YOUNG CHILDREN CAN NOW RECEIVE THE BIVALENT COVID-19 BOOSTER SHOT. 

THE C-D-C IS EXPANDING USE OF THE BOOSTER, WHICH TARGETS THE ORIGNAL COVID-19 VIRUS AND THE OMICRON VARIANT, TO KIDS AGES SIX MONTHS THROUGH FIVE YEARS. STATE PUBLIC HEALTH INFECTIOUS DISEASE CHIEF HEIDI CLARK EXPLAINS HOW THIS WILL WORK.

KIDS NOW GETTING THE PFIZER VACCINE WOULD RECEIVE THE BOOSTER SHOT AS THEIR THIRD DOSE. IF THEY HAVE ALREADY HAD ALL THREE PFIZER SHOTS, THEY WOULDN'T NEED THE BOOSTER SAYS CLARK. ACCORDING TO THE C-D-C, THE VAST MAJORITY OF THIS AGE GROUP HAS NOT BEEN VACCINATED AT ALL.

74 ILLINOIS COUNTIES ARE NOW AT AN ELEVATED RISK FOR TRANSMISSION OF COVID-19. 29 OF THOSE COUNTIES ARE CONSIDERED AT HIGH RISK.