Just 20% of IL residents got their bivalent COVID shot. These counties have lowest rate

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently proposed a move to annual COVID-19 vaccines for many Americans, though much of the U.S. population has not received the latest and most updated formula.

In January, the federal agency outlined the proposal in briefing paperwork, though it was questioned by an advisory committee given the relatively new nature of the virus, national outlets report.

Federal health officials are tussling with how to move forward on vaccine recommendations, especially given slow national uptake of the bivalent booster.

The updated shot, introduced last fall, provides better protection for omicron strains of the coronavirus, helping to decrease chances of severe illness from COVID-19. FDA officials have also recommended health care providers use the bivalent formula in place of the original vaccine for all doses, phasing out the original shot.

Across the U.S., the vaccination rate for the bivalent booster, which became available in September, is just 16% (or 16.9% among those ages 5 and older), compared to 81.1% who received at least one dose and 69.2% who completed the primary series.

In Illinois, the bivalent booster rate is higher, however, with 20.5% of residents ages 5 and older having received the omicron shot, according to U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data current through Feb. 16.

The state’s rate for at least a single shot is lower than the U.S., at 79.2%, while 71.3% have completed the primary series.

The bivalent shot, with an updated formula to better protect against omicron and other, newer strains of the coronavirus, was made available to many Americans last fall. Nationwide, nearly 53 million people have gotten the updated vaccine.

Bivalent booster rate by Illinois County

CDC data through Feb. 16 indicate the five counties with the lowest rate of uptake on the bivalent booster are:

1. Alexander County, 6.9% bivalent dose rate (377 doses)
2. Fayette County, 7.2% bivalent dose rate (1,452 doses)
3. Brown County, 7.2% bivalent dose rate (451 doses)
4. Wayne County, 7.4% bivalent dose rate (1,131 doses)
5. Lawrence County, 7.6% bivalent dose rate (1,126 doses)

Note: This graphic will automatically update as new data become available.

Illinois counties leading on bivalent vaccination rate are:

1. Lake County, 25.5% bivalent dose rate (167,458 doses)
2. DuPage County, 25.3% bivalent dose rate (219,943 doses)
3. Cook County, 23% bivalent dose rate (1,115,521 doses)
4. Champaign County, 22.2% bivalent dose rate (43,979 doses)
5. Jo Daviess County, 22.2% bivalent dose rate (4,512 doses)

Bivalent vaccination rates in the metro-east

Here’s how Illinois counties in the metro-east stack up on vaccination rate with the bivalent shot:

• Madison County: 17% bivalent dose rate (42,258 doses)
• Monroe County: 16.6% bivalent dose rate (5,422 doses)
• St. Clair County: 15% bivalent dose rate (36,415 doses)
• Bond County: 13.6% bivalent dose rate (2,130 doses)
• Washington County: 13.2% bivalent dose rate (1,729 doses)
• Clinton County: 12.8% bivalent dose rate (4,514 doses)
• Randolph County: 10.9% bivalent dose rate (3,283 doses)

Do I qualify for another COVID-19 booster?

The bivalent shot became available to those ages 12 and older in September, ages 5 to 11 in October and for those younger than 5 in December.

According to federal health officials, you qualify for the updated booster shot if you:

• Are 5 years or older and got your last COVID-19 vaccine more than two months ago.
• Children ages 6 months to 4 years must have completed the Moderna primary series and must have not gotten a dose in the last two months.

You can receive the vaccine if you have had a COVID infection, as it provides additional protection against severe illness from reinfection.

If you are aged 12 or older and have not received a dose since before September 2022, you are likely eligible for the bivalent booster. If you are unsure, contact your health care provider.

Guidance differs for those who are immunocompromised.

To find a vaccine provider near you, visit vaccines.gov.