As the 2025 respiratory virus season ramps up, Illinois and Chicago health leaders share what you need to know to stay protected.

On this episode, Dr. Alexander Sloboda (CDPH’s Medical Director of Immunization and Emergency Preparedness Programs) sits down with CDPH Commissioner Dr. Olusimbo Ige and Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) Director Dr. Sameer Vohra to talk about recommended guidance for flu, COVID, and RSV vaccines; potential confusion around immunizations; and how everyone – with or without insurance – can be protected this fall and winter.

TLDR: CDPH endorses IDPH’s vaccine recommendations for the 2025-26 respiratory illness season. CDPH provides updated 2025-26 flu and COVID-19 vaccines at no cost to Chicago residents at our standing Immunization Walk-In Clinics (https://chi.gov/4noLali), as well as mobile and pop-up events across the city.

To stay informed:

Keep an eye on CDPH’s public Respiratory Virus dashboard, summarizing COVID, flu, and RSV activity levels in Chicago on a weekly basis.

Check out IDPH’s Immunizations Hub for crucial statewide resources and guidance: https://dph.illinois.gov/topics-services/prevention-wellness/immunization.html