Vaccinations suggested to curb respiratory diseases

DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) — With the majority of winter still ahead of us there is still plenty of time to get vaccinated to stop a number of infectious diseases. Vaccinations are available for flu, RSV and COVID-19.

“I think vaccinations have been proven time and again over the past few years of this pandemic, and of course the flu even longer, to stop the risk of hospitalizations and deaths,” said Dr. Arti Barnes, Chief Medical Officer at the Illinois Department of Public Health. Dr. Barnes even suggested taking multiple COVID tests if you are showing symptoms. “Even if the first test is a negative, test again in 24 to 48 hours later and that’s the test that usually turns positive for COVID-19.”

COVID-19 is still killing people. The week of December 9^th saw more than 30 people die from the disease in Illinois.