Cook County Public Health encourages vaccinations as respiratory illness season approaches

Josh Hinke | October 16, 2026

As temperatures drop and residents spend more time indoors, Cook County Public Health and Human Services is reminding residents to get vaccinated against influenza and COVID-19.

Respiratory illnesses become more common during the colder months as people gather indoors, increasing opportunities for viruses to spread.

“From a public health perspective, this is a good time to remind folks about the steps that they can take to protect their health and reduce their risk of serious illnesses, as well as the health of the people around them,” Cook County Public Health Supervisor Avi Sukhwal told WTIP

According to the county, vaccination is an important tool for reducing the risk of severe illness and hospitalization from respiratory infections.

“Our goal at Cook County Public Health is to make sure that residents have access to reliable information so they can make informed decisions about their health and the health of their families,” Sukhwal said.

Viruses such as influenza can change over time. Seasonal vaccines are updated to better match the variants and strains expected to circulate. Protection from previous vaccinations or infections can also decrease over time.

Sukhwal said factors such as age, underlying health conditions and vaccination history can affect which vaccines are recommended.

“That’s why we encourage residents to talk to their healthcare providers about individual vaccine needs and recommendations that apply to them. However, getting a seasonal vaccine every year can certainly reduce the chance of you getting sick or getting the people around you sick,” Sukhwal said.

Vaccines help prepare the immune system to recognize and respond to viruses, reducing the risk of infection and serious illness.

While otherwise healthy adults often recover from respiratory illnesses, they can still transmit viruses to people who are more vulnerable to severe illness, including older adults, infants, young children, pregnant people and those with underlying health conditions.

“Respiratory illnesses can affect anyone,” Sukhwal said. “So when we think about public health, it’s not just our health; it’s also the health of the people that we love.”

Sawtooth Mountain Clinic has two vaccination events remaining in October. Appointments are required for these events.

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