Since March of 2020, almost every American was impacted in some way when the WHO (World Health Organization) declared the new virus a global pandemic. Little did most Illinoisans know at the time just how much this virus would impact their life.

As of March 10th, there are currently more people in the US vaccinated against COVID-19 than the total number of cases in the US since the start of the pandemic. Nearly 33 million people and counting are vaccinated and for Dr. Douglas Kasper, the section head of infectious disease at the University of Illinois College of Medicine in Peoria, it is all due to the hard work of scientists and medical experts across the country. 

Before COVID-19, the only thing scientists really had to compare it too was the influenza pandemic of 1918. Even from a pandemic over 100 years ago, according to Dr. Kasper, there are still lessons to be learned.

Dr. Kasper says that the lessons learned from COVID will also impact future generations.

With over 530,000 lives lost in the US from COVID, Dr. Kasper is still concerned about the effects on families and businesses. 

For more information on COVID-19, contact your local health department.