COVID-19 Rates Growing In 48 States: What To Know About Vaccines In IL

Updated COVID-19 vaccines are expected to arrive at Illinois pharmacies, doctors' offices and clinics later this month, but they won't be available to everyone under federal rules.

The Food and Drug Administration recently updated 2026-27 COVID-19 vaccines to target XFG only, rather than combining protection against multiple versions of the virus. XFG was the dominant coronavirus strain when the formulas were selected in May.

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The approval comes as COVID-19 infections are growing or likely growing in 48 states, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in an Aug. 28 update.

Data shows infections are growing in 36 of 102 Illinois counties, including Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Grundy, Kane, Kendall, Lake, McHenry and Will, as well as: Bond, Boone, Calhoun, Champaign, Coles, Cumberland, DeKalb, De Witt, Douglas, Ford, Franklin, Fulton, Iroquois, Jackson, Jersey, Kankakee, Lee, McLean, Madison, Madison, Marshall, Mason, Ogle, Peoria, Perry, Tazewell, Williamson and Woodford.

Wastewater surveillance data as of Aug. 28 shows COVID-19 case rates are "very high" and "high" in Texas and Mississippi, respectively. California and Florida are among seven states, largely in the South and West, with "moderate" infections, and most other states reported low activity.

Overall, though, the CDC says COVID-19 rates are "very low."

In Illinois, the wastewater viral activity level for Covid-19 is currently "very low" with 71 sites reporting in the last seven days, and 77 reporting in the last 30 days.

Back-To-School Impact

A school in Texas said the "rapid spread" of COVID-19 prompted its decision to cancel classes for two days last week, and in Louisiana, the Park Ridge Achievement Academy shut down temporarily for a day "out of an abundance of caution" after students and staff reported infections.

The current trend is consistent with the seasonal pattern of the virus, according to Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious disease specialist and professor of medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

"We've had two waves (every year). One in the middle to late summer, and the other during the winter," Schaffner told NBC's "Today" show.

Health experts recommend keeping sick kids home and staying up-to-date on vaccinations.

Despite the growth in the infection rate, hospital and emergency department visits remain low compared to past years, according to CDC data. Health experts say that's an indication that community immunity is keeping most infections mild.

Who Gets The Jab

The FDA recommended the shots for everyone 65 and older and for younger people with at least one condition that raises their risk of severe illness from COVID-19. Those conditions include asthma, diabetes, obesity, heart or lung disease, and pregnancy.

Eligibility among younger people depends on the vaccine. Moderna's Spikevax is approved for high-risk patients 6 months and older; the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for those 5 and older; and Moderna's mNexspike and the Novavax vaccine for those 12 and older.

The FDA's decision is similar to the annual process used to update flu vaccines. FDA advisers reviewed which variants were spreading, how well last year's vaccines worked, and laboratory evidence showing how the immune system responded to newer variants. The agency said it will continue watching for changes in the virus and monitoring the vaccines' safety and effectiveness.

The CDC has not issued vaccination recommendations for the 2026-27 season. Its most recent guidance calls for people to decide whether to get a COVID-19 shot based on their age, health risks and consultation with a doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

Will Insurance Cover It?

Because insurance coverage may depend on federal recommendations, people should check with their insurer before making an appointment.

Medicare Part B covers FDA-approved COVID-19 vaccines with no copay when the shots are administered by a participating provider.

AHIP, an organization that includes most health insurers, said last year that most of its members cover the entire cost of vaccines and that its "evidence-based approach to coverage of immunizations will remain consistent."

However, coverage for vaccines is typically linked to CDC vaccine advisory committee recommendations, Forbes reported. Because the CDC vaccine advisory committee has not met this year due to legal issues, no federal recommendations have been issued, creating some uncertainty about private insurer coverage, Forbes said.