As we settle into the fall season amid the changing leaves and football games, an unwelcome visitor persists in our community: COVID-19. While infection rates remain relatively low in Chicago, the rate of hospitalizations for COVID-19 far surpasses that of influenza and RSV, and wastewater viral activity monitored across the state confirms cases could be on the rise.

The CDC recommends getting an updated 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine to protect against potentially serious illness associated with the latest variants of the virus, noting that protection from vaccines declines over time. The current vaccines available in Chicago-area pharmacies are formulated to protect against the prevalent JN.1 strain and its subvariants.

This season, I encourage all members of our Hispanic-Latino community to get vaccinated for the flu, RSV, and COVID-19, and to discuss your options with your healthcare providers. In Chicago, individuals can choose either an mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccine developed by Pfizer or Moderna, or a non-mRNA, protein-based vaccine developed by Novavax. The protein-based option uses the same technology used in some RSV and flu vaccines.

Regardless of which COVID-19 vaccine you choose, getting vaccinated remains the best defense against severe illness and hospitalization for yourself and your loved ones.

Esther E. Sciammarella, M.S., is the Executive Director of the Chicago Hispanic Health Coalition, a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization she helped establish in 1991 as a multi-disciplinary membership organization. Its mission is to promote healthy behavior and prevent chronic disease in the Hispanic community.