RSV cases are surging in Central Illinois, filling up a local children's hospital and marking an unusual start to what could be a severe cold and flu season.
“We are always concerned when we see a marked rise in cases, especially during holiday seasons where people tend to gather indoors in close proximity to celebrate,” said Marisa Hosier,
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Over the past week, new COVID cases are up more than 9% across the country,  as vaccine hesitancy remains high, mask mandates ease and the Delta variant spreads.
DECATUR â The first day of school is coming sooner than you think, and if you still need to get your kids' immunizations and physicals scheduled, now's the time.
âI have a ninth-grader and just made his physical appointment this morning for his ninth grade and sports physical,â said Decatur resident Megan Meyrick. âSoonest opening was a couple weeks out but plenty before the start of the school year.â
The study analyzed immunization data for 10 states and found a sharp decrease in vaccine doses administered during March through May of 2020 compared with the same period during 2018 and 2019, a shortfall officials said puts âU.S. children and adolescents at risk for vaccine-preventable diseases.â