 The seasons may be changing soon, but flu season is still in full swing. You can still get your flu shot! Everyone six months and older should get vaccinated against the flu. The flu vaccine can reduce flu illnesses, doctor’s visits, and hospitalizations.
Although the most common time to get a flu shot is in early Fall, you can get vaccinated through June. The flu virus is around all year; however, it spreads more easily from September through Spring. Cases typically peak between December and February.
Talk to your healthcare provider if you have any questions. For more information about the flu vaccine, visit cdc.gov/flu/prevent/index.html. Visit Vaccines.gov to find a location near you.
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Make sure your child doesn’t miss out on the 2023-24 school year! Get back to school with recommended vaccines and checkups. By doing so, you are:
- Protecting the health of your child and their classmates
- Helping your child focus on learning
- Keeping your child in school more
- Making sure you child isn’t left out of sports and activities
Schedule your vaccines and physicals now! Call your provider for an appointment. To find resources for vaccines, dental, hearing and vision, visit bit.ly/lchd-back2school.
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 In February, Skilled Nursing Facility and Acute Care Hospital Infection Preventionists across Lake County came together for a tabletop exercise about multi-drug resistant organisms at the Lake County Health Department. It was the first opportunity for this group of professionals to gather together since the COVID-19 pandemic started. It was a great afternoon of sharing and networking. Thank you all who attended and made this event a success!
In Observance of National Groundwater Awareness Week, the Lake County Health Department is offering a reduced well water testing fee for homeowners who use well water as their primary source of drinking water. Between March 6 and March 17, 2023, the normal $18.00 fee for testing for bacteria and nitrates will be reduced to $15.00.
Sterile test bottles and sampling instructions are available at the Lake County Central Permit Facility at 500 W. Winchester Road, Libertyville, the Health Department's headquarters at 3010 Grand Avenue, Waukegan, and 19 township or municipal offices located throughout Lake County. To find a location nearest you, call (847) 377-8020 or visit lakecountyil.gov/726/water-wells. Water sampling kits can also be mailed to residents for an additional postage fee. Alternatively, residents have the option for a Health Department staff member to visit their home to conduct the water well testing for a $65.00 fee.
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 Sometimes, it can be challenging to include a variety of foods into our busy lives. Here are some tips from one of the Health Department’s very own Nutrition Counselors to help you eat a variety of foods from all food groups:
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Explore favorite cultural foods and traditions: Incorporate traditional foods from different cultures to add variety and excitement to your diet. For example, try pico de gallo on tacos from Mexican cuisine or tabbouleh salad from Lebanese cuisine.
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Eat foods in different forms: Fresh, frozen, canned, dried, or freeze-dried foods can all give you essential nutrients. Mix it up and try different forms of the same food for variety. For example, have fresh berries in water and frozen berries in yogurt.
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Avoid fad diets: Restrictive and extreme diets can be harmful to your health and are often unsustainable. Instead, focus on a balanced diet that includes all food groups, such as whole grains, lean proteins, fruits and vegetables, and healthy fats.
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Practice gratitude for your body: Give your body the fuel it needs by eating a variety of foods from all food groups. Make mealtime a moment to appreciate and enjoy the nourishing foods you are eating.
By incorporating these tips into your diet, you can eat a variety of foods from all food groups, leading to a healthier and happier you.
 On March 24 each year, we recognize World TB Day. This annual event commemorates the date in 1882 when Dr. Robert Koch announced his discovery of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacillus that causes tuberculosis (TB). Many people still suffer from TB. If left untreated, 1 in 10 people with inactive TB will get sick with active TB, which can spread to others and be deadly.
The Health Department’s Tuberculosis Clinic provides screening, testing, consultation, education, treatment, and home visits for anyone living, attending school, or working in Lake County. Call (847) 377-8700 for appointments.
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Colorectal cancer screening saves lives. Colorectal cancer is the leading cause of cancer death, with 53,000 people in the U.S. lost to it each year. Regular screening, beginning at age 45, is the key to preventing colorectal cancer (cancer of the colon or rectum). If you’re younger than 45 and think you may be at high risk of getting colorectal cancer, or if you’re older than 75, talk to your doctor about screening. |
 211 is a free, confidential one-stop resource that connects those in need to people that can help. All year long, trained expert navigators at Lake County’s 211 connect people to locally available resources, including help with rent, food, utility bills, employment and job training, childcare and after-school programs, legal services, health and mental health assistance, and so much more.
The service works by calling 2-1-1 or texting your zip code to 898211 to speak with a real person who can help. Trained expert navigators are standing by to guide you to the help you need. 211 is available 24 hours a day, every day of the year in more than 150 languages.
Where do I find information about...
Who can I contact to ask a question about...
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Lake County Health Department Services: Call (847) 377-8000
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COVID-19 in Illinois: Contact the Illinois Department of Public Health at 1-800-889-3931 or DPH.SICK@ILLINOIS.GOV
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