CHICAGO (WLS) — As temperatures cool and children return to school, health experts say respiratory illnesses are beginning to increase across the Chicago area, prompting renewed calls for flu and COVID-19 vaccinations ahead of the fall and winter seasons.

Health care providers throughout Chicagoland are preparing for what they expect could be a busy flu season. According to doctors at Rush Hospital, activity from influenza, COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, remains low, but other respiratory viruses are already circulating as the seasons change.

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“Not as much flu and COVID so far, but a lot of your more common respiratory viruses, rhinovirus, enteroviruses, and kids are coming in with a lot of cough, runny nose congestion and maybe some fevers with it,” said Dr. Scott Heinrich, an emergency room doctor at Rush Hospital.

The Cook County Department of Public Health said infection levels for flu, COVID-19, and RSV remain consistent with typical end-of-summer trends. The department monitors activity through wastewater surveillance and reported cases.

According to the department, there was one intensive care unit admission related to influenza in the past week.

Health experts noted that last year’s flu season was aggressive and said similar conditions could develop again this winter. As a result, they are encouraging people to receive flu and COVID-19 vaccinations within the next month.

“Vaccines are incredibly important… I think we start in a couple days for the flu vaccine and COVID vaccine. It’s really important to get those and you’re trying to get them before the season really kicks in because you’re trying to get the vaccine before you’re exposed to the viruses that are out there,” Heinrich said.

The Cook County Department of Public Health is also urging parents to ensure their children’s vaccinations are up to date now that students have returned to school.

The department plans to offer free vaccination clinics throughout the season and expects those clinics to become available in October.

Health experts also recommend taking precautions if someone in a household becomes sick, including wearing a mask, washing hands frequently, and maintaining distance from others whenever possible.

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