Chicago Doctors Sound the Alarm as Fall Respiratory Season Gets Underway

The Seasonal Warning Signs Are Already Here

As temperatures cool and children settle back into school, health experts say respiratory illnesses are beginning to increase across the Chicago area — and healthcare providers throughout Chicagoland are preparing for what they expect could be a busy flu season. The familiar seasonal pattern is unfolding right on schedule, and doctors are sending a clear message: don't wait to get vaccinated.

According to doctors at Rush Hospital, activity from influenza, COVID-19, and respiratory syncytial virus — better known as RSV — remains low, but other respiratory viruses are already circulating as the seasons change. That uptick in milder bugs is a well-known early warning sign. The viruses that cause the sniffles today are often the precursors to the more serious illnesses that flood emergency rooms in November and December.

What Doctors Are Seeing in the ER Right Now

Dr. Scott Heinrich, an emergency room physician at Rush Hospital, described the current picture: "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." It's a snapshot that feels routine — until it isn't.

The Cook County Department of Public Health confirmed that infection levels for flu, COVID-19, and RSV remain consistent with typical end-of-summer trends. But health officials are quick to point out that "typical" doesn't mean "safe to ignore." Experts noted that last year's flu season was aggressive and said similar conditions could develop again this winter — which is why they are encouraging people to receive flu and COVID-19 vaccinations within the next month.

Why Timing Your Vaccine Actually Matters

Dr. Heinrich was direct about the urgency: "Vaccines are incredibly important... 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." The body needs roughly two weeks after vaccination to build meaningful protection, which means every week of delay is a week of unnecessary vulnerability.

Illinois's fall immunization guidance was adopted based on recommendations made on September 9, 2026, by the Illinois Immunization Advisory Committee — a group of 20 highly qualified experts spanning infectious diseases, pediatrics, family medicine, and public health. The guidance was issued in response to ongoing immunization actions taken by the federal government that the committee said are not rooted in scientific evidence, with IDPH committing to providing Illinois residents with reliable, science-based guidance.

Where to Get Vaccinated and Who Should Act Now

The Cook County Department of Public Health is urging parents to ensure their children's vaccinations are up to date now that students have returned to school. IDPH recommends flu vaccination for all people ages 6 months and older. An annual COVID-19 vaccine is recommended for all adults 18 and older, pregnant people, and children 6 to 23 months, as well as children 2 to 17 years with at least one risk factor for severe disease.

Respiratory vaccines — for flu, RSV, and COVID-19 — will be available at no cost this fall. Uninsured or underinsured Illinois residents are encouraged to contact their local health department or use IDPH's Vaccine Locator Dashboard for information on where to find no-cost vaccines. The window to get ahead of this season is open right now — but it won't stay that way for long. History shows that once the flu takes hold in a region, it spreads fast, and no one benefits from being caught flat-footed.