we'll be able to begin vaccinating young children 5 to 11," he told reporters.
Read more here.
Can You Get COVID Twice? Here's What One Infectious Disease Doctor Says
As the delta variant continues to spread and new variants surface, some are wondering if there's a risk of contracting COVID-19 twice.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, cases of reinfection remain rare, but are possible.
Dr. Frank Esper, a pediatric infectious disease specialist with the Cleveland Clinic, explained there are multiple reasons behind reinfection, including that the pandemic has been happening for nearly two years, and vaccine immunity diminishes with time.
Read more here.
Illinois Details COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout for Children Age 5 to 11
With coronavirus vaccines for children between the ages of 5 and 11 expected to be approved in as soon as a matter of days, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker Monday outlined steps being taken by state officials ahead of the anticipated emergency-use authorization.
An independent Food and Drug Administration advisory panel will convene Tuesday to consider recommending child-size doses of Pfizer's COVID vaccine for younger children. In order for distribution to begin, the vaccine must be granted emergency-use authorization by both the FDA and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In Illinois, more than 2,200 locations and providers, including family medicine practices, urgent care centers and public health clinics, have enrolled to provide doses to children, Pritzker said in a news release.
Read more here.
Chicago Begins Offering COVID Booster Shots Starting This Week
Chicago officials will begin offering COVID-19 vaccine booster shots to all those eligible starting early next week, following the endorsement from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of extra doses of the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines.
The Chicago Department of Public Health announced Friday that it will offer Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson COVID vaccine booster shots across the city beginning Monday.
“Now is a great time to get a COVID-19 vaccine booster dose as long as it has been six months since your second dose of Pfizer or Moderna, or two months since you received a Johnson & Johnson vaccine,” said CDPH Commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady.
Details here.
Chicago Rodents Exhibiting ‘Unusual' and ‘Aggressive' Behavior During Pandemic, Report Says
While Chicago was named the "rattiest" city in the U.S. for the seventh year in a row, Orkin said rodents have been exhibiting "unusual" or "aggressive" behavior in cities throughout the coronavirus pandemic.
Because the pandemic forced a number of restaurants and businesses to close, leading to less waste, Orkin said the rodents have had to find new food sources.
"Without food waste to consume, these pests were seen scavenging new areas and exhibiting unusual or aggressive behavior," Orkin said.
Read more here.
Moderna and J&J COVID Booster Shots Now Available. Here's Who's Eligible
Earlier this week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention endorsed additional doses of the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson COVID vaccines, but who exactly does the updated guidance cover?
Certain people who received Pfizer vaccinations months ago already were eligible for a booster and on Thursday, the CDC said specific Moderna and Johnson & Johnson recipients qualify, too.
And in a bigger change, the agency is allowing the flexibility of “mixing and matching" that extra dose regardless of which type people received first.
Read more here.
Here's When You Need to Get Your COVID Vaccine to Be Fully Vaccinated By the Holidays
As Illinois health officials advocate for vaccinations ahead of the holiday season and cold winter months, Chicago's top doctor revealed when you would need to get your shots if you want to be fully vaccinated for holiday gatherings.
Chicago Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady gave dates to receive the first and single vaccine doses in order to be fully vaccinated by Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas and Kwanzaa.
10 Myths About COVID-19 Vaccine For Kids, Busted By Chicago Pediatricians
The FDA is planning to meet soon to discuss the next eligible age group, children ages 5-11, for the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine, and pediatricians are preparing to administer the shots, once the vaccine is approved.
Doctors at Advocate Children’s Hospital have been talking with families and parents, listening to their questions and concerns. Misinformation about the vaccine is a big concern for Advocate doctors, who composed a list of the top myths they’re hearing.
Read the top 10 myths here.